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Alaska & Hawaiian Merger Process
Sep 26, 2024

September 26, 2024

This document provides a short synopsis of future steps in the merger process that will affect the working lives of our members.

Transition and/or Process Agreements:

In recent mergers, AMFA has negotiated transition and/or process agreements that address core issues related to the merger process, including:

  • the scheduling of a seniority integration process;
  • the scheduling of a single carrier application to determine Union representation;
  • the integration of the two carriers’ employee groups under a single collective bargaining agreement;
  • scope protections and work rules governing the performance of work during the period leading up to integration of the two employee groups under a single CBA.

Any transition agreement would be submitted to the AMFA members for approval by ratification vote.

Seniority Integration:

The issue of seniority integration would, in the first instance, be addressed by the two negotiating committees representing the pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian employees in our craft. The two committees are required to engage in a good-faith effort to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.

AMFA would submit any such agreement to a ratification vote by its members.

If, however, the committees fail to reach an agreement, federal law requires that the matter of seniority integration be submitted to an arbitrator charged with integrating the two employee groups on a fair and equitable basis. The decision would be “final and binding” and, thus, would not be subject to a ratification vote.

In recent seniority integration arbitrations, the arbitrators have cited the relative economic prospects of the respective carriers in granting a seniority advantage to the employees of the dominant pre-merger airline.

Union Representation:

The question of which union will represent the combined Alaska-Hawaiian group is determined by the National Mediation Board (NMB). Generally, the NMB only initiates its inquiry after one of the two unions files a “single carrier application.”

As the Union currently representing a majority of the combined group, AMFA would automatically be on the ballot in any future NMB election. The International Machinists Union (IAM) would only be on the ballot if it obtained sufficient authorization cards from Alaska AMTs so that, when combined with its current representation at Hawaiian, it could assert it too had the support of a majority of the combined group. This is why IAM stalkers have been going door-to-door, violating your privacy at home, and sending “junk mail” to your homes, trying to get you to sign an IAM representation authorization card to pad the numbers.

If the IAM receives enough cards signed by Alaska AMTs, all employees in the craft or class of Mechanics and Related Employees will be eligible to vote in any inter-union election. The winner would be determined by a majority of votes cast by participating Alaskan and Hawaiian employees.

Please contact an AMFA LEC or NEC Officer with any questions about this acquisition and merger.

Fraternally,

Bret Oestreich, National President
Nic Kula, Local 14 President
Rui Leonardo, Local 32 President


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AMFA
7853 E. Arapahoe Court, Suite 1100
Centennial, CO 80112
  303-752-2632

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