November 27, 2024 -- Today, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) issued a Priority Level 2 (PL-2) strike alert in reference to Sun Country Airlines. APL-2 strike alert is issued when a strike authorization vote by the Sun Country Airlines’ Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) and related skilled professionals will be conducted.
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November 8, 2024 -- The parties met in Chicago last week (Oct. 15-17) for a three-day mediated bargaining session. This was our sixth session in mediation (2 virtual) under the National Mediation Board (NMB).
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October 2, 2024 -- The parties met September 24-26 in Chicago for a two-and-a-half-day mediated session. This was our fifth session in mediation (two virtual) under the National Mediation Board (“NMB”). The initial mediator assigned to this matter, Jack Stephan, was replaced by the NMB (due to conflicts in schedule) with Mediator Michael Donatelli.
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July 18, 2024 -- The parties met virtually for a mediated session on July 12, 2024. This was our third session in mediation under the NMB.
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June 24, 2024 -- The parties met in Las Vegas for a three-day mediated session last week (June 18–20). This was our second session in mediation under the National Mediation Board (“NMB”).
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May 28, 2024 -- In April 2024, AMFA National called for nominations from the AMFA-Sun Country Airlines membership to fill the position of Primary AMFA–Sun Country Airlines Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative.
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May 16, 2024 -- The parties met in Minneapolis for a three-day mediated session April 30-May 2. This was our first session in mediation under the National Mediation Board (“NMB”).
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April 3, 2024 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from the Sun Country Airlines (SCA) membership for the position of Primary AMFA–SCA Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative.
20240403_SCA_ASAP_Nom_Notice_and_Form.pdf
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December 7, 2023 -- Minnesota has several laws regarding employee rights that provide for required breaks to use restrooms, required meal breaks, parenting leave and accommodations, sick leave, and safe leave.
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October 13, 2023 – After a year of unproductive negotiations with Sun Country Airlines (SCA), the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has requested that the National Mediation Board (NMB) appoint a federal mediator to oversee the bargaining process.
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October 11, 2023 -- After a year of unproductive negotiations with Sun Country Airlines (Sun Country), the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has requested that the National Mediation Board (NMB) appoint a federal mediator to oversee the bargaining process.
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October 6, 2023 -- As you know, AMFA is currently engaged in collective bargaining with Sun Country Airlines pursuant to the Railway Labor Act. As long as that lasts, the parties are required to refrain from “self help” until released by the National Mediation Board (“NMB”) from mediation and a thirty-day cooling off period has expired. This means that during the negotiating process, Sun Country is prohibited from initiating a lockout. It also means that AMFA-represented employees are prohibited from engaging in concerted job actions designed to create bargaining leverage.
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October 3, 2023 -- The parties met in Minneapolis for a three-day session last week (September 26-28). As you will recall, AMFA presented a cover-to-cover comprehensive proposal to the Company in June. The Company, more than three months later, finally delivered a comprehensive counterproposal on Day 1 of last week’s session. However, the Company’s comprehensive response was, to say the least, underwhelming.
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July 24, 2023 -- AMFA presented a cover-to-cover comprehensive contract proposal last session to accelerate the process. Unfortunately, the Company arrived without a comprehensive response to our proposal.
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June 16, 2023 -- The parties were scheduled for a three-day bargaining session, June 13-15 in Minneapolis, to continue bargaining toward a first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the SCA group. As you will recall, AMFA used the May bargaining dates to meet internally and develop a cover-to-cover comprehensive collective bargaining proposal.
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May 3, 2023 -- In March 2023, AMFA National called for nominations to fill the positions of Primary and AMFA– Sun Country Airlines Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. Sun Country Airlines members in good standing were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position.
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April 10, 2023 -- The parties held a three-day bargaining session, April 4-6 in Minneapolis. AMFA continued the session by presenting its first proposal on Article 5 – Hours of Service, which is the article that sets forth employees’ schedules in addition to the scheduling and annual bidding procedures. The parties spent the remainder of Day 1 in caucus preparing their respective proposals and counterproposals.
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March 27, 2023 -- AMFA began Day 1 by presenting its first proposal on Article 4 – Classifications, which is the article that sets forth the different job classifications covered by the CBA and a summary of the duties associated with each. AMFA also presented a counterproposal to Article 3 – Status of Agreement, which deals with issues related to corporate mergers and sales.
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March 1, 2023 -- The Parties held a three-day bargaining session, February 21-23 in Minneapolis for the SCA group. The Company, at the beginning of Day 1, presented counterproposals to two articles, Article 10 – Filling of Vacancies and Article 9 – Seniority.
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February 14, 2023 -- Effective February 1, 2023, Russ Olson will serve as the Association’s Interim Primary ASAP Representative on the Sun Country Airlines Event Review Committee (ERC). Russ can be reached at 615-309-2989.
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January 7, 2023 -- The Parties held a three-day bargaining session, January 3-5 in Minneapolis to continue bargaining toward a first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the SCA group. The Company, at the beginning of Day 1, presented a counterproposal to Article 7, Training.
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December 20, 2022 -- The Parties held a two-day bargaining session, December 13-14 in Minneapolis to continue bargaining toward a first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the SCA group. The Company, at the outset of Day 1, introduced Kristen Peterson, Senior Director of Labor & Employment, who will be assuming the lead negotiator role for Sun Country going forward in these negotiations. AMFA looks forward to working with Ms. Peterson to reach prompt agreement on a CBA. The Company began Day 1 by presenting a counterproposal on Article 25 – Union Representation. The Parties engaged in productive dialogue regarding the Union Representation article to better assist the Company to understand how AMFA operates at each carrier. The Parties caucused and thereafter AMFA presented a counterproposal on Article 25 – Union Representation and delivered a proposal on Article 12 – Leaves of Absence. The Company presented a counterproposal on Article 17 – Safety and Health.
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November 30, 2022 -- In early November 2022, AMFA National called for nominations to fill the position of AMFA-Sun Country Airlines (SCA) Airline Representative (ALR). Members in good standing of SCA were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position. Following the close of the Willingness to Serve process, there is only one candidate for AMFA-SCA ALR: Anthony Christner.
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November 19, 2022 -- The Parties held a two-day bargaining session, November 14-15 in Minneapolis to continue Section 6 bargaining toward a first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the SCA group. Day 1 began with the Company passing a counterproposal to Article 21 – Grievance Procedure, which the Parties initially discussed during the October session. AMFA caucused internally and developed a counterproposal to Article 21 – Grievance Procedure and passed proposals on Article 3 – Status and Article 19, Transportation and Moving Expenses.
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November 4, 2022 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from the membership at Sun Country Airlines (SCA) to fill the position of Airline Representative (ALR). The AMFA-SCA ALR is the main point of contact for the membership at Sun Country Airlines, oversees the enforcement of your status quo work rules, pay and benefits, and is a voting member of your Negotiating Committee.
20221104_SCA_Nomination_Notice_and_Form.pdf
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October 31, 2022 -- Your AMFA- Sun Country Airlines (SCA) Transition Committee is in place, led by the Interim SCA Airline Representative (ALR) who is the main point of contact for your group. The AMFA-SCA ALR facilitates communication between AMFA and the Company regarding pay and benefits until an agreement is reached and ratified by the AMFA-SCA membership. There is also an Interim Area Representative who assists the ALR on the floor as well as an Interim Shop Representatives who administers communications. We would like to thank these individuals for stepping up during this critical transition period and process. There will be a special election in the next weeks to fill these positions. Please stay engaged and participate.
20221031_NP_Update_to_SCA_Employees.pdf
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Application_for_Membership.pdf
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October 9, 2022 -- The parties held a two-day bargaining session, October 4-5 in Minneapolis to commence Section 6 bargaining toward a first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the SCA group. At the outset of Day 1, AMFA proposed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) that would have memorialized the status quo in compensation, 401(k), and work rules; created a just cause provision and grievance process; as well as a dues checkoff provision to easier facilitate the payment of dues to support collective bargaining.
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September 7, 2022 -- AMFA National has called for a survey of the Sun Country Airlines (SCA) Aircraft Maintenance Technician and Related Employees. This survey is designed to help identify the group’s collective bargaining goals, direct the negotiating committee for the upcoming talks regarding your new collective bargaining agreement, and determine the best method of communications for your group.
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July 22, 2022 -- AMFA and SCA held their first meeting on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at Company headquarters in Minneapolis to discuss entry into formal collective bargaining negotiations and working together in collaborative fashion. The meeting started with each party introducing their respective negotiating committee. AMFA then explained its organizational structure to the Company, including identification of the interim AMFA-SCA Airline Representative, Area Representatives, and Shop Representatives. AMFA followed by explaining the need for cooperation in scheduling of union representatives in order to conduct union business as well as the information needed for AMFA to facilitate representation of its members at Sun Country.
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July 14, 2022 -- AMFA National will be accepting contract proposals from July 14 through August 9, 2022, for the upcoming Sun Country Airlines Section 6 Negotiations set to commence in fall of this year. Contract Proposal Forms can be downloaded by clicking here or on the attached file. We encourage you to complete the form in PDF and submit proposals as indicated below.
AMFA-SCA_Contract_Proposal_Form_2022.pdf
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July 7, 2022 -- AMFA will soon be starting the process of collecting contract proposal ideas from the AMFA represented Sun Country Airlines (SCA) employees in July. AMFA plans to serve a Section 6 notice to commence collective bargaining negotiations in late July and set dates to meet in the late summer/fall of 2022.
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June 22, 2022 -- AMFA is honored to represent you at Sun Country Airlines (SCA). We are aware that SCA has been suffering a loss in tenured, skilled individuals having trouble attracting the next generation of skilled and talented professionals to fill the void and prepare for the future.
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June 9, 2022 -- The National Mediation Board (NMB) officially announced today that the Aircraft Maintenance Mechanics and Related (M&R) employees voted overwhelmingly to elect the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) as their collective bargaining agent. Earlier this winter, M&R at Sun Country Airlines submitted signed authorization for representation cards from nearly 75% of its workgroup to AMFA, requesting that they file for a representation election with the NMB on behalf of their workgroup.
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June 8, 2022 -- You should be extremely proud of your accomplishments thus far in becoming unionized. You all have been through a lot these last years, and we look forward to helping you control your own destiny and fix the many problems you have expressed. AMFA is honored to represent you at Sun Country Airlines (SCA). Following is a quick synopsis of what to expect next.
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April 26, 2022 -- It has come to our attention that an anonymous letter has been circulating from a purported former AMFA member dubious claims about our Association's track record. Since it is unsigned, we don't know if they were truly an AMFA member or not. It doesn't matter, really. What matters is that the letter is riddled with falsehoods. So, let's look at the truth.
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April 20, 2022 -- As you will recall, Sun Country sent a mailer to your home insinuating that the scheduled union election was the reason the carrier was not implementing a wage increase. AMFA immediately responded that, if Sun Country had genuine plans in the pipeline to increase pay and benefits, the union had no objection. Indeed, we told Sun Country: "Pay it! Pay it now."
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April, 12, 2022 -- On April 11, 2022, the National Mediation Board (“NMB”) Ordered the first scheduled election for the Mechanics and Related Employees cancelled and also Ordered a Rerun Election due to printing errors with the mailing labels and the ballots.
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April 11, 2022 -- This is to advise that the National Mediation Board (“NMB”) will be rerunning the election for the Mechanics and Related Employees at Sun Country Airlines due to errors in the initial mailing of the ballots. First, the initial ballot mailing lacked the square boxes on the ballots that were mailed.
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March 30, 2022 - AMFA would like to emphasized some critical voting process instructions with all eligible Sun Country voters.
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March 30, 2022 -- Enclosed are copies of the Notice of Election, Sample Instructions and Sample Ballot. Upon receipt, the Notice, Sample Instructions and Sample Ballot must be promptly posted by the Carrier on Carrier bulletin boards and at other appropriate locations, including all locations where other notices to employees are usually posted. At least one Notice, Sample Instructions and Sample Ballot must be posted at each Carrier location. The Notice, Sample Instructions and Sample Ballot must be completely visible and remain posted until the Board advises the Carrier that this case has been closed.
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March 23, 2022 -- On March 22, 2022, the National Mediation Board (“NMB”) confirmed that a majority of craft or class has executed cards and authorized a representation election. Ballots will be mailed to employees on April 6, 2022, and the tally will take place at the Board’s offices on May 25, 2022.
20220323_CHOB_Ltr_R-7578_SCA_AMFA.pdf
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March 22, 2022 -- We are pleased to inform you that on March 22, 2022, National Mediation Board (“NMB”) Investigator Josie G.M. Bautista notified all parties that the NMB has authorized an election by mail in NMB Case No. R-7578 for the Mechanics and Related Employees at Sun Country Airlines, Inc. to have AMFA elected as your representative.
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February 28, 2022 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is honored to have filed an Application for Investigation of Representation Dispute on your behalf with the National Mediation Board (NMB) on Friday, February 25, 2022. Now that the cards have been filed, we wanted to give you a snapshot of what an NMB investigation process consists of and what to expect next.
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February 25, 2022 – The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is proud to announce that it has filed with the National Mediation Board (NMB) to be the union representative of the aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) at Sun Country Airlines. “We are extremely honored that this workgroup has placed its utmost confidence in AMFA to help Sun Country Airlines recognize the importance our skilled, professional craft is to the airline,” said Bret Oestreich, AMFA’s National President.
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