April 1, 2025
Participants for AMFA
Earl Clark – Region I Director
Will Abbott – Region II Director
Tom Wiggins – National Safety & Standards Director
Tony Christner – Airline Representative
Lucas Middlebrook – Legal Counsel
Peter Manikowski – Economist
Participants for Sun Country Airlines
Brian Scudds – Sr. Manager Labor Relations
Jacki Thompson – Legal Counsel
Scott Bjergo – Director of Outstation Maintenance
Roy Fan – Financial Planning & Analysis
The AMFA-SCA Negotiating Committee (“Committee”) is providing this update to the membership at Sun Country Airlines (“Sun Country”). This is the only official source of negotiating communications by the Committee.
The parties met in Chicago (March 24-26) for a two-and-a-half-day mediated bargaining session. To start Day 1, the parties, with the Mediator, reviewed the status of open articles and the non-economic items remaining within each article. At the Mediator’s direction, the parties decided AMFA would make the next proposal on Article 6 - Overtime (including how Overtime is to be distributed). The Company agreed to examine Article 7 – Holidays, to identify whether there were items within that article that could be discussed and agreed to prior to economics.
On the afternoon of Day 1, AMFA made a proposal to resolve all issues regarding the distribution of Overtime. The Committee presented its proposal, and a productive discussion followed. Previously in AMFA’s 2024 “comprehensive” proposal, the Committee proposed an “overtime equalization” approach based generally on overtime hours worked. In prior discussions, however, the Company indicated it was unable and unwilling to administer such a process. Therefore, AMFA considered these points, and in an effort to move forward in a manner that respects seniority and avoids favoritism, the Committee proposed a seniority-based approach to overtime distribution. The parties then caucused to work internally.
On Day 2, the parties continued to work internally, and in the afternoon, the Company made its counterproposal on Overtime which, in AMFA’s opinion, provided too much leeway for the Company to mandatorily assign overtime. Your Committee views mandatory overtime as an absolute last resort due to issues such as impacts on morale, your family lives, and fatigue.
On Day 3, AMFA provided another proposal on the non-economic items of Overtime with further discussion, which sought to clarify these issues. The Company is reviewing AMFA’s most recent proposal. However, the Company failed to discuss or present anything related to Holidays during this session.
At the close of the final half-day, the Mediator scheduled future bargaining dates/locations and assigned tasks for the parties to prepare for our next session (April 22-24 in Chicago). The Company is tasked with preparing a comprehensive proposal on all open items, including economics. The Mediator asked AMFA to prepare the framework for a term sheet response to the Company’s forthcoming comprehensive proposal.
In sum, Your Committee came prepared and ready to work. AMFA believes it is important for the Company to do sufficient work in advance of the next session to increase their productivity at the table. Your Committee will be prepared for the next session and continue to work toward a CBA your hard work and dedication to Sun Country has earned.
If you have any questions related to negotiations, please reach out to your ALR, Tony Christner.
Remember - stay engaged, remain informed, and continue to support the Negotiating Committee. Our solidarity will produce a CBA that your hard work has earned.
Fraternally,
Your AMFA‑SCA Negotiating Committee
