March 2, 2021
Dear Members:
We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy as we continue to navigate through this COVID-19 pandemic. We are cautiously optimistic as we continue to see cases decline throughout the United States. Despite the challenging time, our members are the most unified we have ever been as mechanics and related aviation professionals. We thank you for your perseverance and dedication in performing your duties and producing a safe, reliable aircraft. Our unity, especially during these times, is our strength.
Please read the Mechanic’s Creed. Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs), also known as aircraft mechanics, work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of the flying American public, and in many cases these men and women do so while working odd hours, weekends, and holidays in all types of inclement weather. They take to heart the responsibility to provide a safe aircraft and strive to maintain the trust of the flying public. On behalf of AMFA members and our craft, we are proud of the AMTs who emanate their knowledge, skill, and integrity every day to maintain our country’s aircraft.
At the end of 2020, Alaska Airlines (AS) and your AMFA–AS ALRs battled several unfortunate situations related to contradictions during enforcement of sick time attendance during a world-wide pandemic. Your ALRs are in ongoing discussions and have filed a final step with AS management regarding the Company’s recent attendance policy and violating the CBA. Additionally, we are awaiting a decision from the Arbitrator ruling regarding the Roster Apps arbitration case. Thank you for all your efforts and patience, we will be pressing forward to find resolutions to these issues.
The National Mediation Board (NMB) investigation is still underway for the AS MX Controllers, and AMFA attorneys have reached out multiple times during this very long investigation process. With the political unrest near the NMB offices in Washington, DC behind us, we hope to see progress on this dispute soon. We will keep you updated as developments arise.
Horizon Air (QX) has had consistent system-wide operational staffing issues and has continually hired additional AMTs. Local 14 AMFA-QX Airline Representative Bobby Shipman and National Officers will be performing multiple station visits around the Horizon system in March. AMFA has received notification from the Company indicating they would like to schedule Section 6 Negotiations of the CBA starting mid-summer this year. AMFA Local 14, therefore, is currently accepting CBA amendment proposals from the AMFA-QX membership to commence this process.
AMFA–SWA operations have been busy across the system. We know there has been a lot of activity in stations around the system, including Victorville, related to ungrounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and its impending return to service this month. We have been informed that training classes have been conducted in preparation for relaunch; however, SWA has had limited communication on the status of your classroom recurrent training and/or hands-on training of troubleshooting or system checks in all workgroups. We encourage you to be compliant and continue your qualification training and keep up-to-date on your training requirements. We will continue to keep you updated as we receive information on MAX training, MAX RTS status, MAX RTS scheduling, or any further MAX updates.
On February 26, 2021, AMFA received notice from NMB Investigator Bautista that the investigation of AMFA’s filing to represent the AMTs at American Airlines is moving into the next phase. Investigator Bautista has directed AMFA and the TWU/IAM Association to file challenges to the proposed eligibility list filed by American Airlines or objections with regard to any other matters and supported by substantive evidence and argument by March 5, 2021. Responses to challenges or objections by all Participants, including the Carrier, must be filed by March 15, 2021. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the Board will not consider evidence on appeal unless it has been initially filed with the Investigator by the above deadline.
We anticipate the TWU/IAM Association will make every attempt to prevent this election by any means necessary. We have been and will continue to work diligently on your behalf to get you the vote you were promised and deserve. The TWU/IAM promised you could vote on the Association and never delivered on that promise. AMFA is now working hard to get you that vote. We appreciate your support. For further updates and information, please visit AMFA at American Airlines page of the AMFA National website.
AMFA’s legislative team continues to contribute and engage discussions related to the Payroll Support Program 3 (PSP3) CARES Act relief package. Be assured, AMFA is adamantly fighting for you under the parameters of the CARES Act. AMFA will be actively engaged with all the new Congress members, Transportation Committees and having further aviation discussions in relations to DOT, FAA, and TSA committees. We are advocating for the craft at the highest levels of TSA (ASAC) and DOT (ARAC) working groups. Please monitor the Legislative Updates page of the AMFA National website for more detail.
Reminder: the FAA Hotline reporting system may be utilized to report concerns of aviation safety: https://hotline.faa.gov/. We must realize our grave responsibility as FAA certified airman to exercise our judgement on the airworthiness of aircraft and equipment. We, therefore, pledge unyielding adherence to these precepts for the advancement of public safety of aviation and for the dignity for our craft.
As always, I ask you to please be safe while being vigilant and to stay engaged with your union and officers. Please monitor your respective carrier page of the AMFA National website for further airline specific details: Alaska Airlines Updates, Horizon Air Updates, Southwest Airlines Updates. Additionally, I encourage you for more carrier specific updates and further information regarding AMFA and the airline industry, please visit the AMFA National Website at www.amfanational.org. Our most determined efforts will only succeed with your support and participation – please stay engaged and informed.
Sincerely,
Bret Oestreich
National Director
