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AMFA-SWA FMT Negotiations Update #3
Aug 17, 2022

August 17, 2022

Participants for AMFA:
Bret Oestreich – National President
Earl Clark – Region I Director
Will Abbott – Region II Director
Craig Hamlet – Local 11 ALR
Ken Patrick – Local 32 ALR
Louis Upchurch – Local 4 ALR
Danny York – Facilities Maintenance DAL
Lucas Middlebrook – Legal Counsel
Peter Manikowski – Economist

Participants for Southwest Airlines:

Anthony Wafer, Sr. – Director Labor Relations
Neal Hanks – Director Labor Relations
Tamara Harrison – Labor Relations Business Consultant
Clint Auten – Sr. Director Corporate Facilities
Tim Hooyman – Sr. Manager Facilities Maintenance
Kris Townsend – Labor Administration Manager
Patrick Breit – Financial - Planning & Analysis
Meghan Kane – Sr. Labor Communication Specialist
Kevin O’Brien – Labor Communication Specialist


The AMFA-SWA Facilities Maintenance (FMT) Negotiating Committee is providing this update to the FMT Membership at Southwest Airlines. This is the only official authorized source of negotiating communications by the Committee.

The Parties held a two-day bargaining session August 10-11 in Dallas to continue Section 6 bargaining toward a successor collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the FMT group. The first day began with a general discussion between the Parties regarding the status of various articles, including conversation regarding each Party’s position on leads and hours of service. The Union confirmed that Article 4 – Classifications, Article 5 – Hours of Service, and Article 6 – Overtime and Holidays would be “tabled” and reexamined as the Parties bargain additional articles.

The Company, on Day 1, provided a counterproposal to the Union’s last pass on Article 24 – General and Miscellaneous, and in that counterproposal, accepted the Union’s proposal for a monthly $25 mobile phone stipend. The Union returned a counterproposal the same day, which removed certain previously passed proposals in an effort to tentatively agree upon Article 24. AMFA, in the afternoon of Day 1, provided the Company with proposals on Article 14 – Wage Rules and Article 15 – Wage Rates. In Article 14, the Union proposed updating the lead language so that the premium would be 6% above the thereafter rate and proposed longevity pay consistent with what is currently in AMFA’s Appearance Technician Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The proposal for Article 15 contained increases to the salary scale as well as a proposal to shorten the time to reach top out from twelve (12) years to six (6) years. The Article 15 pass also contained a proposal to increase license pay. In addition, the Union presented Article 28 – Duration and proposed a five-year term. Finally, the Union presented Article 16 – Profit Sharing / 401(k) in which it proposed inclusion of the “me-too” language currently found in AMFA’s AMT CBA as it pertains to increases in the 401(k) match potentially secured by other labor groups on property except Pilots.

At the outset of Day 2, the Company presented a counterproposal on Article 24 and explained its difficulty agreeing to language that would cover the cost of additional training in the event the Company or a governmental authority mandated additional licenses or certifications related to FMT work. The Company also explained it was amenable to a five-year duration for a new CBA and accepted the Union’s proposal to include the 401(k) “me-too” language proposed in Article 16. The Company delivered a counterproposal on Articles 15 and 16, but unfortunately the Parties remain substantially apart on the economic value associated with those articles. The Union will be prepared to return a counterproposal on those articles at commencement of the next scheduled session. AMFA delivered another Article 24 counterproposal on Day 2, which brought the Parties even closer to tentative agreement on that article. We are optimistic Article 24 could be tentatively agreed to during the next negotiation session.

The Company appeared more focused and prepared than it was during the Parties’ last session in Chicago, and we are hopeful that productivity continues as negotiations proceed. The next session is scheduled for August 30 – September 1 in Denver. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your ALR with any questions. And, as always, stay engaged and remain informed in order to support your Committee and its ability to bargain a CBA your hard work deserves..

Fraternally,

AMFA-SWA FMT Negotiating Committee


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AMFA
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Centennial, CO 80112
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