January 5, 2021 -- Happy New Year! I think we’re reassessing the definition of “normal life” and what that actually means as well as what this new year will optimistically bring. We hope you and your family had a safe Christmas and New Year, while celebrating the best you could under the confines brought on by this invisible virus. We have all made great sacrifices and adjustments in our personal lives as well as in our workplaces during this last year. Your AMFA Officers and Representatives look forward to continuing to fight for your profession as your voice and confidante in representing you in 2021. Read More...
January 2, 2021 -- As you know on December 18th, we had completed the hearings for all three Expedited Arbitrations (AMT, App Tech, and FMT) for furlough protection. AMFA was to the point where briefs were due to the arbitrators starting next week. Read More... Download: 20210102_AMFA_SWA_ALR_Mbrshp_Update_7.pdf
December 21, 2020 -- Congress has reached a tentative deal on a stimulus that includes a PSP Extension. While we wait for the House and Senate to vote, and the President’s signature for it to become law, the following summarizes the extension... Read More...
December 18, 2020 -- In consideration of health, safety, and travel concerns as well as current state restrictions and quarantine mandates for many of our attendees and their families, the National Executive Council (NEC) has voted unanimously to postpone the AMFA National Convention indefinitely until 2/3 of the Local Delegates and Alternates have agreed to attend the National Convention or 50% of the delegation has been vaccinated. The NEC will gauge this 2/3 threshold by conducting a survey of the Delegates and Alternates. Read More... Download: 20201218_National_Convention_Postponement.pdf
December 10, 2020 -- We wanted to reach out and give you an update following AMFA’s filing for a representation dispute on your behalf with the National Mediation Board (NMB) for the American Airlines (AA) Mechanic and Related workgroups. As previously outlined in our last update, “We have filed with the NMB” dated November 13, 2020. We have been assigned both an NMB Case No. R-7557 and NMB Investigator Josie G.M. Bautista. On Friday December 4, 2020, American Airlines’ Vice President of Labor Relations, Lucrecia D. Guia, provided to the NMB a list containing 13,213 potential eligible voters and signature samples for each employee on their list, and Investigator Bautista acknowledged this submission of American Airlines Inc Potential Eligible Voters list in correspondence on December 8, 2020.
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December 8, 2020 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) applauds Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao for her decision to appoint an aircraft maintenance technician (AMT) to the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). AMFA Executive Director of Government Affairs and Southwest Airlines AMT Justin Madden’s appointment to the ARAC fills a critical void in the Committee’s membership. Read More...
December 7, 2020 -- The undersigned organizations, representing a broad cross-section of the aviation community, strongly urge your support of the PARTT 147 Act (S.3043/H.R.5427). The bill would mandate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulatory reform of aviation technician education, empower innovative curriculum development, and reinforce a workforce pipeline that will be vital to a strong, post-pandemic recovery. Read More... Download: 20201207_PARTT147Act-IndustrySupportLtr.pdf
November 24, 2020 -- In collaboration with the Commemorative Air Force, Dallas College, Workforce Dallas, as well as other university and industry partners on a sheet metal program for underrepresented groups in aviation, AMFA has been asked to solicit our membership for interest in becoming an instructor for the program. Although the program is in the early stages of development, and details have yet to be finalized, finding an instructor is one of the most important parts of the process. Read More... Download: Sheet_Metal_Instructor_Dalla_College_20201124.pdf
November 18, 2020 -- Southwest Airlines notified AMFA of its intent to execute a mass furlough of 403 Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, Facilities Maintenance Technicians, and Aircraft Appearance Technicians, scheduled to take place on January 25, 2021. This action is being taken in retaliation for Southwest’s perceived lack of progress in cost savings discussions with the union. To make this threat more explicit, Southwest suggested the furloughs could be avoided if we agree to cost savings measures (voluntary wage concessions), if additional government aid is extended to the airline or if there is an unforeseen revenue increase. Read More...
October 22, 2020 -- In an effort to scare its membership into remaining members of a poorly run union, the TWU/IAM Association is trying to play up their clout in Washington D.C. while de-emphasizing AMFA’s contributions and their importance to the aircraft mechanic and related maintenance workers’ class and craft. There is no doubt that the IAM and TWU parent organizations spend considerable resources maintaining offices in and around Washington, D.C. They often lobby on behalf of their membership, but how much of that lobbying and money spent is actually for the aircraft mechanic and related?
October 19, 2020 -- As many are aware, the members of unions representing the American Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) are conducting a card drive in an effort to displace the dysfunctional alliance between TWU and IAM with AMFA — a singular craft-specific union that specializes in the representation of mechanic and related personnel. This movement within the union’s membership is a result of ineffective representation by the incumbents. Their grievances with the incumbent dual union compromise are many.
October 19, 2020 -- In accordance with the terms outlined in Article 23, Wage Rules, AMFA and Alaska Airlines met via video conference on October 15, 2020, to discuss the first Annual Wage Review of our current Extension Agreement. Both sides examined all data used for the review. We conducted the external review with the data we had, comparing the all-in wage to our primary competitors in accordance with the Agreement. Read More...
October 19, 2020 -- Last week AEI held its 48th Annual Congress virtually utilizing the Teams Application due to the realities of the Covid-19 virus that has swept the world. At first there was a plan to have the executive board gather in person and have the delegates from our affiliate unions join an on-line meeting; however, as the date got near and the virus started its fall surge, travel restrictions were raised, and that plan had to be abandoned in favor of an all virtual meeting. The Congress was well coordinated and attended, even with the participants being in various time zones around the globe. Read More...
October 9, 2020 -- Today, on behalf of AMFA’s membership and our craft, the National Director wrote a letter to Congressional leadership in support of extending Payroll Support Protection (PSP) for six additional months. In the letter, he indicated that “as the unseen backbone of the aviation industry,” aircraft mechanics and related are essential to the economic recovery of the nation, and urged leadership to either pass the bipartisan stand-alone legislation or include a PSP extension in any impending stimulus.
Read More... Download: 20201009_Memo_CongressionalLetter_RE_PSP_Funding_Ext final.pdf
October 8, 2020 -- Today, October 8, 2020, the National Executive Council (NEC) was notified by the AMFA–Southwest Airlines (SWA) Airline Representatives (ALR) of a meeting with SWA pertaining to requested concessions to begin January 1, 2021, running through the entire year. In addition, any step or annual raises would be frozen during that same period. Read More...
October 1, 2020 -- Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) National Director Bret Oestreich released the following statement: On behalf of the more than 4,000 aircraft mechanics representing Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and Southwest Airlines, AMFA applauds Senate passage of the Restoring Safety in the Skies Act of 2020 introduced by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and commends these Senators for their prudence and leadership on this issue. Read More...
May 24, 2020 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is proud to recognize the expert mechanics that make up our field on the annual AMT Day each May 24.“On behalf of AMFA members and members of our craft, we are proud of the AMTs, also known as aircraft mechanics, who use their knowledge, skill and integrity each and every day to maintain our country’s aircraft,” said AMFA National Director Bret Oestreich. Read More...
OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the whistleblower provisions of more than twenty whistleblower statutes protecting employees who report violations of various workplace safety and health, airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, and securities laws. Rights afforded by these whistleblower protection laws include, but are not limited to, worker participation in safety and health activities, reporting a work-related injury, illness or fatality, or reporting a violation of the statutes herein. Read More... Download: SWA Supervisor.pdf
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Safety in the Air Begins with Quality Maintenance on the Ground
Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association
7853 E. Arapahoe Court, Suite 1100
Centennial, CO 80112
Phone: 303-752-AMFA (2632)