AMFA Organizing Drive to Replace Association

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Sounds like Gary is taking this opportunity on AMT day to campaign for the Association.
AMT day should never be about union politics. Not all AMT'S are unionized. Enjoy the day to all my fellow AMT'S in the industry.
I know Gary and he is a smart individual. No disrespect to him whatsoever. I'm sure he was told in some way to sugar it up.
He wasn't too smart to incorporate the rally for the Ass. in a letter about AMT Day. Should have been seperate letter. Mixing the two together is just plain wrong. Should have told Peterson to shove it up his Azz.
 
Sounds like Gary is taking this opportunity on AMT day to campaign for the Association.
AMT day should never be about union politics. Not all AMT'S are unionized. Enjoy the day to all my fellow AMT'S in the industry.
I know Gary and he is a smart individual. No disrespect to him whatsoever. I'm sure he was told in some way to sugar it up.

May 24, 2021

To the TWU Local 591 Membership:

On behalf of the Local 591 Executive Board, I would like to wish a Happy AMT Day to the AMTs in our Local. May 24th is a day set aside to celebrate the proud profession of the Aircraft Maintenance Technician. Thankfully, this AMT Day, when compared to last year, the airline industry has a much better outlook. It was a year ago that American Airlines had 429 airplanes parked on the ground and a future that looked bleak.

It is our belief at TWU Local 591 that the greatest compliment to AMT Day is fighting for more AMT jobs in this country, employed by the airlines. As a result of the hard-earned gains in the JCBA, we are once again growing our Membership with several AMTs who are celebrating their very first AMT Day. While another Union has the philosophy to gain higher wages by subsidizing those wages with fewer jobs, Local 591 and our Membership was steadfast in our demand to have both the highest wages in the industry and the most jobs. In fact, no Union has done a better job at defending our jobs as Local 591 has, and that is because our Membership has demonstrated a willingness to fight and walk the informational picket lines at many airports, Time Square NYC, and at Wrigley Field Chicago.

Those efforts resulted in many scope advantages for our Members that are evident in every rebid across the country, especially when you compare them to an airline like Southwest Airlines. The company, in negotiations, often offered us the Southwest mechanic contract, and when you look at the Department of Transportation (DOT) flight numbers and number of mechanics to work those flights; you’ll really see why the company wanted us to accept the Southwest mechanic contract.

Using 2019 DOT flight operations numbers, to be fair with the pandemic reductions, and at some of our stations as examples, think of what we as a Local fought for compared to what the Southwest Airlines Union didn’t fight for.

  • Las Vegas, for example, where American had just over 14,000 flights a year, and Southwest had nearly 71,000 flights a year, yet American has 111 total (AMT, GSE, Facilities) mechanics to Southwest 82. A fivefold increase in Southwest flights but 29 fewer mechanics.
The same comparison in Los Angeles brings a much clearer picture on why scope and scaling back the outsourcing of both former airlines was our number one priority on the informational picket lines.

  • In LAX both American and Southwest had just over 41,000 flights a year, yet American has 620 total mechanics to Southwest 50.
  • Up the road in SFO, an even more stunning result of scope. While American had 13,600 flights, Southwest had 14,600 flights. American has 160 total mechanics, and Southwest has ZERO. Some might say that Southwest has a much bigger operation across the bay in Oakland. That would be correct, as Southwest had more than 41,000 flights, yet they employ only 41 total mechanics. So, more than 55,000 flights in the Bay area and 41 mechanics. By comparison American has 50,000 flights in Miami and we have 931 total mechanics.
  • Staying in California and moving down the coast in San Diego, American had 8,600 flights to Southwest’s nearly 41,000. Yet again, American has 30 total mechanics to Southwest’s 17.
That pattern is continually repeated at station after station and the result is an annual in-house labor savings at Southwest of well over $1.2 million an aircraft in their 734 aircraft fleet over American, or just shy of $1 billion a year in maintenance labor savings that Southwest enjoys. Enough of a savings over American that Southwest can literally pay all their 14,000 Fleet Service Clerks labor costs at top pay on the discount given by their Mechanics contract, and still have a couple bucks leftover.

Scope matters and think about those numbers when it comes to rebids. LAX is a great example of a side-by-side equivalent number of flights operations. 620 total mechanics to 50 mechanics with the same number of flights says it all when you envision what a bid would look like. The reality is that available opportunities on rebids are based on the verbiage negotiated in the contract.

With our philosophy in negotiations, we have more AMTs, in this country, employed at our airline, earning the best wages, to enjoy AMT Day, than any other airline. Afterall, defending the profession means defending the jobs, forcing the wages higher, and keeping them in this country, employed by airlines, and not low-paying vendors. As a Local we will continue to push American to hire more AMTs through enforcement of our contract, and legislation in Congress. We want every bit of work we can secure, like the recent negotiated addition of IFE work, as more work means more jobs, which mean better rebids, which get us the better shifts and days off that we all want and deserve. We should all be proud of the efforts we have collectively done to grow the ranks of AMTs. This year we can celebrate AMT Day at American and be proud knowing that our efforts have resulted in the most AMTs of any airline employed to celebrate the day with.

Finally, and as a reminder, two years ago, and on the feedback of many members, as an Executive Board, we decided not to compete with American on food serving on AMT Day. We will, however, continue with the tradition of serving food on Labor Day. I also want to assure you that our Brothers and Sisters in GSE, Facilities Maintenance, and Stores are not forgotten. Your dedication, skill, and support are a crucial part of what makes us all the success that we are collectively. While AMT Day is dedicated to AMTs, I want to sincerely wish you a Happy AMT Day, and say thank you.

In solidarity,

Gary Schaible

President

TWU Local 591
His letter is complete BS. Completely political 100%. Just shows where the representation at AA cares about the union and asso. more so than the individual members themselves.
His description of how, supposedly, Southwest pays fewer mechanics to offset the payments to fleet is completely made up BS. Not at all how it happens here at all. He better described exactly how it is done at AA between their mechanics and fleet to a "T". Just another example how their minds are so focused on the fleet group at AA and the mechanics groups are just a small thought in their minds and always put on the back burners.
1AA, I too was in hopes of "something" coming out on AMT day, however, it would still be appropriate anytime this week during AMT Day week...
 
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He wasn't too smart to incorporate the rally for the Ass. in a letter about AMT Day. Should have been seperate letter. Mixing the two together is just plain wrong. Should have told Peterson to shove it up his Azz.
Most all the leadership in the asso./IAM/TWU are not too smart. They will do their very own harm to themselves during this upcoming vote as they always do, and it will get really bad this time around as they get more and more desperate.
 

Continuing the Fight for AA Mechanics and Related Employees​


May 26, 2021

Dear American Airlines Mechanics and Related Employees:

We are at the six (6) month mark since AMFA filed your signed authorization for representation cards with the National Mediation Board (NMB) in November 2020, and we remain in a holding pattern awaiting the conclusion of the NMB’s investigation to verify and commence a representation election. During the course of the investigation process, AMFA continues to work diligently on your behalf to get you the vote you were promised and deserve.

Throughout the course of your grassroots organizing campaign and the ongoing NMB investigation, the TWU/IAM has recurrently distributed deceitful propaganda to its members. On November 30, 2020, AMFA addressed the “IAM Poison Pill” in our Position Statement and Continuing Interference of the RLA’s Laboratory Conditions, where AMFA raised the issue regarding the new Mechanic and Related Employees Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Article 29 — Benefits language, which in effect violates the Carrier’s legal obligation of neutrality. AMFA reiterated that this CBA provision was intended to impede AMFA both in its efforts to collect authorization cards, but also to adversely affect AMFA’s chances in an NMB election with certain employees who stand to lose certain health benefits should the TWU/IAM Association lose its representation rights at American Airlines.

On April 22, 2021, AMFA requested that the NMB direct American Airlines to take corrective action to remedy its prior and continuing interference with the “laboratory conditions” required under the RLA, or alternatively, that the Carrier take corrective action on its own initiative to remedy its interference with the “laboratory conditions” required under the RLA by affirmatively stating in writing to the NMB that it now intends to remain neutral in this representation dispute and therefore will not enforce any language in the CBA to the detriment or loss of benefits of any employee in this craft or class resulting from any change in representation in this NMB case.

In addition to the mistruths disseminated to their members, the TWU/IAM has further submitted inaccurate information to the NMB. In response, AMFA has filed an abundance of exhibits, 20 years’ worth of data and documentation, and necessary substantive evidence required to disprove the TWU/IAM’s numerous frivolous requests to manipulate the eligibility list by requesting to add thousands of ineligible employees not employed under the Mechanic and Related class and craft.

AMFA still believes the NMB investigator will determine there are more than enough cards to get you the long overdue and well-deserved union representation election. Furthermore, it appears the TWU/IAM has lost confidence in their recurrent false claims of AMFA not providing adequate cards to induce a representation election, and they are coming to realize an election is anticipated.

Most importantly, your unexpired, current CBA with American Airlines will remain in effect for your group, and this hold true even when an election is conducted and you are represented by AMFA. As you approach the amendable date of your CBA and section 6 negotiations in approximately three and half (3 ½) years, we are confident AMFA leaders who are all from the mechanic and related class and craft will be a unified front, negotiating to achieve the desires of the AA membership.

AMFA remains eager to represent your group and unify your power under one craft union. AMFA is always transparent with our union members because we respect employee choice and never forget that our power as an organization comes from you ─ AMFA Powered By Our Members. For further updates and information, please visit AMFA at the American Airlines page or the AMFA National website.

In Solidarity,
Gene Painter
Assistant National Director
 
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Is anyone receiving any info on what the delay is about? Is the investigator still waiting on the company for info and details? Just curious.
Maybe by summer???
 
Is anyone receiving any info on what the delay is about? Is the investigator still waiting on the company for info and details? Just curious.
Maybe by summer???
I haven’t heard of anything for about 2 weeks now
 
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June 4, 2021

Dear TWU-IAM Association member,

The National Mediation Board (NMB) is still in the process of determining if a representation dispute exists among the Mechanic and Related class and craft at American Airlines, based on the AMFA filing representational cards. We have also been asked if the NMB determines a representation dispute does exist, who will be on the ballot. If the NMB does conduct a representation election, the options will be the TWU-IAM Association, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, no-union, and write in.

We understand that many American Airlines Mechanic and Related workers signed AMFA authorization cards because they were extremely frustrated with the pace of joint contract negotiations between the Association and American Airlines management. However, even with the AMFA trying to divide us during such a critical time, our unity and solidarity endured and we were able to negotiate and ratify the best Mechanic and Related contract ever negotiated in the airline industry. And, through that unity and solidarity we are poised to make future gains, which will benefit us, our families and our communities.

Not only were we able to negotiate industry top wages and cash compensation, we also fought for and achieved industry-leading benefit, retirement and work/job protections. That's the hard stuff and the issues that American management pushed back on with all its might. It became so adversarial that a Federal District Court in Texas slapped a bogus injunction on us and threatened us with hundreds of millions of dollars in fines. Through all of it, we stuck together, engaged in concerted actions to make our voices heard and won the best contract ever negotiated in the airline industry. We should be proud.

However, during this time, AMFA began to prey on the frustrations of Association members, during our negotiations, often telling members we could never achieve the contractual gains our membership eventually ratified. At the same time, AMFA achieved almost nothing, other than backpay, after nearly seven years of negotiations at Southwest. In true AMFA fashion, AMFA organizers bought into company propaganda telling members to demand a vote on American management's proposal, seeking to divide and dilute our collective strength. That's not what a real union does.

There are serious risks to AMFA representation based on its representation model and its history. Simply, the AMFA sells work for wages because it does not have the resources to fight for everything. Currently, AMFA contracts at Southwest and Alaska Airlines, allow for the most outsourcing of aircraft maintenance and related work in the airline industry. The AMFA allows for so much maintenance and related outsourcing that at Southwest and Alaska Airlines, there are only 3 and 4 mechanics per aircraft, respectively. By contrast, because we fought American tooth and nail to protect our work, we have about 16 mechanics per aircraft employed. That's a lot of work and jobs protected.

The AMFA's history also tells us that under AMFA representation, jobs will be lost. After their membership raids at Northwest over 9,000 jobs lost, United about 3,300 jobs lost, and at Alaska Airlines AMFA agreed to allow the contracting out of ALL heavy maintenance work for a loss of nearly 500 jobs. All of these examples are due to the AMFA's lack of power to protect work. Click here to read more about the AMFA's historical failures.

Also, let's just look at the last year. With the largest decline in air travel ever in the airline industry due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, TWU and IAM members mobilized and led the way, with other AFL-CIO affiliated unions, to achieve the Payroll Support Program (PSP), which has kept every single airline worker employed during the worst crisis in aviation history. We didn't just write a letter, we mobilized. We met with the US President, US Senators and US Representatives and ensured we achieved job protection for all airline workers. The AMFA didn't lift a finger to make that happen.

The bottom line is, all American Airlines Mechanic and Related workers face great risks to our future if the AMFA is our representative.

Let's continue to strengthen our unity and solidarity and get ready for the fights that will undoubtedly come in the future. Together we have already demonstrated the power and resolve to achieve our worth and value we rightly deserve.

In solidarity,



Gary Peterson Dave Supplee
 
Can't wait for the Gary Peterson ranting YouTube video. Remember that Gary Peterson has the most to lose if we dump the Association for a class and craft union representating the skilled workers.
 
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The above post is the latest BS from Peterson, Don't fall for this line of crap stand fast with your dedication for a better representative Union, which will be AMFA when the NMB does give M&R work group a VOTE. AS you know the current contract was signed last year YET they still are working out all the kimks as they say. Why in all the time they had during the negotiation process didn't they do that. They are just trying to find a way to keep your dues. The ASSociation cares NOTHING about the M&R work group. It's time for them to GO.
 
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