AMFA's release of July/August updates

[SWAMECH]

A busy year for the AMFA National. With all the new airline mechanic groups retaining AMFA representation they will be busy for some time to come.
Glad ours is a done deal this early. Hope all the others get into their first contract as soon as possible. It appears a couple of the airlines are dragging their feet on getting the contracts done.
Nice to see AMFA and L3 in talks about adding maint for the new 330's. Always nice to see maint growth and expansion...

NATIONAL PRESIDENT UPDATE - JULY & AUGUST 2023

Sep 11, 2023​

To: Re: Date: AMFA Locals and Members National President’s Monthly Update for July & August 2023 September 11, 2023 Dear Members: Twenty-two years ago, the airline industry was shaken when terrorists used commercial aircraft to attack the United States. Everyone was impacted by this horrific event and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, families, and first responders who were directly affected. We will never forget the remembrance of 9/11/2001. The industry was forever changed that fateful day in terms of national security and public safety. Through those trying days and the years following when the industry worked to regain public trust, one thing remained solid — the vigilance and dedication of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and related skilled workgroups to produce a safe, airworthy aircraft for the flying public. Our unwavering commitment to safety is dependable and valuable. AMFA will continue to promote our craft until employers fully recognize the value our skilled trades provide to their successful aircraft maintenance technical operations. AMFA and WestJet Airlines (WJA) met on September 7, and will meet again on October 3-5. The AMFA-WJA Employee Survey, providing an opportunity for WJA employees to prioritize items in negotiations, will close on September 12. Discussions are also ongoing in regard to the WJA-Sunwing merger and options under the Section 18 process and integration of the maintenance barging units. We will keep you informed and updated as the discussions and developments unfold. For further updates and information, please visit the WestJet page of the AMFA National website. At AMFA-L3 Harris MAS (L3), we are in exploratory discussions on the implementation of a new station in Ottawa, ON to maintain two new A330 aircraft to the L3 fleet, while the Trenton, ON membership will continue to maintain the A310 fleet. We will keep you updated as we move forward in this process. For further updates and information, please visit the L3 Harris MAS page of the AMFA National website. AMFA and Alaska Airlines (AS) Negotiating Committees held bargaining sessions on July 11-12 in Seattle, August 15-17 in New York, and September 5-7 in Seattle. We want to thank the observers for their time and engagement in this collective bargaining process. Please review the AMFA negotiation updates on the Alaska Airlines page of the AMFA National Website. The AMFA and Sun Country Airlines (SCA) Negotiating Committees held a bargaining session on July 18-20 in Minneapolis. The AMFA Committee gave a comprehensive package with all articles at the June 13-15 session, and the Company responded with single-article counter offers with little to no movement forward in those sessions. We are scheduled to reconvene September 26-28 in Minneapolis in preparation for the Company’s economic proposal and response. Please visit the Sun Country Airlines page of the AMFA National website for updates. AMFA and Spirit Airlines (NKS) held Section 6 Negotiations on June 20-22 in Dallas and August 22-24 in Ft. Lauderdale. The common theme for these negotiations is the Company Committee's lack of preparedness and delay tactics. We will meet again on September 12-14 and October 24-26 in Dallas. For further updates and information, please visit the Spirit Airlines page of the AMFA National website. On July 27 the AMFA-Southwest Airlines (SWA) AMT Tentative Agreement (TA) was ratified by the affected membership. It is gratifying to see our wages rightfully increase and AMFA continue to achieve industry-leading agreements. For more information, please visit the Southwest Airlines page of the AMFA National Website. Thank you to the AMFA-Horizon (QX) Air members for submitting contract amendment proposals for the upcoming Section 6 Negotiations. The proposals will soon be prepared for a prioritization survey of the membership to help guide your Negotiating Committee. For further updates, please visit the Horizon Air page of the AMFA National website. Please utilize your carrier’s Safety Reporting System (SRS) when you feel there are safety or compliance concerns while performing your job. In addition to your carrier’s SRS, the FAA Hotline may be utilized to report concerns about aviation safety: https://hotline.faa.gov/. We must realize our immense responsibility as FAA-certified airmen to exercise judgment 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 of our craft. I ask you to remain vigilant and engaged with your union and officers. In doing so, monitor your respective carrier page on the AMFA National website for airline-specific details. Our most determined efforts will only succeed with your support and participation – please stay engaged and informed. Sincerely, Bret Oestreich National President

 

[WeAAsles]

 

[WeAAsles]

A busy year for the AMFA National. With all the new airline mechanic groups retaining AMFA representation they will be busy for some time to come.
Glad ours is a done deal this early. Hope all the others get into their first contract as soon as possible. It appears a couple of the airlines are dragging their feet on getting the contracts done.
Nice to see AMFA and L3 in talks about adding maint for the new 330's. Always nice to see maint growth and expansion...

NATIONAL PRESIDENT UPDATE - JULY & AUGUST 2023

Sep 11, 2023​

To: Re: Date: AMFA Locals and Members National President’s Monthly Update for July & August 2023 September 11, 2023 Dear Members: Twenty-two years ago, the airline industry was shaken when terrorists used commercial aircraft to attack the United States. Everyone was impacted by this horrific event and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, families, and first responders who were directly affected. We will never forget the remembrance of 9/11/2001. The industry was forever changed that fateful day in terms of national security and public safety. Through those trying days and the years following when the industry worked to regain public trust, one thing remained solid — the vigilance and dedication of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and related skilled workgroups to produce a safe, airworthy aircraft for the flying public. Our unwavering commitment to safety is dependable and valuable. AMFA will continue to promote our craft until employers fully recognize the value our skilled trades provide to their successful aircraft maintenance technical operations. AMFA and WestJet Airlines (WJA) met on September 7, and will meet again on October 3-5. The AMFA-WJA Employee Survey, providing an opportunity for WJA employees to prioritize items in negotiations, will close on September 12. Discussions are also ongoing in regard to the WJA-Sunwing merger and options under the Section 18 process and integration of the maintenance barging units. We will keep you informed and updated as the discussions and developments unfold. For further updates and information, please visit the WestJet page of the AMFA National website. At AMFA-L3 Harris MAS (L3), we are in exploratory discussions on the implementation of a new station in Ottawa, ON to maintain two new A330 aircraft to the L3 fleet, while the Trenton, ON membership will continue to maintain the A310 fleet. We will keep you updated as we move forward in this process. For further updates and information, please visit the L3 Harris MAS page of the AMFA National website. AMFA and Alaska Airlines (AS) Negotiating Committees held bargaining sessions on July 11-12 in Seattle, August 15-17 in New York, and September 5-7 in Seattle. We want to thank the observers for their time and engagement in this collective bargaining process. Please review the AMFA negotiation updates on the Alaska Airlines page of the AMFA National Website. The AMFA and Sun Country Airlines (SCA) Negotiating Committees held a bargaining session on July 18-20 in Minneapolis. The AMFA Committee gave a comprehensive package with all articles at the June 13-15 session, and the Company responded with single-article counter offers with little to no movement forward in those sessions. We are scheduled to reconvene September 26-28 in Minneapolis in preparation for the Company’s economic proposal and response. Please visit the Sun Country Airlines page of the AMFA National website for updates. AMFA and Spirit Airlines (NKS) held Section 6 Negotiations on June 20-22 in Dallas and August 22-24 in Ft. Lauderdale. The common theme for these negotiations is the Company Committee's lack of preparedness and delay tactics. We will meet again on September 12-14 and October 24-26 in Dallas. For further updates and information, please visit the Spirit Airlines page of the AMFA National website. On July 27 the AMFA-Southwest Airlines (SWA) AMT Tentative Agreement (TA) was ratified by the affected membership. It is gratifying to see our wages rightfully increase and AMFA continue to achieve industry-leading agreements. For more information, please visit the Southwest Airlines page of the AMFA National Website. Thank you to the AMFA-Horizon (QX) Air members for submitting contract amendment proposals for the upcoming Section 6 Negotiations. The proposals will soon be prepared for a prioritization survey of the membership to help guide your Negotiating Committee. For further updates, please visit the Horizon Air page of the AMFA National website. Please utilize your carrier’s Safety Reporting System (SRS) when you feel there are safety or compliance concerns while performing your job. In addition to your carrier’s SRS, the FAA Hotline may be utilized to report concerns about aviation safety: https://hotline.faa.gov/. We must realize our immense responsibility as FAA-certified airmen to exercise judgment 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 of our craft. I ask you to remain vigilant and engaged with your union and officers. In doing so, monitor your respective carrier page on the AMFA National website for airline-specific details. Our most determined efforts will only succeed with your support and participation – please stay engaged and informed. Sincerely, Bret Oestreich National President

So Swamp do you think AMFA will eventually agree to a deal with these Airlines to outsource Maintenance to El Salvador for a few dollars raise and agreeing to staff a small handful of locations.

Member want to know Swamp?

 

[CorvetteMan]

They already outsource to Aeroman in El Salvador

 

[WeAAsles]

They already outsource to Aeroman in El Salvador

I’m sure they do. But I’m also sure when AMFA (Some day) signs their first contracts with these groups that practice will be agreed to continue.

 

[Vortilon]

So Swamp do you think AMFA will eventually agree to a deal with these Airlines to outsource Maintenance to El Salvador for a few dollars raise and agreeing to staff a small handful of locations.

Member want to know Swamp?

View attachment 17441

Why is an AA baggage handler trolling SWA AMTs? We don't have anything to brag about here at AA and, you don't represent AA's AMTs anyway. Stop throwing stones, you live in a glass house.

 

[SWAMECH]

Why is an AA baggage handler trolling SWA AMTs? We don't have anything to brag about here at AA and, you don't represent AA's AMTs anyway. Stop throwing stones, you live in a glass house.

These guys have been here trying to discredit and slam AMFA since they have been growing at an additional 4-6 airlines in the last couple or three years, and with more coming.
Your previous comment about the outsourcing ratios are correct, SWA has always outsourced A/C maint at an approx ratio of 65-75% since day one when they were represented by the IAM first then the teamsters for 30-35 years. And it was the teamsters that allowed the first contract to go out of the US for A/C maint when they nego to allow SWA to go to Canada first then they opened the doors for El Salvador. Matter fact teamsters allowed full bore no restriction outsourcing over seas, so when the teamsters were fired and AMFA was brought in AMFA worked hard at canceling the over seas and out of the US maint work. Seeing how the co would not budge on that issue, AMFA then worked hard on getting restriction and limits set that the teamsters never had, as they nego a wide open unrestrictive outsourcing over seas and out of the US.
You may already know all this since you are a mechanic (AMT) but it does deserve to get mentioned again with these yahoo's on here still spreading false info and completely made up BS about AMFA.
I quit reading their BS a long time ago, and as you can see so has everyone else that use to read it.

Vortilon, I believe your contract is up in 24, and we are hoping you guys will surpass our latest contract and by a good margin so the airline industry will have a new target to shoot for. Just glad we were able to start it off with a new level with this past contract extension. Our final top out will put us at approx $10 over current topped out leader (before our new agreement) not sure if the twu can get that kind of a spread done in 24, but would love to see it. Good luck in 2024 during nego's

 

[SWAMECH]

On a second note Vortilon, I went and looked at our term sheet again as I thought it was UAL that was on top at time of our AIP, I was wrong, it was non-union Delta mechanics at the top @ 62.02. My bad. Term sheet below shows where airline industry is and when contract become amendable.
Looks like AS is in talks now, AA will go in 2024, UAL in 2025, Hawaiin in early 2026 and the us, SWA, also in 2026. Let the leapfrogging begin. Page 2 of term sheet below shows the chart of airlines and dates;


AMFA-SWA AMT CBA EXTENSION AIP TERM SHEET SUMMARY
June 4, 2023 -- AMFA and Southwest Airlines have reached an agreement in principle (AIP) on an extension to the Mechanics and Related collective bargaining agreement (CBA). AMFA and Southwest will now work to convert the AIP into a tentative agreement (TA) for your review and ratification. Attached is a summary of the AIP.
Read More

 

[WeAAsles]

Why is an AA baggage handler trolling SWA AMTs? We don't have anything to brag about here at AA and, you don't represent AA's AMTs anyway. Stop throwing stones, you live in a glass house.

You don’t have anything to brag about. Well let me be so kind as to share with you then.

Oh and that outsource percentage was before they agreed to outsource even MORE work.

 

[WeAAsles]

These guys have been here trying to discredit and slam AMFA since they have been growing at an additional 4-6 airlines in the last couple or three years, and with more coming.
Your previous comment about the outsourcing ratios are correct, SWA has always outsourced A/C maint at an approx ratio of 65-75% since day one when they were represented by the IAM first then the teamsters for 30-35 years. And it was the teamsters that allowed the first contract to go out of the US for A/C maint when they nego to allow SWA to go to Canada first then they opened the doors for El Salvador. Matter fact teamsters allowed full bore no restriction outsourcing over seas, so when the teamsters were fired and AMFA was brought in AMFA worked hard at canceling the over seas and out of the US maint work. Seeing how the co would not budge on that issue, AMFA then worked hard on getting restriction and limits set that the teamsters never had, as they nego a wide open unrestrictive outsourcing over seas and out of the US.
You may already know all this since you are a mechanic (AMT) but it does deserve to get mentioned again with these yahoo's on here still spreading false info and completely made up BS about AMFA.
I quit reading their BS a long time ago, and as you can see so has everyone else that use to read it.

Vortilon, I believe your contract is up in 24, and we are hoping you guys will surpass our latest contract and by a good margin so the airline industry will have a new target to shoot for. Just glad we were able to start it off with a new level with this past contract extension. Our final top out will put us at approx $10 over current topped out leader (before our new agreement) not sure if the twu can get that kind of a spread done in 24, but would love to see it. Good luck in 2024 during nego's

AMFA has represented SWA AMT’s for 20 years now. And even after 20 years continues to make excuses. You have not held the line on outsourcing. You just agreed to give up even more of your work.

YOU did this. Not the IAM, not the IBT, YOU AMFA.

 

[WeAAsles]

On a second note Vortilon, I went and looked at our term sheet again as I thought it was UAL that was on top at time of our AIP, I was wrong, it was non-union Delta mechanics at the top @ 62.02. My bad. Term sheet below shows where airline industry is and when contract become amendable.
Looks like AS is in talks now, AA will go in 2024, UAL in 2025, Hawaiin in early 2026 and the us, SWA, also in 2026. Let the leapfrogging begin. Page 2 of term sheet below shows the chart of airlines and dates;


AMFA-SWA AMT CBA EXTENSION AIP TERM SHEET SUMMARY
June 4, 2023 -- AMFA and Southwest Airlines have reached an agreement in principle (AIP) on an extension to the Mechanics and Related collective bargaining agreement (CBA). AMFA and Southwest will now work to convert the AIP into a tentative agreement (TA) for your review and ratification. Attached is a summary of the AIP.
Read More

Why do you keep making it sound as if leapfrogging is new? It’s been going on since Humans first invented the monetary system. As long as the revenue and profits are there each group will always leapfrog the next. The question is not if they will but by how much.

And stop giving away all your work when you don’t have to for Gods sake.

 

[eolesen]

Great graphics....

Now show relative debt and profitability.

I'll never get why some of y'all are more hung up on slamming who represents the competition than you are about what's going into your wallet or how well your own CBA is structured.

Some unions figured out that higher pay works out better than having more dues payers....

 

[SWAMECH]

Great graphics....

Now show relative debt and profitability.

I'll never get why some of y'all are more hung up on slamming who represents the competition than you are about what's going into your wallet or how well your own CBA is structured.

Some unions figured out that higher pay works out better than having more dues payers....

Reality. Well said E.

 

[Jalsporteam]

Great graphics....

Now show relative debt and profitability.

I'll never get why some of y'all are more hung up on slamming who represents the competition than you are about what's going into your wallet or how well your own CBA is structured.

Some unions figured out that higher pay works out better than having more dues payers....

Thats where you're wrong they still pay dues and tried to double it. Go to the pilots forums, I wouldn't trade where I work for a couple of bucks to work like a dog and have constant injuries and bragging about being the lowest ratio of aircraft mechanics to planes. Reddit has a list somewhere that show the full scope of benefits, they are way behind. don't look at just pay, even their pilots are worked to death. Now thats reality.

 

[WeAAsles]

Thats where you're wrong they still pay dues and tried to double it. Go to the pilots forums, I wouldn't trade where I work for a couple of bucks to work like a dog and have constant injuries and bragging about being the lowest ratio of aircraft mechanics to planes. Reddit has a list somewhere that show the full scope of benefits, they are way behind. don't look at just pay, even their pilots are worked to death. Now thats reality.

That’s true for the Ramp as well. They have mandatory day off overtime in their Contract and management uses it often. Many times forcing them to work both days off. So sure they make money but they get their asses handed to them to earn it. They even just voted down their newest TA by 63% which I’m hearing was for 3 reasons. Pay for the lower scales, the never ending mandatory and they say their medical sucks.