- Dec 21, 2002
- 5,998
- 347
United Airlines mechanics pick AMFA as union
By Marilyn Adams, USA TODAY
Amid a bankruptcy reorganization, pay cuts and thousands of furloughs, United Airlines mechanics have thrown out their longtime union and chosen a new one.
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) won 63.5% of the vote, defeating the International Association of Machinists (IAM), both unions said Monday. A total of 8,239 votes cast over several days were tallied by the National Mediation Board. About 4,900 mechanics didn't vote.
AMFA said the result makes it the nation's largest union representing airline mechanics. IAM had represented United mechanics since 1945.
United becomes the largest of eight airlines whose mechanics have chosen the an independent craft union over traditional unions belonging to the AFL-CIO. AMFA now represents 20,000 aircraft mechanics at Alaska, ATA, Northwest, Southwest, United and three regional airlines.
Highly skilled airline mechanics have long complained that their interests were poorly served by large traditional unions, where they were lumped in with many relatively unskilled airline workers whose wage levels and workplace issues were much different from theirs.
The lopsided union vote comes as United parent UAL and other financially strapped airlines are cutting costs by reducing flights, laying off mechanics along with other workers and outsourcing more aircraft maintenance to cheaper, non-union contractors known as repair stations. United recently shut two maintenance bases.
AMFA's victory Monday won't change a six-year labor contract recently negotiated by the IAM and UAL and approved by mechanics to help UAL cut costs to survive. The cuts in wages, work rules and benefits will remain in place through April 2009. A different IAM unit will continue to represent about 26,000 United ramp, public contact, food service and other workers not involved in the election.
AMFA officials said they plan to ask the bankruptcy court trustee to grant the union a seat on UAL's creditors' committee, but that isn't assured. AMFA also will ask mechanics whether they want a seat on UAL's board. IAM holds seats on both, but AMFA national director O.V. Delle-Femine said he considers a board seat a "conflict of interest" for a union.
"What good has a seat on the board done the mechanics?" he said.
Although AMFA can't change the contract, the change will give UAL mechanics "hope, because they will know what their union is doing from now on," he said.
AMFA leaders scheduled a meeting with UAL officials next week.
By Marilyn Adams, USA TODAY
Amid a bankruptcy reorganization, pay cuts and thousands of furloughs, United Airlines mechanics have thrown out their longtime union and chosen a new one.
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) won 63.5% of the vote, defeating the International Association of Machinists (IAM), both unions said Monday. A total of 8,239 votes cast over several days were tallied by the National Mediation Board. About 4,900 mechanics didn't vote.
AMFA said the result makes it the nation's largest union representing airline mechanics. IAM had represented United mechanics since 1945.
United becomes the largest of eight airlines whose mechanics have chosen the an independent craft union over traditional unions belonging to the AFL-CIO. AMFA now represents 20,000 aircraft mechanics at Alaska, ATA, Northwest, Southwest, United and three regional airlines.
Highly skilled airline mechanics have long complained that their interests were poorly served by large traditional unions, where they were lumped in with many relatively unskilled airline workers whose wage levels and workplace issues were much different from theirs.
The lopsided union vote comes as United parent UAL and other financially strapped airlines are cutting costs by reducing flights, laying off mechanics along with other workers and outsourcing more aircraft maintenance to cheaper, non-union contractors known as repair stations. United recently shut two maintenance bases.
AMFA's victory Monday won't change a six-year labor contract recently negotiated by the IAM and UAL and approved by mechanics to help UAL cut costs to survive. The cuts in wages, work rules and benefits will remain in place through April 2009. A different IAM unit will continue to represent about 26,000 United ramp, public contact, food service and other workers not involved in the election.
AMFA officials said they plan to ask the bankruptcy court trustee to grant the union a seat on UAL's creditors' committee, but that isn't assured. AMFA also will ask mechanics whether they want a seat on UAL's board. IAM holds seats on both, but AMFA national director O.V. Delle-Femine said he considers a board seat a "conflict of interest" for a union.
"What good has a seat on the board done the mechanics?" he said.
Although AMFA can't change the contract, the change will give UAL mechanics "hope, because they will know what their union is doing from now on," he said.
AMFA leaders scheduled a meeting with UAL officials next week.
