AMFA was certified at Southwest Airlines on January 27, 2003, and the Association currently represents over 3,300 members who maintain the airlines fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. The current contracts become amendable August 16, 2027, for the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians; July 31, 2027, for the Appearance Technicians; and November 16, 2027, for the Facilities Maintenance Technicians.
October 8, 2024 -- The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) 401K Me Too Clause Enactment Letter of Agreement (LOA) Referendum were tallied on October 8, 2024.
September 16, 2024 -- In June 2024, Elliott Investment Management (“Elliott”) began an “activist investor” campaign to acquire a sizeable percentage of Southwest Airlines (“Southwest”) shares and thereby exert influence over the Southwest Board of Directors (the “Board”). Activist investing is the process by which hedge funds build large stakes in underperforming companies to persuade leadership to enact changes to return the company to profitability. In July 2024, Elliott began holding meetings with several labor unions at Southwest, including SWAPA and TWU. We understand the subjects of these meetings were to introduce the parties, allow Elliott to understand the various unions’ perspectives on the current state of labor relations at Southwest, and for Elliott to receive union feedback regarding its activist investor campaign. 20240916_Memo_AMFA-SWA_Meeting_re_Elliott_Investment_Mgmt.pdf
September 16, 2024 - AMFA National is currently conducting a system-wide referendum for the AMFA-Southwest Airlines (SWA) 401K Me Too Clause Enactment Letter of Agreement (LOA). The complete text of the LOA is available at your Local and on the voting site for your review and consideration.
August 2, 2024 -- As referenced in a previous update, we met with the Company virtually on July 26 (and again on July 29) to negotiate regarding the 401(k) me-too provisions in our respective CBAs as related to improvements recognized by other unionized work groups on the property. We are nearing an agreement-in-principle (AIP) on this issue. AMFA_SWA_Benefits_Analysis_20240802.pptx
July 2, 2024 -- As most of you are aware, our CBA contains certain language referred to as “me-too provisions.” Article 16, Subparagraph 2(e) provides...
June 13, 2024 -- Votes for the Primary AMFA–Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative and Outsourcing Liaison Representative (OLR) Election were tallied on June 13, 2024. Votes for this election were counted and certified by ElectionBuddy, and the results are as follows...
May 15, 2024 -- AMFA National is conducting an election for the positions of AMFA–Southwest Airlines (SWA) Primary Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative and Primary Outsourcing Liaison Representative.
April 3, 2024 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from AMFA Locals representing the Southwest Airlines (SWA) membership for the position of Primary Outsourcing Liaison Representative (OLR). AMFA National will accept nominations from each Local until 5:00 pm et, April 18, 2024. 20240403_Nom_Notice_SWA_Alt_OLR.pdf
April 3, 2024 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from AMFA Locals representing the Southwest Airlines (SWA) membership for the position of Primary AMFA–SWA Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. AMFA National will accept nominations from each Local until 5:00 pm et, April 18, 2024. 20240403_Nom_Notice_SWA_Primary_ASAP.pdf
July 27, 2023 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) membership voted overwhelmingly to ratify their recently negotiated contract extension agreement at Southwest Airlines. The new industry-leading agreement provides top-of-scale wage increases of 20.5 percent over a three-year period.
July 27, 2023 -- The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Tentative Agreement (TA) Ratification Referendum were tallied on July 27, 2023. Votes for this referendum were counted and certified by ElectionBuddy, and the results are as follows...
June 29, 2023 -- The AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Negotiating Committee has requested a system-wide referendum regarding a Tentative Agreement (TA) for the SWA Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs). The complete text of the TA is posted to SWALife for your review and can also be viewed on the voting website.
June 22, 2023 -- On June 3, 2023, we communicated that Southwest and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) had reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) to extend the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for our Mechanics and Related Employees through August 16, 2027.
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.
June 3 , 2023 -- We’re extremely pleased to share that on June 2, 2023, Southwest and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) to extend the current Collective Bargaining Agreement for our Mechanics and Related Employees through August 16, 2027.
May, 11, 2023 -- We wanted to personally inform you that on May 8, 2023, representatives from both Southwest Airlines and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) met to explore the potential for contract extension discussions for our Technicians and Related Employees.
May 3, 2023 -- In March 2023, AMFA National called for nominations to fill the position of Alternate AMFA – Southwest Airlines Outsourcing Liaison Representative. Southwest Airlines members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position.
May 3, 2023 -- In March 2023, AMFA National called for nominations to fill the position of Alternate AMFA– Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. Southwest Airlines members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position.
January 31, 2023 --The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) Tentative Agreement (TA) Ratification Referendum were tallied on January 31, 2023. Votes for this referendum were counted and certified by ElectionBuddy, and the results are as follows:
January 13, 2023 -- After almost six months of negotiations, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and Southwest Airlines (SWA) announced a Tentative Agreement (TA) on a proposed contract for the airline’s Facility Maintenance Technicians (FMT). "This agreement is warranted after these employees faced extensive pressure, sacrifice, and workload to safely maintain company facilities across the country before and during the COVID pandemic. These wage and benefit improvements for this group reflect the importance of these skilled professionals in keeping SWA facilities operations up and running efficiently,” said AMFA National President Bret Oestreich.
December 29, 2022 -- By now, everyone is aware of the extraordinary challenges Southwest Airlines has experienced during the recent delays and cancelations across the country.
December 22, 2022 -- The Committee would like to announce that it has reached a Tentative Agreement (“TA”) with Southwest Airlines on the terms for a second collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) for the FMT group. As you will recall from the Committee’s November update, the Parties were scheduled to reconvene January 17-19 to continue collective bargaining negotiations.
November 16, 2022 -- The Parties held a two-day bargaining session, November 9-10 in Dallas to continue Section 6 bargaining toward a successor collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the FMT group. Prior to the session, your Committee requested information from the Company regarding its facilities maintenance “footprint” as well as medical insurance-related data. The Company advised it was assembling the requested data for our review.
October 12, 2022 -- “Yesterday, AMFA-SWA Aircraft Appearance Technicians voted to ratify a Contract Extension at Southwest Airlines. We believe this industry-leading agreement is warranted after the workforce experienced extensive pressure, sacrifice, and workload to safely clean and disinfect aircrafts for the traveling public during the Covid pandemic. The improvements for this group are justified and provide deserved enhancements for themselves and their families,” said AMFA National President Bret Oestreich.
October 11, 2022 -- The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Appearance Technician 2nd Contract Extension Letter of Agreement (LOA) Tentative Agreement Ratification Referendum were tallied on October 11, 2022. Votes for this referendum were counted and certified by ElectionBuddy, and the results are as follows...
September 12, 2022 -- The AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Negotiating Committee has requested a system-wide referendum regarding an Aircraft Appearance Technician (AAT) 2nd Contract Extension Tentative Agreement (TA). The complete text of the agreement was posted to the AMFA National website for your review and consideration. 20220907AMFA_SWA_AAT_TA_Final.pdf
September 8, 2022 -- The Parties held a three-day bargaining session, August 30 – September 1 in Denver to continue Section 6 bargaining toward a successor collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the FMT group. The first day began with AMFA delivering counterproposals on Article 14 – Wage Rules, Article 15 – Wage Rates, and Article 24 – General and Miscellaneous. The sole issue remaining in Article 24 was new language requiring the Parties to meet and discuss reimbursement for the cost of training, tuition, and required books/materials if additional training is necessary in the future to obtain a required license or certification. The Parties were, after a short caucus on Day 1, able to tentatively agree (TA) to Article 24. However, despite productive discussion and exchange of proposals, the Parties were unable to tentatively agree upon either Article 14 or Article 15.
September 8, 2022 -- AMFA and Southwest Airlines have been engaged in bargaining exchanges, held virtually and in person, regarding an extension letter of agreement to the Appearance Technician (AAT) collective bargaining agreement (CBA). These discussions commenced not long after the first tentative agreement (TA) was overwhelmingly rejected on July 1, 2022, and the subsequent membership survey determined what needed to be improved. 20220907_AMFA-SWA_2nd_AAT_TA.pdf
August 17, 2022 -- The Parties met for one day on August 9 in Dallas. The discussion began with negotiations regarding the Savings Clause and recent related grievances. After only a few proposals and limited discussion, however, the Company expressed its desire to put those issue aside and focus on bargaining toward a second Contract Extension Letter of Agreement. AMFA agreed with this approach.
August 17, 2022 -- 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.
August 2, 2022 -- The parties held a two and a half-day bargaining session, July 26-28 in Chicago to continue Section 6 bargaining toward a successor collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the FMT group. The first day began with the Southwest Committee notifying AMFA that lead negotiator, Anthony Wafer, would soon be replaced by Neil Hanks, who also works in labor relations. We will withhold comment on this change until we have had time to assess Mr. Hanks’s experience and ability.
July 5, 2022 -- Last week, Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Appearance Technicians (AATs) overwhelmingly rejected a tentative agreement (TA) put forth for a ratification vote. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) National Executive Council believes the AATs rejected the contract because the economic package fell short of expectations. AMFA will survey the membership to confirm the reason for the rejection over the next few weeks.
July 1, 2022 -- The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Appearance Technician Contract Extension Letter of Agreement (LOA) Tentative Agreement Ratification Referendum were tallied on July 1, 2022. Votes for this referendum were counted and certified by ElectionBuddy, and the results are as follows...
June 28, 2022 -- The Parties held a three-day bargaining session, June 21-23 at Company HQ, to commence Section 6 bargaining toward a successor collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the FMT group. AMFA, at the outset of Day 1, passed a Section 6 opener document, which identified areas of the CBA AMFA intended to open for negotiation and which articles could carry forward to the new CBA without substantive changes. The Company did not deliver any similar document to AMFA. Following AMFA’s explanation of its openers, however, the Parties were able to tentatively agree that the following articles could remain “at book” during these negotiations and carry forward without substantive change to a new CBA...
June 2, 2022
The AMFA – Southwest Airline (SWA) Negotiating Committee has requested a system-wide referendum regarding a, Aircraft Appearance Technician (AAT) Contract Extension Letter of Agreement (LOA). The complete text of the LOA was emailed to each member’s company email address for your review and consideration. What's My AMFA Number WEB Version.pdf
May, 6, 2022- We wanted to personally inform you that on May 5, 2022, Southwest and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) on a contract extension through 2026 for our Appearance Technicians. 20220506_AMFA_and_SWA__Joint_Update_App_Techs_AIP_Reached.pdf
May 4, 2022 -- Many have you have received, or will receive, a mailer from the TWU, seeking your support in a card drive for a representation vote. This effort to solicit your favor has nothing to do with righting wrongs or representing you more faithfully; it is merely a desperate attempt at revenge.
April 30, 2022 -- In March 2022, AMFA National called for nominations to fill the position of Primary AMFA– SWA Outsourcing Liaison Representative. Southwest Airlines members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position. Following the close of the Willingness to Serve process of this election, there is only one candidate for Primary AMFA-SWA Outsourcing Liaison Representative: Nino Dimaggio.
April 5, 2022 -- In March 2022, AMFA National called for nominations to fill the position of Primary AMFA– SWA Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. Southwest Airlines members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position. Following the close of the Willingness to Serve process of this election, there is only one candidate for Primary AMFA-SWA ASAP ERC Representative: John Paonessa.
April 5, 2022 -- votes for the AMFA-SWA Facilities Maintenance Member-at-Large Negotiator Election were tallied on April 5, 2022. Votes for this election were counted and certified by ElectionBuddy, and the results are as follows...
March 7, 2022 -- In accordance with Article XXIII, Section 3 of the AMFA Constitution, AMFA National is conducting a survey to prioritize proposals submitted for the upcoming AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) contract negotiations. This survey gives you an opportunity to indicate your opinion of the level of importance for each proposal by ranking it high, neutral, or low priority, and the results of this prioritization vote will be given to the Negotiation Committee to be used during the contract negotiation process. The complete text of the 23 compiled proposals will be displayed on the survey website.
February 19, 2022 -- Beginning in June 2021, Southwest Airlines approached AMFA regarding discussing an extension to the Aircraft Appearance Technician (AAT) collective bargaining agreement (CBA). At that time, Southwest advised AMFA it would like to discuss an extension because it wanted to raise the starting AAT pay rates to better attract new employees. Southwest passed the first proposal in this respect on June 14, 2021. However, with that pass, Southwest proposed only to raise the first five steps of the pay scale (up to the fourth year of service). There were no proposed increases at that time for the senior AAT members.
February 3, 2022 -- AMFA and Southwest Airlines (SWA) have been engaged in bargaining exchanges, held virtually, regarding an extension to the Aircraft Appearance Technician (AAT) CBA. These discussions commenced in early June 2021 and presently continue.
November 4, 2021 -- Your Airline Representatives (ALRs) were in discussion with Southwest Airlines (SWA) yesterday regarding vaccination related issues and we wanted to inform you of an important update to the Company’s Vaccination Participation Pay Program, which now extends to those employees that submit a request for an accommodation before November 24, which is later approved by SWA. The Company provided the following explanation of the VPPP’s extended applicability... 20211104_Memo_SWA Vaccination Participation Pay Program.pdf
October 18, 2021 -- I write in follow-up to recent correspondence (Ref. 1-3), grievance SWA-7687, and representations by Southwest in a recent court filing. First, notwithstanding my request to commence bargaining (Ref. 1) regarding effects of the recent policy change implementing a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, and some back and forth since then (Ref. 2, 3), we still await the start of meaningful discussions. Time is of the essence on this particular issue and AMFA stands ready and willing to enter into meaningful discussions on the effects of Southwest’s compliance with the September 9, 2021, Presidential Executive Order 14042 now. Of particular concern is how Southwest will reasonably accommodate those who object to COVID-19 vaccination on grounds of religion and disability. To this effect, we note that United has accommodate maintenance personnel with these objections via a combination of twice weekly COVID testing and masking.
20211018_Abbott_ltr_to_McCrady.pdf
October 4, 2021 -- Southwest Airlines Co. just announced it is subject to legal obligation, as a federal contractor, to require that its employees submit to a compulsory vaccination process that must be completed by November 24, 2021. We write at this time to address two issues: !) That the Company furnish the necessary documentary evidence to confirm that its federal contracts are subject to a renewal or re-opener such that the November 24 deadline would apply; and 2) That the Company immediately commence negotiations with AMFA to address the reasonable accommodations that will be provided to individuals who object to vaccination based on sincerely held religious beliefs or disability.
20211004_Ltr_to_SWA_re_Good_Faith_Negotiation_of_Accomodation_of_Disability-Religious_Beliefs_Related_to_COVID19_Vaccination_Mandate.pdf
August 30, 2021 -- The airline industry, including Southwest Airlines (SWA), has experienced tremendous growth in flights this summer as people emerge from the Covid lockdowns. The problem has been that the available staffing to fly, attend, and maintain those flights has not kept pace with the growth in the daily flight schedule. To make matters worse, SWA Maintenance Tech-ops Senior Vice President implemented an entirely new Aircraft Maintenance recordkeeping and operational maintenance tracking system called Maintenix (MXi) that is painfully in disarray resulting in inefficient maintenance operations. SWA Management’s gross mishandling of these systemic and chronic issues with frontline employees across the board are also negatively affecting the flying public, as evidenced by the unprecedented number of canceled and delayed flights. Management has recently acknowledged the problems and claims to be addressing the matters, even though they are ultimately the cause. 20210830_AMFA_Ltr_of_Support_to_TWU556_FA_re_MXi.pdf
August 26, 2021 -- The airline industry, including Southwest Airlines (SWA), has experienced tremendous growth in flights this summer as people emerge from the Covid lockdowns. The problem has been that the available manpower to fly, attend, and maintain those flights has not kept pace with the growth in flight. To make matters worse, SWA Maintenance Tech-ops Senior Vice President implemented an entirely new Aircraft Maintenance recordkeeping and operational maintenance tracking system called Maintenix (MXi). This new system requires much more involvement than previous systems, and the steep learning curve is creating further delays. So far, there have been more than 100 data entry programming glitches identified effecting parts ordering, communications between systems, routine data entry, and recordkeeping. The unfamiliarity of the system combined with programming errors is making a bad problem even worse.
August 8, 2021 -- In the wake of recent news, particularly with Friday’s report that UAL has become the first major airline to seek a company-wide mandated vaccination program, I wanted to reach out to you now after consulting with Legal in order to set out the following. 20210808_Memo_re_COVID_Vaccine.pdf
May 13, 2021 -- AMFA National is conducting a survey of the Appearance Technician membership at Southwest Airlines. Your Negotiating Committee will utilize the feedback gathered by this survey to prepare for the upcoming negotiating process.
March 9, 2021 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from AMFA Locals representing the Southwest Airlines (SWA) membership for the position of Alternate Outsourcing Liaison Representative. AMFA National will accept nominations from each Local until 5:00PM ET, March 30, 2021.
March 9, 2021 --AMFA National is calling for nominations from AMFA Locals representing the Southwest Airlines (SWA) membership for the position of Alternate AMFA–SWA Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. AMFA National will accept nominations from each Local until 5:00PM ET, March 30, 2021.
February 8, 2021 -- On behalf of the Management and Unions at Southwest Airlines, we respectfully ask your Administration to refrain from imposing any federal mandate to require a pre-departure COVID-19 test for air travel within the United States. We believe such a mandate would be counterproductive, costly, and have serious unintended consequences, including for millions of people who have travel needs but may not have access to testing resources and for the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on a stable air travel industry.
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. 20210102_AMFA_SWA_ALR_Mbrshp_Update_7.pdf
December 18, 2020 -- The expedited arbitrations concerning the “Reduction in Force” for all three AMFA represented groups began on Monday the 14th and concluded this afternoon. Each Arbitration case had a separate arbitrator assigned. The AMT arbitration was conducted on Monday and Tuesday and utilized an hour this morning to conclude. The Appearance Tech case was held on Wednesday and utilized a good portion of today to conclude. The FMT case was held Thursday and finished up around 7pm Dallas time on that same day. In a typical arbitration our CBA requires a decision no later than ninety (90) days. Due to the expedited process and consolidated time frame, the arbitrators, prior to taking on these cases, agreed to work hard to render their decisions prior to January 24th.
December 2, 2020 -- The expedited arbitrations for protections from furlough have been scheduled. As a reminder, we placed the Company on notice by letter dated October 23, 2020, that if WARN Act Notices were sent to our members, we intended to utilize the expedited arbitration provisions of our CBAs in order to enforce language, among other provisions, which restricts any reduction in force so long as the Company continues to outsource our work.
November 23, 2020 -- We met with the Company today for the first time since it issued WARN Act notices to our members last week. The Company’s actions today served only to reinforce its goal of not letting this crisis go to waste. The parties were engaged in the productive process of identifying voluntary cost saving measures when Southwest abruptly, and with no meaningful notice to your Union, delivered WARN Act notices to our members weeks before the holiday season. Southwest was not interested in continuing that productive dialogue today. Instead, it proposed a new round of concessions to our contracts, claiming the voluntary measures we had identified failed to achieve the savings needed by Southwest. Yet, in nearly the same breath, the Company advised it still had not finished costing the value of savings generated as a result of our insourcing measures. It was clear to your ALR’s, given this obvious double talk, the Company is only interested in cost-savings that result from contractual changes. This is crisis capitalism at its finest.
20201123_AMFA_SWA_ALR_Mbrshp_Update_4.pdf
November 18, 2020 -- Southwest Airlines, under its current leadership, showed its true colors today. Those colors paint a picture of a company engaged in textbook crisis capitalism. As you are now aware, Southwest sent WARN Act notices to 403 of our members today. In addition, Southwest sent notices of possible displacement to more than 1,000 of our members. To be clear, if you received a WARN Act notice, this does not mean you will be furloughed. The Company must comply with this federal law and its 60-day notice provision in order to preserve the ability, under that federal law, to follow through with its threatened furloughs. Southwest made the decision to send these notices to our members despite the fact we were still engaged in productive dialogue as recent as Monday of this week (November 16) identifying savings already recognized from our group and pinpointing additional cost reductions that do not require opening our CBA’s. Unfortunately, the Company seems more interested in stoking fear than actually identifying mutually beneficial cost savings measures that would allow the Company to weather the remainder of this pandemic.
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.
October 15, 2020 -- Today, October 15, 2020, your Airline Representatives (ALR) and legal counsel attended an electronic meeting with the Company. This meeting was requested by the Company to hear AMFA’s response to the concessionary proposal delivered by Southwest last week. That response from your ALR’s was clear, concise and delivered at the outset of today’s meeting. The Company was informed that we, based on overwhelming feedback from AMFA members, are not interested in the Company’s concessionary proposal. In addition, we advised the Company’s team we are not interested in proposals that would open any of our contracts on property for concessionary purposes.
October 23, 2020 -- The purpose of this letter is to clarify the Aircraft Mechanic Fraternal Association’s (AMFA) position and place Southwest Airlines, Co. (Southwest or Company) on notice regarding potential violations of the current collective bargaining agreements (contract or CBA) between AMFA and Southwest for the Mechanics and Related, Facilities Maintenance Technicians, and Aircraft Appearance Technicians. 20201023_ND_ltr_to_SWA_Wafer.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.
October 8, 2020 -- Today, October 8, 2020, your Airline Representatives (ALR) and legal counsel attended an online meeting with the Company at the request of Southwest Airlines (SWA). As you may have seen or heard from Gary Kelly this week, SWA is seeking concessions from its union-represented employees, thus prompting today’s meeting. We denied the Company’s request to sign non-disclosure agreements prior to this meeting that request because you – as AMFA members and Southwest employees -- deserve to know what is going on, especially when the Company seeks to extract concessions from your contracts.
September 29, 2020 -- The Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) was developed to improve safety through a voluntary reporting program that is non-punitive in nature. The ASAP is a partnership composed of the company (Southwest Airlines or “SWA”), regulator (Federal Aviation Administration or “FAA”), and labor union (Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association or “AMFA”). Each partner has a representative seat on the Event Review Committee (ERC), whose primary function is to come to a consensus of acceptance or rejection into the Program of reports that are submitted by employees. These ASAP reports provide invaluable safety information and data.
September 25, 2020 -- Yesterday, September 24, 2020, all litigation between AMFA and Southwest Airlines (SWA) ended when the Court closed the case after the parties complied with their settlement, ratified by AMFA–SWA members last week, and moved to dismiss all claims and counterclaims.
September 21, 2020 -- When we wrote to you in March, the size and scale of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the airline industry were still largely unknown. Cases were few, death rates low, and yet our industry was instantly decimated. The fate of airlines, including Southwest Airlines, hung in the balance. Your work was critical and appreciated to bring the CARES Act to fruition, providing much needed payroll support and acting as a stop-gap while our country and our industry worked toward recovery.
September 17, 2020 -- The votes for the AMFA-Southwest Airlines (SWA) Article 23 Response Protocols Agreement Referendum were tallied on September 17, 2020. Votes for this referendum were counted and certified by ElectionBuddy, and the AMFA-SWA Article 23 Response Protocols Agreement has been: Approved.
August 26, 2020 -- AMFA and Southwest Airlines recently reached a tentative protocol agreement for possible resolution to current litigation. During the last week we posted numerous legal correspondence and reference materials related to this Tentative Agreement to the Legal Updates (Members Only) page under Member Resources of the AMFA National website.
Instructions for Web Reg and App Download.pdf
May 1, 2020 -- AMFA National is conducting a survey of the Appearance Technician membership at Southwest Airlines. Your Negotiating Committee will utilize the feedback gathered by this survey to prepare for the upcoming negotiating process.
April 27, 2020 -- By letter dated April 15, 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to yet another Southwest Airlines mechanic whistleblower action with the agency’s determination that “a violation of an order, regulation, or standard of the FAA related to air carrier safety occurred. Accordingly, the FAA is taking appropriate corrective and/or enforcement action. Our office will monitor these actions until complete.” 20200415_FAA_Findings_Redacted.pdf
April 14, 2020 -- Earlier today, AMFA representatives met, via web conference, with Southwest management, at the request of the company, and were presented with presentations entitled: “Proactively Identifying Savings Options.” These presentations focused on concessionary amendments to the existing collective bargaining agreements with AMFA to, as the company phrased it, “potentially implement on October 1, 2020.”
April 14, 2020 -- Earlier today AMFA Airline Representatives (ALRs) from the four AMFA Locals at Southwest, Local 4 (Dan Burgess), Local 11 (Craig Hamlet), Local 18 (Wayne Lampley), and Local 32 (Ken Patrick), as well as AMFA counsel (Lucas Middlebrook, Esq.), met via web conference with a delegation from Southwest management, headed by Anthony Wafer, Senior Director of Labor Relations. The meeting occurred because on April 1 the National Director was asked to meet under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the carrier. AMFA participated in this meeting without preconditions to listen and that is all.
April 14, 2020 -- Earlier today, April 14, 2020, AMFA Representatives consisting of Airline Representatives for the four AMFA Locals representing members at Southwest -- Local 4, Dan Burgess; Local 11, Craig Hamlet; Local 18, Wayne Lampley; and Local 32, Ken Patrick; as well as AMFA counsel, Lucas Middlebrook, Esq. -- met via web conference with you and other management representatives. That meeting resulted from your request on April 1, which came a few days after I attended a meeting at Russell McCrady’s invitation on March 26 concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the carrier. AMFA’s participation in both meetings was to listen and confer, but otherwise without any precondition or waiver of rights. 20200414_AMFA_ND_Ltr_to_SWA_Wafer.pdf
April 13, 2020 -- In a message to its members, dated April 13, 2020, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) condemned Southwest Airlines’ response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and sharply contrasted the carrier’s approach with that of American Airlines, which has curtailed litigation and engaged in cooperative efforts with their employees to meet the crisis.
April 13, 2020 -- Prior to the advent of COVID-19, American Airlines sued its aircraft mechanics for an alleged job action. American Airlines successfully obtained a permanent injunction from a federal court.
April 1, 2020
In March 2020, AMFA National called for nominations to fill the positions of Primary AMFA– SWA Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative and Primary AMFA–SWA Outsourcing Liaison Representative (OLR).
Southwest Airlines members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for these positions.
March 5, 2020 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from AMFA Locals representing the Southwest Airlines (SWA) membership for the position of Primary AMFA–SWA Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. AMFA National will accept nominations from each Local until 5:00PM ET, March 26, 2020.
March 5, 2020 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from AMFA Locals representing the Southwest Airlines (SWA) membership for the position of Primary Outsourcing Liaison Representative. AMFA National will accept nominations from each Local until 5:00PM ET, March 26, 2020.
February 14, 2020 -- On behalf of the thousands of aircraft mechanics working for Southwest Airlines, I want to convey our appreciation for your February 13, 2020, letter to Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly. As the National Director of Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) - the only craft specific aircraft mechanic union representing the Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMT) of Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and Southwest Airlines, we share your concern regarding the recent report of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG) detailing the numerous safety violations at Southwest Airlines.
Attachment_A_Feinstein_Ltr.pdf
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Attachment_B_Feinstein_Ltr.pdf
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Attachment_C_Feinstein_Ltr.pdf
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20200213_Senator_Feinstein_Ltr_to_SWA_CEO_Kelly.pdf
February 13, 2020 -- The report from the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) this week found the FAA has not "effectively overseen" Southwest Airlines. As the union representing the expert mechanics tasked with keeping Southwest Airlines’ passengers and crew safe, we are sadly not surprised by these findings. They represent precisely the sort of degradation of safety culture we’ve been publicly and privately warning about for years. As the union representing Southwest’s expert mechanics, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) are not surprised by these substantiated findings.
February 6, 2020 -- We wanted to provide you with an update as to the status of your current Agreement with Southwest Airlines. Your current agreement is amendable November 22, 2020. Your next contractual pay increase is three (3) percent effective August 1, 2020.
November 12, 2019 -- Recent reporting on Southwest Airlines 88 Skyline Aircraft indicates that the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) internal Office of Audit and Evaluation raised issues with the carrier’s failure to ensure conformity with all FAA airworthiness requirements, which is a growing cause of concern to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).
October 21, 2019 -- AMFA National is conducting a survey of the Appearance Technician membership at Southwest Airlines. Your Negotiating Committee will utilize the feedback gathered by this survey to prepare for the upcoming negotiations process.
October 18, 2019 -- I wanted to let all AMFA members, Southwest Airlines flight crews, and most importantly the flying public know something that occurred this week. On October 14, Southwest Airlines (SWA) flew an empty aircraft to San Salvador at El Salvador International Airport in order to accomplish a heavy maintenance check on that aircraft. A heavy maintenance check is the most labor-intensive check performed on an aircraft during its flying life.
October 15, 2019 -- What happens when an airline discourages its employees from reporting safety issues? Since this summer, Southwest Airlines has begun punishing its Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) who utilize the federal safety hotline called the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). This program, set up to enhance aviation safety by encouraging voluntary reporting of safety issues and events, is intended to be used without fear of retribution.
September 17, 2019 -- Earlier this year in March 2019, Southwest Airlines and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the union representing Southwest’s mechanics, came to a deal on a contract which was overwhelmingly approved by AMFA’s members a couple months later. This was the culmination of nearly seven years of negotiations, which sometimes got quite contentious. Or at least it was supposed to be the culmination.
August 8, 2019 -- Yesterday, Wednesday August 7, 2019, AMFA representatives met in Dallas, TX to participate in a pre-scheduled settlement mediation conference with representatives of Southwest Airlines.
June 18, 2019 -- The votes for the Alternate AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative Election were tallied on June 18, 2019. Votes for this election were counted and certified by ElectionBuddy, and the results are as follows...
May 21, 2019 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is proud to announce our more than 2,500 members have overwhelmingly approved the new tentative agreement (TA) by a vote of 94.62% and with 93.62% participation, and the new contract with Southwest Airlines will be ratified immediately.
May 21, 2019 -- The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Tentative Agreement (TA) Ratification Referendum were tallied on May 21, 2019. Votes for this referendum were counted and certified by ElectionBuddy, and the results are as follows:
May 8, 2019 -- Ratification bonus amounts as described in Letter of Agreement #4 (LOA #4) have been calculated by the AMFA–SWA Negotiating Committee and our economist from payroll data provided by Southwest Airlines. The Company will now verify that AMFA’s calculations do not exceed the $160M ratification bonus amount agreed upon in the TA. Following this review, SWA will send an email to your Company email address, which will set forth the ratification bonus amount you will receive if the TA is ratified.
May 2, 2019 -- The AMFA–Southwest Airlines (SWA) AMT Tentative Agreement (TA) Ratification Referendum commenced on April 23, 2019, and the voting period will conclude at 10:00AM ET on May 21, 2019, the day of the tally. Ratification bonus amounts as described in Letter of Agreement (LOA) #4 are being calculated by the AMFA–SWA Negotiating Committee and our Economist utilizing payroll and personnel data provided by Southwest Airlines.
April 9, 2019 -- The AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Negotiating Committee has requested a system-wide referendum regarding a Tentative Agreement (TA). The complete text of the TA was emailed to each member’s company email address for your review and consideration on March 27, 2019. Votes for this referendum will be cast using ElectionBuddy election software.
April 4, 2019 -- AMFA and SWA have tentatively agree to modifications to the existing Agreement ending August 16, 2012. The following is a highlight sheet identifying these modifications.
April 3, 2019 – After almost seven years of negotiations, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and Southwest Airlines (SWA) announced a tentative agreement (TA) on a proposed contract for the airline’s Aircraft Maintenance Technicians. The TA includes significant pay increases, headcount protections, and job protection provisions.
April 2, 2019 -- Following our announcement that we reached an Agreement in Principle on March 16, our Teams have been working to finalize the contractual language into an official Tentative Agreement (TA). We are happy to report that work is complete, and the TA is ready for your review. The full red-lined version of the TA can be viewed by clicking here. 20190402_Joint_Memo_re_TA_Finalized.pdf
March 22, 2019 -- After reaching an Agreement in Principle (AIP) on March 16, the Southwest and AMFA Negotiating Committees began finalizing the contractual language to turn the AIP into a Tentative Agreement (TA). By and large, this work has been completed, with only a few remaining issues. The TA calls for retro pay through March 31, 2019, and Southwest will provide AMFA with the final numbers around April 5. At that point, AMFA will determine how it plans to distribute the ratification bonus to each individual. The last remaining step is to combine all of the documents we’ve agreed to into one TA document for your review, and we plan to complete this work next week. 20190322_AMFA_Joint_Memo_re_Update_on_TA.pdf
March 16, 2019 -- After a week of mediation, including many long nights and early mornings, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and Southwest Airlines have reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) on Saturday, March 16, 2019, toward a new collective bargaining agreement. We are very pleased with the efforts of both Teams to find common ground on a new contract that is good for our Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and for Southwest Airlines.
20190316_AMFA_SWA_Joint_Memo_re_AIP.pdf
March 15, 2019 -- This most recent negotiation session held in Dallas, TX over the past three very long days, March 12-14, 2019, concluded at 3:15am this morning without a final resolution. While we are disappointed, both sides worked hard and significant progress was made during this session. We are encouraged that our efforts have put an agreement within reach, and we are continuing to work on a deal that the members can vote on. We also are in the process of scheduling our next session, should it be needed, and are hopeful we can reach a conclusion to this long negotiation process.
March 11, 2019 -- Update #2: As we continue to mourn the loss of life related to Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, media, political and public interest remain high and, at times, in a near frenzy. I would like to brief you on the most current factual information SWAPA has received. Both the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of ET302 have been recovered. Both of these recorders should be examined and read within the next week.
March 8, 2019 -- Today your Association filed its formal Answer in federal court to the lawsuit brought on February 28, 2019, by Southwest Airlines Co., against AMFA and your designated collective bargaining representatives. The Answer filed by AMFA attorneys today strongly denies the allegations by the Company that any of the Named Defendants violated the Railway Labor Act, and our attorneys are prepared for and are planning a vigorous defense in court.
March 8, 2019 -- Southwest Airlines recently filed a lawsuit in Dallas against the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the union that represents aircraft maintenance personnel at Southwest. Case 3:19-CV-00514-G filed 02/28/19. The action was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas listing Southwest Airlines Co. as the Plaintiff versus AMFA Airlines Representatives, AMFA Legal Counsel; AMFA National Director, and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association as Defendants.
March 6, 2019 -- Southwest Airlines crossed the line when they filed a lawsuit against AMFA, members of your leadership and your attorney involved in negotiations. As you know, AMFA’s Aircraft Technicians are the last line of defense at Southwest Airlines for the 17,000 Flight Attendants represented by the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU).
March 5, 2019 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from AMFA Locals representing the Southwest Airlines (SWA) membership for the position of Alternate AMFA–SWA Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. AMFA National will accept nominations from each Local until 5:00PM ET, March 26, 2019.
March 5, 2019 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from AMFA Locals representing the Southwest Airlines (SWA) membership for the position of Alternate Outsourcing Liaison Representative. AMFA National will accept nominations from each Local until 5:00PM ET, March 26, 2019.
March 3, 2019 -- On Thursday, February, 28, 2019, Southwest Airlines filed yet another federal lawsuit against AMFA, as well as your elected negotiating representatives individually. This is but one more step in a long-standing campaign aimed at your Union and at you and the very job that you do. his lawsuit comes on the heels of the Company’s self-styled “State of Operational Emergency” at several maintenance locations where it believes too many discrepancies were being generated and resulted in aircraft not being pushed back into service fast enough.
February 25, 2019 -- SWAPA Comments on State of Operational Emergency (DALLAS) — Today, Captain Jon Weaks, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, issued a communication to the nearly 10,000 pilots represented by the association. In his communication he provided additional context and perspective on the self-described “State of Operational Emergency” declared by the airline. In his communication, Captain Weaks reaffirmed the safety of the airline, the confidence the pilot union has in AMFA mechanics to keep our aircraft in airworthy condition, and the joint commitment by SWAPA Pilots and AMFA mechanics to always protect the passengers. SWAPA Pilots are responsible for flying safely from point A to point B or not at all.
February 22, 2019 -- I represent the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (“AMFA”). This letter is in
response to your letter emailed at the end of the day, today, to: AMFA Airline Representatives,
Dan Burgess, Craig Hamlet, Wayne Lampley, and Fred Bishop; and copied to my colleague, Lucas
Middlebrook – and inexplicably publicly released before AMFA could respond.
February 22, 2019 -- AMFA and the Southwest Airlines remain engaged in collective bargaining pursuant to the Railway Labor Act. The law requires that both parties refrain from “self help” until released by the National Mediation Board from mediation and a thirty-day cooling off period has expired. During collective bargaining the Company is prohibited from initiating a lockout or unilaterally changing the terms of our collective bargaining agreement – and conversely, AMFA-represented employees are prohibited from engaging in concerted “job actions” that interfere with Company operations. But by letter today, the Company alleges a job action. AMFA firmly rejects these allegations and has said so in a letter from our attorneys back to Mr. Shaw tonight... 20190222_AMFA_ND_Ltr_to_SWA_Members.pdf
February 20, 2019 -- Following the series of CBS News reports, the letter from Senators Blumenthal and Markey to the FAA, and increased scrutiny from the FAA, Southwest has been more self-conscious in using intimidation tactics to avoid fixing maintenance issues while Southwest AMTs have become less fearful to write up legitimate issues. However, what are not factors in the delays are Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) calling out sick at an increased level or AMTs declining overtime work. Leading up to the so-called “Operational Emergency,” attendance and overtime was at normal levels. Additionally, since the “Operational Emergency” all AMFA members have been ready, willing, and able to contribute, yet there hasn’t been a call for additional overtime by Southwest Airlines.
February 20, 2019 -- Southwest’s statement on February 19 scapegoating its own Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) for their so-called “Operational Emergency” is a confluence of mistruths—and we countered it immediately. But we wanted to address additional questions—namely, what is really behind the “unprecedented number of out-of-service aircraft,” as described by COO Mike Van de Ven. It order to really understand what’s going on, we need to look at the timeline of events...
February 19, 2019 -- Southwest Airline’s scapegoating of its expert Aircraft Maintenance Technicians does not bode well for the airline’s safe operations. Safety is, and always will be, our number one priority. For Southwest's leadership to connect the airline’s self-declared “operational emergency” to collective bargaining negotiations is simply an attempt to divert attention away from the airline’s safety issues. The FAA has condemned the carrier’s “capitulation of airworthiness” and Southwest has confessed that it has flown passengers in unairworthy aircraft. These glaring issues and the widespread pressuring of aircraft maintenance technicians by the airline were exposed in the recent CBS News report.
February 16, 2019 -- On February 15, 2019, Southwest Airlines Senior Director of Technical Operations Production, Lonnie Warren, issued a memo to hundreds of the airline’s Aircraft Maintenance Technicians represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA). The Transport Workers Union of America, represents over 17,000 flight attendants at Southwest Airlines and our union strongly supports the AMFA Aircraft Maintenance Technicians who provide our Flight Attendants with what have been historically among the most safe and reliable aircraft in the industry.
February 15, 2019 -- By letter dated February 15, 2019, Southwest’s Sr. Director Tech Ops Production Lonnie Warren declared a State of Operational Emergency which imposes extra-contractual demands with respect to the services of our Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and Inspectors with the explicit threat of termination if they fail to comply. This declaration of a State of Operation Emergency occurs just eleven (11) days after a CBS News report detailing the efforts of Southwest maintenance to resist coercive pressure to ignore aircraft damage and the FAA’s confirmation of the degraded safety culture at Southwest. The CBS report exposed a problem so severe that two United States Senators have called for a congressional investigation.
February 11, 2019 -- As we wrote in our member update Friday, the AMFA negotiating committee was “prepared to receive the Company’s counterproposal this week and advised the Company we wanted to reach a deal,” however “the Company is not currently engaged in good faith negotiation.” Likewise, Southwest Airlines wrote an employee update of its own, and described the talks as “tough and disappointing” in its characterization. We agree — but what followed in Southwest’s update so egregiously mischaracterized the facts of both the last week and really the last six years, we must address them head-on.
February 8, 2019 -- As you will recall, your Committee provided the last proposal in these negotiations two weeks ago in response to the Company’s counterproposal. The Company outright refused to provide a counterproposal this week with the only explanation being: “We did not view that as a proposal.” The Company continues to insist on massive offsets of foreign outsourcing and elimination of your paid rest. The Company asks for these “offsets” while not increasing the money in any significant fashion from the Tentative Agreement (TA) that you, the membership, rejected by a wide margin.
February 8, 2019 -- The degradation of Southwest’s aircraft maintenance safety culture has been recognized by the FAA, reputable media sources, and Landon Nitschke himself. Your personal involvement in restoring Southwest’s safety culture is long past due.
The CBS News investigative report, Accident Waiting to Happen, exposed to millions of Americans Southwest management’s resort to coercive practices to deter Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) from reporting aircraft damage.
February 4, 2019 -- Two of the leading union representatives of aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) – Local 591, Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) – issued a joint statement in response to the CBS Morning News report on the coercion of aircraft maintenance technicians. TWU Local 591 represents the aircraft line maintenance technicians of American Airlines and AMFA represents the aircraft maintenance technicians of Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
February 4, 2019 -- The FAA has found Southwest Airlines maintenance managers engage in coercive tactics that result in a “capitulation of airworthiness and a culture of fear and retribution.”
American law, specifically the AIR 21 whistleblower statute, has provided the necessary means to resist management pressure to turn a blind eye to corrosion, gouges, and other significant aircraft damage.
January 31, 2019 -- Almost exactly two years ago, on February 3, 2017, Southwest Airlines sent a letter to its Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) informing them that the company would be “discontinuing heavy maintenance at Aeroman by early summer.” Aeroman is a facility in El Salvador, which the company had used for nearly a decade to service planes -- at a reduced cost.
AMFA is working with Commerce House, a marketing and communications group. As we continue to ramp up the communication and digital marketing efforts of AMFA, we would appreciate if you’d take the time to take a brief, anonymous survey.
January 25, 2019 -- As you will recall, we presented the Company with a streamlined proposal in November 2018 intended to reach a prompt agreement. The full details of our November proposal can be found in Negotiations Update #70. We were hopeful the Company would respond in similar fashion and focus on reaching a deal that could promptly be voted upon by you. However, the Company proposed an 18.25% snap up to wages effective April 1, 2019, and three percent (3%) raises in the out years with an amendable date of August 16, 2023.
AMFA, the union representing the aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) employed by Southwest Airlines, have been working without a new collective bargaining agreement for more than six years. This week, we will be sitting down at the negotiation table with representatives from Southwest as we try, once again, to reach to a fair conclusion to this long process.
Southwest’s proposed service to Hawaii is projected to account for almost half of the carrier’s 2019 growth. It would seem natural that this growth would lead to benefits for their employees.
January 7, 2019 -- We’ve been hearing the same thing for more than a year — Southwest Airlines will soon be flying to Hawaii from California. Well, here we are in January 2019 — and the goalposts keep shifting. Here’s what’s really happening.
December 21, 2018 -- 19 whistleblower complaints have been brought to the FAA in the last two years by Southwest Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Technicians. How does this impact the “safety culture” and how do we move forward? Read our take here.
November 20, 2018 -- Your Negotiating Committee convened in Dallas, TX this week. On Monday, November 19, 2018, we met with the mediator in advance of our scheduled one-day session with the Company. On Tuesday morning, November 20, we convened with the new Company Committee. The only two individuals from the Company’s previous committee are Bill Venckus and Mark Lyons. The rest of the Company Committee, including its lead spokesperson, are at the table for the first time.
October 11, 2018 -- The AMFA–SWA AMT Rejected Tentative Agreement (TA) Survey concluded at 11:59 pm et on October 9, 2018. The AMFA–SWA Negotiating Committee had called for this survey of the membership following the recent rejection and overwhelming disappointment of the AMFA-SWA AMT TA. We would like to thank all of you who participated in the survey. Your feedback will help guide your Negotiating Committee to pursue an agreement worthy of the membership's approval. Next week your Negotiating Committee will be meeting to review and analyze the survey data and membership comments, which will be used to prepare a proposal to present at our next negotiation session.
September 27, 2018 -- We are a little more than one week following your voice being loudly heard in the rejection of the tentative agreement (TA). We would like to thank all of you who voted, as it may have been the highest participation level in AMFA history. After we received the results of the TA referendum on September 18, 2018, we immediately contacted the Company and informed it that the TA had failed. We then contacted the Mediator and informed her of the result. In addition, we informed her that we are surveying our members to determine the reason(s) the TA was rejected. We requested that she propose dates to reconvene mediated bargaining as soon as possible.
September 20, 2018 -- As the Chairs of the AMFA Negotiating Committee, we want to follow-up on the tentative agreement vote results announced Tuesday, September 18, 2018, rejecting ratification.
September 18, 2018 -- The AMFA-SWA Negotiating Committee has called for a survey of the membership regarding the recent rejection of the AMFA-SWA AMT Tentative Agreement. Your feedback will help guide your Negotiating Committee to pursue an agreement worthy of the membership's approval.
September 18, 2018 -- Today, Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) rejected a tentative agreement put forward for a referendum vote. According to the union’s National Executive Council, the group rejected the contract because the economic package overall falls short. In the next week, AMFA will survey the AMT group to confirm the reason for rejection.
September 18, 2018 -- The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Tentative Agreement (TA) Ratification Referendum were tallied on September 18, 2018. Votes for this referendum were counted and certified by TrueBallot, Inc. and the results are as follows...
September 6, 2018 -- In the past few days there have been some concerns, accusations, and assumptions on the merit of the ongoing AMFA–SWA AMT Tentative Agreement Ratification Referendum. The National Executive Council (NEC) has researched this matter and ascertained that over the weekend a member was momentary able access and view the real-time running results. 20180905_TrueBallot_Ltr_re_SWA_TA_Referendum.pdf
September 4, 2018 -- At this time most members have received personalized voting instructions in the mail for the AMFA–SWA AMT Tentative Agreement (TA) Ratification Referendum. It was brought to our attention over the weekend that several individuals started floating a misconception that the voting period for this referendum had ended as well as an unofficial document containing false final percentages and results.
August 30, 2018 -- SWA Offer, By the Numbers: This contract represents eleven years of our lives, and it is in no way out of line for all of us to expect to be rewarded for our eff orts in the success of this carrier. Southwest has never had a better economic environment to reward our group than they have today.
August 24, 2018 -- Southwest Airlines (SWA) has been one of the most profitable companies in the U.S. airline industry. Frontline employees have been direct contributors to those record profits; however, SWA Aircraft Maintenance Technician have endured a pay freeze and healthcare cost increases since August 16, 2012.
August 24, 2018 -- One of the strong messages we discussed at each station during our Tentative Agreement (TA) Roadshow was to be on the lookout for Company messages taking the following form: “If you vote no and this TA is rejected, then [something bad] will occur."
August 16, 2018 -- The AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Negotiating Committee has requested a system-wide referendum regarding a Tentative Agreement (TA). The complete text of the TA was emailed to each member’s company email address for your review and consideration. If you have not received the TA, please contact the Administration Director at 720-744-6629.
July 15, 2018 (Revised 8/12/18) -- On April 10, 2018, AMFA and Southwest announced an Agreement in Principle (AIP) on a new five year Agreement. The AMFA Committee has been working with the Company over the last ten weeks drafting the new language, and we now have a Tentative Agreement (TA) ready for membership consideration. The full TA has been emailed to each member’s Southwest email for review.
20180627_AMFA_SWA_TA_Highlight_Sheet.pdf
,
AMFA_SWA_AMT_Neg_Road Show Schedule_2018 R3 8-11-2018.pdf
July 11, 2018 -- As you are certainly aware, the LMS training system is not working correctly. We have discussed this issue with Southwest and there has been little improvement.
June 28, 2018 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) welcome the June 20 announcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) that the agency will be auditing the Federal Aviation Administration’s oversight of Southwest Airlines operations. The OIG stated, “we are concerned whether FAA’s oversight includes an assessment of the carrier’s ability to identify hazards and analyze and mitigate risks.”
June 27, 2018 -- After almost six years of negotiations, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and Southwest Airlines (SWA) announced a tentative agreement (TA) on a proposed contract for the airline’s Aircraft Maintenance Technicians.
June 19, 2018 -- We understand emotions are high during this time, but we again ask for your patience as the parties work to finalize conversion of the Agreement in Principle (AIP) to a Tentative Agreement (TA).
May 29, 2018 -- We hope you all had a great holiday weekend. As everyone should know by now, on April 10, 2018, AMFA and Southwest Airlines announced an agreement in principal (AIP). This did not stop the hard work by both sides to turn the AIP into to a Tentative Agreement (TA). Since that time, both sides have presented total language packages on the AIP, and as of our last update -- Update #64, dated May 5, 2018 -- the parties had identified about seventeen issues with each other’s language that needed to be worked out. We have continued to work with the Company to bring those issues to a close.
May 5, 2018 -- We wanted to provide you with an update on the status of our Agreement in Principle (AIP) with Southwest Airlines (SWA). The Company assembled all of our previously tentatively agreed sections into one full document in the days following the achievement of the AIP.
April 25, 2018 - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating last week’s tragic incident on Southwest Airlines Flight #1380 and our Southwest Airlines (SWA) Accident Investigation Team (AIT) Representatives are actively participating in the investigation. During the course of an active investigation we will not speculate or comment about the incident. Emergency_AD_2018-09-51.pdf
April 18, 2018 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the passenger who lost her life due to yesterday's tragic event on Southwest Airlines Flight #1380. AMFA is grateful that our SWA family (pilots and flight attendants) and their professional skill set delivered the other beloved customers to safety. AMFA wishes to keep the passengers, flight crew, and families of SWA Flight #1380 in our prayers.
April 17, 2018 -- The reported accident on Southwest Flight #1380 from New York La Guardia (LGA) to Dallas Love Field (DAL) and was diverted to Philadelphia (PHL) has prompted the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) to dispatch Accident Investigation Team (AIT) Representatives. Our AIT Representatives are currently in route to PHL and we are maintaining constant communication with them to support their activity during this investigation.
April 11, 2018 -- The parties met on Monday, April 9, 2018, for a scheduled two-day negotiation session in Dallas, TX. Your Committee delivered a counterproposal to the Company’s last pass from our previous March session. That proposal contained a reduction in our snap-up ask from 16.9% to 16.7%, and we informed the Company we were not interested in the additional ETOPS relief it had requested or elimination of the Outsourcing Liaison Representative (OLR) position.
April 11, 2018 -- The AMFA Negotiating Committee reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) with Southwest Airlines (SWA) for the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians on April 10, 2018.
April 6, 2018 -- In March 2018, AMFA National called for nominations to fill the position of Primary AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. SWA members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position. Following the close of the Willingness to Serve process of this election, there is only one candidate for this position: John Paonessa.
April 6, 2018 -- In March 2018, AMFA National called for nominations to fill the position of Primary AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Outsourcing Liaison Representative. SWA members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position. Following the close of the Willingness to Serve process of this election, there is only one candidate for this position: Nino DiMaggio.
March 10, 2018 -- No good deed goes unpunished. Your Committee attempted to focus on the positive aspects of this week’s negotiations with Southwest; however, Southwest decided instead to denigrate your Committee even at a time when the parties are closer to a deal than they have been since these negotiations began. The fact the Company cannot seem to alter its path of negative propaganda speaks volumes as to its negotiation playbook. Let us focus on the actual facts from this week.
March 8, 2018 -- The parties met in Dallas, TX for a scheduled three-day session beginning Tuesday, March 6, 2018. Your Committee wanted to provide you with an immediate update from this week’s session. The parties worked late into the evening today – Thursday, March 8. This week provided one of the most productive sessions the parties have had in many years.
February 26, 2018 -- The recent vote of no confidence taken and issued by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (“AMFA”) has absolutely nothing to do with ongoing collective bargaining. It was you, and not AMFA, that attempted to connect safety with contract negotiations. The truth is there exists a serious concern regarding the degradation of safety within Southwest’s maintenance program as determined by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”).
February 22, 2018 -- Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association leaders cast a vote of “no confidence” today in Southwest Airlines Vice President of Maintenance Operations Landon Nitschke, asking Southwest CEO Gary Kelly and COO Mike Van de Ven to relieve Nitschke of his duties and responsibilities.
February 9, 2018 -- - Ken Hackett has been reimbursed by Southwest Airlines for all lost wages during his wrongful termination. Your voices of support were heard and played a pivotal role in this outcome. 20180209_L11_Hackett_Arbitration_Update.pdf
February 2, 2018 -- Southwest Airlines is seeking terms to withhold Ken Hackett’s back-pay in the amount of the Go Fund Me account that was established by Local 11 to support him during his 10 months of wrongful termination. Every Member who donated should be outraged at this spiteful tactic executed by Southwest leadership. 20180202_L11_Hackett_Arbitration_Update.pdf
January 31, 2018 -- Mediator Cathy McCann will continue mediation conferences with AMFA and Southwest Airlines in Dallas, TX on March 6-8, 2018. 20180131_NMB Mtg_Notice_for_AMFA-SWA.pdf
January 26, 2018
Dear AMFA-SWA Members:
Southwest Airlines (SWA) set another record profit, earning $3.49 billion in 2017, up from $2.24 billion in 2016. In 2017 the Company spent $1.9 billion on dividends and repurchasing stock, making the remaining shares more valuable. Yesterday, SWA released information for the fourth-quarter profits, which jumped to $1.
January 24, 2018 -- The Company provided a counter at the conclusion of our session last week that was not discussed in our previous update because it rejected our remain-at-book Article 2 concept and, therefore, was not an apples-to-apples proposal. As explained in our previous update, when the Company rejected our Article 2 remain-at-book concept, the economics associated with that approach as we proposed became inapplicable; however, the details of this Company counter are...
January 19, 2018 -- The parties met in Washington, DC for a scheduled two-day session beginning Thursday, January 18, 2018. Your employer, Southwest Airlines, is not interested in achieving a deal to reward you for your hard work and dedication – this was made abundantly clear to your Committee by the Company this week. The Company provided a long-awaited counter-proposal to commence the session, which included some of the following...
January 9, 2018 -- Votes for the Alternate AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative Election were tallied on January 9, 2018.
December 7, 2017 -- Due to the recent election of the Alternate AMFA–SWA Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative to the Primary position, AMFA National is conducting an election to fill the vacated Alternate position for the remainder of the term.
November 16, 2017 -- The Southwest Airlines Facilities Maintenance Technicians, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. The new five-year contract includes a complete set of work rules, wage scale, ratification bonus, and job protections.
November 16, 2017 -- The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines Facilities Maintenance Technician 2nd Tentative Agreement Referendum were tallied on November 16, 2017. Ballots for this referendum were counted by AMFA National, and the ballot count was certified by a Notary Public. The results of the referendum are as follows:
November 2, 2017 -- Southwest Airlines (SWA) has, once again, demonstrated its lack of respect for the aircraft maintenance technician (AMT) group and our contract. The days of Herb’s SWA are long gone, and the current management would prefer to breach your contract first and arbitrate, as opposed to engaging in a productive collective bargaining relationship. It is, quite simply, disgusting.
October 25, 2017 -- AMFA National is in the process of filling the recently vacated position of AMFA-SWA Accident Investigation Team Alternate Party Coordinator. We are seeking one individual well versed in all aspects of aircraft maintenance. The Alternate Party Coordinator will be responsible for assisting the Primary Party Coordinator with the responsibilities of team administration, preparing the annual team budget, ensuring team members are properly trained, as well as other duties as assigned by the National Safety and Standards Director. AMFA Accident Investigation Team Application FF.PDF
October 24, 2017 -- Bret Oestreich, National Director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), announced that the union will be filing legal action that could disrupt Southwest Airlines’ plan to initiate service to Hawaii in 2018. “Southwest Airlines has the lowest ratio of mechanics to aircraft of any major carrier,” commented Oestreich. “Now, the carrier wants to expand its service over open waters without accepting direct responsibility for the airworthiness of its aircraft. Not only is this irresponsible, but it is a direct violation of our contract, and we are not going to allow it to happen.”
October 10, 2017 -- Votes for the Primary AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative Election were tallied October 10, 2017. TrueBallot Inc. conducted the vote and tally by use of the TeleVote® and WebVote® systems, and the results of the election are as follows...
September 20, 2017 -- On August 17, 2017, AMFA and Southwest Airlines finished the last scheduled negotiation session for the foreseeable future. The AMFA Negotiating Committee has made the decision to go out and explain where we are in the process, what issues remain open, and to answer questions from the membership.
September 19, 2017 -- On July 13, 2017, Southwest terminated an Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) for deviating from “all required procedures included in MT 735-00-01. The letter of termination indicates that the Company relied on surveillance tape to determine that the AMT may have allowed a second mechanic to sign for work that the AMT had performed: “security video evidences that a second AMT did not enter the area of the flight crew oxygen cylinder and therefore, required processes and/or procedures of MT 735-00-01 were not completed.”
September 18, 2017 -- Hurricane Harvey made landfall on August 26, 2017, ravaging southeastern Texas. Soon after, on September 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma tore through Florida. Thousands of Americans have been displaced from their homes due to the catastrophic damage caused by these two storms, including many of our brothers and sisters from AMFA Local 18.
While airports in Houston and greater Florida have reported to be functioning at full speed, many of our AMFA brothers and sisters are still taking time off from work, tirelessly struggling to rebuild their homes damaged by the wind and flood waters. In an effort to help ease the burden of our members affected by this devastation, an AMFA 18 Hurricane Benefit GoFundMe page has been established. Please click the following link to support our fellow members. Every penny counts: https://www.gofundme.com/amfa-18-hurricane-benefit.
September 13, 2017 -- We met with the Company in Dallas, TX on Tuesday, September 12, 2017. During this one-day session we again reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) for the initial Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for your workgroup. This AIP includes changes to the tentative agreement (TA) voted down by the membership in December 2016.
September 6, 2017 -- Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) members of Local 32 will conduct informational picketing on Sunday, September 10, 2017, from 8 a.m. to noon at Oakland International Airport in Terminal 2 to inform the public about their continued plight for a fair contract with the Southwest Airlines (SWA). The union has been in negotiations with SWA for more than five years.
September 5, 2017 -- Due to the recent resignation of the Primary AMFA–Southwest Airlines Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative, AMFA National has begun the process of filling the vacated position in accordance with AMFA National Policy.
August 18, 2017 -- The parties met in Dallas, TX for a scheduled two and one-half day session beginning Wednesday, August 16, 2017. The goal of this session was to make an attempt to bridge the gap between the parties’ most recent positions. As a reminder, the Company’s response to our counter-proposal in July was to remain with the economic position that it passed over a year ago in August 2016. The parties engaged in an open discussion and entertained mediator supposals, but were unable to make significant progress toward reaching an agreement that adequately rewards you for your hard work and time devoted to this Company. In addition, the Company remains entrenched in its position that is must secure significant changes to your Article 2: Scope provision as part of any deal.
August 16, 2017 -- AMFA National Director Bret Oestreich released the following statement: August 16 marks the five year anniversary of our professional and committed aircraft mechanics working without a contract or pay raise. During this period, the shareholders of Southwest Airlines and new CEO Gary Kelley have reaped the financial benefits of our record profits. Instead of following the standard set by former CEO Herb Kelleher and rewarding the hardworking men and women who built our once proud airline, Gary Kelly is taking a selfish and possibly dangerous approach.
August 14, 2017 -- AMFA National Director Bret Oestreich has released the following statement: On behalf of the Southwest Airlines (SWA) aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs), ground support equipment technicians, plant maintenance technicians, maintenance controllers, and maintenance trainers, AMFA members will be conducting informational picketing in Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ on August 16, 2017, marking the five year anniversary of the AMT contract amendable date.
July 28, 2017 -- In a memorandum entitled “Compliance Culture” dated July 7, 2017, Landon Nitschke and Trevor Stedke wrote that safety has always been the “top priority” of SWA maintenance operations. Notwithstanding this purported priority, the memorandum conceded that the FAA and Department of Labor have received an “uptick” in complaints from SWA Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) relating to management coercion, which the federal agencies have taken “very seriously.” factsheet-whistleblower-aviation-industry.pdf
July 21, 2017 -- We at the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association would like to express our deepest sympathy and full support of your efforts to address the disturbing hostility towards frontline employees at Southwest Airlines. What makes this even more disturbing is that the individuals creating this hostile environment in the workplace are management – senior executives and labor relations personnel.
July 19, 2017 -- Your Committee began the first day of the scheduled three-day session by delivering a comprehensive counterproposal to the proposal passed by the Company at the last session. Our counterproposal was a cover-to-cover package, which was designed to provide the Company with relief on the issues it has claimed it needs while also providing you with a compensation package that maintained our historical margin above the industry.
July 19, 2017 -- Due to the recent resignation of the AMFA Accident Investigation Team Party Coordinator, we are beginning the process to fill the vacated position. We are seeking one individual well versed in all aspects of aircraft maintenance. The Party Coordinator will be responsible for team administration, annual team budget, ensuring team member training, and other duties as given by the National Safety and Standards Director. AMFA Accident Investigation Team Application FF.pdf
July 19, 2017 -- After many months of work there has been a change in the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Southwest Airlines (SWA). Our ASAP came under 14 CFR, part 121 and AC 120-66A as an air carrier engaged in passenger operations within the United States.
June 27, 2017 -- Bret Oestreich, National Director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), released the following statement: “After almost five years of unproductive negotiations with Southwest Airlines led by CEO Gary Kelly, more than 100 members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association Local 32 will be conducting an informational picket at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Friday, June 30."
June 23 2017 -- We concluded this week’s mediated session working diligently as a Committee in an effort to finalize a counterproposal to the comprehensive proposal the Company delivered earlier this week. Unfortunately, this proved to be a very time consuming task as the Company’s proposal did not identify the language it had removed from current book or previous passes. This forced your Committee to undertake the lengthy process of comparing the Company’s latest proposal word-by-word against current book and prior proposals.
June 20, 2017 -- We commenced a three-day mediated negotiation session today in Dallas, TX. We spent the morning and early afternoon working with the Mediator in an effort to reach a compromise on Article 2: Scope; however, the Company refused to move from the position that it had taken in the May session held in Washington, DC The Company was not interested in continued discussions on scope. Instead, as alluded to by Russell McCrady, who is conspicuously absent from these sessions, the Company only wanted to pass its “comprehensive proposal.”
June 9, 2017 -- Region I Director Earl Clark presents this video message to the AMFA-SWA AMT Membership regarding the recent survey and its purpose in the ongoing negotiation process.
May 25, 2017 -- As the transition and integration process begins for Alaska Airlines and Virgin America, and Aircraft Maintenance Technician negotiations continue at Southwest Airlines, National Director Bret Oestreich has taken this opportunity to send the membership of AMFA this video update.
May 23 -- During negotiations with Southwest Airlines (SWA) our members have not reaped any of the rewards of year-over-year record profits. Since the amendable date of our contract, August 16, 2012, the sacrifices for AMTs have far outweighed the Company’s financial record profit success. Since 2012, shareholders and SWA executives have been profiting off their returns from stock repurchases and dividends, while our members have not benefited or received improvements in wages, benefits, or compensation that reflects the Company’s strong financial stance.
May 8, 2017 -- We met with the Company on May 1–4 for a scheduled three and one-half day session at the National Mediation Board Offices in Washington, DC. Contrary to recent communication from the Company, Friday, May 5 was intended as a travel day. Our Committee communicated this to the Mediator weeks in advance of this session; therefore, the Company’s assertion that “AMFA opted to leave negotiations early” is, at best, a misstatement. At worse, this is an intentional misrepresentation designed to divert focus from the Company’s lack of meaningful negotiation at this session.
April 24, 2017 - The National Executive Committee (NEC) would like to thank everyone who participated in the AMFA–SWA Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Survey that concluded on April 20, 2017. The NEC continues to make improving communications a priority, and this survey is one means to facilitate this process.
April 21, 2017 -- We met with the Company on April 18-20 for a scheduled three-day session in Santa Rosa, CA. This session was intended to return discussions to the main body of the contract with a specific focus on Article 2: Scope.
April 11, 2017 -- We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, March 29. This was a scheduled half-day session to discuss the appropriate action to again come to a tentative agreement (TA) that could be ratified. The Committee presented the Company with a prioritized list of twelve items we believed needed to be adjusted.
April 5, 2017 -- We met with the Company on March 30 and 31 for a scheduled day and a half session in Dallas, TX. This was our third mediated session to again try and work through the open items related to the Technical Instructors. Following conclusion of our previous session, the Company sent a written counterproposal via e-mail to the Technical Instructor Appendix B proposal that our Committee presented on March 7, 2017. The AMFA Committee reviewed the Company’s counterproposal and started the March 30 session off by asking the Company to clarify a number of its positions.
March 23, 2017 -- The National Executive Council has called for a survey of the membership at Southwest Airlines (SWA) regarding contract negotiations. This survey will be conducted via the TrueBallot Inc., WebVote® system. All active members in good standing employed by Southwest Airlines under the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians contract are eligible participate in this survey.
March 9, 2017 -- We met with the Company on March 6 and 7, for a scheduled day and a half session in Dallas, TX. This was our second meditated session to again try and work through the open items related to the Technical Instructors. We began the half-day session in the afternoon of March 6 with the Company; our first task was to perform a thorough review of what sections remained open.
February 22, 2017 -- We met with the Company on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, for a scheduled three-day Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiation session. As we completed the Maintenance Controller specific language last week, we returned to work on the Maintenance Technical Instructor language. Unlike the Controllers who will have an Appendix in the back of the book for their unique language, the Instructors will not require an Appendix as their current rules are more aligned with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
February 16, 2017 -- Yesterday Southwest Airlines filed a lawsuit against AMFA National, AMFA Local 11, and several individual AMFA officers and contract negotiators. The lawsuit alleges that AMFA-represented mechanics initiated an overtime boycott and that AMFA and the other defendants failed to make “every reasonable effort” to prevent the boycott and/or bring it to an end. As a remedy, SWA is seeking wide-ranging injunctive relief that would implement judicial oversight of how you perform your maintenance work.
February 13, 2017 -- We met with the Company February 7 and 8, 2017, to continue negotiations on the Maintenance Control Appendix. As has been noted in earlier updates, the Appendix for the Controllers will contain all language that is specific to their group and will reside in the back of the Mechanics’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
February 11, 2017 -- As you know, AMFA is currently engaged in collective bargaining with Southwest Airlines pursuant to the Railway Labor Act (RLA). The RLA mandates that the parties are required to refrain from “self help” until released by the National Mediation Board (“NMB”) from mediation and a thirty-day cooling off period has expired. This means that during the negotiating process Southwest is prohibited from initiating a lockout or unilaterally changing the terms of our collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Southwest is also prohibited from implementing a divide and conquer strategy based on direct negotiations with our members. Based on our determination that Southwest has violated its legal obligation in this regard, we have commenced litigation against the carrier in federal court.
February 7, 2017 -- This is the third update, which details the factual allegations contained in the complaint against Southwest Airlines that was filed with the federal court in Phoenix, Arizona. The second update detailed Southwest’s unpreparedness to engage in meaningful negotiations. This update will provide insight into the allegations of Southwest’s regressive bargaining tactics contained in the Complaint.
January 30, 2017 -- This is the second update detailing the factual allegations contained in the complaint against Southwest Airlines that was filed with the federal court in Arizona. The first update detailed Southwest’s take-it-or-leave-it approach to bargaining. This update will provide insight into the allegations that Southwest has repeatedly come to the bargaining table unprepared to engage in meaningful negotiations.
January 13, 2017 -- The following illustrations speak for themselves. With each day that passes, we continue to lose money. We have lost our standing in the industry due to the Company’s outrageous demands for concessions on our workgroup, which has worked tirelessly to ensure the success of our Company during a time of record profits. Demand that the Company negotiate in good faith and provide us the contract that we deserve.
January 13, 2017 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has received their third key supporter in its ongoing contract negotiations with Southwest Airlines and CEO Gary Kelly. The Transport Workers Union Local 555 has written a letter to show their support of the men and women of AMFA as they are still pursuing a contract with Southwest Airlines after more than four years of negotiations. 20170106_Support_Letter_from_TWU555.pdf
January 10, 2017 -- We met with the Company on January 5, for a scheduled day-and-a-half mediated negotiation session to continue work on the Maintenance Controller appendix language. As noted earlier, the appendix for the Controllers will contain all language that is specific to their group, and it will reside in the back of the Mechanics’ Collective Bargaining Agreement.
January 4, 2016 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has received another key supporter in its ongoing contract negotiations with Southwest Airlines (SWA) and CEO Gary Kelly. The union of SWA Flight Attendants, TWU Local 556, threw its support behind AMFA as they enter into the 53rd month of their contract negotiations with the airline. 20161230_Support_Letter_from_TWU556.pdf
December 29, 2016 -- The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines Facilities Maintenance Technician Tentative Agreement Referendum were tallied on December 29, 2016. Ballots for this referendum were counted by AMFA National, and the ballot count was certified by a Notary Public. The results of the referendum are as follows...
December 29, 2016 -- Over the course of the coming days and weeks we will provide updates detailing the factual allegations contained in the complaint against Southwest Airlines that was filed with the federal court in Arizona. It is important that each of you understand the allegations contained in the lawsuit that was filed on your behalf.
December 22, 2016 – The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) today received the valuable support and backing of the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA). The announced support comes as AMFA representatives enter their 52nd month of contract negotiations with an airline that is enjoying record profits. SWAPA President Jon Weaks sent a personal letter to AMFA National Director Bret Oestreich to acknowledge they are siding with the Association over Southwest Airlines management. 20161220_Support_Ltr_from_SWAPA.pdf
December 20, 2016 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has sued Southwest Airlines (SWA) management officials to cease any and all forms of direct dealing and harassment directed toward AMFA members. At issue are repeated efforts by SWA to provide false and misleading information about contract negotiations to their airline mechanics. AMFA filed suit last Friday in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against Southwest Airlines, claiming SWA’s efforts violate the Railway Labor Act.
December 18, 2016 -- As many of you have already heard, AMFA filed a federal lawsuit on Friday in the District Court in Phoenix against Southwest Airlines. The lawsuit was filed to address the bad faith bargaining tactics employed by Southwest that have resulted in you being unjustly subject to more than four years of pay freezes while Southwest continues to reap hundreds of millions of dollars in profits.
AURORA, CO -- Friday, December 16, 2016 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) today filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against Southwest Airlines, claiming the carrier has committed multiple violations of the Railway Labor Act during contract negotiations.
December 16, 2016 -- AMFA is accusing Southwest Airlines of negotiating in bad faith, misrepresenting negotiations to AMFA members, and interfering with the AMFA representatives’ efforts to represent their AMFA members. Following is a copy of the suit filed with the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.
December 9, 2016 -- As reported on Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Negotiations Update #48, during our session last week the Company proposed a comprehensive Maintenance Control Appendix of Differences that would reside separately in the back of the contract. We worked prior to this session to determine if we would give the Company the Appendix or if we wanted to stay with our concept of working the Maintenance Control rules into the current contract language. In the interest of productive bargaining, we decided to make a sizeable move by agreeing to the Company’s concept of a Maintenance Control Appendix, but we would need to work with the Maintenance Controller Subject Matter Experts (SME) to ensure the language was acceptable for their group.
December 6, 2016 -- The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines Cleaner/Utility (Appearance Technician) Negotiator were tallied on December 6, 2016. Ballots for this election were counted by AMFA National, and the ballot count was certified by a Notary Public. The results of the election are as follows...
December 6, 2016 -- In November 2016 AMFA National called for nominations to fill the vacant position of Primary AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Outsourcing Liaison Representative. SWA members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for these positions. Following the close of the Willingness to Serve Form process of this election, there is only one candidate for this position: Nino DiMaggio.
December 2, 2016 -- We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas in the afternoon of Monday, November 28, for a scheduled one and a half day mediated negotiation session. Since the Company has remained unresponsive to our proposed resolutions to their “must have” items, we chose to use the afternoon to work on some non-economic items that we previously proposed. The first of these items was a Vacation Bank. Although the Company had previously agreed to a “40 hour Roll-Over” program, its concept of allowing only 40 hours maximum from a previous year to be rolled-over and used in the following year fell short of our original proposal. We have previously met with the Company’s technical representative in negotiations and she explained that our Vacation Bank proposal would be easily administered and that they would just create another “bucket” mirroring sick time, current year vacation, floating holidays, etc. to keep track of an employee’s banked vacation.
November 23, 2016 -- Approximately 200 AMFA-represented Appearance Technicians at Southwest Airlines recently ratified a contract extension by an overwhelming margin. The extension replaces the current collective bargaining agreement. Some notable parts of the agreement are...
November 23, 2016 -- Article 6, Section 11.d reads: “An employee whose shift ends after working twenty (20) consecutive hours but not greater than twenty-four (24) consecutive hours (including any shift/day trades) will be given a mandatory rest period of at least eight (8) hours before being allowed to report to work again. In the event that this period extends into a scheduled work shift after at least twenty (20) consecutive hours the Employee will be paid for such time lost at his regular straight time rate.”
November 22, 2016 -- The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines Appearance Technician Letter of Agreement (LOA) Referendum were tallied on November 22, 2016. Ballots for this referendum were counted by AMFA National, and the ballot count was certified by a Notary Public. The results of the referendum are as follows...
November 17, 2016 -- The AMFA – Southwest Airlines Facility Maintenance Technician (FMT) Negotiating Committee will be holding a meeting The AMFA – Southwest Airlines Facility Maintenance Technician (FMT) Negotiating Committee will be holding a meeting December 8, 2016, to present the FMT Tentative Agreement and to answer questions from the membership.
November 15, 2016 -- Article 10, Section 7 reads: “Temporary vacancies of 30 days or less for Inspectors will be filled on a daily basis by seniority preference with a General Inspector working out of his classification in that work group first; if there are none, then the overtime callout procedures will be utilized for General/Alternative Inspectors.”
November 10, 2016 -- As you may have read in your Company e-mail, the Company has started a campaign to poll you directly regarding the status of the negotiations. Your Negotiating Committee is asking that you refrain from participating in any voluntary survey or request for information presented by the Company – even if it is disguised as a sincere program to deliver information to you.
November 8, 2016 -- There are two major components to the concessionary changes to Article 8: Field Service currently proposed by the Company. The first is domestic field service, which we have performed for over forty years. The second component is international field service, which we have performed since the AirTran acquisition. The Article 8 language does not differentiate between the two, and our position is that the current language applies evenly regardless of location of the broken aircraft.
November 4, 2016 -- We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday, November 1, for a scheduled two and a half day mediated negotiation session. The entire Company committee was physically present at the bargaining table; however, it is difficult to characterize their actions as bargaining or negotiating. Instead, the Company presents its must-have demands, and if we do not agree wholesale the discussion concludes.
November 1, 2016 -- The AMFA Negotiating Committee will begin issuing Fact Sheets pertaining to the AMFA-SWA Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Contract Negotiations. We will start this Fact Sheet series by listing the articles and items that remain to be resolved...
November 1, 2016
The AMFA Negotiating Committee will begin issuing Fact Sheets pertaining to the AMFA-SWA Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Contract Negotiations.
October 24, 2016 -- The AMFA – Southwest Airlines Negotiating Committee has requested a system-wide referendum of the Appearance Technician classification regarding a Contract Extension Letter of Agreement (LOA). The complete text of the LOA was emailed to each member’s company email address on October 25, 2016. If you have not received the LOA email, please contact the Administration Director at 720-744-6629.
October 21, 2016 -- The Company is once again attempting, to go around your elected Negotiating Committee in an effort to sway you to pressure your Union into putting the Company’s last take-it-or-leave-it offer out for a ratification vote. You must ask yourself one important question: Is the Company pressing this so hard because it wants what is best for you and your career, or because top leadership is pressuring the Company’s committee to secure a deal on its terms? The answer could not be clearer.
October 11, 2016 -- Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and Southwest Airlines (SWA) have agreed to terms on a tentative agreement for SWA Aircraft Appearance Technicians. AMFA will be communicating the terms of the extension agreement in the coming days.
October 7, 2016 -- We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Monday afternoon, October 3, 2016. This short session was focused on an off-the-record discussion surrounding how our scope language will apply as the Company transitions into the MAX maintenance program.
October 6, 2016 -- October 6, 2016 -- At our last session we reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) for the initial Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for your workgroup. Over the next several weeks we reviewed the document that was sent to us from the Company. During this review exercise we found several items that would require further discussions with the Company.
September 20, 2016 -- Louie Key, National Director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, released the following statement: “On behalf of the Southwest Airlines aircraft maintenance technicians, ground support equipment technicians, plant maintenance technicians, maintenance controllers, and maintenance trainers, the members of AMFA Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 will be conducting informational picketing in several cities on September 23, 2016. Those cities are Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; and Phoenix, AZ..."
September 2, 2016 -- After over three years of negotiations, yesterday, the AMFA Negotiating Committee reached an Agreement In Principle (AIP) with Southwest Airlines (SWA) on the initial contract for the Facilities Maintenance Technicians. This provides a framework where one did not exist before including union security and job protections.
August 30, 2016 -- We have heard from many of you expressing your extreme displeasure at having received the Company’s latest propaganda piece in both your Company email inbox and at your homes. Your Committee and your Union are listening to all of your concerns in this respect, and we share your displeasure. AMFA is reviewing all legal options to address this practice.
August 23, 2016 -- We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, for a scheduled full-day Facility Maintenance Technician (FMT) Section 6 direct bargaining session. After the Company directly polled our members on what they proposed during our last session, our Committee was prepared to present a proposal that would realistically resolve all the language and economic needs.
August 11, 2016 -- We heard from you, the members, at the outset of these negotiations that you were not interested in a concessionary agreement. Your Committee has maintained that position and protected your directive throughout this process. The proposal presented by the Company this week was nothing short of just that – a concessionary agreement whereby you would fund your own raises by selling your language. The Company wants us to sell our work, our ability to earn overtime and quality of life work rules wholesale in order to fund the economic package you will see in this update.
August 3, 2016 -- (DALLAS) – Boards of directors from the four largest unions at Southwest Airlines, representing nearly 38,000 of SWA’s approximately 50,000 employees, all completed votes of “no confidence” in the CEO and COO of the airline. The representative organizations include the flight attendants (TWU 556), mechanics (AMFA), pilots (SWAPA), and Ground Operations (TWU 555) employees.
August 3, 2016 -- AMFA met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on July 26–28, 2016, for a scheduled mediated session. To begin the session, the AMFA Negotiating Committee chairmen met with the mediator, and with her guidance we worked as a Committee to again prepare a list of our "asks" to be presented to the Company. AMFA later met with the Company and presented our list, which included...
August 1, 2016 -- AURORA, Colo. -– On the heels of the Southwest Airlines historic system meltdown, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has joined with the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) in conducting a vote of “No Confidence” in SWA Executives, particularly its Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly and Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven.
August 1, 2016 -- After discussion with the AMFA-SWA Negotiating Committee and affected local leadership, the AMFA National Executive Council (NEC) joined the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) in conducting a Vote of No Confidence in Southwest Airlines Executives, particularly its Chief Executive Officer, Gary Kelly and Chief Operating Officer, Mike Van de Ven.
July 22, 2016 -- By Conor Shine, The Dallas Morning News -- Southwest Airlines employees were back on the picket line in Dallas Friday -- this time with mechanics gathering to voice their displeasure with contract negotiations that have dragged on nearly four years.
Click here to read more.
July 22, 2016 -- By Bill Zeeble, KERA News -- It’s been a bumpy week for Dallas based southwest Airlines. This week, a computer outage took down its website, forcing 1,300 flight cancellations, and stranding passengers and crews. Then, despite a record second quarter profit, its stock price fell. Today, hundreds of union members picketed at Love Field over stalled contract talks. Click here to read more.
July 22, 2016 -- AMFA members stood their ground today in an effort to raise awareness of the status of negotiations with Southwest Airlines (SWA). Over 200 aircraft maintenance technicians from AMFA joined with pilots from the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) and flight attendants from the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556 to express their displeasure with the pace of negotiations as well as the position of the carrier. They were stationed around Love Field where folks driving to and from the airport could see the frustration as well as witness the solidarity amongst labor groups.
July 22, 2016 -- We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Thursday, July 14, 2016, for a scheduled half-day Facility Maintenance Technician (FMT) Section 6 direct bargaining session. The Company presented their next economic proposal with a wage scale that added 1.5% above their last offer based on a 14 step progression. The proposal scale would have a topped-out FMT with no certificates or licenses paid $25.72 per hour on date of signing and increasing 2% a year to $27.84 per hour in year 2020...
July 15, 2016 -- On behalf of the Southwest Airlines aircraft maintenance technicians, ground support equipment technicians, plant maintenance technicians, maintenance controllers, facility maintenance technicians, and maintenance trainers, AMFA Local 11 members will be conducting an informational picket in Dallas, TX on July 22, 2016.
June 28, 2016 -- Votes for the Alternate AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative Election were tallied on June 28, 2016. TrueBallot Inc. conducted the vote and tally by use of the TeleVote® and WebVote® systems, and the results of the election are as follows...
June 10, 2016 -- We bring to your attention an important matter: earlier today attorneys for Southwest Airlines wrote to AMFA Legal alleging that our members were engaged in an illegal “job action” by coordinating to refuse overtime work in Houston. In addition, Landon Nitschke, V.P. of Maintenance Operations, sent a letter dated June 9, 2016, to all AMFA-represented Employees making the same allegations.
May 18, 2016 -- AMFA proudly joined Southwest pilots and flight attendants in a show of labor solidarity at the SWA annual shareholder meeting in downtown Chicago. "It was a momentous occasion where mechanics joined with pilots and flight attendants to express our extreme displeasure with the pace of negotiations at SWA," said Justin Madden, National Secretary/Treasurer.
May 16, 2016 -- We met with the Company on May 10, 11, and 12, 2016, for a scheduled three-day session in Dallas, TX. Since we were back in Dallas and had access to our Subject Matter Experts (SME), we scheduled this session to work exclusively on Maintenance (MX) Control language. This would be our first session with the Maintenance Controllers since we entered Mediation, and we looked forward to working through the remainder of the outstanding issues in an interest based format.
May 11, 2016 -- Louie Key, National Director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, released the following statement: "On behalf of the Southwest Airlines aircraft maintenance technicians, ground support equipment technicians, plant maintenance technicians, maintenance controllers, and maintenance trainers, AMFA members will be joining the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), and the Transportation Workers Union (TWU) Local 556, which represents the Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant group, for an informational picketing event at the Annual Shareholders’ meeting held in Chicago on May 18."
May 4, 2016 -- As you know, we are currently engaged in collective bargaining with Southwest Airlines (SWA) pursuant to section 6 of the Railway Labor Act. During the collective bargaining process, the parties are required to refrain from “self help” until we have been released from mediation and a thirty-day cooling off period has expired.
May 2, 2016 -- We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, April 25, 2016, for a scheduled two-day Facility Maintenance Technician (FMT) Section 6 direct bargaining session. There were three main issues remaining that needed to be resolved to achieve a tentative agreement: Lead Selection, Longevity, and Wages. We have been working for several months outside of negotiations on the wage portion and it was the Company’s turn to provide a counter offer. To open, the Company said that they rejected our Lead Selection procedures, which we proposed based on seniority.
April 29, 2016 -- Many of you have likely read the Company’s latest memorandum, which was emailed to all the affected AMFA employees. It is obvious the Company released this propaganda in an attempt to get 50% of our members plus 1 to buy into what it is peddling. After reading the propaganda piece a few times, it validates the account that was documented in AMFA–SWA Technicians Negotiations Update #40, from our Chicago sessions.
April 21, 2016 -- We met with the Company in Chicago, IL on April 14-15 and on April 18-20 for mediated Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) and related negotiations. Unfortunately, these were the most unproductive sessions since we entered into mediation. Of the four and a half days scheduled, we actually met with the company for less than four hours.
April 12, 2016 -- In March 2016, AMFA National called for nominations to fill the position of Primary AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. Southwest Airlines members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position. Following the close of the Willingness to Serve process of this election, there is only one candidate for this position: Larry Dildine.
April 11, 2016 -- In February 2016 we posted for two AMFA– Southwest Airlines (SWA) Accident Investigation Team (AIT) positions. Over the past few weeks we have reviewed applications and interviewed all applicants. This process proved to be a difficult process due to the talent and experience of the candidates who applied.
March 30, 2016 - We met with the Company in Kansas City, MO on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, for a scheduled three-day Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) and Related mediated negotiation session. We began by presenting our drafted language detailing the "New Line Station" issue that we agreed to in principle at our last meeting (detailed in Update #38). After a short caucus, the Company agreed to our language and the piece was tentatively agreed to. The Company then presented their reply to our "Bereavement" issue (40 hours instead of the current four days) where they added "steps" and "grandparents" to the list of family members that would qualify for this provision. The Company also presented their reply to our "Temporary Supervisor" issue that we discussed at length during our last session.
On behalf of the TWU Local 555 members in California and Florida who were subjected to unjust suspensions during the holiday season, I would like to sincerely thank the members of AMFA National, AMFA Local 4, AMFA Local 11, and AMFA Local 32 for your generous support. TWU Local 555 Thanks AMFA For Support of Suspended Members.pdf
We met with the Company in Dallas, TX on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, for a scheduled three-day Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMT) and Related mediated negotiation session. We resumed our discussions from our last session regarding the opening of new maintenance stations. The concept the Company introduced was only for new maintenance stations with day and evening coverage where there would be no routine "planned" work (i.e. MV checks, aircraft part time changes, etc.).
We met with the Company in Dallas, TX on Monday afternoon, February 1, 2016, for a scheduled one and a half day Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and Related (AMT) mediated negotiation session. In our current "Interest Based" format, it was the Association’s turn to bring forward a topic of discussion; we chose Article 23: No Strike-No Lockout. Article 23 remained unresolved and we wanted to take this opportunity to have open discussions and express our concerns regarding this topic as it pertains to the past history of current Company leadership.
We met with the Company on January 5, 2016, for a scheduled three (3) day Aircraft Maintenance Technician and Related (AMT) negotiation session at the National Mediation Board (NMB) headquarters in Washington, DC. We began the morning meeting as a Committee and worked with the Mediator to re-establish the list of our concerns and positions regarding Articles 21 and 22.
Recently, over 100 members of TWU Local 555 were suspended after attending a union meeting to gain information and discuss the status of their negotiations. The Local is utilizing the grievance process to make things right but, in the meantime, these fellow union brothers and sisters are having to deal with this difficult situation over the holiday season.
The reported accident on Southwest Flight 31 at BNA (Nashville, TN) has prompted the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) to dispatch an accident investigation “Go Team.” Our Team is currently on location and we are maintaining constant communication with them to support their activity and ensure representation of our craft. They will work with Southwest Airlines, and potentially as a party with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation team from Washington, DC to determine probable cause.
We met for our first mediated Aircraft Maintenance Technician and Related (AMT) negotiation session on Monday, November 30, 2015, in Irving, Texas. This session was scheduled for a half-day, and we worked exclusively with the Mediator. The Mediator worked with our Committee and the Company separately throughout the afternoon. We spent our time with the Mediator presenting a summary of the unresolved issues that the AMTs have requested. In this initial meeting we focused only on items that we were seeking to achieve in this contract, and we did not spend time defending our current contract language as related to Company proposals.
A meeting was recently held with Southwest Airlines to discuss the payroll issues AMFA members are experiencing. The meeting was related to a large percentage of payroll discrepancies when calculating overtime and otherwise. The meeting entailed discussion and disclosure by the Company on the amount of discrepancies they have found, and we reviewed charts they have compiled depicting the errors.
At the direction of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and with full support and solidarity from AMFA Locals 4, 11, 18 and 32, union attorneys have filed a lawsuit in federal court in Dallas, Texas to set aside or “vacate” an arbitration ruling received on October 19, 2015 in the “Brake Rider” arbitration.
November 6, 2015 -- As our two negotiating committees prepare to meet later this month in our first mediated negotiation session, it is obvious to me that Southwest Airlines is at a critical crossroads in terms of its labor relations. As you are aware, our contract has passed the 3-year mark of the amendable date and it has been very difficult to make sustained progress in our negotiations. Entering mediated negotiations provides us the opportunity to make meaningful headway towards reaching an agreement; one that is vitally needed as the employees of Southwest Airlines are questioning the direction of the relationships that have always been the cornerstone of Southwest’s success.
We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, for a scheduled half-day session for Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiation. We also had scheduled the morning on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, if more time was needed. We began the session by presenting a graph showing that based on Company’s Article 15: Wage Rates proposed rates, the FMT group would experience a 4.5% pay cut.
First, we would like to notify you that we have dates scheduled for our first mediated Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations. We will meet in Irving, Texas at 1:00pm on November 30, 2015, and two full days are scheduled for December 1 and 2, 2015. This will be our first negotiation session since we sought the assistance of the National Mediation Board in July 2015. Although the mediator stated that observers would not be allowed in the room for our initial meetings, if there is interest, we will establish a break-out room that we can give updates during caucuses for any members who desire to attend.
On Thursday, September 10, 2015, our Committee had our first meeting in the mediation process. This meeting was with four mediators from the National Mediation Board (NMB), including Senior Mediator Patricia Sims and Mediator Catherine McCann who are assigned to our case. This initial meeting lasted about two and a half hours. During the introduction process we were notified that Ms. McCann will be our primary mediator.
I would like to let everyone know that the MCO taxi event was NOT accepted into the Aviation Safety Action Program. The Event Review Cmmittee is working on a closure letter that will have recommendations and corrective actions. As soon as we have that finished, I will forward it to the National Secretary/Treasurer for distribution.
We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, August 12, 2015, for a scheduled one-day Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiation session. The Company had been working on their economic proposal for several months and we were presented with their opening proposal for Article 15: Wage Rules. The Company stated that they based their proposal on nationwide industrial averages for the purposes of pay and duration to reach the thereafter rate (topped-out).
Propaganda is defined as "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view." On July 20, 2015, you received exactly that in the form of an un-signed memorandum from Southwest Airlines "Labor Relations" titled, "Negotiation Clarifications." Unlike correspondence that you receive from your Union, which always bears indication of the individual authors, the Company memorandum was conspicuously anonymous. We all must question why those responsible for propaganda are unwilling to take personal responsibility for its issuance.
Recently AMFA filed notice with the National Mediation Board (NMB) requesting their services to help facilitate negotiations for our Aircraft Technicians at Southwest Airlines (SWA). We have been in direct negotiations with SWA for almost three years and there is no agreement in sight.
Despite enjoying record profits last year of $1.1 billion, Southwest Airlines refuses to have meaningful negotiations with its Aircraft Maintenance Technician and Related union, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), prompting the union to request federal mediation from the National Mediation Board (NMB).
The parties were scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 25 to resume Aircraft Maintenance Technician ("AMT") negotiations. However, Facilities Maintenance Technician ("FMT") negotiations were cut short by a full day due to the Company’s lack of preparation. Therefore, the parties agreed to resume AMT negotiations a day early on Wednesday, June 24, 2015.
We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, June 23 for a scheduled two-day session that was touted by the Company as the big event in the Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiations, where the Company would present Articles 14 and 15: Wage Rates and Wage Rules. Prior to this session, the Company conveyed its belief that with the pass of Wages, the remaining open issues would fall into place and a tentative agreement would not be far off. Unfortunately, after your Committee traveled to Dallas in hopes of engaging in multiple days of productive negotiation, the Company was not prepared to deliver its ground-breaking Wage proposal due to a "last minute" issue.
Dear Mr. Kelly: I write today in response to your memorandum to Southwest employees of June 11, 2015, entitled, “Together We Win” and to also express my profound disappointment at the lack of meaningful progress in the ongoing contract negotiations for our members covered by the Aircraft Mechanics’ Contract. Our contract became amendable on August 16, 2012, and we are quickly approaching the third year of ongoing rigorous negotiations. When we started these negotiations we anticipated that we would reach a tentative agreement and the negotiations would conclude in a reasonable timeframe, especially in light of the unprecedented profits being enjoyed by Southwest Airlines which our members play a significant role in achieving. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.
During our last session of talks on April 21, 2015, the respective committees tentatively scheduled a two-day session for June 3 and 4, 2015. At that time, the Company said they were not sure if they would be ready to give us anything new on the remaining open items in their supposal. Then on May 27, the Company emailed our Committee the Company’s status of remaining issues to be resolved in these negotiations.
The parties were scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, to resume Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations; however, the Company communicated that it did not have any new positions or proposals for Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiations scheduled for June 3 and 4. Upon receiving this notification, our negotiation committee requested a schedule change for the week to include AMT and FMT negotiation final preparation on June 2, AMT negotiations on June 3, and FMT negotiations on June 4.
Recently, Southwest Airlines posted a memorandum regarding its interpretation of the results regarding the AIR21 filed by one of our DAL-based Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMT) last year. We believe that the Company left out an important aspect of the findings. The AIR21 that was filed initiated two investigations: one by the Department of Labor (DOL); and another by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
On May 6, 2015, AMFA National requested names of volunteers willing to serve in the AMFA –Southwest Airlines Alternate Outsourcing Liaison Representative position from the affected locals. Following the deadline for locals to submit volunteers to AMFA National, the National Executive Council has selected Scott King to fill the position of Alternate Outsourcing Liaison Representative commencing on July 1, 2015.
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) applauds and supports the recent decision by the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) to create and fund a Strike Preparedness Committee.
In March 2015 AMFA National called for nominations to fill the position of Alternate AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. Southwest Airlines members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position. Following the close of the Willingness to Serve Form process of this election, there is only one candidate for this position: Larry Dildine.
We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, for a scheduled two-day negotiation session. Although, we were prepared to work on all counter offers that we expected from the Company, they notified us at the onset that they had little prepared and that they could only envision meeting for one day. They also notified us that they were not prepared to present any of the other unopened Articles including wages and duration.
The parties were scheduled to meet on Thursday, April 23, 2015 to resume Aircraft Maintenance Technician (“AMT”) negotiations. However, Facilities Maintenance Technician (“FMT”) negotiations were cut short by a full day due to the Company’s unwillingness to move on certain issues. Therefore, the parties agreed to resume AMT negotiations a day early on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. The Company presented a counter-proposal to the comprehensive proposal that AMFA passed on March 11, 2015.
April 20, 2015 -- In March 2015 AMFA National called for nominations to fill the positions of Primary and Alternate AMFA – Southwest Airlines Outsourcing Liaison Representatives. Southwest Airlines members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for these positions. Following the close of the Willingness to Serve Form process of this election, there is only one candidate for these positions: Craig Hamlet.
AMFA delivered a comprehensive proposal to the Company on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. A comprehensive proposal is one where every Article and Letter of Agreement operates as one. AMFA advised the Company at the outset of the delivery that no single article or provision could be read in isolation and AMFA reserved the right to consider the Company’s rejection of any single article as a rejection of the entire comprehensive proposal. Your Committee devoted a lot of work to develop this comprehensive proposal, and we will not allow the Company to pick and choose the pieces it prefers.
We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. We were prepared to receive the Company’s counter proposals to the five (5) articles we presented at the last session: Article 4: Classifications, Article 5: Hours of Service, Article 6: Overtime and Holidays, Article 9: Seniority, and Article 10: Filling of Vacancies. Although we were making progress on finding common ground on these articles following the established procedure, for some reason the Company decided to redirect the process by presenting us with a "Supposal" that listed 14 items they felt were the main obstacles in these five (5) articles.
We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 17-18, 2015. The Company stated they had five (5) articles to present counter offers: Article 4: Classifications, Article 5: Hours of Service, Article 6: Overtime and Holidays, Article 8: Field Service, and Article 9: Seniority. First, the Company presented their Article 5 counter offer, which captured the "Flex Schedule," but rejected our proposal to allow the member to select his extra day off in the second week. The Company also rejected our proposal that introduced a ten-hour shift option.
Southwest Airlines and a Southwest mechanic have settled a “whistleblower” case in which the mechanic said the airline threatened to punish him for reporting fuselage cracks that grounded a Southwest airplane. Southwest on Jan. 16 agreed to pay $35,000 in attorney’s fees and expenses for mechanic Charles Hall, who discovered the cracks as he was doing a maintenance inspection on a Boeing 737-700 last July.
We met with the Company on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, in Dallas, Texas for the first day of a scheduled two-day session. Upon conclusion of our last session in December, the Company advised they would have an Article 2 proposal prepared to present at this session; however, due to a personal issue with one of their main Subject Matter Experts (SME) on Article 2 related items, we were informed that they would not be presenting an Article 2 proposal during this session.
We met for Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) and Related negotiations on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, for what was originally scheduled as a two-day session that was reduced down to one. The Company requested the shortened session to focus on opening up articles not yet negotiated, particularly Article 2: Scope. The Company informed us prior to the session that they were not prepared to present a proposal on Scope, but rather would focus on providing another presentation on the EPIC Program, which our Committee requested following the last inadequate presentation on the issue.
December 18, 2014 -- We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, for a one-day negotiation session to continue our negotiations for the Facilities Maintenance Technicians (FMT). The Company started by presenting counter offers for Article 2: Scope, Article 4: Classifications, Article 5: Hours of Service, Article 8: Field Service, and Article 10: Filling of Vacancies. Again, like in our last session, the Company’s Article 2 counter omitted our language that would offer overtime to FMTs prior to using vendors to perform work the FMT’s normally perform outside their normal work hours and weekend.
We met for Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) and Related negotiations on Wednesday, November 12, 2014, for a scheduled two-day session. The first day we had our Maintenance (MX) Control Subject Matter Expert (SME) in attendance to help work through MX Control issues, and the second day we had our Technical Instructor SME present to help work through Instructor issues. Our goal was to achieve some resemblance of progress by focusing on each group separately as opposed to trying to work through language with both groups present as we have in prior sessions.
We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Monday, November 3, 2014, for a scheduled two-day Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiation session. The Company presented counter offers for Article 2: Scope, Article 4: Classifications, Article 9: Seniority, Article 5: Hours of Service, and Article 10: Filling of Vacancies. In the Company’s Article 2 counter, they omitted our language that would ensure that available FMTs were solicited to perform work after hours or on their weekend prior to using a vendor. In Article 4, the Company’s counter offer removed the classifications of Lead, Electrical Technician, HVAC Technician, and Locksmith Technician from our proposal and grouped all the FMTs into a general classification without Leads.
On Wednesday October 15, 2014, we met with the Company in Dallas, Texas for a scheduled two-day Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) and Related negotiation session. Prior to this session the Committee exchanged correspondence with the Company as to the agenda for the session. The Company advised that it was working on proposals (counter) for articles 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, and 24, and that they wanted to reopen the previously tentatively agreed (TA’d) to Article 7 to address language specific to the Technical Instructors. With the exception of Article 10, all of these articles have been worked on extensively and have undergone multiple passes from both sides.
We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, to resume Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiations. The Committee crafted counter proposals in response to the seven (7) articles passed by the Company at our last session. We began by presenting a counter offer for Article 2: Scope where we added job protection language. We then presented Article 4: Classification in which we added a Lead Classification and broke down the FMT category into four (4) groups: general, HVAC, electrical, and locksmith.
The votes for the AMFA – Southwest Airlines Inspection Backfill Award Distribution Referendum were tallied on October 9, 2014. Ballots for this referendum were counted by AMFA National, and the ballot count was certified by a Notary Public. The results of the referendum are as follows...
We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, September 17, 2014, for a scheduled two day Facility Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiation session. We began with the Company presenting their counter proposals for articles 13: Sick Leave and On-The-Job Injuries and 20: Insurance Benefits. After working to understand the Company’s positions, we took a committee caucus to work on our counter offer. When we reconvened, the Company accepted our counter offers and we tentatively agreed (TA) to these articles.
The AMFA – Southwest Airlines Airline Representatives have requested a system-wide referendum of the Inspectors and Alternate Inspectors regarding two separate distribution methods for the Inspection Backfill Award.
We met for Aircraft Maintenance Technician and Related (AMT) negotiations on Wednesday, September 10 and the afternoon of Thursday, September 11. The Company began discussions by notifying us that they were prepared to present their counter offers for Article 11: Vacations, Article 12: Leaves of Absence, Article 13: Sick Leave and On-The-Job Injuries, and Article 20: Insurance Benefits. They began with their Article 12 counter offer where they omitted their request to install language detailing a three (3) year limit to any absences, which would result in an employee being removed from the seniority list.
We met with the Company in Dallas, Texas on September 3rd and 4th for a scheduled two-day session. We began with the Company proposing Article 12: Leaves of Absence, Article 13: Sick Leave and On-The-Job Injuries, and Article 20: Insurance Benefits. Their proposals regarding these articles were basically capturing rules that the Facility Maintenance Technician (FMT) group is currently working under, which are outlined in the Guideline to Employees. After we worked through the Company’s proposals we presented our proposals for Article 6: Overtime and Holidays and Article 8: Field Service.
We began the scheduled two-day Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations on Wednesday, August 13, 2014. The Company started with presenting a proposal for Article 9: Seniority. This Article was tabled during a previous session by our Committee due to the Company’s unwillingness to accept our proposal to shorten the time an individual could temp upgrade to a supervisor. In the Company’s proposal there were three changes: the first two were in paragraph 4 c & d which would limit a Technician from bumping into Maintenance Control or Technical Training in case of furlough, and the last was in paragraph 12 which was a selection process similar to the field service selection process.
As previously notified, the purpose of the July 30 and 31, 2014, Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) and Related negotiations was to work on Maintenance Controller and Technical Trainer specific requirements. On July 29 we worked with the Maintenance Controller Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) Steve Day, Rob Cush, and Tim Andrais to identify items in Articles 5, 6, and 7 we would work to resolve in this session. We also identified that Articles 9, 10, 14, and 15 as articles we will need to address for both the Controllers and Trainers in future sessions.
Today, the FAA has announced a proposed fine to Southwest Airlines (SWA) regarding maintenance done at outside vendors. AMFA is a staunch supporter of safety, and as is a steady theme in our current contract negotiations with SWA, we believe that our members provide the best maintenance available and should always be the providers of choice. AMFA’s membership is comprised of highly skilled, trained, and professional aircraft maintenance technicians who take their mantra, “Safety in the air begins with quality maintenance on the ground,” seriously. We look forward to working with Southwest Airlines now and in the future, and support any attempt to have more work done in-house and by our members.
We began the scheduled two-day Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations on Wednesday, July 9, 2014. Due to the recent departure of Mr. Sokol, we were unsure of the direction for this session. We requested information from the Company prior to the session so that we could prepare to ensure our time at the table was used as efficiently as possible; however, an informative reply from the Company never came. The only message we received from the Company prior to meeting was that their Chairman was unsure if his new committee would be pursuing the same, less, or more "must have" items.
We began our two-day session on Wednesday, June 25 at Dallas, Texas. We started by presenting our first proposal for Article 9, Seniority. The language we presented was taken from the Mechanics Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with a few omissions that did not apply to this workgroup. We also presented our counter offer for Article 22, Arbitration. We entered discussions surrounding the selection process of an arbitrator-specifically the guidelines that would invoke an alternate method of selection to be enacted.
We met in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, June 18 for the first of a scheduled two-day Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations session. Surprisingly, the Company did not begin this session with yet another presentation, but rather decided to reiterate their five (5) "must have" concessionary items...
Ten union leaders at Southwest Airlines have sent a letter to chairman and CEO Gary Kelly telling him that employee morale at the Dallas carrier is the worst it’s ever been and that action is needed to restore the “magic.”
We met in Dallas, TX on May 21, 2014, for a scheduled two-day Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiation session. The Company began the session with another PowerPoint presentation, which detailed that our Company posted record revenue, operating profit, and net income in the first quarter; however, despite the present financial health of our Company, the presentation ended with the Company’s position that because Spirit and Allegiant are increasing their domestic growth, they "are coming for us."
We met on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, in Dallas, TX to begin a scheduled one and a half day Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiation session. Several days prior to the meeting, the Company sent our legal counsel, Lucas Middlebrook, a counter offer for Article 22: Arbitration. We knew when we scheduled this session that our attorney had a prior commitment and would not be present for April 29 or 30 so we notified the Company that we will hold off on a reply to Article 22 until our next session.
On Wednesday April 16, 2014, we met in Phoenix, Arizona for a scheduled day and a half negotiation session. This session was initially planned as a full two day session back in January, but the Company requested that we reduce the second day to a half day in order to accommodate Good Friday travel schedules. The session began with yet another Company PowerPoint presentation explaining that the Company will post a substantial quarterly profit, but that the Company still wants, through concessions in our CBA, to prepare for speculative bad times.
In March 2014 AMFA National called for nominations to fill the position of Primary AMFA – Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative.
Southwest Airlines members of Locals 4, 11, 18, and 32 were allowed to submit names in nomination for this position.
For the first time in AMFA's history at Southwest Airlines, both the Union and the Company mutually agreed to move contract negotiations outside of the state of Texas. Session 18 of the Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) and Related negotiations was held in Phoenix, AZ to allow our Local 32 members and observers from other locals the opportunity to physically see their union at work in negotiations.
We met with the Company in Dallas, TX on Tuesday, March 25, for a scheduled day and a half Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiation session. The Company began by presenting "Article 17: Safety and Health." The proposal reorganized language from the Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) CBA for clarity and slight adjustments were made to more accurately capture the FMTs’ needs with respect to safety equipment.
On Wednesday March, 12, 2014, we began our scheduled two-day session in Dallas for the Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) agreement. It started with a review of where we left off from the February session in San Antonio. We then discussed our last proposal on Article 24, General and Miscellaneous, which included language to protect the current rights to both jumpseats, language that restricts supervisors from working on the aircraft, pay at the applicable rate for time spent renewing or acquiring a SIDA badge, and reimbursement for parking if not provided by the Company.
We began our two-day session on Tuesday morning, March 4th. The Company began by presenting their “Status of Agreement” counter proposal. They also asked to table “Classifications” for now. We presented our “Severance Pay” and “Union Representation” counter proposals. We worked through a few concerns and tentatively agreed (TAed) to both those sections.
We met in San Antonio, TX on Monday, February 10, 2014, to begin a scheduled two and a half day Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations session. AMFA National Director Louie Key joined our committee and began the session with a speech identifying several issues that our committee feels are impeding the negotiation process. These items include the huge concessionary "wants" from the Company, the inaccurate Company updates, and the publicizing of the covered work groups’ Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) and negotiation progress on their new website. The discussion morphed from the initial statements into a fairly vigorous conversation.
We began our two-day session on Tuesday morning, January 14, 2014. Since we had not met since October, we began with a review to ensure both sides were in agreement with our progress to date. We have tentatively agreed (TA) to three articles: Training (10-22), Profit-sharing/401K (10-22), and No Strike/No Lockout (10-22). We agreed there are six articles that are in-work: Preamble, Purpose of the Agreement, Classifications, Grievance Procedure, System Board, and Savings Clause. After the update, we asked for clarification to some language in the Company’s, Moving Expenses proposal.
We had our first Maintenance Technician Negotiation session of the new year in Dallas on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. We began by going through the status of the Articles. We have tentatively agreed (TA’d) to Articles 1, 3, 17, 18, 26, and 27. We have “tabled” Articles 8, 9, 19, 21, 22, and 23 mainly because we are unable to move closer to an agreement at this time. We are also currently working on Articles 6, 4, 11, 13, 16, 24, 25, and 28. After the update, we presented our counter proposal to the Company’s Article 6 pass. For the most part we went back to current language (back to book) and rejected the Company’s new language, which attempted to strip your contractual rights to paid rest, “short hours,” and required “qualifications” to be eligible for overtime.
Today, December 6, 2013, Arbitrator Mathew Franckiewicz issued a "Supplemental Opinion and Award" in the matter of the Fourth Line grievance. This is the "remedy" award which followed the award by Arbitrator Franckiewicz issued on March 19, 2013, that found that the company had violated Article 2 of the contract by not implementing a new fourth line of maintenance earlier when the company had obtained a single operating certificate to fly AirTran planes. That "liability award" directed the parties to a "remedy" hearing, pursuant to an agreement to bifurcate the arbitration.
The AMFA Negotiating Committee and the Company met on Monday, November 18, 2013, to begin the final Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiation session for the year. The Company scheduled Monday afternoon to present their Comprehensive Disability and Retiree Program. In the name of good faith bargaining, we again agreed to the Company’s request which took valuable time away from the negotiating process for yet another presentation in an attempt to “set the stage” prior to their next concessionary proposal.
We began the session on October 28, 2013, with a review of where we are to-date in regards to the Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) Negotiations. Articles 1, 3, 12, 17, 26, 27 and 28 have been TA’d. We have "tabled" Articles 8, 9, and 23 for various reasons. After a quick review we attempted to work through the "Temporary Supervisor" language in Article 9. We have been tasked by the membership to restrict this program from the current 75 days per year. There are many members that have issues with this program and we presented those concerns to the Company for a second time.
We began the latest Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) Negotiation session on Monday, October 21, 2013. After a brief review of where we left off earlier this month, the Company presented their 401K/Profit Sharing and No Strike – No Lockout counter offers. Both of these sections had only minor modifications to what we had countered at the last session. We pointed out a few oversights and notified the Company that we would review these documents further before finalizing.
We met with the Company for Facilities Maintenance Technician (FMT) Negotiations in Dallas on Wednesday, October 2. We began by discussing the FMT job classifications. Currently, the FMT group has 14 different job titles although all are capable of performing the General I job duties. We spent the morning working to understand the broad work responsibilities of the FMTs and how jobs are determined to be completed by in-house technicians versus by a vendor.
We met for half day on Monday, September 9, 2013. The Company notified us they wanted to discuss a few issues with the Technical Instructors job classification language we crafted during our last session. The Company brought in Elizabeth Bryant and Jim Sturgis for the first time so we could work directly with the people who have been shooting down our proposals. We spent the afternoon discussing the Company’s concerns in regards to the Instructors job description and how they are to work with the Corporate Training Department. We are happy to report that after spending seven (7) sessions on this issue, we have finally TA’d this item.
We met with the Company on Thursday, September 12, 2013. The Company presented their proposals for several articles including: Preamble, Purpose of Agreement, Moving Expenses, No Strike- No Lockout, Savings Clause, Grievance Procedure, and System Board of Adjustment. After we thoroughly understood the intent of the Company’s proposals, we asked for a caucus to discuss the articles and to work on counter language.
We met again on Tuesday, August 6 in Dallas to resume Mechanic Negotiations. We scheduled the day to work on the Technical Instructors Article 4 Classification language. In attendance as Subject Matter Experts (SME) assisting the Committee were Instructors Robert Geisheimer and Tucker Steele. The main focus of discussions centered on technical and non-technical training. The Company’s concern was they did not want a Technical Instructor (A&P licensed) routinely teaching non-technical classes when they could have someone without the credentials and pay rate do the same work.
Now that the Airline Representatives have successfully resolved the maintenance staffing issue in PHL and SMF, the Negotiation Committee met with the Company on July 17 to resume formal negotiation talks. After taking time to establish where we left off in April, the Company wanted to revisit the Maintenance Technical Instructor’s job classification language that we finalized on December 4, 2012. Although our committee thought we were finished with this discussion, internal adjustments recently made by the Company warranted them to present a new proposal that looked nothing like the document we negotiated previously.
After a lengthy delay, AMFA and the Company met on June 6, 2013, at Corporate Headquarters in Dallas, Texas to officially begin Section VI Negotiations for the Facility Maintenance Mechanics. To ensure the record is set, the accretion of this work group into AMFA came at a very busy time, and the Company has presented major obstacles to our members’ livelihood that is requiring the highest priority of our service. The Airline Representatives knew when the Company originally refused to incorporate the Facilities Mechanics into the current Mechanics Contract that there would be a delay in negotiating a separate Collective Bargaining Agreement.
We resumed negotiations on April 2 with the Company at the Mecca Meeting Room in Dallas, Texas. We began discussions where we left off in our last session with Article 8; the International Field Service issue remains the topic of discussions. We currently have language in LOA #1 that gives us ownership over “all international emergency field service where parts are required to return the aircraft to airworthiness.”
Unfortunately, our negotiation session scheduled for February 27 and 28 had to be cancelled due to airport closures caused by Winter Storm Rocky. We resumed negotiations on March 7 in the Mecca Meeting Room and began with an over-view of negotiations to this point. We discussed the status of information that we were waiting for regarding Articles 4 and 17, affirmed that Articles 8, 21, and 22 are currently in work, and that Articles 12, 26, 27, and 28 have been worked through and are currently TA’d.
The Negotiating Committee returned to Dallas for two scheduled days of negotiations on February 12 and 13. The morning of February 12 we spent as a Committee at the Local 11 office going over our Article 8 counter to be presented to the Company. We also spent this time dealing with our approach to an issue that has been brought to our attention in regards to what Company representatives allegedly said about the negotiations during a station visit. After lunch we met with the Company in the Mecca Meeting Room. We first asked the Company about the reports we received concerning messages from Company leaders to our members.
On January 24th and 25th we met with the Company in the newly erected Women in Aviation Conference Room at the Hangar in Dallas. We were scheduled for a full day of negotiations on Thursday and a half day on Friday. We began discussions on the Maintenance Control classification work definition for Article 4. The main point of contention centered on the Company’s ability make changes to the group’s work. After several hours of working together and explaining each side’s concerns, we decided to separate and caucus amongst our own groups. We met with the Company after lunch and were able to tentatively agree (TA) on this item with provisions that any changes to the Maintenance Controller’s work that was not typical to the industry must be mutually agreed upon by the Company and designated MOC shop representative.
On January 9th and 10th we met with the Company in the Texas Stadium Conference Room at the hangar in Dallas. Our Committee was anticipating the finalization of language for the Technical Training Instructors’ classification of work which is to be added to Article 4. At the end of our last session on December 4, we believed that both committees were in agreement on language to accomplish this, but the day before this session we were informed by the Company that they could not agree on the language due to organizational changes that moved Maintenance Training over to the Corporate Training Department headed by Managing Director Elizabeth Bryant.
On December 4, 2012, we met with the Company for a one-day session in the Executive Conference Room at the Hangar in Dallas. The discussions started with AMFA providing the Company with a proposal for the classification of work for the Technical Training Instructors which is to be added to Article 4. The Company provided AMFA with four (4) articles they had prepared for AMFA’s review: Article 1 Purpose of Agreement, Article 17 Safety and Health, Article 12 Leaves of Absence, and Article 28 Apprentice Aircraft Mechanic Program.
The Negotiating Committee is providing this update to the AMFA Membership at Southwest Airlines. This is the only official authorized source of negotiating communications by the Committee.
On November 7 and 8, 2012, we met with the Company in the Texas Stadium Conference Room at the Hangar in Dallas. The discussions again started with the Company looking for full relief from having to start the fourth line of heavy maintenance along with the other issues they discussed with the Committee on September 12, 2012. The Committee reiterated that we are not interested in the direction discussed during our previous session and that we are ready to move in a different direction.
The Negotiating Committee is providing this update to the AMFA Membership at Southwest Airlines. This is the only official authorized source of negotiating communications by the Committee. On September 12th we met with the Company in the Texas Stadium Conference Room at the Hangar in Dallas. During our session in August the Company expressed a desire to accomplish these negotiations in an expedited manner; therefore, this session was scheduled for only one day. The Company explained they would like to provide AMFA with a comprehensive proposal in an attempt to further expedite the negotiation process.
The Negotiating Committee is providing this update to the AMFA Membership at Southwest Airlines. This is the only official authorized source of negotiating communications by the Committee. On August 21st we met with the Company in Dallas in the Texas Stadium Conference Room at the Hangar. The Company started with a presentation of where they see themselves with respect to the competition and areas that need improvement.
The AMFA-Southwest Airlines (SWA) Negotiating Committee is currently scheduled to meet with Southwest Airlines management in August to amend our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). For those of you involved in your first negotiations or for those who need a refresher please refer to the following synopsis.
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Page Last Updated: Oct 08, 2024 (09:39:00)
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AMFA
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20240916_Memo_AMFA-SWA_Meeting_re_Elliott_Investment_Mgmt.pdf
AMFA_SWA_Benefits_Analysis_20240802.pptx
AMFA Accident Investigation Team Application FF.PDF
