March 31, 2020 -- On March 27, Congress passed a massive financial package to relieve the unprecedented economic impact from the global COVID-19 pandemic, which the President signed into law. This includes targeted relief to airlines like the ones where our expert mechanics currently work, Southwest, Alaska and Horizon.
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March 27, 2020 -- Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) National Director Bret Oestreich, released the following statement: On behalf of the over 4,000 aircraft mechanics representing Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and Southwest Airlines, AMFA applauds the U.S. Congress passage of bipartisan legislation to provide financial stability to the hard-working men and women on the front lines providing safety and security to the American flying public during this unparalleled time of adversity. In addition to the unprecedented health crisis we are facing, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has brought with it devastating economic consequences. And now, the airline workers are at the front line of one the most economically impacted industries.
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March 25, 2020 -- According to a recent published study, backed by the National Institutes of Health, Coronavirus (COVID-19) can survive up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. With this knowledge, we recommend the following to help prevent the spread of the virus...
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March 24, 2020 -- As the Coronavirus (Covid-19) has swept the world and brought about an unprecedented change to our understanding of circumstances as normal, the aviation industry has experienced sweeping changes of huge proportions. The result has been a grounding of aircraft at many of the global carriers that surpasses the scale of any previous event. The parking of aircraft brings on a whole new set of maintenance requirements that must be strictly followed to ensure the aircraft’s continued airworthiness. Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, as always one of the main pillars of aviation safety, must ensure that these requirements are being followed.
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March 23, 2020 -- The National Executive Council (NEC) is issuing this Emergency Order in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In light of the current situation, the 2020 AMFA National Convention will be postponed to a later date, to be determined by the NEC.
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March 19, 2020 -- Over the past several weeks, airlines and their employees have been under an enormous amount of pressure amid an ever-changing environment in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. AMFA leaders have been in communication with our carries on a regular basis and have been taking guidance from the CDC to ensure we are taking effective steps to combat the significant challenges posed by this pandemic.
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March 19, 2020 -- The swiftly developing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a rapid increase in airline passenger cancellations, while also producing a severe decline in future bookings. To date, most airlines have responded with capacity cuts and flight cancellations. The airlines have both collectively and individually expressed immense concern about the industry’s economic health to the US government, and requested a substantial financial assistance package to help navigate through this difficult time. The White House has indicated support, with the President vowing to “back the airlines 100 percent,” and the task of negotiating a package is now with the Legislative Branch.
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March 17, 2020 -- Reflecting back on 2019, we take great pride in our Association’s achievements and the many hurdles we successfully navigated during the year. We now face our first significant hurdle of 2020, which will affect the entire travel industry as well as the global economy. Throughout the month of February, airlines and their employees were under an enormous amount of pressure in the changing environment focusing on the safety of public health in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
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March 12, 2020 -- By now everyone should be aware of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, here and abroad. As updates about COVID-19, are made daily, we encourage you to draw upon information and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Among the best practices recommended by the CDC are to thoroughly washing hands and avoid touching your face.
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March 4, 2020 (Miami Herald) -- An American Airlines mechanic convicted of sabotaging a navigation system on a Miami flight with 150 passengers aboard was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday after a legal debate over whether he “recklessly” or “intentionally” endangered the safety of the aircraft.
Click here to read more...
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March 5, 2020 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from AMFA Locals representing the Alaska Airlines (ASA) membership for the position of Primary AMFA–ASA Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representative. Nominations must be submitted to AMFA National no later than 5:00 PM ET, March 26, 2020.
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March 5, 2020 -- AMFA National is calling for nominations from AMFA Locals representing the Horizon Air (QX) membership for the positions of Primary and Alternate AMFA–QX Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) Representatives. Nominations must be submitted to AMFA National no later than 5:00 PM ET, March 26, 2020.
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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.
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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.
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February 21, 2020 -- First, I would like to thank you for placing your confidence in the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA). Your grassroots organizing efforts and collection of Authorization for Representation cards from your workgroup in favor of AMFA is still ongoing with favorable interest and results. We are honored and promise to work hard on your behalf if you continue to collect Authorization for Representation cards under the Railway Labor Act (RLA) and should you choose AMFA as your collective bargaining agent when the times come to vote.
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Download:
 Authorization_card.pdf
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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.
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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.
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January 27, 2020 -- Friday, January 31, 2020, marks the 20 Year Anniversary of the Alaska Airlines Flight 261 accident. The accident occurred at approximately 4:22 pm off the southern California coast, just north of Los Angeles, where 88 people lost their lives. Almost half of those on board were non-revenue passengers that were connected with Alaska Air Group, with Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air.
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December 11, 2019 -- On the heels of having won its representational election at Horizon Air, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) announced that a union card drive has begun at Spirit Airlines — the self-proclaimed ultra-low-cost carrier headquartered in Miramar, Florida. While it is unusual for AMFA to publicize card drive initiatives, given that the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) at Spirit Airlines are currently non-unionized, it is important to build awareness that this significant initiative is underway.
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November 15, 2019 -- Today House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced The Safe Aircraft Maintenance Standards Act, calling for unannounced FAA inspections of foreign repair stations, minimum qualifications for mechanics and others working on U.S.-registered aircraft at foreign repair stations, data gathering and analysis, a conditional moratorium on FAA certification of new foreign repair stations, and requiring the FAA to a create an online repository for carriers to report heavy maintenance history by location and specific aircraft registration number, as well as other safety metrics.
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AMFA has been following the Boeing 737 MAX 8 situation very carefully over these past months. In addition to attending meetings and collaborating with our carriers to ensure the MAX 8 aircraft is safe prior to relaunch, we have worked internally to identify issues that affect our members. Our desire is to work together with all stakeholders towards identifying common solutions that affect us all, and we have sent a similar letter to Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
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October 14, 2019 -- On October 8, 2019, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) held a public meeting to solicit comments and suggestions from stakeholders on issues facing the agency in the administration of the whistleblower protection provisions under the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21). OSHA is interested in obtaining information from the public on key issues facing the agency’s whistleblower program. AMFA National Safety and Standards Director Scott King was in attendance and had the opportunity to provide the following feedback to questions posed by OSHA...
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August 20, 2019 -- Many of you know from my August 8 update about the failure to reach agreement with Southwest Airlines in mediation that we hoped would have ended all of the federal litigation between AMFA, some of its current and former officers, and the company. AMFA must now defend itself from two separate federal lawsuits by Southwest against its own Mechanics and Inspectors filed before we reached agreement on the new contract.
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August 15, 2019 -- American Airlines, with the help of the U.S. federal court, made the skies more dangerous with their latest lawsuit and subsequent ruling. The airline sued its own mechanics and made it more difficult for them to report safety issues, creating fear of punishment and retaliation — having a chilling effect that hurts the airline and flying public.
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July 31, 2019 -- In accordance with Article XII, Section 1 of the AMFA Constitution, this letter shall serve as the official notice of the 2020 AMFA National Convention. The delegates to the 2016 National Convention voted to convene the 2020 National Convention in Las Vegas, NV. The Convention will commence on Monday, May 4, 2020. Further information regarding the Convention location will be sent separately.
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Download:
 2020 Const Amend Form.dotx
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July 16, 2019 -- The Boeing 737 MAX was grounded by the FAA on March 13, 2019, and based on current information, will continue to be out of service until at least October. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has been monitoring the situation very carefully, and a very important question remains regarding to what degree we will be involved in the process of introducing the aircraft back into the Southwest Airlines fleet and into the Alaska Airlines fleet.
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May 30, 2019 -- Contract negotiations between TWU-IAM and American Airlines have been stagnant for years as a result of American Airlines management’s “must haves” — ending protected work in favor of outsourcing to less skilled foreign international maintenance vendors and demanding headcount reductions.
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May 24, 2019 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) joined several labor and industry groups to encourage President Trump to officially recognize Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Day, May 24. AMFA also galvanized support from members of Congress to formally recognize AMT Day on floor of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
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March 19, 2019 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) National Executive Council (NEC) fully supports the Transport Workers Union’s “American Airlines Should Care” Educational Campaign. AMFA appreciates and encourages efforts to educate the public on a user-friendly platform that exposes flaws in business practices that compromise safety.
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OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the whistleblower provisions of more than twenty whistleblower statutes protecting employees who report violations of various workplace safety and health, airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, and securities laws. Rights afforded by these whistleblower protection laws include, but are not limited to, worker participation in safety and health activities, reporting a work-related injury, illness or fatality, or reporting a violation of the statutes herein.
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Download:
SWA Supervisor.pdf
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Its_Your_Call_12-6-17.pdf
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FAA-SWA-LAX-Report.pdf
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FAA-SWA-Dallas.pdf
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FAA-LAS-Violation.pdf
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