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National Director's April 2017 Update
Updated On: May 121, 2017

May 1, 2017

Dear Members:

The National Executive Council (NEC) continues our efforts to achieve the best communication practices to reach you. Communication has been a top priority for the past several months, and a system-wide quest to update member contact information at both the Local and National levels is ongoing. The tools are in place for our members to acquire updates and push notifications regarding current events throughout the Association. We are also using social media to increase visibility via Facebook-live and Twitter.  Negotiation updates and other news are archived on the carrier specific pages of the National website at www.AMFANational.org. The NEC also continues to conduct station visits throughout the system at both ASA and Southwest Airlines (SWA) locations. Regional II Director Will Abbott recently visited with SWA members at Orlando, FL. We would like to thank everyone who helped with transportation at the station and escorts from each area.

On April 3, 2017, in Seattle, WA, the AMFA and Alaska Airlines (ASA) negotiating committees met to officially sign the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Now that the Contract is ratified and signed, our next mission for the ASA Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) is completing the merger and integration with Virgin America. AMFA and ASA will be engaging in extensive talks over the next several months in regards to the integration process and transition period.  We will keep you informed on developments moving forward.

In February 2017, SWA filed a lawsuit against AMFA National, Local 11, and several individual officers and contract negotiators in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. 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. The SWA transfer motion was granted and to be moved to Texas and the decision by U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to be transferred to the respective court in Texas. The next stage of litigation for both lawsuits is to meet with the assigned District Judge for discovery and depositions protocol.

We are currently suing SWA in federal court for its failure to negotiate in good faith and respect our contractual rights. We still continue to be actively engaged with legal to address the Company’s unilateral outsourcing of your protected C-Check work and recent AIR21 filings. Remember, watch what the Company does, not what it says. Discouragement twists the truth. Discouragement builds fear and doubt. Discouragement brings a sense of defeat and hopelessness. Please stay informed and thank you for your continued full support of your Negotiating Committee.

SWA AMT negotiations continued this month with a mediated session in Washington, DC at the National Mediation Board (NMB); negotiation updates for all sessions have been posted to the National website. Our next negotiation session for AMTs is scheduled for May 1–4.

We would like to take the time to thank everyone who participated in the AMFA–SWA survey that concluded on April 20, 2017. The NEC continues to make improving communications a priority, and the survey was a means to facilitate in the process. The data collected is currently being analyzed by a professional consulting firm. The firm will report their findings to the Chair of your Negotiating Committee only. This survey was designed to identify the true pulse of how many of you feel about the current state of SWA negotiations and other stated concerns.

The NEC is proud to announce the two recipients of the AMFA Scholarship for 2017. Applicants were required to submit a 500-word essay expressing why they chose aircraft maintenance as a career. This year’s two $2500 recipients are Dylan Jordan from Spartan Collage of Aeronautics and Technology in Broomfield, Colorado and Coryn Porter from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. AMFA is honored to have the opportunity to help these young students in the beginning stages of their aviation careers. After visiting these schools, the NEC is in the pre-stages of helping recruit and capture the “cream of the crop graduates” or “AMFA’s top ten approval” from aeronautical schools across the country for employment opportunities at Alaska Airlines. Another near future goal is helping exiting military technicians in the transitional period from military to civilian employment at Alaska Airlines – capturing these very trained, talented licensed individuals is a win-win for all parties.

Sincerely,

Bret Oestreich
National Director


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AMFA
7853 E. Arapahoe Court, Suite 1100
Centennial, CO 80112
  303-752-2632

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