AMFA National - Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association

Participants for AMFA:
     Lee Rhame - Local 11 Airline Rep
    Bob Cramer - Local 18 Airline Rep
    Mike Young - Local 32 Airline Rep
    Carla Foster - Appearance Technician Rep
    Floyd Looney - Assistant National Director

Participants for Southwest Airlines:
    Mike Ryan – VP, Labor Relations
    Jim Sokol – VP, Maintenance
    Tony Lowery - Senior Dir Maintenance
    George Tompkins - Director, Employee Resources
    Mark Lyons - Manager, Employee Resources
    Keith McCormick - Manager, Employee Resources
    Christina Bennett - SWA Legal Counsel
    Mike Hunter - Manager, Production Appearance
    Sam Moser - Planning Manager, Finance

The Negotiating Committee is providing this update to the AMFA Membership at Southwest Airlines. This is the only officially authorized source of negotiating communications by your Committee.

The above AMFA and Southwest Airlines Representatives participated in open, formal negotiations, seeking contract changes in Section VI negotiations.

The Negotiating Committee and the Company resumed negotiations in Dallas on Tuesday & Wednesday, March 30th and 31st. The entire two days was spent with proposals and counter proposals. The committee feels that with just a bit of tweaking they could be getting close on articles 4 and 5 and if all stays as is, a mutual consensus, on these articles, might be reached in the near future.

No tentative agreements were accomplished on Article 4 or 5, although each side stated they felt significant progress was made.

As the committee left the negotiations on Thursday we handed our proposal on article 21 to the company for consideration and when we next meet we will possibly take up this article as well.

We will resume negotiations Wednesday and Thursday, the 28th and 29th of April in Dallas. The start time is scheduled for 9AM on Wednesday. Future dates to continue discussions will be secured at these meetings.

The Negotiation Committee would like to thank Dave Widerski and Maria Cordero from Phoenix, Darlene D. Warren, Dawn Bird, and Vertis Hawkins from Dallas, and Kenneth Dawson from Houston, for taking the time out of their busy schedule to be an observer this negotiating session. Their input was very helpful and welcomed. We know that they will communicate with other members from their locals on how the Union is working to protect their jobs and contract language.

The negotiation committee would like you to remember, what you hear today might not be how it comes out to the membership for ratification. Negotiations are a long and arduous process. Things change as differing opinions, and concerns, from each side are considered. Each article hinges on the next. Before the final document is presented to the members, all articles must be considered.

Sincerely,
Your Negotiating Committee