AMFA National - Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association

Dear Fellow Alaska Airlines AMFA Members:

The word has spread that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) organizers have started showing up at our homes requesting that you sign a Teamsters representation card. This news is alarming because we are aware of the Teamsters’ track record at other carriers as well as internally. Their paid organizers come riding into town making all kinds of promises and telling you what you want to hear. Then, if they are successful in gaining representation, the organizers move their show onto the next campaign leaving others to deal with the reality of representing members.

The representation they actually provide never lives up to the promises made and expectations set during the organizing campaign. It is only after you have made a commitment to the Teamsters that you realize that the promises made were simply a bunch of empty words to manipulate you into signing a card – you were misled by the salesmen, and the actual delivery is much different. The old bait and switch routine is alive and well with the IBT.

The Teamsters tell you how mighty and powerful they are with their vast resources, but fail to acknowledge the fact that at the carriers they represent, they have failed to stop the company’s agenda of continued concessions, outsourcing, and furloughs. They have no magic bullet and face the same realities that all other unions face on their properties. The best and most recent evidence of this is at United Airlines where the Teamsters promised they would open the contract for re-negotiations to recover lost wages, pensions, and jobs. The reality is that United continues to announce thousands of layoffs across the company and over 700 mechanics in the San Francisco base received furlough notices last month. Even the mighty Teamsters admit the numbers are “staggering,” yet they are unable to stop the furloughs. The contract has not been re-negotiated, and the UAL members are still waiting for the Teamsters pension they were promised.

We do not want to jeopardize what we fought so hard to bring onto the Alaska property and still support today – AMFA. In 1998 we voted to leave a very large and powerful industrial union, the IAM, after they failed to recognize the needs of the mechanic group. We chose to join a craft oriented union that would focus on and recognize our unique responsibilities and liabilities. At that time, AMFA was a small and independent union representing only two regional carriers on the east coast. We recognized the vast resources of the large industrial unions did not have the same effect as a highly motivated and very focused craft union. The last straw that convinced many of us to leave the IAM was when one of the IAM negotiators told the line mechanics that his drivers license was just as valuable as our A&P licenses; thus, summing up the mentality of the industrial unions. From that moment forward there was no doubt we were going to find a union of, by, and for mechanics.

The very best resource a union has is its members. Membership determination is the backbone that all contract negotiations rely on. We demonstrated this in 1999 when AMFA negotiated the biggest pay raises that had ever been achieved for the mechanics at Alaska. We have moved from historically always being at the bottom of the industry pay rates to now being the third highest in the country. The highest pay rates are at Southwest Airlines (another AMFA property who voted to leave the Teamsters in 2003 and joined AMFA). So when the Teamsters tell you that AMFA has no resources, they are directly insulting you. It was because we stood together that we were able to make gains. It was not because of an outside influence that we moved up the ladder in the subsequent years and contracts.

Sure the Teamsters have thousands of members, but we would immediately be fed into the machine and lose any sense of individuality and autonomy. We would become just another grain of sand on the beach to the Teamsters hierarchy who has no vested interest in us. The IBT is made up of workers from garbage haulers to bakers, from secretaries to zoo keepers. AMFA’s single purpose is to represent and fight for those in our class and craft and they have never wavered in this effort.

We should not lose sight of the fact that AMFA’s National Director, Louie Key, is one of our own. He has worked for Alaska since 1979 and is intensely aware of the issues that we face here at Alaska. He is reachable, available to us directly, and has always responded personally when contacted about issues. Our contract representatives are Alaska employees, not some outside business agent. Our Local Officers are all in our class and craft – people who share the same passion for our profession.

Right now we are in contract negotiations; we are proceeding with preparing our full Section 6 Proposal and simultaneously responding to the Company’s extension offer. The extension talks will not delay the Section 6 process in the least. Throughout this process, we certainly want to have a full understanding of what is going on. AMFA’s open negotiations are unique in the industry and have been called a “circus” by the IBT. Being informed of what is happening in our contract is most certainly not a circus and is one of the most fundamental reasons AMFA deserves our loyalty. Let’s not go back to the days of being kept in the dark regarding our own contract – this was one of the key reasons the SWA technicians left the IBT.

The interests of AMFA’s membership have always been represented through the most effective political channels. One hundred percent (100%) of AMFA’s legislative budget is dedicated to the representation of our craft and class. On the contrary, the IBT must split their efforts representing the interests many different sectors. While the IBT may claim to spend more money on political causes, they are typically in the form of campaign contributions to candidates that its membership may not support. AMFA’s legislative accomplishments include: the passage of the Allegany-Mohawk Labor Protections, work with the House Aviation Subcommittee on redesigning the FAA’s incident report procedures, and submitting multiple letters written on the direct behalf of our membership. In addition, AMFA’s presence in Washington has allowed for our membership to communicate directly with legislators.

There are many examples of smaller, absolutely focused unions that are very successful in representing their members’ interests. Examples include the pilots at Southwest, American, and US Air. Right now, the jetBlue pilots are in the process of organizing an independent craft oriented union as well. These pilots all understand that bigger is not always better. Even the flight attendants at American are in an independent union that represents only the American FAs, and have been since leaving the TWU in 1977. They all get it! A small laser focused union can accomplish much better results than a large, unresponsive, and negligent union. Just look at the TA that AMFA recently reached at SWA that provides for greater job security, restrictions on foreign outsourcing, and a 17% pay raise over the four (4) year term. Compare that with what has happened at Frontier and the choice is clear.

In closing, remember the Teamsters prey on the naive and uninformed and we will hear a lot of propaganda from their organizers, including outrageous promises; but, do not lose sight of the reality they deliver. If you recall last year, they pulled a publicity stunt and dressed up like turkeys and Santa to impress the United guys. Now what do the United guys have to show for it – a dues increase and a furlough notice. Let’s prove we are smarter than that and we are not going to fall for their organizers’ distortions and empty promises.

Well over 200 AMFA – Alaska members have read and endorse the contents of this letter and AMFA’s position. A list of member endorsers and signatures can be viewed at AMFA Locals representing the Alaska membership.