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The History of AMFA
Jim Seitz - UAL Technician
AMFA is a craft based union that believes in and supports the
mechanic and related class and craft with professionalism. AMFA
provides a democratic voice for the membership. The Aircraft
Mechanics Fraternal Association has had great success in organizing
the mechanics and related at two of the top 10 airlines, in
the past year. AMFA now represents over 11,000 mechanics and
related at Northwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Atlantic Coast
Airlines and Mesaba Airlines.
AMFA was founded over thirty years ago by dissatisfied mechanics
in the aviation industry. This group included technicians from
airlines around the country, who set up a watch committee to
put pressure on the industrial unions because they did not properly
represent the skilled craftsman in their unions. When AMFA was
first formed in 1962, the aircraft mechanics that conceived
the idea wanted a union that would provide a unified voice for
their profession, aviation maintenance.
The founders of AMFA felt that the catchall industrial unions
could not provide the representation the aircraft mechanics
would need if they were to achieve the same professional level
the pilots achieved under ALPA (Airline Pilots Association).
In Washington D.C. at the National Mediation board, AMFA asked
the U.S government to allow the mechanics to form a union that
would parallel that of the pilots. After 12 months of hearings
the NMB ruled the aircraft mechanics could have their own union
it included the mechanics class and craft classifications of
mechanics, utility man, janitor, cleaner and fuelers. Mechanics
make up the majority 85 to 90% of the classification. All members
in the mechanics class and craft have the opportunity, to voice
their opinions and be duly represented in the association.
The mechanics wanted a democratic organization that the membership
controlled. Local autonomy was the center of this organization.
The locals control the majority of the money and power through
a democratic constitution. The union that had started out as
a small group of dissatisfied mechanics had grown into thousands
of members. The first large meeting was held in Des Plains,
Illinois in November of 1963, a national convention was held.
The AMFA National Constitution was adopted and officers were
nominated. That convention established the most democratic constitution
in organized labor today.
The mechanics created this union to promote the interests of
the profession and to safe guard the rights, individually and
collectively of the members of the association. The mechanics
that created AMFA believed that Skill Knowledge and Integrity
were the most important aspects of their new union. Their Skills
and Knowledge along with moral Integrity would be the strength
of their union. Their strengths are yours; all you have to do
is use them.
AMFA has always set the standards in our profession. The mechanics
and related, that have had the privilege to work with AMFA know
the democracy and respect for our profession that AMFA promotes
and protects.
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