AMFA Statement: TWU/IAM Scare Tactics and Lobbying
In an effort to scare its membership into remaining members of a poorly run union, the TWU/IAM Association is trying to play up their clout in Washington D.C. while de-emphasizing AMFA’s contributions and their importance to the aircraft mechanic and related maintenance workers’ class and craft. There is no doubt that the IAM and TWU parent organizations spend considerable resources maintaining offices in and around Washington, D.C. They often lobby on behalf of their membership, but how much of that lobbying and money spent is actually for the aircraft mechanic and related?
Although AMFA does not pay for overpriced real estate, to say that AMFA doesn’t have any presence or impact on Capitol Hill is disingenuous. As the only craft-specific union representing the aircraft mechanic and related, AMFA is laser focused on our issues, and strategically utilizes its member-provided resources where they will have the best impact for our membership. We are deeply involved in government affairs on both the legislative and regulatory fronts, and continue to break down walls to raise the profile of the craft to the prominent position it deserves. In just the past five years, AMFA has been involved in proposed legislation that puts limits on foreign outsourcing, successfully promoted workforce development, and has been appointed to important government committees and working groups. One such example is the seat AMFA maintains on the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) as the labor union representing aircraft mechanics and related, a committee that was devoid of a maintenance labor voice until AMFA lobbied Congress and the TSA to include us.
The aircraft mechanic and related worker at American now faces a choice — a craft-specific union, where every cent and every thought of every second of every day is about you, or a thrown-together combination of two larger industrial unions where one can hope that the resources will eventually flow your way. Make your decision wisely for your craft.
