IAM/DISTRICT 142 REPRESENTATIVES ACCOMPANY AVIATION HIGH SCHOOL TEAM TO 2023 AEROSPACE MAINTENANCE COMPETITION

May 8, 2023

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

After a four year Covid hiatus, I was once again privileged to accompany the Aviation High School to the MRO’s of America AMT Competition (aerospacecompetition.com) April 18 – 20, 2023. My first trip to the competition was in 2019 and I had such a great adventure with those future Unionists that I volunteered to return. Don’t believe me? My counterpart on the west coast, Mitch Worthington; this year was his first time at the competition and before we left, he was planning on what we can do differently next year.

What an honor to be associated with this Union sponsored organization. These young men and women were so well mannered, respectful, and thirsty for knowledge. These talented teenage students also finished around 30th overall out of 84 (more mature) teams. All this, while simultaneously listening to 80+ years of aviation and Unionism bombarding their brains.

I’m so thrilled to have this Union and American Airlines Management seeing the value in recruiting these individuals. Not just with the Aviation High School but all the other Schools, Colleges, and other Airlines competitors at the event. These are individuals that have risen to the top of their class or craft, and they are looking to showcase their talents. We want to be the Union with the smartest, brightest, and safest individuals in their respected classifications. Why would any Company want to farm out work, when you have this type of talented workforce in your own house?

My parting words to this group were, “You are now learning how to be Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMT) at the highest of standards. Never lower your standards. Always make those around you come up to your standards of maintenance, do that and you will have more good outcomes than bad.”

Sincerely and fraternally,

Bud Brown
District 142
AA ASAP ERC

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