Dear Sisters and Brothers:
As we move into a new year, all of us at District 142 want to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments together and express our deepest gratitude to every member of our union family. We want to celebrate the milestones we’ve reached and the incredible solidarity, hard work, and dedication of our members, who make it all possible.
Collective Bargaining Agreements
In 2024, District 142 negotiation teams worked harder than ever, and the results speak for themselves. Our members ratified new contracts at Bahamasair, Aer Lingus, Jetstream, Menzies Aviation 403, Signature Flight Support ORD, Allied Aviation IAH, CommuteAir, British Airways, Atlantic Aviation PHL, Allied Aviation EWR, Signature Flight Support IAD, and a contract extension at American Airlines. Due to a strongly negotiated Me-Too clause, we obtained wage increases and bonuses for Southwest Airlines members, and we secured an industry-leading 401(k) plan and new maternity and parental leave from union-negotiated Letters of Agreement. In July, our members at Alaska Airlines also benefited from union-negotiated wage adjustments, and we secured a solid merger transition agreement for our members at Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.
Station Visits
Our General Chairpersons were committed to supporting all our members around the system, and in 2024, station visits were a top priority. Meeting our members where they work ensured their needs were identified and met, and our local stewards and Grievance Committees were supported in every way. Our GCs worked with local committees and stewards to hold grievance summits, participate in second-step hearings, special hearings, and arbitrations, and provide our members with the support they needed to perform their jobs.
Organizing
We had an outstanding year of organizing thanks to the hard work of our Organizing Committee members around the system. In April, Qantas Aircraft Maintenance Engineers in LAX overwhelmingly voted to join the IAM. PSA Airlines Stores Agents followed suit in September, joining their aircraft mechanic counterparts as IAM members. District 142 also welcomed new members from Southwest Airlines into the IAM. The Network Operations Customer Control Planners (NCP) are negotiating their first contract. Our organizers were on the ground all year long, supporting the ongoing Delta Airlines campaign, and we continued to make positive progress.
Education
The District 142 Education Committee held two shop steward conferences at the William W. Winpisinger Center in 2024, continuing the series that began in November 2023. Our educators welcomed a second group of stewards from Southwest Airlines in January and hosted a multi-company steward conference in May that included Air Wisconsin, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and PSA Airlines stewards. Committee instructors continued to deliver top-notch shop steward training to our locals and began offering Grievance Manager Program (GMP) only training classes. Advanced steward training classes are coming soon, as well as training classes for Local officers!
Occupational Safety & Health
The District 142 Occupational Safety & Health team continued to strive for improved safety measures on the job for our members. They focused on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safe and effective tooling, ensuring that every member had the proper equipment in their work area to perform their jobs safely and effectively. Our safety team members traveled around the system and participated in safety fairs and station visits alongside our General Chairs. They also held a safety seminar last summer at District headquarters.
Flight Safety
Flight Safety Committee members held meetings with leadership from Air Wisconsin, American Airlines, and PSA Airlines to strengthen our safety relationships with those carriers and establish regular meetings to ensure the companies continue to meet our safety expectations. Our team members continued the ASAP emphasis, including holding ASAP roadshows in DCA, SEA, MCO, TPA, ATL, AUS, and SAN, an ASAP summit with American Airlines, and the ASAP InfoShare. Team members attended the International Cabin Air Conference in London, and we sponsored a team from Aviation High School in Long Island to the MRO Americas Aerospace Maintenance Competition in Chicago.
Legislative
The District 142 Legislative Committee was involved in all aspects of the IAM’s initiatives on Capitol Hill. We represented District 142 at the IAM Legislative Conference and MNPL Conference in Washington, DC, and we proudly accepted two MNPL awards for District 142 and Local 2339N. Our committee members participated in “Get out the Vote” campaigns around the country as the 2024 election cycle heated up.
Veterans Service
The District 142 Veterans Service Program continued to assist our members who are U.S. military veterans. This vital program worked one-on-one with veterans who needed help filing claims and getting the benefits they had earned, including back pay, from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In addition, new classes were developed to be taught at W3, including Veteran’s Advocate Training and a Veteran’s Committee class. For District 142 Locals, help and support for your Veterans Service Committee can be requested by contacting the office in Phoenix at 816-982-6480 or by emailing that request to .
EAP
2024 was not without its hardships for many of our members. District 142 members were affected by no less than three hurricanes and tornado outbreaks in the south. Our dedicated EAP team members responded to each of these crises, providing much-needed boots-on-the-ground assistance and resources for our members in the affected areas of the country. Our EAP reps across the system attended the 2024 Labor Assistance Professional (LAP) Conference, an EAP summit, and participated in the Steward Conferences at W3.
Communications
In 2024, we continued to grow our communications department, and we are committed to bringing you more news and information each year. Our communications staff posted our 150th official news bulletin for 2024 in December, the most information we sent out in one year. We also added more videos to our YouTube channel, grew our social media presence, participated in Steward Conferences, and continued to support all our departments and committees.
Membership Engagement
Keeping our members engaged and supported was a big emphasis in 2024. We continued our ongoing webinars with President/Directing General Chair John Coveny and the District 142 Executive Board and Staff. We hosted important informational webinars for our members at Southwest Airlines, PSA Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines.
Young Workers
This January, a Young Workers Summit will be held at District 142 headquarters in Phoenix. We can’t wait to meet and get to know these young sisters and brothers better. They are our union’s future, and it’s up to all of us to educate, equip, and encourage them on their journey as union members.
Women’s Committee
District 142 announced the creation of our first-ever Women’s Committee last year. It will focus on education and initiatives to help women grow their involvement in our union, strengthen leadership roles, and support each other in uplifting and positive ways. The committee will hold a summit at District 142 headquarters in Phoenix this February. Look for more information soon about how you can get involved!
Special Events
In July, we officially announced the 2025 District 142 Convention, which will be held March 17 – 20, 2025, at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. We launched a convention website, 2025convention.atd142.org, and sent out the official call letter to all District 142 locals in August. We cannot wait to meet our local delegates as we chart the district’s course for the next four years! In October, we held our first-ever District 142 Charity Golf Event and Social at the beautiful Ocotillo Golf Club in Chandler, Arizona. Thanks to your participation and donations, we raised over $14,000 for Guide Dogs of America—Tender Loving Canines. Look for more information about the 2025 event!
In Memorium
In March, we mourned the passing of long-time District 142 Vice President at Large Andrew Boyd. Brother Boyd will be greatly missed by his fellow Executive Board members and our members out in the field whose lives he touched through his many years of service to our union.
Looking back, our growth has been unprecedented. With last year’s newly chartered Local 2930 in Dallas, District 142 now includes forty-four locals stretching from Hawaii to Alaska to Puerto Rico and all points in between. We represent members at twenty different companies, administer thirty-seven contracts, and are currently negotiating three first contracts!
As we look ahead to 2025, we remain committed to advocating for our members and building on the successes of 2024. Thank you for your trust, solidarity, and unwavering commitment to the values that unite us.
Sincerely and fraternally,
John M. Coveny, Jr.
President/Directing General Chair
