Happy AMT Day!
In 2001, the FAA created the prestigious Charles E. Taylor Master Mechanic Award to honor AMTs who had served at least 50 years in aircraft maintenance. The following year, California Senator Knight introduced a resolution honoring Aviation Maintenance Technicians annually in honor of Charles Taylor’s birthday. Charles Taylor was the machinist who built the engine to turn the Wright Glider into the first powered aircraft.
Friday, May 24, 2019 is AMT Day – a day we honor the AMTs who ensure we have a safe aircraft for us to fly on, for our family and friends to travel on and for some of our members and coworkers to work on. Without the skills and dedication of our AMT brothers and sisters, the log books are not signed off and the aircraft do not fly. At a recent Charles Taylor Award, presented to one of our technicians who had 50 years of service as an AMT, the FAA stated the AMTs are the eyes and an extension of the FAA. We thank all our AMTs for doing their job, to the highest level of integrity, to keep us safe!
While many of our companies recognize and value the role the AMT plays in their daily operation, that doesn’t seem to be the case at American Airlines.
Just this week, American filed an injunction against the Association. American is desperately trying to mask their union-busting contract posture with false allegations. American’s proposals on scope provisions would have good American jobs outsourced to the lowest bidders in the United States and to foreign countries. American Airlines wants to do union-busting on the installment plan. As employees leave the company, they would be replaced by vendors. It is possible that two-thirds of the Association workforce would be GONE within 5-years. Not only
that, American wants to eliminate hard won health insurance plans and to provide second-rate retirement security. No lawsuit, Congressional visits or media campaign will get us to a contract we deserve. That can only be achieved at the bargaining table. We demand American Airlines to return to the table and get the deal done!
For our members at American Airlines, the company will be trying to show their appreciation through gifts and food – tell the company to keep their tokens and do the right thing – bring us a contract they have promised, and we deserve! They don’t get to pick one day to show appreciation while disrespecting us the other 364 days of the year with a concessionary offer!
In closing, to all our AMTs in the IAM, thank you for everything you do every day to keep us safe! Don’t let the distractions of the company, which is hell-bent on taking your hard-earned benefits and job protections from you, keep you from doing your job and making sure every job, every day, is done to the highest standards we are all held to!
Happy AMT Day!
Fraternally,
Dave Supplee
PRESIDENT & DIRECTING
GENERAL CHAIR
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