Unifor is the most powerful union for aircraft mechanics.
Since our inception over a decade ago, Unifor has bargained thousands of contracts, many with historic gains, including with Air Canada, WestJet, Perimeter Aviation, Alliance Maintenance Services, Canadian Aviation Electronics, NAV Canada, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority, Calm Air Cargo, and Airport Terminal Services.
Unifor just bargained a 20% wage increase over three years for Skilled Trades workers at Bombardier.
We also welcomed new members from Concorde Airport Services at Calgary airport, Menzies Aviation Ltd. at Halifax airport, and Porter Ottawa aviation workers.
By staying with Unifor, you’re staying with the strongest union in Canada’s airlines sector- one that has the resources to defend members at the bargaining table and on the picket line.
We want to talk to you — Reach out to our Local 468 leadership to talk through your concerns today!
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CARMEN LEDARNEY, Unifor National Representative, (431) 336-2756 cell, [email protected]
- ROQUE ANONUEVO, Unifor National Representative, (204) 590-6273 cell, [email protected]
Download the Flyer: Unifor is a Strong Canadian Union, see how AMFA Compares
MYTH: AMFA will get you more money faster
FACT: AMFA is making promises it can’t keep, and would be starting from square one, with no knowledge of your employer or the Canadian airlines industry.
Unifor has bargained historic wage gains in numerous contracts just in the last few years including at Bombardier in Toronto, Kruger in Trois Riviere and New Flyer in Winnipeg. We even negotiated full employer paid LTD coverage at Boeing in Winnipeg just last year.
MYTH: AMFA can resolve bargaining issues quickly
FACT: AMFA takes up to seven years to secure a first contract.
It took almost seven years of negotiations before AMFA and Southwest Airlines announced a tentative agreement for the airline’s aircraft maintenance technicians in 2019. Then, even after the contract was finally signed, the employer and the union remained at odds in the courts and AMFA is facing a $20 million price tag for the lawsuit.
At L3 Harris MAS at CFB Trenton, AMFA attempted to split the bargaining unit to exclusively represent AMEs. Despite winning the representation in 2022, they have yet to secure a collective agreement, leaving workers without the stability and assurances that come with a formal contract. Even at WestJet, it took over a year to land a contract for AMEs.
Your union is ready to gear up for negotiations, the quickest path to improvements.
MYTH: AMEs need their own union
FACT: AMEs are represented within Unifor through the Aviation Council, Aerospace Council, and Skilled Trades.
Aircraft mechanics get the benefit of working with other AMEs in a union that represents the interests of all members and all work plus the strength of a national union with knowledge of the Canadian airlines sector.
MYTH: AMFA will allow members a voice at the bargaining table
FACT: In bargaining, you could end up with only one local voice at the table. Their negotiation committee structure is different than what you currently have. You could end up with only one voice at the table with the rest being national officers. Unifor requires a member-elected bargaining committee that ensures your voice is heard and your needs communicated strongly during negotiations.
MYTH: AMFA will fix grievances effortlessly
FACT: Your local is actively dealing with three grievances surrounding issues of surveillance cameras and training per diem among others, decertifying will abandon all the work done on these grievances and give your employer carte-blanche to act however it wants.
The bargaining table is the best place to change the language and push to get the grievances resolved, which is communicated to Unifor members. AMFA doesn’t have the finances and legal resources to fight grievances, arbitrations and to effectively bargain collective agreements.
MYTH: AMFA can provide Canadian aircraft mechanics with more clout from down south
FACT: AMFA is a floundering Colorado-based union with a shrinking, 4,460-person membership and no Canadian expertise.
AMFA has lost 10,000 members since 2007 and is financially unstable.
AMFA currently represents mostly airline carriers in the U.S. and has members at only two companies in Canada. Three new units, certified as long ago as 2022, are still waiting for their first contracts. A new unit in Canada simply will not be a priority. The union doesn’t even have a single staff person in the Canadian region.
Unifor has built a strong infrastructure to represent our members from coast-to-coast-to-coast. We have a robust staff team with specialists working in the skilled trades, legal, research, and much more, and locals across Canada share information with and learn from one another.
Unifor has the experience, expertise, and resources to best lead you to achieve the wage increases and gains that you deserve.
No other union can match our strength and influence, both at the bargaining table and when talking to all levels of government about the policies that affect your job.
Advantages to being with Unifor
As union members, you know the importance of being part of a strong union that stands up for all workers and fights for your right to a decent job for you, your family and your community for our collective strength.
Unifor is that union. Dedicated staff in our legal, pensions and benefits, health and safety, skilled trades departments and more are here for you every day to assist your elected representatives and your bargaining committee to get the best collective agreements in your sector. Unifor has the resources to administer the contract for the full term and give your elected representatives the training and support they need to take on the employer. AMFA does not have these resources.
Unifor is a Canadian, member-driven union, meaning your priorities are our priorities and you set the agenda for collective bargaining, but with the resources of a strong national union behind you.
A small, American union cannot deliver the support you need. They might try to punch above their weight, but they cannot deliver the experience, influence, and power that Unifor holds in the airlines sector.
In March 2024, Unifor relied on its experience in the federally regulated transportation sector to protect the jobs of Canadian workers by safely stopping a CN train during a solidarity action by Unifor members in Winnipeg as part of an escalation caused by the company’s use of scab labour at CN Autoport in Halifax.
And when you need it most – Unifor supports families on the picket line. Your union’s $150 million strike fund has supported 97 strikes in the past year and is still strong. Meanwhile, AMFA’s strike fund is capped at $1 million. AMFA strikes are paid for by requiring locals with non-striking members to contribute more during strikes. Unifor’s strike fund, on the other hand, always has your back.
With Unifor, you the members set your unit’s priorities then tap into the strength of 320,000 members to get it done, including more than 16,000 in air transport and another 11,000 in aerospace.
Unifor lets your bargaining committee, and you the members, make the decisions during collective bargaining, Unifor National supports you at bargaining but will not overstep the direction of your elected committee, which is not the case with AMFA.
AMFA has limited national staff given the small size of the association. Their website indicates they have seven national officers, whereas Unifor has a large national staff base which include lawyers, economists, organizers to provide support to members and locals as required.
Unifor has the sway to be able to make a difference when we lobby in Ottawa whether that is lobbying to keep government out of our right to strike or for anti-scab legislation or the many other campaigns that take place every year, including the Air Transportation Workers’ Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which puts air transportation workers’ needs front and centre in our fight to reduce industry chaos by improving workers’ lives.
No other union could do that for you. That’s what being in a national union means.
Looking ahead to bargaining
AMEs are highly skilled, valued workers who deserve a fair wage and per-diems at the bargaining table.
We need your participation every step of the way as we ramp up negotiations – you have a voice, and we want to hear it!
Moving to AMFA will not get you more money, faster. Or fix your grievances because they don’t have the resources. Trust in our union, which has the expertise and power, to fight for you.
It’s time to bargain a better deal with Unifor, not jump on board AMFA’s sinking ship with no contract in sight.
