Hawaiian Air
mechanics seeking
new union

More than half of the prospective
members have signed a petition
requesting an election

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By Russ Lynch
rlynch@starbulletin.com

Mechanics at Hawaiian Airlines are being asked to replace their union.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said it has gained enough signatures from Hawaiian Air mechanics and workers who support them to obtain a representational election.

AMFA said it filed yesterday with the National Mediation Board for certification to campaign against the existing representative of the Hawaiian mechanics, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. AMFA officials said they are seeking to represent about 400 mechanics and related workers at Hawaiian.

That is only part of the 1,600 Hawaiian workers represented by IAMAW, but there are two units at the airline and AMFA is only pushing for those directly involved in the mechanical work. The others are clerical workers and other support personnel.

Local representatives of the IAMAW said they were aware of the AMFA effort but they had no immediate comment. The IAMAW has been involved in many contract negotiations with Hawaiian and has been represented on the airline's board of directors.

AMFA said it has gained signatures from 50 percent plus one of the employees it is seeking to represent and those signatures have been filed with the National Mediation Board. It should take about a month for the board to verify the signatures and then a representational election can take place, AMFA said.

In its news statement, AMFA said its members are "encouraged to attend contract negotiations and there are no secret agreements behind closed doors."

All of the unions at Hawaiian have signed new contracts in the past year.