Civilian aircraft mechanics at Kirtland Air Force Base unanimously vote yes to union

After a unanimous vote last month, some civilian aircraft mechanics at Kirtland Air Force Base will now belong to a union.

A group of nonmanagerial aviation mechanics and electronic tech maintenance workers employed by defense contractor Yulista Aerospace and Defense at Kirtland voted 10-0 to join the local chapter of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers on Aug. 27.

A Yulista spokesperson did not respond to an email request for a comment.

IAM represents almost 600,000 active and retired members and is the largest airline union in North America, according to the union’s website. The employees who voted to join the union at Kirtland all work on the CV-22 Osprey, a type of aircraft used by special operations forces with the U.S. Air Force, said IAM Local 794 President Ashley Long.

“This outcome reflects the shared recognition that workers deserve a collective voice in ensuring fair treatment, strong safety standards and the respect their skills merit,” Long said in a statement.

Fair compensation, working conditions, reliable scheduling, adequate staffing, clear communication and worker involvement in major decisions are among the issues important to the employees, Long added.

“We believe this union victory will lead to improved morale, higher job satisfaction and ultimately enhanced readiness and aircraft safety — all of which benefit all parties involved,” she said.

Long said the union intended to enter the bargaining process “in good faith” with a commitment to “work collaboratively.”

Last October, a different classification of aviation and aircraft mechanics, dispatchers, technicians and support staff employed by Yulista at Kirtland also voted to join IAM Local 794, according to filings with the National Labor Relations Board.

Yulista is an Alaska-based defense and aviation company and a U.S. military contractor. Yulista began doing business with the federal government in November 2023 and has been paid $8.4 million since then for machinery maintenance services, according to government financial filings.

When asked for a response to the election, representatives for Kirtland Air Force Base told the Journal that, as a private company, Yulista manages its own labor relations.