Your Master Executive Council (MEC) is incensed that management has chosen to strand multiple crews on the East Coast tonight due to Winter Storm Riley. AFA has repeatedly reminded management over the past several extreme weather events that the Association is more than willing to enact CBA §8.S [Natural Disasters…] in order to turn Boeing crews out of affected stations. Instead, executive operations management (i.e. the Director of System Operations and System Operations Control) is consistently waiting to make decisions until too late in the day when all crew recovery options are essentially lost. This goes for Boeing and Airbus crews.
Crewmembers going into a layover are not going anywhere once they have been picked up by hotel transportation and/or the departing aircraft takes off. Note to management: Any beverage cart jockey can tell you that waiting until 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET to ‘call the ball’ won’t cut it—the vast majority of East Coast flights are long gone. When flights are subsequently cancelled for the next day(s), all stranded crew are along for the ride—for better or for worse.
AFA has made numerous attempts in the recent past to get management to be more proactive when assessing potential extreme weather events. We have tried conducting the appropriate conversations going through the proper channels. Obviously that approach isn’t working, so now we’re going to resort to public shaming. Believe us, it’s not what we prefer.
AFA sincerely hopes everything works out for our stranded crews on the East Coast. Please know we would have supported getting you out if we had been consulted in time to do something about it. Now that AFA has been asked about enacting §8.S on the Boeing side, we have approved the provision in anticipation of Winter Storm Riley. Unfortunately, it’s way too late to make any difference.
Just remember: This stranding has been brought to you courtesy of Alaska Airlines management.
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones
Lorretta Humphrey-Williams says
Dear MEC,
I would like to start by thanking you, all of the committee members and everyone that volunteers their time to make AFA strong and effective. I try to do my part by being active in the union and by keeping up to date on union activities and information. I tell others you can’t complain if you don’t keep yourself informed and if you don’t participate.
With that said, I am disappointed with some of the wording used in the Winter Storm Riley post. I applaud the passion that is behind it, however, I was embarrassed and insulted when I read, “…Any beverage cart jockey can tell you…” We are Flight Attendants/Safety Professionals. Serving is a small portion of what we do on duty. In this day and age, I feel we are the frontline of safety via being vigilant, observant and adaptable to handle most situations. I feel like we aren’t taken seriously and treated with the professionalism we deserve when we demean ourselves in such a way. Thank you for listening, your time and your leadership.
Sincerely,
Lorretta Humphrey-Williams
PDXFAAS
Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President) says
Thank you for the feedback, Lorretta. The use of the phrase “beverage cart jockey” was intended as a tongue-in-cheeck reference to match the less formal tone of the communication. AFA consistently champions the notion of Flight Attendants as safety professionals and first responders, so you make a salient point. As the main writer behind this communication, please accept my personal apology for embarrassing and offending you–and to any who felt this communication demeans our profession.
Melissa Claire says
BRAVO FOR THIS STRONGLY STATED COMMUNICATION!!! ENCORE!! I’m proud of our Union’s stance on this!!!!