The Negotiating Committee has had a little extra time after we released the TA2 Summary last Saturday, which has provided us the ability to answer questions on social media this week. During this time we have also been making posts on the Negotiations Blog as we have seen questions arise. We have enjoyed the opportunity to interact with you and answer your many questions about the proposed changes of TA2.

This coming Sunday, November 16th, the Negotiating Committee will be headed back to Seattle for the entire week. More long hours are in store for us as we prepare for the upcoming Roadshows. At the request of the Membership we will also be doing videos that will be posted as an additional reference. Those who are unable to attend a Roadshow should find them very useful.

Due to the amount of preparation required, we need to wisely use the minimal time we have left to ensure we are thoroughly prepared for the Roadshows. We want to remain available to answer TA-related questions and in order for us to do that efficiently we need to pull our resources into one location. We are asking all Flight Attendants to join us on the Negotiations blog at http://afaalaska.org/negotiations/blog to ask questions and comment in real-time on the information we are publishing. This will help you better understand the provisions of TA2. You can also email negotiations@afaalaska.org or use the Negotiations Feedback Form.

We will continue to monitor social media and will be directing you to the Negotiations blog to find the answers to your questions. Please know this is our way of using our time to the benefit of the entire Membership because every Flight Attendant has access to the Negotiations website and blog.

We look forward to hearing from you and providing you with accurate information so you can make an informed decision for your future!

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

Many Flight Attendants have asked, “What did we give up to achieve that provision?”

Most often it’s not as simple as the Negotiating Committee had to “give up” one provision in order to gain another. Sometimes there is a certain amount of trading for various aspects of the Tentative Agreement but not always. There were many times during these negotiations when management would give us a “freebie” when we asked for it, usually when it was a non-economic item.

For instance, some have wondered what AFA had to give up in order to achieve protections in Section 25 Air Safety, Health & Security from having to ferry on a flight with an inoperative engine. What has particularly concerned Flight Attendants is that regulations actually prohibit F/As from ferrying such flights. Therefore, some are concerned that we gave up something to achieve what we already have (even if it’s not in contractual language).

AFA had a whole list of protections or clarifications we were seeking in Section 25, some of which we achieved and others we did not. Even though regulations prohibit ferrying on those flights, AFA believed it was important Flight Attendants were aware they were not required to ferry such flights by including language in the contract. In this case, management agreed without further discussion.

There were plenty of similar instances when AFA asked for something and management agreed to incorporate it into the contract. Of course there were plenty of times when there was a lot more discussion and potentially even some “trading” to make it happen. We certainly didn’t have to give up something in order to gain something else for every change in the TA.

Your LEC presidents would like to explain their perspectives and voting record regarding TA2. Rather than attempting to include one statement from each of the five LECPs (which would make for an even longer communication), the four presidents who voted to release the TA for ratification with a “neutral” recommendation have crafted a general statement on their behalf. Council 18 LAX President Sandra Morrow has written a personalized statement explaining why she voted to not release the TA for ratification and why she is on the record with an “against” recommendation.

Letter from the LEC Presidents of Council 30 ANC, 19 SEA, 39 PDX and 15 SAN Regarding TA2

“In reviewing the tentative agreement (TA) over the past few weeks the ANC, PDX, SAN and SEA LEC presidents came to the decision that we support sending the TA out to the Membership for consideration. Based on your feedback after the first TA we are taking a “neutral” stance because we believe that each of you must make your own decision and we support your right to vote in your own way. However, if the four of us believed this TA had not addressed and corrected the main concerns from TA 1 we would not have voted “yes” to send it out for your consideration.

The Negotiating Committee went back to the table with a daunting task to achieve several changes in JA, Open Time, Attendance, Sick Leave, Insurance and Compensation. We believe that the Negotiating Committee was able to achieve positive changes in each of these sections, and more! It is our desire that you take time to review the information and make an educated decision. Attend a road show, watch the videos, and email your local officers if you need clarification or have any questions. This is your future and we want to ensure that you have the ability to cast a vote based on fact.

We fully support and appreciate the hard work that the Negotiating Committee put into this TA and thank them for their efforts. They held firm to achieve our desires and negotiated pay scales that are #2 or #3 in the industry on every pay scale!

We hope that you take the time to thank them for their hard work and dedication.”

–- Council 30 ANC President Becky Strachan, Council 19 SEA President Laura Masserant, Council 39 PDX President Cathy Gwynn and Council 15 SAN President Stephen Couckuyt

Letter from the LEC President of Council 18 LAX Regarding TA2

“I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you my decision and the rationale that went into making this decision with regard to the proposed TA.

After reading the TA, speaking with my fellow LAX officers, and with much consideration, I voted “Against” taking the TA out for a ratification vote, requesting the Negotiating Committee return to the table while we resume our mobilization events immediately.

Although this TA has resolved many of the issues that were of concern to you in the last TA, this TA has new concerns for me. As your LEC President, I represent all flight attendants in LA, and it is my opinion that this TA falls short in what I, and your local officers, consider to be a fair and equitable agreement for all seniorities, which could potentially lead to divisiveness within our work group.

Another cause for concern are the proposed changes to the work rules. As a group you have been extremely vocal and clear in your message not to change the current work rules. I find these changes to have no great benefit for all flight attendants at every base and believe this can be corrected by going back to the table.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the Negotiating Committee for all of their hard work and presenting us with a clean and concise document. They have worked countless hours to incorporate the language from our current book, TA1 and TA2 to make it reader friendly. I appreciate their dedication and professionalism to this process and hope all of you take a moment to thank them for the job they have done. I have complete confidence in this team to return to the table.

Ultimately, it is your decision to make. Please know that I respect and trust each and every one of you to make your own decision by staying informed, going to the roadshows and utilizing all the tools that AFA will provide you with.”

–Council 18 LAX President Sandra Morrow

~ ~ ~

The Master Executive Council (MEC) hopes you will find this important background information helpful as you begin the process of evaluating the TA for ratification. If you have lingering questions about your LEC president’s position regarding TA2, the MEC encourages you to contact your LEC president directly for further discussion.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

A summary of TA2 is now posted online <http://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Print-FINAL-ALA-TA2-Summary-v3-11.10.14.pdf>. You will find the TA2 Summary housed on the new “Tentative Agreement” page < http://afaalaska.org/negotiations/ta> of the AFA Alaska website under ‘Negotiations.’ You will find additional information posted on the TA page such as Roadshow schedules, etc., that we will add to as time goes on. A paper version of the TA2 Summary will also be mailed with your ballot on November 18^th.

If you have any questions, you may reach the Negotiating Committee by email at negotiations@afaalaska.org or you are welcome to check out or post on the Negotiations blog <http://afaalaska.org/negotiations/blog>.

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

Negotiating Committee and Master Executive Council met to review TA2

The Negotiating Committee and the Master Executive Council (MEC) met today in Seattle, WA, to review the full text language TA2 document.

MEC votes to release TA2 for ratification 4 “yes” / 1 “no”

After thorough review and consideration, the MEC has voted to release TA2 to the Membership for ratification. The LEC presidents’ votes to release TA2 (“yes” / ”no”) are as follows:

“Yes”- Council 30 Anchorage, Council 19 Seattle, Council 39 Portland, Council 15 San Diego;

“No” – Council 18 Los Angeles.

MEC recommendation for TA2 is 4 “neutral” / 1 “against”

The LEC presidents’ recommendations (“for” / ”neutral” / ”against”) regarding TA2 are as follows:

“Neutral” – Council 30 Anchorage, Council 19 Seattle, Council 39 Portland, Council 15 San Diego;

“Against” – Council 18 Los Angeles.

TA2 Summary to be released no later than Saturday

We know everybody is eager to see the elements of TA2. The MEC will be releasing a summary of TA2 to active Mobilization Committee volunteers as soon as possible and to the general Membership no later than Saturday. We anticipate an electronic copy of the full text language to be released no later than the end of next week.

Roadshow schedule and other important dates…

Roadshows are expected to take place the first two weeks of December, with a morning and afternoon session in each location. Printed full text TAs will be available starting at the commencement of Roadshows. Additionally, the NC is planning on filming informational videos.

The Roadshow schedule is as follows:

M Dec 1^st – SAN

Tu Dec 2^nd– LAX

W Dec 3^rd – PDX

Th Dec 4^th – ANC

F Dec 5^th – SEA

M Dec 8^th – PDX

Tu Dec 9^th – ANC

W Dec 10^th – SEA

Th Dec 11^th – SAN

F Dec 12^th – SNA

Ballots will be mailed November 18^th and the count date will be December 17^th.

More information soon!

You will start seeing a lot more information released in the coming days, but In the meantime we thank you for your patience!

In solidarity,

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt; and

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo