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Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

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Upcoming Merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • The Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Councils (MECs) will soon merge into a single MEC, consisting of the LEC Presidents from both pre-merger airlines and three MEC Officers.
  • An election for new MEC Officers and some MEC Committee positions will take place in late January, with terms starting on March 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2025.
  • Local Councils and LEC Officers will remain separate until a JCBA is ratified, and only LEC Presidents from their respective pre-merger airlines can make decisions about their pre-merger contract and separate operation. Once the JCBA is ratified, new LEC elections will be held in bases with overlapping representation (only LAX) within 90 days.

As part of the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, the Master Executive Councils (MECs) of both airlines will soon be combined into a single MEC. This new MEC will consist of the six Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents from pre-merger Alaska Airlines, the two LEC Presidents from pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines, and three MEC Officers.

This unified MEC will represent Flight Attendants from both airlines, facilitate joint contract negotiations, and interface with senior management. Since the merged MEC will initially operate with two active collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), decision-making related to each individual CBA will remain with the LEC Presidents representing pre-merger Flight Attendants of Alaska or Hawaiian, respectively. For instance, any decisions that solely affect the Alaska CBA will be made by the six pre-merger Alaska LEC Presidents.

Election of MEC Officers and Committees

The merger of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs will require an election for new MEC Officers and certain MEC Committee positions. In late January, the AFA International Officers will hold a joint meeting of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs to elect MEC Officers for the combined MEC. Some MEC Committees will be merged immediately, while others will remain separate until a joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) is ratified. During this meeting, MEC Committee Chairpersons and representatives for the committees that will be merged will also be elected. The structure of the MEC Committees from both the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs is currently under thorough evaluation, and the specific committees that will be merged immediately are still to be determined. (Note: According to the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, at minimum, the Grievance Committee and the System Board of Adjustment will remain separate for each pre-merger airline until a JCBA is reached.)

The MEC Officers, MEC Committee Chairpersons, and other MEC Committee positions elected at this meeting will take office and begin their terms on March 1, 2025. According to the AFA Constitution and Bylaws, they will serve for the remainder of the current Alaska MEC election cycle, which ends on December 31, 2025. Both Alaska and Hawaiian AFA Members in good standing will be eligible to express their interest in and can be elected to these positions. AFA International will provide more information about the upcoming election, including the available positions and how to express interest in candidacy, in early December.

Local Councils Will Not Be Merged Until JCBA

The upcoming merger of MECs will not affect your Local Council representation or LEC Officers. All LEC Officers will continue to serve their terms based on their respective election cycles. Local Councils at bases with duplication—only LAX has bases for both pre-merger airlines—will remain separate until a JCBA has been established. After a JCBA is ratified, elections for new LEC Officers for the combined Local Council will occur within 90 days.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the upcoming merger of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs, please contact your LEC President.

Introducing Our AFA Alaska Joint Negotiating Committee and Seniority Merger Integration Committee Members

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Last week, our Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews for two positions on the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) and two positions on the Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC). We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the candidates who participated in the interviews and demonstrated their commitment to serving our Flight Attendants. After careful consideration, we are pleased to announce the election of Virginia Fritz and Heather Reier to the JNC positions, as well as Marie Maxwell and Camile Caldwell to the SMIC positions. All will serve as the pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant representatives on their respective committees in the upcoming merger.

Joint Negotiating Committee

Virginia Fritz

Virginia has been a San Francisco-based Flight Attendant since 2015 when she started her career at Virgin America. She has always had a passion for aviation since traveling as an unaccompanied minor at 5 years old. Her desire for aviation led her to work on a Zeppelin, as a gate agent, and as an air transportation supervisor. When Alaska Airlines bought Virgin America, and she became a member of AFA, she jumped at the first opportunity to fight for Flight Attendants by serving as the Council 35 (SFO) Scheduling Committee Chairperson from 2018 until 2022. In 2022, Virginia was elected as Council 35 LEC Vice President and began serving San Francisco Flight Attendants in additional capacities, including with local Grievance, Mobilization, and Hotel Committees, as well as other needs her local Members requested of her. In 2020, she was privileged to be able to join the PBS Committee, and in 2023, she was honored to begin serving as MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS. 

Virginia is honored and humbled to be elected to the Joint Negotiating Committee so that she can use her commitment and passion in advocacy to find a contract that truly helps us all be stronger together.

When not advocating for fellow Flight Attendants, Virginia resides in Los Gatos, CA, with her supportive and loving husband, their adorable pup, Strudel, and her especially Union Proud Grandmother.

Heather Reier

Heather attended her first Anchorage Local Council AFA meeting in early 2016 before even flying a trip. Being a helper by nature, she immediately joined the Reserve Committee as a Reserve Buddy. This allowed her to better learn the parts of the contract that were specific to her work and to support others in the same position.

When the Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson position became available in early 2019, Heather stepped into that role to better assist all her coworkers – while remaining a Reserve Buddy (and Interim Reserve Chairperson) until this past July. As Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson, she has been able to help countless Flight Attendants with questions about legalities, pay, hotel issues, etc. She has often been able to advocate successfully on others’ behalf.

Heather was elected Anchorage Local Executive Council Vice President for 2023-2025. She is thrilled that this expanded role allows her to fully serve her coworkers and increase her knowledge and expertise in all contract areas. 

Heather and her husband, Travis, a firefighter in Anchorage, have been married for 28 years and have raised their family in Anchorage since early 1997. Heather is an animal lover. She has three dogs of her own and often has foster dogs running around. She also enjoys the outdoors (minus the mosquitos) and has recently discovered a love of gardening.

About the Joint Negotiating Committee

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) will negotiate with management to merge the collective bargaining agreements of the two pre-merger airlines into a single agreement for the newly combined airline. The full JNC will include two members from AFA Alaska, two from AFA Hawaiian, the MEC President, and the AFA Staff Negotiator.

Seniority Merger Integration Committee

Marie Maxwell

Marie Maxwell, a San Diego-based Flight Attendant, is excited to join the AFA Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) for the upcoming merger with Hawaiian Airlines. Marie previously served as a SMIC member for the Alaska Airlines/Virgin America merger in 2017/18 and brings first-hand knowledge and experience of merging two Flight Attendant seniority lists. Marie will analyze the results of the past merger and look for opportunities to make improvements during this subsequent merger within the guidelines of the AFA Constitution and Bylaws. She is ultimately committed to ensuring this is a fair and equitable process for both Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants.  

Marie joined Alaska Airlines as a Flight Attendant in 2012. Before Alaska, she spent three decades in various marketing and product management roles in the tech sector. She brings strong analytical, project management, and communication skills to this committee and will focus on accomplishing SMIC goals promptly, fairly, and systematically.

Marie moved to San Diego when the base opened in 2013. She is originally from western Pennsylvania but has spent most of her life on the West Coast. Marie graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts. She is an avid traveler, most recently visiting the Serengeti in Tanzania on a photo Safari and hiking the mountains in Tanzania and Uganda to observe chimpanzees and gorillas in their natural habitat. When she is not working or traveling, she spends her spare time playing pickleball, hiking, and making pottery.

Camile Caldwell

Camile started her flying career with Virgin America in 2017 as a San Francisco-based Flight Attendant. Once the Virgin America/Alaska merger was complete, Camile began volunteering with AFA and has held positions on the Council 35 (SFO) Reserve and Grievance Committees. In addition to her Union roles, Camile works as an inflight instructor, where she helped develop the 2024 RT program. 

Before becoming a Flight Attendant, Camile attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, which she continues to call home. When she isn’t flying, you can find Camile on the hiking trails with her boxer dog, Lily, or enjoying time with friends and family.  

Camile is honored to serve our workgroup during the Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines merger as part of the Seniority Merger Integration Committee and will work to create a fair, equitable, and unified seniority list. If you see her out on the line, please stop and say hi!

About The Seniority Merger Integration Committee

The Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) is responsible for gathering the information needed to merge the Flight Attendant seniority lists, evaluating any protests from Flight Attendants, and producing a final certified seniority list for the upcoming merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The full SMIC will be composed of two merger representatives from AFA Alaska and two from AFA Hawaiian.

Joint Negotiating Committee and Seniority Merger Integration Committee Interviews

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Tuesday’s announcement of the final regulatory approval and subsequent financial closing of the merger of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines mark important milestones. As per Section X [Merger Policy and Related Employee Protective Provisions] of the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws (C&B), the AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) will now begin the process of electing Members in good standing to serve on the Seniority Merger Integration Committee and Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC). More details about these positions and how to express interest are provided below.

Though the MEC is starting the process of electing members for the Joint Negotiating Committee and Seniority Merger Integration Committee, our immediate focus remains on returning to the negotiation table to achieve a second tentative agreement. Our AFA Alaska Negotiating Committee is preparing an opening proposal based on the TA2 survey results. Please stay updated by following AFA Alaska social media accounts and contract2022.afaalaska.org for the latest news and information.

Joint Negotiating Committee

2 POSITIONS

Pursuant to Section X.D [Merger Policy and Related Employee Protective Provisions: Contractual Protection] of the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws (C&B), the AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) is seeking two Members in good standing (dues current) to serve on the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for merged contract negotiations.

Purpose & Scope

Members of the committee are authorized to negotiate as one of the two pre-merger airline members of the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement covering Hawaiian and Alaska Flight Attendants as specified in Section 10.D.2 of the AFA Constitution and Bylaws.

The Joint Collective Bargaining Negotiating Committee (JNC) is comprised of four members, two of whom are appointed by the Hawaiian MEC and two by the Alaska MEC. The MEC Presidents of the Hawaiian and Alaska MECs shall serve as ex-officio members of the JNC.  

Election

  • Any person seeking a position on the negotiating committee must submit a willingness to serve and resume to the MEC by the announced deadline.
  • Applicants should be willing to devote a substantial amount of time to this committee during negotiations.
  • Applicants should have a good working knowledge of the current contract (if applicable) and of the policies and operation of the airline.
  • If possible, the committee should have a member or members with previous negotiations experience.
  • The MEC selects two negotiating committee members from among the applicants in good standing.

Duties & Responsibilities

  • Attend AFA-CWA joint contract negotiations training.
  • Conduct a review of the respective agreements to identify commonalities, differences, benefits of each agreement and unique issues associated with specific air service.
  • Review collective bargaining agreements and employment terms at comparable airlines.
  • Assess the priorities and needs of the members through surveys and union meetings.
  • Work jointly as members of the JNC to develop an opening proposal for the joint collective bargaining agreement.  
  • Be familiar with AFA-CWA policy and industry standards and trends. 
  • Communicate the negotiating objectives to the membership.
  • Attend negotiations sessions and assist in preparing proposals and counter-proposals. 
  • Willingness to travel extensively and adjust schedule to meet the needs of the negotiations.  
  • Update the members and the MECs throughout negotiations. 
  • Remain available as a resource for education on new contract provisions and interpretation of the JCBA. 

Expectations/Qualifications

  • Appointed by the AFA Alaska MEC and terms are served to completion at the approval of the MEC. Takes direction from the chairperson of the JNC with input from the AFA International Collective Bargaining Department (i.e. staff negotiator) and Legal Department (i.e. staff attorney). After successful ratification of the JCBA will continue to serve as a contract interpretation resource for the JCBA.
  • Maintain a complete record of negotiations including proposals, notes and communications, and such record is the property of AFA-CWA.
  • Public interactions (including social media) must reflect favorably on AFA Alaska. If requested by AFA Alaska, JNC members must be willing to reasonably limit social media interactions for the duration of JCBA preparation, negotiations and implementation.
  • Ability to tolerate controversy amongst one’s peers.
  • Willing to travel for training, preparation, negotiations, roadshows and other meetings as needed.
  • Must be willing to adjust her/his schedule as needed, sometimes with very little notice.

Flight Pay Loss & Expense Reimbursement

  • 6 TFP for each 8 hours of work (0.75 TFP per hour)
  • 5% override on TFP in lieu of per diem
  • Travel time is unpaid; exceptions will be treated on a case-by-case basis.
  • Meal & incidentals and other expenses to be reimbursed according to AFA Alaska Policy Manual and AFA-CWA C&B.

Seniority Merger Integration Committee

2 POSITIONS

One of the most important aspects of any merger of airlines is the integration of the seniority list.  The AFA Constitution and Bylaws provides for the Master Executive Council (MEC) to appoint two Seniority Merger Integration Committee Representatives. Seniority Merger Integration Committee Representatives have complete and full authority to act on behalf of the Flight Attendants of their respective airline for the purpose of compiling necessary employment data and a single flight attendant seniority list. More information about duties and responsibilities of merger representatives are spelled out in section X.C of the AFA Constitution and Bylaws.

Duties & Responsibilities

  • Determine seniority numbers for each Flight Attendant by reviewing and determining date of bidding for seniority, initial training date, number of days of initial training, and if seniority was accrued for training (and if so, how many days were accrued).
  • Evaluate all protests to determine seniority, determine validity, and adjudge accordingly.
  • Compile and certify a combined system seniority list.

Qualifications

  • Must be a current Alaska Flight Attendant and AFA member in good standing (i.e., dues current).
  • Ability to analyze written data and information with high attention to detail.
  • Ability to commit time necessary to complete assigned responsibilities, including flexibility to meet on short notice.  Some travel will be required.

Expressing Interest & Interview Scheduling

The MEC will hold interviews of eligible candidates during the November Regular MEC Meeting on Tuesday, November 12 and Wednesday, November 13. If you’re interested in interviewing, plan to bid around this date or adjust your schedule accordingly to accommodate. All interviews will be conducted in person in SeaTac, WA.

Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume using the online expression of interest form. The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. After the submission deadline, an MEC representative will contact eligible candidates to arrange a specific interview time.

Please note that to submit an expression of interest, you must have a Google account.  If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Questions?

Any questions regarding the positions or application process should be directed to the MEC Officers at officers@afaalaska.org.

Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines Merger Moves Forward

Alaska and Hawaiian management have satisfied any questions raised during the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) review of the proposed merger. This means DOJ will not take further actions and has essentially approved the merger. 

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has the authority to review international routes and general compliance with DOT requirements as it relates to the merged carrier. This has typically been a perfunctory approval. 

Mergers take time — this first hurdle only relates to the financial closing of the merger which can now proceed. DOT and the Federal Aviation Administration will play a significant role in the operational merger.

As a reminder, the transition period includes specific protections for Flight Attendants as negotiated between our union, and both Alaska and Hawaiian management. Review last week’s communication on the Merger Transition Agreement (MTA). Negotiations for a contract at Alaska will continue separately according to the Railway Labor Act. Improvements for Alaska Flight Attendants will set a higher starting point for JCBA negotiations.

We will all do better through our solidarity. Stay close to union communications, fly safe, and as always look out for each other. We are stronger and better together.

Impact on AFA Alaska Negotiations 

AFA will continue to work on negotiating a second Tentative Agreement (TA2) for Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants. Alaska Airlines has a legal obligation to continue negotiations with AFA Alaska. 

The Negotiating Committee (NC) is drafting a survey to determine the targeted goals for TA2. Following MEC approval, we tentatively plan to release the survey on Tuesday, August 27 and close the survey on Wednesday, September 4. The NC will analyze the results and continue through the steps listed here, including drafting a TA2 proposal.

The status of our mediation has no impact on the merger transaction with Hawaiian.

TA Ratification in Context of Delayed Merger Decision

The MEC and Negotiating Committee met this morning to discuss the delayed Department of Justice (DOJ) merger decision prior to our final Tentative Agreement (TA) roadshow. The MEC explored the possible impact on the TA voting timeline and unanimously agreed not to extend the ratification vote. Please ensure you vote by noon Pacific Time on August 14th.

Several factors lead to this decision:

  • We did not originally plan our voting timeline around the DOJ merger decision – the original announcement date just happened to fall within the timeline.
  • There is no guarantee the DOJ decision will actually be announced on the 15th. It is possible the DOJ could further delay its decision – and the voting deadline cannot be indefinitely extended.
  • We negotiated this TA strategically to be a strong option in either scenario, regardless of the DOJ decision. The TA sets us up for a JCBA if the merger does go through, or to be back in negotiations in 2 years (with the three-year duration and one-year early opener). Either way, we will have an opportunity to press for more improvements from a strong base quickly.

Please make sure to vote prior to the deadline – several days before the 14th is recommended in case you encounter any difficulties voting. Keep in mind that voting assistance is available Monday through Friday during regular business hours Eastern Time. Voting information can be found on the contract website.

All published resources are available from the TA page on the contract website.

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Upcoming Merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils

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Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2024

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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – November 2024

Scheduling Committee On Tuesday, November 19, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons/Representatives met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also […]

Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2024

Human Rights Committee On Monday, November 18, our AFA Local Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to raise awareness and create positive change within our workplace and community. Your representatives attending the meeting included Nyachan Chuar (ANC), Louise Borras (LAX), Aaron Miller (PDX), Erika Daniel (SAN), Freddy Vega (SEA), and Trista […]

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