Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian
Q: Scenario: A FA is on a RON and is scheduled to depart on a holiday. The flight cancels before the FA reports, and is stranded for the entire calendar day on which the holiday falls. Does the stranded FA get the holiday pay for the flight that cancels?
A: No. A FA must report in order to initiate holiday premium.
Q: If the TA is voted down and if we enter full Section 6 negotiations with the groups remaining separate, can the Company sue AFA to be legally compelled to produce the ISL?
A: The Company can sue AFA for any reason. The question is: “Would the Company be successful?” The answer is NO. There is no “legal standing” or “legal cause of action” that would result in a lawsuit of this type being successful.
Q: I had a question and wanted to get an answer from reliable sources as there seems to be a lot of rumors. Are we required to have a JCBA before our seniority lists can be merged and full integration?
A: In accordance with AFA’s Constitution and Bylaws, a contract (e.g. JCBA) must be in place in order to give the company the Integrated Seniority List (ISL). The provisions governing seniority are very specific in our contract and govern who can perform work on the Alaska Aircraft. Additionally, the Merger Negotiations Process Agreement* requires that the pmAS and pmVX Flight Attendant groups remain separate until a JCBA is ratified and the ISL has been delivered to the company.
Q: Can the Company complete the merger, or even just merge our workgroups without having us on a single JCBA?
A: It depends on what is meant by “complete the merger.” The Company cannot merge the FLIGHT ATTENDANT group absent a single JCBA. However, the Company can merge the operation around the Flight Attendants (i.e. merge the rest of the Company except the Flight Attendant groups).
Examples: US Airways and America West rejected two TAs over a period of many years and the FA groups of the two carriers were kept separate the entire time. The United (pmUAL) and pre-merger Continental (pmCAL) FA groups are still flying separate, but the pmUAL and pmCAL pilot groups are now combined as are the ramp groups.
All labor groups in the Alaska Airlines-Virgin America merger are on different integration timelines. Some groups are already working together. Management has been combined. Management’s target for combining the Flight Attendant groups is March 2019, if the JCBA is ratified.
Q: If the TA fails, will pmAS FAs still start flying on the Airbus after they are trained? If the TA fails, will pmVX FAs start flying on the Boeing after they are trained?
A: No. Until the groups reach the point of Full Integration (targeted for March 2019 if TA is ratified), Negotiations Protocol Agreement* would remain in place and that document stipulates that pmAS FAs work on Boeing aircraft and pmVX FAs work on Airbus aircraft.
* ALASKA AIRLINES-VIRGIN AMERICA MERGER NEGOTIATIONS PROTOCOL AGREEMENT (4/27/2017)
K. Separation of Groups – Until the implementation of an agreement and the merger of operations following the issuance of a single operating system, the Company agrees to keep the operations of Alaska and Virgin America separate. During this period of separate operations, the Company shall provide the following protections.
1. The Company shall not utilize in its flight operations of one airline a Flight Attendant employed by the other airline, except as may be needed to comply with conditions prescribed by a governmental agency for the purpose of transition to, and eventual operation under, a single operating certificate.
2. Except for the circumstances described in paragraph K.1., above, no Flight Attendant of either Alaska or Virgin America shall fly as a working crewmember on an aircraft in the Fleet of the other airline. The “Fleet” of each airline shall be defined to include all aircraft in the service of or stored by the airline or on order or option by the airline, as April 1, 2016. In addition, Virgin America Flight Attendants shall not fly on Boeing aircraft as a working crewmember and Alaska Flight Attendants shall not fly on Airbus aircraft as a working crewmember.
3. The Company will not open a new Flight Attendant domicile in any location in which either Alaska or Virgin America has an existing Flight Attendant domicile.
The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Blog has been up and running over the holiday weekend, and the JNC thanks everyone for the engaging questions. We are ultimately endeavoring to answer new questions on the blog within 24 hours of submission, but during this initial period we’re asking for your patience. The JNC is running a little behind on our response time, and we’re also waiting to answer several questions until after we’ve had an opportunity to consult with our resources at AFA headquarters tomorrow.
Please note that in order to facilitate clear communication, the JNC will post only questions and answers on the blog. Opinions and/or comments included in questions will be edited to distill to the basic question(s). Duplicative questions may be condensed into a composite question in order to streamline the posts.
You may contact the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org. We hope to see you at the upcoming roadshows in March!
In Solidarity,
Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo
The roadshow schedule may be found on the Merger TAs & Info page along with other TA-related resources. Any pre-merger Alaska Airlines (pmAS) or pre-merger Virgin America (pmVX) FAs are welcome to attend any and all sessions. Please be aware that only AFA members in good standing may vote on the TA, so it is extremely important that pmAS FAs are current on their dues and pmVX FAs have completed an AFA membership application prior to the vote.
Q: With regard to Registered Air Commuters having a commuter priority, does this extend to the jumpseat?
A: No, the commuter priority is only for cabin seating.
“Registered Air Commuters” will be given boarding priority over Company employees (and dependents) on pleasure travel and over all employees of other airlines on Alaska Airlines mainline flights and on other airlines if applicable in accordance with current Company policy at the time of the commute. – JCBA §28.G.5 [Domiciles: Commuter Policy]
Commuters do not receive preferential priority for the jumpseat.
Although the jumpseat priority is technically Company policy and therefore subject to management discretion, AFA obviously takes a very, very active interest in the jumpseat priority. There is no intent to change current practice for jumpseat priority: seniority until D-30, at which point it converts to first-come, first-served.
Q: When will pmAS FAs see the change in their hire dates for step rate increases?
A: Step rate increases are based on Occupational Seniority date, which is the date an employee is placed on the Company payroll as a FA and going forward will now include credit for time spent in Initial Training. Adjustments to pmAS Occupational Seniority dates will occur as soon as practicable after ratification, and the new Occupational Seniority date will be retroactive to January 1, 2018 for the purposes of pay.
This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that […]
We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]
On Monday, October 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]
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During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]
