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Merger Negotiations Session #2 Update – August 2017

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee just finished several days of collective bargaining with management; we met from Tuesday, August 8th through Thursday, August 10th in Seattle, WA. This is our second merger negotiations session, with the first held back in June. (See “AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Prepares to Meet with Management This Week” for more information.) Representing management: Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays, Outgoing Vice President of Alaska Airlines Inflight & Call Center Services Andy Schneider (and now incoming vice president of People), Managing Director of Labor Relations-Air Elizabeth Ryan and Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel.

As AFA indicated in our Merger Negotiations Session #1 Update – June 2017, merger negotiations are a different process than regular negotiations. These talks are not under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board or Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act, and neither side believes that the entire contract is open for discussion. Discussions are focusing on a short list of items, and all the provisions in the AFA Alaska contract (scheduled pay raises, etc.) will continue in force.

Virgin America JFK Flight Attendant Base Closure

While the JNC discussed several transition items, the bulk of our time was spent reviewing the Virgin America (VX) Flight Attendant JFK base closure packet with management. VX Director of Inflight Valerie Jenkins and Inflight Project Manager John Maze joined us for much of those discussions by conference call. AFA Council 35 Virgin America President Melissa Osborne also actively participated by phone.

The JNC and President Osborne asked many questions and the parties exchanged a lot of information as we advocated for the JFK Flight Attendants. The JNC and President Osborne were able to achieve some modifications to the relocation package offered by management and to clarify language in the related Q&A document. The parties agreed it would be best for management to hold off on publishing some details about relocation travel until next week. This is in order to give management more time to fully develop the program and to consider several requests by AFA and our members.

Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy

Management and the JNC drafted a letter of agreement (LOA) that allows for a trial implementation of a commuter policy for Virgin America Flight Attendants beginning in October. (See “[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Work Rule Improvements – Part 3” for more information.) The parties used the “Get Going Policy” from the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) Tentative Agreement as a template with some slight modifications, coupled with a third reserve availability period (RAP) from 8am – 8pm for Short Call Reserve (SCR). Management needed some extra time past the end of our session yesterday to review the final draft, but we do not anticipate this to take more than another workday or so, which will take us into next week. Once again, AFA would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the efforts of our sisters and brothers on the TWU VX negotiating team for providing the basis for the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA.

Prior to implementation of this LOA, AFA will poll the Virgin America Flight Attendants to determine if the majority wishes to ‘test drive’ a commuter policy that is paired with a third SCR RAP. The initial survey will help guide the Master Executive Council officers in their decision whether or not to ratify the LOA. If we do trial the Commuter Policy and third SCR RAP, AFA will again poll the VX F/As in November to gauge membership satisfaction with the trial. AFA then has an opportunity to end the trial just in case it proves to be unpopular.

Information regarding the survey and the full text of the VX F/A Commuter Policy Letter of Agreement is now anticipated early next week, which is just slightly later than originally indicated in the last commuter policy update. AFA will continue our efforts to get this out to the Virgin America Flight Attendants as soon as possible.

Transition Issues Discussed

The JNC received several responses from management on prior information requests. We also had a very helpful and productive meeting with Alaska Director of Retirement Services Chrystie Dickens and Retirement Benefits Analyst Jaime Smalley to discuss the intricacies of merging the Alaska (AS) and Virgin America Flight Attendant 401(k) plans. Merging the two is a complicated multi-step process that must be completed within the guidelines of IRS regulations and other applicable laws. Finally, we consulted with Virgin America Crew Payroll Supervisor Peter Silberstein regarding the differences between VX and AS vacation accrual.

* * *

This negotiations session set the parties up for getting into more detailed discussions about specific transitional items next time. In the interim, each side has ‘homework assignments’ to make the time between sessions more productive. Merger Negotiations Session #3 is scheduled for September 12-14, 2017, in Seattle, WA.

Finally, the JFK Flight Attendants were constantly in our thoughts this week. Our hearts go out to each and every one of you, and the JNC will continue to seek any means possible to reduce the impact on you and all your families affected by this base closure.

In Solidarity,

Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Work Rule Improvements – Part 3

This message is for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants

AFA met with the Virgin America leadership team (management) and Alaska Airlines management on Thursday, August 3rd in Seattle, WA as follow up to the past two Virgin America Flight Attendant Work Rule Improvements discussions over the last several months (click here and here for more information). Representing the Virgin America (VX) leadership team: Vice President of Inflight & Guest Services Jeff Butler, Managing Director of Inflight Valerie Jenkins, Inflight Project Manager John Maze and CSS Supervisor Andrew Barnes; representing Alaska Airlines: Vice President of Inflight & Call Center Services Andy Schneider; representing both carriers: Managing Director of Labor Relations-Air Elizabeth Ryan; and representing the Association of Flight Attendants: MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Council 35 VX President Melissa Osborne and Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo. It turned out to be a very productive session.

Commuter Policy

AFA is happy to report that the parties successfully negotiated a long-anticipated commuter policy. AFA and management agreed to a 4-month trial period to see how the policy affects the operation and to observe whether Flight Attendants are benefitting from the program. To ‘fund’ this policy, management required changes to the reserve program. We believe the changes could potentially enhance reserve life, however we would like members’ input prior to entering into a letter of agreement (LOA) that would change your work rules.

Consequently, we will be asking for you to participate in a brief survey regarding your interest in implementing the commuter policy. Once AFA publishes the full text language of the proposed LOA next week, please review the LOA and provide your feedback in the survey that will follow. Time is of the essence because we would like to have the policy in place by October 1st, which means CSS will need to complete the programming changes before September 1st. Stay tuned for an update very soon.

Relaxing Hair Standards

Management has agreed to allow current Alaska Flight Attendant hair standards to be adopted at VX. With the manual revision due on Oct 21st, VX Flight Attendants will be able to enjoy more relaxed hair standards.

Pass Travel and Jumpseats

Additionally, with the manual revision due on Oct 21st, you will see improvements to the VX jumpseating policy. VX Flight Attendants will be able to pass ride in the jumpseat out of uniform. You will also be able to nap and to use the InFlight Entertainment (IFE) and personal electronic devices while commuting or deadheading in uniform while sitting in a guest seat.

Crossing Seatbelts

Management continues to affirm the requirement to cross and clean seatbelts will change by the end of the year.

Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) for VX

The ASAP program is a self-reporting program administered in partnership with the FAA in order to provide flight crews the ability to self-report incidents without fear of discipline. AFA and management have been discussing an ASAP program for VX since the last interim work rule improvements meeting on June 2nd, and the parties progressed further towards making it a reality this time. Programming is the biggest challenge causing the delay, but with the new IMDs arriving we are seeing ASAP implementation as a definite possibility in the near future. Look for updates on this important program.

Pelesys E-learning Pay

Management agreed to pay for recently unpaid Pelesys modules, including security and OPL, but advised AFA that changes will be forthcoming. In the meantime, check your mid-month ADP pay statements for your e-learning pay.

Personal Electronic Device (PED) Policy Update

In only a few more weeks, VX Flight Attendants will be under the AS PED policy. As you know, the policy lives in the manual and is tied into the revision cycle. With the distribution of the new IMDs, VX will be given a special PED bulletin, which will include the AS PED policy. Until then, please keep in mind that the VX PED policy regarding personal use is still very much in effect.

If you have any questions, contact your Local Council 35 officers.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Your Council 35 Officers – Melissa & James

Join the Alaska and Virgin America Pilots for a Unity Event Tomorrow in Seattle

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) knows this is short notice, but if you are not flying tomorrow (Wednesday, August 2nd), please plan to join the Alaska and Virgin America pilots in SeaTac, WA at Angle Lake Park (next door to Alaska Airlines corporate headquarters) for a unity rally and informational picketing event. This is a family-friendly joint unity event for Alaska and Virgin America pilots, their families, friends and invited guests. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Joint Alaska-Virgin America Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) has extended the invitation to Flight Attendants from Alaska Airlines and Virgin America, so come show your support for the Alaska and Virgin America pilots as the ALPA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) and MEC continues to prepare for arbitration.

If you are able to attend, please RSVP here as soon as possible. (Your RSVP will help ALPA plan for parking and catering.)

What: Unity Rally and Informational Picketing

Where: Angle Lake Park, 19408 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA 98188

When: 10 a.m. – 1:30 or 2 p.m. Shuttles from offsite parking to the park will run beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Click here for parking information >

Why: To send a message to management that we are unified behind the ALPA MEC and JNC, and that you disagree with management’s position that the pilots’ contract should lag far behind their peers in compensation, retirement benefits, and job protections.

For more information, see the “This Merger Won’t Fly” website >

Attire: Very strong preference for the Flight Attendant uniform but no jacket. (Pilots and your AFA leaders will be in uniform but no jacket due to the expected warm temperature.) Alternatively, you may wear orange to show unity.

Food, Family Events, and Other Fun Details: ALPA will have coffee available in the morning, and a catered lunch following the picketing event. Angle Lake Park has a playground, splash pad, and beach, as well as open grassy areas. We have reserved shelters for the day for our group.

Cost: The event is free to all Alaska and Virgin America pilots, their families, friends and invited guests (including Alaska and Virgin America Flight Attendants).

We hope to see you in uniform standing in solidarity with the pilots and your AFA leaders at the rally tomorrow!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Seniority Merger Integration Committee Members Attend Training This Week

Your Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) members are attending training this week at AFA-CWA headquarters in Washington, DC. Your SMIC members are Merger Representatives Sandra Morrow (AS), Rolando Teran (VX), Lynne Voigtsberger (VX) and Marie Maxwell (AS). Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou are accompanying them in a supportive role.

The merger representatives act on behalf of the Flight Attendants of their respective airline for the purpose of compiling necessary employment data and an Integrated Seniority List (ISL). Information about the duties and responsibilities of Merger Representatives is contained within Section X.C of the AFA International Constitution & Bylaws Policy Manual.

Seniority integration will be by competitive seniority date, which is the date from which each Flight Attendant accrues competitive (bidding) seniority as a Flight Attendant on her/his current seniority list. The merger representatives are tasked with sending letters to the Flight Attendants on each carrier’s respective seniority list so that seniority dates can be verified. The process for researching the seniority lists will begin after the merger representatives complete this week’s Seniority Merger Integration Committee training. The Integrated Seniority List will not be finalized and published until we have achieved a merged collective bargaining agreement.

You will be hearing more from the Seniority Merger Integration Committee as the process continues.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Your Seniority Merger Integration Committee – Sandra Morrow (AS), Rolando Teran (VX), Lynne Voigtsberger (VX) and Marie Maxwell (AS)

A Message from Merger Representative Lynne Voigtsberger

It has come to the attention of the Master Executive Council (MEC) that some Virgin America Members have concerns with the appointment of Lynne Voigtsberger as Merger Representative.   The concerned members have suggested that Lynne crossed a union sanctioned picket line while she was a TWA Flight Attendant in the ‘80s.  The MEC asked Lynne to provide her perspective on the allegations.  The MEC subsequently discussed the situation and reaffirmed that it would be in the best interest of the membership for Lynne to remain in her role as Merger Representative for Virgin America.

In response to these concerns, Lynne has prepared a statement:

First of all, I would like to thank all of you that have supported me the past few weeks with the appointment to be one of the Merger Representatives for Virgin America.  I have personally experienced the turmoil of an unfair seniority integration and I am determined to see that we have a fair and equitable integration as we merge with Alaska.

For those of you that don’t know me, I was a Flight Attendant at TWA when they merged with American in the early 2000s.  Our merger was infamous, as TWA F/As were “stapled” to the bottom of the American Flight Attendant seniority list that caused us to lose all our seniority.  That merger resulted in legislation to protect Flight Attendants in all future mergers, which we know as the McCaskill-Bond Act.  This legislation requires seniority to be merged fairly.  Going through that experience at TWA made me passionate to never see that happen again to another Flight Attendant. I am especially grateful for this opportunity to represent my Virgin family to ensure a fair merging of seniority takes place.

With that said, there is more to my history that I would like to shed light on.  It has been brought to my attention that many of you are concerned about my union relationship while I was employed at TWA.  Upon hearing that rumors have been surfacing, I feel it is important to explain my history and call out the “white elephant” in the room so to speak.  Although it surprised me to hear that something that happened over 30 years ago is causing concern, I want to address the issue openly in order to clear the air and set the rumors to rest.

I was hired at TWA in January 1986.  I was a young 25-year-old and excited to fulfill my lifelong dream of being a Flight Attendant for one of the most respected airlines in the world. I was trained in Kansas City and housed with all the other new-hire trainees nearby.  During training, we were essentially isolated from the rest of the world, and had no idea of the rising unrest that was occurring within the ranks of TWA Flight Attendants and management, due to failed negotiations. 

I began flying in February and less than a month into my probationary period, TWA Flight Attendants went on strike.  As a probationary Flight Attendant, I was an At Will employee and not covered by union protection, so participating in any work stoppage activity was strictly forbidden.  The company made it clear to all the probationary F/As that if we participated in the strike, we would be fired.  On top of that, the union would not be able to protect us if we were terminated.  I was given essentially no choice but to work or lose my job.  I chose to work. 

The strike lasted for 3 months, and was only the beginning of trouble at TWA. Relationships suffered as many broken friendships and divorces took place and people couldn’t pay their mortgages and lost their homes. It was a difficult time. The company made it next to impossible for anyone that participated in the strike to come back to work, so a lot of resentment built up and caused division within the work group that lasted for many years. 

Having experienced that and later experiencing one of the worst mergers in history, I feel I am more than well equipped to represent Virgin during this merger with Alaska. My past has offered me a wealth of experience and knowledge.  Those difficult times made me stronger and made me who I am today, and I feel that with this history I am the best choice to represent us in this merger.

I understand that my past at TWA may cause some to form a less than positive opinion of me, and I respect that. It will not be an easy job; however I am more than willing to take on the responsibility and challenges that come with the position of Merger Rep. I have chosen to look forward and take the lessons from my experiences to heart. I am committed to represent all of you to the best of my abilities, and I sincerely thank all of you for your understanding and support.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at lynne.voigtsberger@afaalaska.org.

In solidarity,
Lynne

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your Council 35 officers at vx@afaalaska.org.

Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Management has recently informed our Master Executive Council (MEC) that they are distributing new Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) to Flight Attendants with devices nearing the end of their lifecycle. The specific schedule for this distribution will be communicated by management separately. Flight Attendants with the oldest devices […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 23, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at Alaska Airlines Corporate Headquarters 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), […]

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the first 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 […]

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

On Thursday, September 18, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing efforts to represent our Flight Attendants and advocate for improvements in our workplace. Although our Inflight Service Committee has now merged, meetings with management continue to focus primarily on the Alaska or Hawaiian brands individually. This particular meeting was centered […]

Vacation Survey Closing Soon

There’s just 1 DAY LEFT to complete the crucial vacation survey that will help shape future provisions—your insights are essential for advocating the best outcomes for all Flight Attendants. The survey is currently open and will remain available until Wednesday, September 24 at 12 PM PT.

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