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        You are here: Home / Archives for AS/VX Merger

        TWU Virgin America ITMs Fail to Ratify Their Tentative Agreement

        September 19, 2016 18:00

        Today the Virgin America Inflight Teammates (ITMs), represented by the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), voted down their Tentative Agreement on a first contract. This contract would have taken effect upon close of the proposed merger between Alaska and Virgin America. Below is the communication that TWU sent to its members after the vote results were tabulated.

        Voting has closed for the Tentative Agreement between Virgin America and the Inflight Teammates, represented by the Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, and the results are as follows:

        • Yes: 415
        • No: 490

        The Transitional Agreement has failed with eighty-eight percent (88%) of our work group casting a vote.

        TWU will be contacting Virgin America Leadership to discuss the outcome of the vote. Thank you for your participation in the election, and we will keep you informed regarding future steps in the process.

        Sincerely,
        Your TWU VX Negotiating Committee

        At this point, TWU must decide the next steps. Your AFA leaders know that this development raises questions about what happens next, so we will report back as news becomes available.

        In the meantime, we stand in unity with our Virgin America sisters and brothers as they fight for improvements to their wages and working conditions.

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee

        Filed Under: AS/VX Merger, Latest News Tagged With: 2016, merger, TA, TWU, Virgin America, VX

        Alaska Airlines-Virgin America Merger Update: September 7, 2016

        September 7, 2016 12:00

        AFA International has guided several Master Executive Councils (MECs) through mergers at their respective carriers over the years, and each one has been different. The only commonality is the shortage of details throughout the merger process, and the patience that must be exhibited to wait out the long stretches of uncertainty and information voids.

        Management has yet to make several key decisions regarding the merger such as brand identity and aircraft cross training. Remember, this is still very early in the merger process. This lack of information compounds our challenges in providing definite answers to your questions. Given that the Virgin America Inflight Teammates (VX ITMs) are voting on their first contract, AFA is doubly hesitant to speculate on future events and risk appearing to influence their TA vote.

        That said, there are a few safe bets we can rely on given that management has committed to merging the AS FA and VX ITM groups:

        • Seniority will be integrated by “competitive seniority (bidding) date” with appropriate training credit as set forth in Section X “Merger Policy and Related Employee Protective Provisions” of the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws (C&B). *
        • AFA will be the legal representative for both groups once the National Mediation Board (NMB) declares that there are sufficient common indicators to rule that Alaska Airlines and Virgin America are a single transportation system (“Single Carrier”). The NMB solely makes the decision of when that will happen based on progress made by Alaska Airlines management. The only influence the unions have here is deciding when to file—everything else is up to management and ultimately the NMB.
        • At some point, the VX ITMs will be covered under the AFA Alaska contract and pay rates.

        * What is competitive seniority date?

        Competitive seniority date is the date from which each flight attendant accrues competitive (bidding) seniority as a Flight Attendant on her/his current seniority list (hereafter “seniority date”). AFA has previously referred to competitive seniority date as “date of hire,” for simplicity’s sake. Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants will receive a “training credit” adjustment to their respective seniority dates because Virgin America ITMs receive their seniority dates on the first day of initial training, whereas Alaska F/As receive their seniority dates following initial training. In order to make an “apples to apples” merging of the seniority lists into one, the Merger Representatives at each carrier will be responsible for appropriately adjusting seniority dates by accounting for training credit, while ensuring that no Flight Attendant’s relative seniority moves compared to her/his classmates.

        Will the outcome of the VX Tentative Agreement (TA) vote affect any of the items listed above?

        No.

        What items would be affected by a YES or a NO vote on the VX TA

        AFA cannot comment or speculate on items that would or would not be affected for three reasons:

        1. The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) is the representative union for the VX ITMs and it is TWU’s place to address any questions their members have concerning the TA and the Merger.
        2. It would be highly inappropriate for AFA to put forth opinions that could potentially sway voters one way or another. The VX ITMs should base their decision on the provisions in the TA and supplemental information from TWU.
        3. There is just not enough information concerning management’s plans to make solid predictions or forecasts. AFA could make suppositions based on incomplete facts and rumors, but that would do no good when so many pieces of this merger are in flux.

        Is it helpful when AS FAs get on social media and comment on the VX TA or speculate as to what will happen if the VX TA fails or passes?

        Probably not –

        There are no definitive answers to many of the questions being discussed on social media. If AFA is stating that there is not enough information (or we are too early in the merger process) to answer those questions, then an individual who is not currently involved at a leadership level would likely not have sufficient information or background to answer correctly.

        We can all agree that the uncertainty is frustrating and certainly there is comfort in engaging in a dialogue to discuss the situation. However, it is important to remember that the views expressed are assumptions and if that speculation, however well-intentioned, turns out to be incorrect and it sways a VX ITM to vote a specific way, then that will have been a disservice to the voter.

        The VX ITMs must get information and guidance from TWU. However, some of the questions they are asking cannot be answered with certainty right now.

        Are there other things that will happen regardless of a YES or NO vote on the VX TA other than those listed at the beginning?

        Yes –

        • AFA will go to the table and fight to improve the AFA Alaska Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and all improvements will accrue to both groups when everyone is under the same contract. VX ITMs will be represented on the Seniority Integration Committee and Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) as mandated in the AFA-CWA C&B.
        • Typically in a merger, even after a joint contract is achieved it takes a period of time to merge the two work groups operationally to ensure a smooth integration of the groups. During this period, the two groups are kept separate until operational integration.
        • AFA will have to negotiate how the VX ITMs are transitioned over to the AFA Alaska CBA (e.g. uniform credits, training, hours to TFP conversion for sick leave, etc.).

        What are the plans for integrating the two groups and what is the timeframe? 

        At this time, there are no firm plans communicated from management on how or when integration is planned to start. Remember, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not even approved the merger at this point, so the merger is not final.

        When the NMB decides that AS and VX are a “Single Transportation System” then will the two Flight Attendant groups be integrated?

        We do not know when the NMB will make its ruling; however, in almost every situation, the “Single Carrier” ruling comes well before integration of the employee groups. The NMB’s determination was made years ago in the United Airlines (UAL) – Continental Air Lines (CAL) and American Airlines (AA) – US Airways (USA) mergers, and those Flight Attendant groups at those carriers are still many months away from integration. Admittedly, the merger of those groups involves much greater and more complicated negotiations and software/operational changes than AS-VX, but there will be challenges and ‘speed bumps’ that will most certainly delay the full integration of the AS-VX group.

        Since most of the integration from the management’s side is finished, doesn’t that mean that integration of the other employee groups will follow soon? 

        Integration of the management positions does seem to have happened rather quickly – so quickly that its all contingent upon the merger going through. Whether that is a prudent move or not will be shown as this merger rolls out. But do not take fast action on the management positions as an indicator that the Flight Attendant group will also be quickly integrated. So much has to happen before full integration takes place: Seniority integration, negotiating a process agreement for the merged contract negotiations, negotiating the JCBA, branding decisions, operational changes and software upgrades, aircraft livery, etc.

        Is this slow pace and lack of information unusual for an airline merger? 

        Unfortunately, it is completely normal, and it has been AFA’s experience that mergers often play out like this. All mergers are unique and take a different path and timeframe. There is little use in speculating how the AS-VX merger will eventually happen. But do know that through the delays and lack of information, AFA will continue to push for answers and will advocate for members interests just like AFA did in the below mergers.

        • UAL-CAL merger: DOJ approval in 2010, Flight Attendant groups on target to be merged in several months (2017).
        • AA-USA merger: DOJ approval in 2014, Flight Attendant groups on target to be merged in several months (2017).
        • AirTran Airways (ATR) – Southwest Airlines (SWA) merger: DOJ approval in 2011, Flight Attendant groups were merged slowly over a 4-year period. The end of the integration period was in 2015.

        The final DOJ approval has not happened, so while management is working through the merger process, they are not going to release any details until they feel it is the appropriate time. Of course this makes AFA’s job of keeping you informed along the way very difficult. When we know details, we will pass them on.

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee

        Filed Under: AS/VX Merger, Latest News Tagged With: 2016, merger, TA, TWU, Virgin America, VX

        TWU Virgin America Tentative Agreement and the Merger

        September 2, 2016 21:00

        Several Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants and Virgin America Inflight Teammates (ITMs) have contacted the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA to inquire why AFA—specifically the Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC)—has not made any statements about the current Tentative Agreement (TA) between Virgin America and the ITMs over and above “TWU Virgin America Announced a Tentative Agreement” posted on afaalaska.org on August 17, 2016.   Since Virgin America ITMs are represented by the Transport Workers of America (“TWU”), neither would it be appropriate for AFA to contact Virgin America ITMs directly to discuss the TA; nor would it be appropriate for AFA to engage in detailed discussions with our own members about the TWU VX TA.  AFA cannot be seen as influencing the TA vote, even if such influence is in a roundabout way, e.g., providing information to our members who then post such information on social media, which is subsequently read and discussed by VX ITMs and ultimately affects decision-making.

        AFA looks forward to representing Virgin America ITMs once the merger is complete, and AFA is recognized by the NMB as the exclusive bargaining representative for all the post-merger Flight Attendants.  Until that occurs, however, the Virgin America ITMs should continue to direct questions about their TA and/or the merger to their TWU representatives. The MEC plans another merger update for our members shortly after the holiday weekend.

        If VX ITMs wish to voluntarily sign up for AFA Alaska communications, or AFA Interactive (communications to all AFA members), please visit http://afanewsletters.org/subscribe/. (This is also the same link for Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants to subscribe.)

        We understand this merger has raised many issues and concerns. Rest assured that AFA is committed to representing all Flight Attendants and ITMs once it is appropriate to do so. AFA’s primary goal is to ensure that the post-merger Alaska/Virgin America Flight Attendants will work together under one of the best Flight Attendant contracts in the industry.

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee

        Filed Under: AS/VX Merger, Latest News Tagged With: 2016, merger, TWU, Virgin America, VX

        TWU Virgin America Announced a Tentative Agreement

        August 17, 2016 12:00

        Earlier this morning the Transport Workers Union Virgin America (TWU VX) Negotiating Committee announced they reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) with Virgin America management on an historic first contract. At this point their TA must be voted on and ratified in order to become effective, a process that AFA estimates would take around a month.

        As a reminder, AFA will be the surviving union representing the unified group if the merger is finalized. There will be no representational election. Management will need to negotiate with AFA to address the merger of the work force, and this can be an opportunity for Flight Attendants to achieve improvements.

        It is important that AFA Alaska does not speculate on TWU VX’s ratification process and how it may affect the merger of our groups. Virgin America Inflight Team Mates (ITMs) should have the space to take part in their democratic vote without influence or interference from anyone. We obviously support their right to vote without outside interference. The Master Executive Council (MEC) believes the next merger update will be sometime in September after the TWU VX TA ratification vote has concluded.

        Congratulations to TWU Virgin America for achieving their TA!

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee

        Your AFA Alaska Joint Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

        Filed Under: AS/VX Merger, Latest News Tagged With: 2016, merger, TWU, Virgin America, VX

        Alaska Airlines-Virgin America Merger Update: July 28, 2016

        July 28, 2016 21:00

        Initial Meeting Between AFA Joint Negotiating Committee and TWU Negotiating Committee

        Members of your Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) joined the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Virgin America Negotiating Committee for a casual dinnertime “meet and greet” on Tuesday night in Burlingame, California. The JNC members present were MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jen Wise MacColl and Lindsey Steele. Council 18 LAX President Tim Green accompanied the JNC as an additional representative of the MEC. Tim participated because he is LEC president of the only Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant domicile that overlaps with Virgin America’s operation: Los Angeles. The entire MEC did not attend because we believe it was best to keep the number of participants limited for this first unofficial meeting. However, the full MEC very much looks forward to additional opportunities to get to know the Virgin America Inflight Team Mates (ITMs) in the future.

        The TWU Virgin America (VX) Negotiating Committee was negotiating in San Francisco this week as they continue their efforts to reach a first contract. The TWU VX Negotiating Committee is TWU International Vice President Thom McDaniel, Negotiating Team Members Armando Fierros, Aladrian Hillmon, Daniel “DJ” Martinez, Jansen Nichols, Danielle Pappert, Jeremy Schoggins and Didi Sindelar. The JNC and Tim found their team to be professional, intelligent and committed. They also very much appreciated their willingness to meet up after a long day of negotiations with Virgin American management! There is nothing else significant to report from this informal dinnertime meeting except to say that the parties used the occasion to get better acquainted.

        Recap of merger-related information so far

        The MEC and JNC have heard frustration from the membership that there is not enough information about the acquisition of Virgin America by Alaska Air Group and the intent to merge Alaska Airlines and Virgin America under a single operating certificate (“the merger”). In case you missed any of the several previous membership releases about the merger, you can find them archived here: http://afaalaska.org/merger. Keep in mind the merger is still very much in the extremely early stages, so there are few developments at this time.

        >>> Click here for all archived merger-related information. <<<

        Following the merger announcement in early April, we have selected our Merger Representatives for seniority integration and our Joint Negotiating Committee for joint contract negotiations in addition to following the other provisions in Section X [Merger Policy…] of the AFA Constitution & Bylaws. Consequently, AFA is very well positioned to move forward with the process as soon as all parties (AFA, TWU, Alaska Airlines management and Virgin America management) are willing and able to do so. However, there is not likely to be any further progress until the transaction receives official regulatory approval, which is expected in late September or early October. In the meantime, keep up the good work in welcoming our soon-to-be brothers and sisters at Virgin America by striking up a conversation if the opportunity presents itself.

        Merger Rumors

        There have been no formal discussions about what joint contract negotiations would look like. TWU VX has not yet achieved a first contract, so any details about joint contractual provisions would be pure speculation and are almost certainly rumor. AFA is committed to being transparent with you about any merger developments.

        * * *

        If you have any questions at this time, contact your LEC president.

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee

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

        Your Merger Representatives – Sandra Morrow and Marie Maxwell

        Filed Under: AS/VX Merger, Latest News

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