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        You are here: Home / Archives for Committees

        Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – May 2025

        May 29, 2025 09:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        On Tuesday, May 27, 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), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Kanako Yamado (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were Council 15 (SAN) Local Hotel Committee Chairperson Kanani Vallot, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz, and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones.

        The committee met with Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Managing Director of Inflight Operations and Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Inflight Crew Scheduling Supervisor Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, Crew Hotels Specialist Nichole Turner, Manager of Flight Crew Systems Support Sue Rawlings and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

        The Committee is next scheduled to meet in person on Tuesday, June 24.

        Topics of Discussion

        The committee reviewed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

        PBS June Bid Period

        • Bidding Trends: There was a noticeable repetition of “Prefer off” lines during the bidding process, where a single mention would have sufficed in most instances. Additionally, many questions were raised regarding new lineholder bidding.
        • Bid Award: The June bid awards revealed relatively high lows at the ANC, SAN, and SFO bases, ensuring sufficient reserves were available.
        • Bid Protests: Ongoing issues with incorrectly assigned reserve trip assignments have impacted bid awards. These issues were addressed and resolved during the bid protests.

        PBS Base Sits

        • The Subcommittee hosted PBS Base Sits in ANC in May, which assisted many new hires.
        • Upcoming PBS Base Sits:
          • June 5-6: SEA
          • June 9: PDX
          • July 7 SAN
          • July 8: SFO
          • July 9 LAX
          • August 7-9: SEA
          • September 5 PDX
          • September 8-9: ANC
          • October 5-6: SEA
          • October 7 PDX
          • November 8-9: ANC
          • December 5: SAN
          • December 6: SFO
          • December 7: LAX

        Pairing Construction

        • Training and Development: Attended an advanced Crew Optimization class in Sweden, which provided insights into effective run analysis. 
        • Attended the Crew Operations and Development Partners Forum in Sweden focused on upcoming sales and program advancements for products we can utilize or enhance.

        Contract Implementation Update

        • Holiday Pay: Challenges are anticipated regarding holiday pay for July 4. Flight Attendants should monitor holiday RON (Remains Overnight) and EOR (Extended Overnight Rule) statuses, as data pulls will be necessary. However, this process is not yet automated.

        Information Technology (ITS) Update

        • NAVBLUE Testing: Testing for version 25.1 is complete. Crew calendars are still under evaluation for requirements needed by the start of next year.
        • Data Processing: There has been an increase in JCTE/Open Time trade volume, with 98.6% of requests processed in under 10 seconds.
        • Release Cycle: The upcoming release cycle includes testing for reserve holiday and surface transport, with 4K and boarding pay planned for the following release. The default filter has been fixed, but the premium filter still needs adjustments.

        Crew Pay Update

        • Rainmaker Inquiries: In April, 1,514 out of 2,930 inquiries submitted were resolved, indicating some stabilization in inquiry volume.
        • Categorical Adjustments: Unnecessary categories have been identified; a bulletin outlining what needs to be submitted has been issued, and plans are to streamline these categories in June.
        • Sick Leave Issues: Two discrepancies regarding state sick leave bank management were noted. Affected individuals should contact pay analysts regarding conversion accuracy. The Committee recommends checking your state bank transfer to ensure no more than 40 TFP was transferred on May 1, 2025.

        Crew Planning Update

        • July Block Hours: Block hours are expected to increase by about 15,000 in July. Reserve staffing is 20.7%, with a projected adjustment of 107 leaves.
        • Pairing Breakdown: Only 10 single 1-position pairings are currently being flown solo, ensuring crews fly together more than separately. There is a significant percentage of redeye flights across bases, ranging from 12% to 30%.
        • Commutability Analysis: SEA, ANC, and SAN show favorable commutability for 3-day pairings, while SFO faces the most challenges.

        Crew Scheduling Update

        • Sick Leave Usage: Overall sick leave usage for May was at 10.3%, with notable increases over weekends. SEA and SAN reported the highest usage.
        • Fatigue Management: There were 10 calls regarding fatigue issues from reserves and six from lineholders in May. The team is actively reviewing these concerns and working on mitigation strategies.
        • Operational Adjustments: In May, 571 reassignments were noted, primarily due to recrewing in EWR. Adjustments are being made to taxi times and layover durations to reduce fatigue-related delays.

        Additional Notes

        • Transportation Adjustments: To align with CBA language, transit times will be adjusted based on the day of the week, varying on weekends. For more details, refer to the May 2025 Hotel Committee Meeting Recap.
        • Drug Testing Reporting: Any concerns regarding drug testing should be reported through the ReportIt! system using a FAIR, which will be forwarded to the drug abatement team for resolution.
        • JFK Operations: Adjustments to operations at JFK have been implemented. Ride shares are only allowed to pick up at Terminals 1 and 8 for after-hours drug testing, necessitating the use of the AirTrain for other terminals. Please coordinate with Crew Scheduling if you are being tested and need transportation.

        What The Committee Is Working On

        1. NAVBLUE. The PBS Subcommittee preparing for a new release of NAVBLUE. Once received they will test before the release is implemented. The Committee is also continuing to provide in person and virtual base sits so that all Flight Attendants may attend and get answers to all PBS bidding related questions.
        2. Crew Scheduling. A monthly review of PowerPoint presentations covered various aspects such as reserve utilization, detailed breakdowns, sick leave (week by week and year over year), premium, personal drops, and other relevant agenda items.
        3. Crew Planning. Crew Planning shared a monthly presentation about Pairing Statistics. Crew Planning is focused on anticipating increased block hours as the summer season approaches, with specific strategies to optimize trip lengths and identify commutability for flight crews. The team is also collaborating with operational analytics to develop dashboards that facilitate better decision-making and efficiency in scheduling.
        4. Crew Pay. Crew pay is working on additional communications aimed at improving clarity and addressing the high volume of queries surrounding pay discrepancies. The payroll team is committed to resolving ongoing issues quickly to ensure crew members receive their compensation accurately and on time.
        5. AFA Payroll Representative. The Committee has been advocating for a streamlined process to resolve outstanding pay issues for crew members efficiently. The focus is on ensuring timely compensation and improved communication.

        We Want to Hear From You!

        Whether you have feedback for the Committee, concerns to share, or items you’d like brought up with management – don’t hesitate to let us know. Your Local Scheduling Committee is here to be your voice to management. You can easily open a support ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or directly contact us using the information provided on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Scheduling Committee Tagged With: committee meeting

        System Board of Adjustment Interviews – July 2025

        May 28, 2025 09:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        Our Master Executive Council (MEC) will be conducting interviews for one (1) Member to serve on the pre-merger Alaska AFA System Board of Adjustment.

        Scope

        Members are to serve on the System Board of Adjustment for the purpose of arbitrating any disputes or grievances that may arise under the terms of the Agreement between Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines and its Flight Attendants.

        Policy/Responsibilities

        • There will be two members selected by the MEC from active members in good standing to represent the Association. Members will be selected at-large without regard to Local Council or domicile. 
        • Until such time as a joint collective bargaining agreement is ratified, separate System Boards of Adjustment will be maintained for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants and pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants.
        • Any person seeking a position as a System Board of Adjustment Member must submit a resume. Candidates must interview with the MEC.
        • System Board Members will be selected for a two (2) year election period in accordance with the AFA Constitution and Bylaws. At least one election will be reviewed in June of each year. Selection will be made, insofar as possible, to ensure that both members will not be new at the same time.  
        • The System Board Members will act in the best interest of the membership and the Association and will be consistent with the Agreement between the Flight Attendants and Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines.
        • The MEC President will have the ability, in the event of an emergency, to appoint a qualified member in good standing to fill an ad hoc position on the Board.
        • The MEC on an ad hoc basis, by majority vote, may appoint an expert as a substitute for one member of the System Board of Adjustment.

        Qualifications

        • Current Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant
        • Willingness to attend the requisite grievance training(s)
        • In depth knowledge of the contract
        • Understanding of the principles of just cause
        • Adherence to Grievance Committee policies, procedures, and standards of ethical conduct
        • Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive and personal information
        • Maintenance of member-in-good-standing status
        • Ability to remain in good standing with the company
        • Ability to analyze written data and information with high attention to detail
        • Strong written and communication skills
        • Strong computer skills.

        Term of Office

        The selected candidate will serve a term of office that begins on August 1, 2025, and concludes on June 30, 2027.

        Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

        The MEC will hold interviews of eligible candidates during the July Regular MEC Meeting on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. 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 Seattle, WA or using Google Meet videoconferencing at the candidate’s discretion.

        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 Wednesday, July 23, 2025. 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 position or application process should be directed to pre-merger Alaska MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams at stephanie.adams@afaalaska.org.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Grievance Committee Tagged With: interviews, System Board of Adjustment

        Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – May 2025

        May 26, 2025 17:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        Our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons held two meetings recently. The first meeting occurred on Monday, May 12, when they had their monthly video call with management. The agenda included updates on current layover hotels and transportation providers and discussions about ongoing concerns.

        The second meeting occurred on Wednesday, May 21, in PDX. This meeting was the API Quarterly Business Review (QBR) and involved a broader discussion with management, representatives from the crew accommodations management vendor API, and representatives from ALPA. Dori Marron (ANC), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), Kanani Vallot (SAN), and MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich represented you at this meeting. AFA Hawaiian MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson Matt Michell was also present.

        The Committee met with Senior Crew Hotels Support Specialist Nichole Turner, Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams, Hawaiian Airlines Crew Hotel Support Specialist Tamotsu “Tomo” Hirai, Manager of Crew Hotels Diane Szubert, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and Managing Director of Operations Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette from management.   

        The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, June 9.

        Topics of Discussion

        The committee reviewed several items during the meeting with management, most of which focused on hotel decisions and challenges in our layover markets. Some items discussed include:

        • Transportation Time Adjustments: To fully abide by the CBA requirements for ground transportation for both AFA and ALPA, Crew Hotels has compiled and reviewed data in all of our layover cities to determine where changes need to be made. They will set different ground transportation times for time of day and day of week/holidays to ensure the crews are not arriving at the airport more than 15 minutes before report time (CBA §34.B.3). Nineteen of our layover cities will have these changes made starting June 1, and Crew Hotels will continue with this cadence every month until all cities have updated ground transportation times. Crew Hotels will also closely monitor the delays to ensure they have these times set correctly.   The hotel hotline will be updated accordingly. Please ensure you are writing a CrewCare report when you have a van time discrepancy so that changes can be made if necessary.  
        • Internal Processes: Much of the meeting focused on internal processes for administering the ad hoc list, processes for pre-site visit work, process changes for site visit flow, a central hosting platform for all city-specific hotel information, and MyCrewCare updates. The Crew Hotel and API team are also growing due to the AS+HA merger. We discussed the roles and responsibilities of the new team members.  
        • MyCrewCare Enhancements: One exciting enhancement to the MyCrewCare app launching in Q3 is the “Track My Ride” link. This link connects to our ground transportation provider, DART, to give real-time GPS information regarding your van, similar to how Uber displays information about your ride. You will be able to see the van location and driver and van information. This will enhance the safety of your ride, so there is no mistaking which transportation is yours. DART provides 60% of our ground transportation needs network-wide, so this will be a significant enhancement for our crew members. API is also reaching out to Allied Transport and Desert Coach about incorporating their location services into the MyCrewCare app. Another app feature discussed was the “Are You Safe” communication tool that crews can use to let Crew Scheduling know they are safe if a safety or security event happens in a layover city. This has not yet been activated for Alaska crew.   
        • Relocations:  Relocations will be necessary in PVR (due to renovations, July through October) and LIR (due to bridge asphalt resurfacing, time frame TBD). The Hotel Committee discussed options for these relocations. Crews will also experience temporary layovers in OKC from mid-July to mid-August, and a suitable hotel was discussed for these layovers. As a reminder, we cannot disclose hotel information on a public forum. Hotel changes will be communicated through an Informational Bulletin or the Hotel Hotline.   

        Important Information from the Hotel Committee

        • When Something Isn’t Right: We cannot express the importance of filing a CrewCare report and, for more significant issues, an AFA Alaska Online Support Center ticket when something is not right. With a recent relocation in MCO, crews were involuntarily moved by the hotel (“walked”) from the relocated property to a non-contractually compliant property. This is a CBA violation, and the Grievance and Scheduling Committee will need an AFA Alaska Online Support Center ticket filed to aid them in bringing this forward for resolution. Other examples are ground transportation providers using one shuttle but stopping at multiple hotels, extended hotel wait times, etc. If you are ever in doubt about your situation, please contact your Local Hotel Committee for guidance on what reporting route to take.  
        • Transportation Safety: Crews should never be required to be transported in company-provided transportation when the shuttle cannot safely accommodate all crew members and luggage. We have seen reports of Suburbans/large SUVs being sent for a complement of six crew members, which requires luggage to be stored on laps or at the feet. This is not safe. We have also seen transportation scheduled for extended surface deadheads that is inadequate for crew comfort. If there is any doubt about your ride, please contact Crew Scheduling immediately and inform them of the problem so that alternate or additional transportation can be arranged.  

        What The Committee Is Working On

        1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee conducts visits to hotels that are considered by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. Scheduled site visits include RSW (June), SEA (June), and FAT (July). We do not anticipate many site visits will be scheduled for the second half of 2025. Market reviews are triggered by factors such as contract expirations, crew complaints, and opportunities for cost savings. Depending on the outcome of these reviews, additional site visits may be arranged in those cities.
        2. Hotel Gainshare Program: MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich, MEC President Tim Green, and MEC Vice President Brice McGee met with Labor Relations led by Carmen William and Mike Link on May 12 for the first Hotel Gainshare investigatory meeting. Company subject matter experts (SMEs) Brittany Audette, Trisha Bennet, Diane Szubert, and Sara Cook also attended. The purpose of the meeting was to begin discussions on the program’s feasibility at Alaska. Hotel data was presented, and each side identified research items needed to further the conversation. The group will meet again on June 12 to review these items and discuss the next steps.      

        We Want to Hear From You!

        Don’t let any unacceptable experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation provider go unnoticed! Please report the issue via CrewCare so that it can be addressed. CrewCare is the only official way to report issues, as the Hotel Committee does not monitor social media channels.

        Each CrewCare submission is forwarded to your AFA Hotel Committee, Crew Hotels (Alaska management), API and the hotel or ground transportation provider. This ensures quick action can be taken to correct the issue or fix it for the next crewmember. It also allows us to monitor hotel and transportation trends. You can quickly file a CrewCare report using the web app on your IMD home screen or by clicking here.

        Do you have any other feedback you would like to share with the committee or any specific items you want us to bring up with management? Please let us know! The Local Hotel Committee is here to represent you and ensure management hears your voice. You can find our contact information on the Hotel Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Hotel Committee Tagged With: committee meeting, pmAS

        Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

        May 19, 2025 13:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        On Thursday, May 8, the AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Holmes (LAX), JP Perina (SAN). Horizon AFA MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Norann Mann and MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Kiara Jenkins were also present.

        The committee also met with Interim Senior Product Manager Marketing Ann McCurties, Supply Chain Program Manager Lizzie Revard, PDX Inflight Base Manager Kristie Stafford, and SFO Inflight Base Manager Cierra Lewis.

        The next Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 14.

        Topics of Discussion 

        The committee reviewed several topics both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

        • Uniform Guidelines and Updates
          • As of May 12, management has started progressive disciplinary steps for uniform violations. 
          • If management discusses a uniform violation with you, they must inform you that it is being documented as a Record of Discussion (ROD) and follow the proper procedures. 
          • If a Flight Attendant has concerns after receiving an ROD, please contact your LEC President or Local Grievance Committee.
        • A special bulletin released on April 18 states that the combination of the quarter-zip sweater and summer shirt is not allowed. The updated uniform style chart reflects this change.
        • Current Open Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Item:
          • Issues regarding exchange settlements and reimbursement denials: Management acknowledges there is no time limit for uniform repairs. However, they claim they are not obligated to repair uniforms that were traded, swapped, or lack a Unisync order history. AFA disagrees, noting that there has been a longstanding practice of trading and swapping uniforms, and the contract does not exempt these situations.
        • Current Closed ADR Item:
          • Hairstyles based on federally protected classes: Flight attendants may submit a reasonable accommodation request for uniform guidelines. Examples of federally protected uniform violations that can be addressed through this request (though not exhaustive) include:
            • Head coverings such as hijabs, tichels, African headwraps, and kipahs;
            • Jewelry such as Indian bangles, Tibetan/Buddhist mala beads and bracelets, Catholic rosaries/Saint medals, crucifixes, crosses, Star of David necklaces/bracelets, Native American turquoise, and Māori/Meso American/East Asian/Egyptian jade;
            • Hairstyles such as Native Alaskan/American mohawks and Sikh hair; 
            • Cultural tattoos such as Ta moko, Tatau, Mandala, Sak Yant, Irezumi, African scarification/fraternal branding, Mehndi, Batok/Batek/Patik/Batik, and kākau.
          • Please remember that to make a request, you must be part of one of the following federally protected classes regarding your request: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and associated medical conditions), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age (40 and over), disability (mental or physical), genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and ancestry.
        • Open Requests Made to Management:
          • Development of a Uniform App on IMD that allows reporting issues and accessing policies/style guides.
        • Requests Made for Merged Uniforms/Dual Branding:
          • “Off the neck” apron style.
          • Small hoop-style nose rings.
          • Year-round boot options.
          • Better-fitting pants.
          • Making hosiery optional.
          • Hooded transition jacket.
          • More breathable fabric options.
          • Making the transition jacket compliant with all uniform pieces.
          • Introducing a cape/wrap/coat to be worn during boarding or on red-eye flights for added warmth.
          • A less restrictive accessory policy regarding watch band colors, nail polish colors, designs, etc.
          • Easier access to alterations.
          • Providing photos of models alongside their sizes for each piece to assist Flight Attendants in finding the right fit.
          • Option for a wrap dress.
          • An added summer shirt option that is not tropical-themed.
          • A longer torso design for the summer shirt option (especially for the Aura cut).
          • Collared and tailored shirts that can be worn untucked.
          • A waterproof trench coat with a usable hood.
          • Expanding shoe color options for dresses and skirts, as compliant navy shoes are difficult to find.
        • For those with sensitive skin, the retractable lanyard is a uniform-compliant option, provided you wear a Oneworld pin. 
        • Lanyards have been restocked and are available at all bases. You may request a lanyard at any base, regardless of your home base location.
        • If you do not have original company-issued luggage, you may use your personal luggage; however, it must be approved by a supervisor. Please email your supervisor for approval.
        • The Aura Blazer and Aura dress will not be reordered. Once the current stock is sold out, they will no longer be available for order.

        What The Committee Is Working On

        1. Arctic Stuff Sack: Sourcing a suitable stuff sack has proven difficult, but it remains a priority on our agenda.
        2. Updated Uniform Links: The Committee noticed several broken or inaccurate links on the Uniform subsite. All links have now been updated, including the most recent alterations guidelines.
        3. Hemlines: If you have already ordered the “tall” size and your hemline is still not compliant, please contact your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson for assistance.

        We Want to Hear From You!

        Please fill out the Quality Concern Form on the Uniform subsite on TeamAAG with any quality issues. Additionally, you may email your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson. Please consider opening a ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center so the Uniform Committee can track these issues.

        Would you like to join the wear test pool? Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know!  Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management. You can find contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Uniform Committee Tagged With: committee meeting

        Grievance Committee Update – 1st Quarter 2025

        May 7, 2025 09:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        Our Grievance Committee has been busy working to ensure that your rights are protected when it comes to discipline and following the rules set in our contract. According to our contract, there are a minimum of 13 arbitration dates each year to dispute discipline/termination cases and contractual issues. When it comes to termination cases, we prioritize those situations to help get Flight Attendants back to work quickly, but we also try to balance that with other types of cases. Together, representatives from AFA and management decide which cases to arbitrate next based on a variety of factors. 

        Discipline usually happens in several steps: starting with a confirmation of oral warning (COW), then a written warning, potential suspension, and finally termination. COWs, written warnings, and suspensions stay in a Flight Attendant’s record for 18 months before being removed. If someone receives another violation while already facing discipline, that new issue will add to the existing one. However, management doesn’t always follow the usual path of progressively increasing discipline. For serious issues like theft or abuse of sick leave, if there is enough evidence, management may choose to terminate a Flight Attendant immediately. If the evidence isn’t strong, the Flight Attendant might receive a record of discussion (ROD), which isn’t considered formal discipline.

        Many Flight Attendants believe that if they generally do a good job, have no or very few attendance points, and receive positive passenger feedback, they won’t face discipline. Unfortunately, that’s not true. If management thinks someone has done something wrong, they may still face consequences, regardless of their past performance.

        If a supervisor or manager calls you to discuss a flight, work-related matter, or a disciplinary issue, and there is no AFA representative present, it’s important to pause the conversation and request that one be included. Having an AFA representative ensures that your interests are effectively protected and represented. 

        What Have Flight Attendants Been Disciplined For Recently?

        • Sick Leave and FMLA Abuse: Terminations are increasing due to travel audits and other factors. Any comments made on posted trip trades and personal drop requests can be viewed by management, even if deleted. If management determines there is abuse, it may lead to termination. If you cannot make it to work and are not genuinely sick, it may be best to no-show for the trip instead of calling in sick. Calling in sick for a non-medical reason, such as for a pet, is considered a terminable offense.
        • Theft: Removing anything from the aircraft, except for an opened or used bottle or box of water, an unused pilot crew meal, or purchased food, will result in termination.
        • Timecard Fraud: Intentionally delaying the closure of the boarding door to obtain sit pay is a violation that can result in termination.
        • Reserve “Roulette”: This refers to failing to be within two hours of base during your Reserve Availability Period (RAP) and calling in sick only after being given an assignment. This is considered a terminable violation by management.
        • Calling In Sick for a Trip You Tried to Give Away: Management regularly reviews trip trade postings and sick call history, including any monetary incentives added to trips that were subsequently called in sick. Deleted trade history or postings can still be accessed by management.
        • Dishonesty in Investigations: Lying during an investigation can lead to serious consequences.
        • Drug and Alcohol Violations: Any breaches of policies regarding drug and alcohol use are treated very seriously.
        • Improper Passenger Compensation: Giving away miles in exchange for positive feedback or completed Visa applications is not permitted.
        • Harassment: Any form of harassment is considered unacceptable, and management has disciplined accordingly.
        • Refusal to Comply with Scheduling Changes: Ignoring requests to call Crew Scheduling when required to be contactable or refusing scheduling revisions.
        • Reserve Commuting Violations: Reserves commuting during the RAP, even if they self-assign trips, or not being present at base throughout the entire RAP (unless otherwise released by Crew Scheduling for purposes of contactability). Depending on the situation, management has issued a two-week suspension or termination for these cases.
        • Social Media Violations: Sending friend or follow requests or direct messages to passengers on social media based on information obtained from Block2Block.
        • Commuter Violations: Issues include using commuter boarding priority (D8) home after being released from DHD, using D8 for trips picked up out of base, using D8 to/from cities other than the designated commuter city and domicile, or using D8Y for pleasure travel. Monthly commuter audits also often reveal reserve Flight Attendants who were not at their base while on call during a RAP.
        • Lost or Forgotten Required Items: Misplacing your IMD or other required items can result in disciplinary action.
        • Failure to Complete CBT: Not completing Computer-Based Training (CBT), even if it’s something as small as forgetting to close out of a window to switch the module from “in process” to “complete.”
        • Uniform Compliance: Flight Attendants can and have been removed from flights without pay by management for non-compliance with uniform standards.
        • Late To Gate/Flight Delay: Being late to the gate or causing flight delays can result in disciplinary action.   

        Hot Topic: Social Media Discipline

        There has been an increase in disciplinary actions related to social media, including terminations. Please keep in mind that social media groups and pages are not truly private, even if they claim to be. This applies to your personal pages or accounts and any groups you may be part of, including group chats.

        While the First Amendment protects your right to free speech in relation to the government, it does not provide the same protections within private companies like Alaska Airlines. The company has a social media policy, and arbitrators have ruled that posts or comments made on private pages or groups can still result in disciplinary action by your employer.

        Reminder: Short Sick Calls

        Section 32.C.5 of the contract defines a Short Sick Call as follows: “Short Sick Call: When a Flight Attendant calls in sick due to their own illness, a sick child, or a sick family member less than two hours (2:00) before the scheduled check-in.”

        If you plan to call in for a Short Sick Call but want to avoid receiving the 2.5 points associated with it, make sure that your call to Crew Scheduling is initiated after your SCHEDULED check-in time, not just after you’ve checked in, as outlined in section 32.C.6.

        Recent Arbitration/Mediation

        September 2024Disciplinary Grievance
        October 2024Contractual Grievance
        November 2024Disciplinary Grievance
        January 2025Disciplinary Grievance
        February 2025Disciplinary Grievance
        March 2025Disciplinary Grievance

        Recent Contractual Arbitrations

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-340-23-Violation of §11.E.1.c & §11.H.8.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §11.E.1.c [Reserve:  Order of Assignment/Reserve Self-Assignment] and §11.H.8 [Reserve:  Reserve Exchange of Days, Pick-Ups and Trades], and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it prohibited Reserve Flight Attendants who had been assigned sequences with the an Ineligible for Self-Assignment (ISA) code from giving such sequences away to another Reserve Flight Attendant or trading such sequences in open time or with another Reserve Flight Attendant.    

        Arbitrator’s Decision: The Company did not violate the JCBA when it restricted trades with assignments with ISA designation with Open time under Section 11.H.8. However, to the extent that the Company limits trades between Reserve Flight Attendants it would violate the JCBA.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-38-24-Violation of §8.M and Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-458-22 Violation of §8.D Check In and Debrief.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §8.M [Hours of Service: Domicile Rest] and Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-458-22 [Violation of §8.D Check In and Debrief], and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or around September 23, 2023, the Company refused to allow a Flight Attendant who had operationally-impacted reduced domicile rest (§8.M.2) to utilize the applicable contractual provisions of §8.M, which would have allowed the Flight Attendant to be removed from their subsequent sequence beginning September 24, 2023, without pay pursuant to §8.M.3, due to the domicile rest time between sequences projecting to fall below CFR-required rest. Instead, on the evening of September 23, 2024, Crew Scheduling altered the Flight Attendant’s check-in time for the subsequent sequence (on September 24, 2023) to a later check-in time in violation of §8.M.2, thereby denying them access to their contractual right to be released from the subsequent sequence without pay pursuant to §8.M.3. 

        We are currently waiting for the decision from this arbitration.

        Grievances Recently Filed and Awaiting Management Response

        Grievance No:  36-99-2-73-25-Violation of §8.I Night Rule & 10.DD Long

        Stage Length Duty Period (“4k”). This grievance alleges t The Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §8.I [Hours of Service: Night Rule] and §10.DD [Scheduling: Long Stage Length Duty Period (“4k”)] and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it refused to pay double time (2.0x) for the full duty period on a 4k sequence in which the Flight Attendant is on duty at 4:29 AM*, 8:30 AM†, and the duty day is ultimately over twelve hours and thirty minutes (12:30), although they currently pay double time (2.0x) on non-4k sequences when the Flight Attendant is on duty at 4:29 AM*, 8:30 AM†, and the duty day ultimately goes over ten hours and thirty minutes (10:30).

        * Local time
        † Initial departure station time of the duty period

        Grievances Recently Filed and Denied

        Grievance No:  36-99-2-37-24- Violation of §10.Z Personal Drops. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10.Z [Scheduling: Personal Drop(s)] and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement occurred when, on or about October 10, 2024, it was discovered that Crew Scheduling was processing personal drops incorrectly. Instead of processing the personal drops in seniority order the day prior, as required by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Crew Scheduling would process them in random time periods throughout the day of operation, skipping over the contractual requirement to process them in seniority order the day prior. This resulted in Crew Scheduling randomly executing first-come, first-served requests based on their staffing needs, thereby circumventing the seniority order provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

        Grievances Previously Filed, Denied by Management and Currently Awaiting Arbitration Dates

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-22-14-Violation of Required Maternity Leave.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Section 15.D. and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it failed to require Flight Attendants to begin Maternity Leave after the 28th week of pregnancy.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-55-17-Violation of §21.V Winds Aloft Adjustment of Sit Pay in JCTE.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §21.V [Compensation: “Scheduled” or “Actual” For Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs) and/or Sit Pay], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when its Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) trading system displayed each posted trip as a static ‘snapshot’ taken at the time of posting rather than a ‘live’ view, thus denying the Flight Attendant the ability to determine whether a trip is eligible for 1.0 TFP of Sit Pay due to an automated scheduling adjustment (e.g. by the Winds Aloft program).

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-41-19-Violation of §25.D.2 Failing to Notify MEC President and ASHSC of Reconfiguration or Re-design Prior to Final Decision. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §25.D.2 [Air Safety, Health and Security: Safety Information], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it failed to notify the MEC President of a decision to reconfigure or re-design the interior of the Airbus aircraft and when it failed to discuss with the ASHSC the parties’ interests and concerns for inflight safety prior to making a final decision on the reconfiguration/re-design. 

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-36-20-Violation of §25.B ANC Training Facility.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §25.B [Air Safety, Health and Security: Safe and Healthy Workplace], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it conducted Recurrent Training (RT) drills in Anchorage, Alaska in the Ross Aviation Hanger, and on or about February 16-19, 2020, the external temperature ranged from 18 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit and when the hanger door opened, frequently without notice, the internal hanger temperature dropped to as low as 46 degrees.  After the external hanger door opened it took approximately two hours with a loud heater to get the internal temperature back up to the low to mid 60s.  

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-207-20-Violation of §10, §11.D & §24.L Bundled Scheduling Notifications.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10 [Scheduling], §11.D [Reserve:  Scheduling/Notice of Time to Report] and §24.L [General and Miscellaneous: Company-Provided Inflight Mobile Device (IMD)], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when its Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) scheduling system sent bundled scheduling notifications to Flight Attendants on their Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) or directly in Crew Access, requiring Flight Attendants to batch acknowledge or ignore such notifications and thereby resulting in Flight Attendants potentially waiving multiple contractual protections via an extra-contractual point of contact (i.e. Crew Access scheduling notifications).  

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-384-20-Violation of §10.S Scheduling Notifications.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10.S [Scheduling :  Pre-Cancellations], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it used non-contractual scheduling notifications sent to Flight Attendants via the Crew Scheduling system in order to communicate and assign alternate flying or an obligation to call Crew Scheduling within a specific window of time.  If a Flight Attendant accepts such non-contractual scheduling notification(s), which is neither contact by Crew Scheduling via Company email nor via primary phone contact as defined in §10.S.1.a, the scheduling notification(s) violates the contract by abrogating the Flight Attendant’s ability to: (1) decline the alternate assignment and waive pay protection (§10.S.2.b), (2) decline the “out of original footprint by more than two hours” alternate assignment and call Crew Scheduling between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM (local domicile time) the night prior to the start of the original sequence (§10.S.2.c), or (3) waive pay protection and be relieved of any further scheduling obligation (§10.S.3). 

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-386-20-Violation of §8.Q & §8.R Contactability and Notification of Delay or Cancellation.This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §8.Q [Hours of Service: Contactability] and §8.R [Hours of Service: Notification of Delay or Cancellation], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it used non-contractual scheduling notifications sent via the Crew Scheduling system in order to communicate and assign revised flying to Flight Attendants who were off-duty on a remain overnight (RON). Such scheduling notifications are in violation of the contractually defined means of contact and/or the Flight Attendant’s obligation to respond pursuant to these provisions.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-84-22-Violation of §21.J Ground Delay Pay.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §21.J [Compensation:  Block and Ground Delays], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it did not pay ground delay pay accumulatively, requiring each delay to go over 11 minutes to be eligible for pay, when a flight (same flight number/same routing) returns to gate one or more times.   

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-176-22-California Family School Partnership Act Violation of Past Practice and Roberts Award.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of past practice, the Roberts Award 36-99-2-49-03, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it unilaterally disallowed the California Family School Partnership Act for those Flight Attendants based in Los Angeles (LAX); then reinstated, with no notice, the state law for LAX based Flight Attendants only, but not for the other California based Flight Attendants in San Diego (SAN) or San Francisco (SFO), and not for the rest of the Flight Attendants based in our system, Seattle (SEA), Portland (PDX) or Anchorage (ANC), in violation of Roberts.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-215-23-Violation of §10.J.4 Bidding Packet and Bidding Times and Violation of Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-116-18.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10.J.4 [Scheduling:  Bid Packets and Bidding Timelines], Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-116-18, past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about July 10, 2023, it and/or the NAVBLUE Preferential Bidding System (PBS) vendor did not provide an administrative lock-out function or a mutually agreeable alternate solution to allow for the correction of a technical issue when processing bid awards without opening up the system to all users.   

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-248-23- Violation of §32 and Roberts Decision.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §32 [Attendance], past practice, the Roberts Award 36-99-2-49-03, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it unilaterally rolled out state leave laws on a state-by-state basis rather than applying the most liberal of state leave laws to all Flight Attendants regardless of domicile, thereby disparately treating Flight Attendants within the Collective Bargaining unit, in violation of Roberts. 

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-41-24- Violation of §25.B Safe and Healthy Workplace-B/E Aerospace Coffee Makers.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §25.B [Air Safety, Heath and Security:  Safe and Healthy Workplace] and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about February 15, 2024, it refused AFA’s request to discontinue the use of older style B/E Aerospace coffee makers until adequate physical mitigations are put into place to prevent the coffee makers, when coupled with the Company’s new onboard coffee product, from spewing hot coffee and grounds during the brew process, which has previously resulted in the injury of at least ten Flight Attendants.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-170-24-Violation of §15.G Leaves Related to Serious Aircraft/Crewmember/Passenger Incidents (AQ).  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §15.G [Leaves of Absence: Leaves Related to Serious Aircraft/Crewmember/Passenger Incidents] and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about August 30, 2024, it refused to allow Flight Attendants the ability to use the above provisions when they had a documented air quality event, as they are requiring the Flight Attendants to file workers’ compensation claims, which are frequently denied.  

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Grievance Committee Tagged With: committee update, pmAS

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