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Support the AFA Disaster Relief Fund through Amazon Smile

Flight Attendants Helping Flight Attendants

The Disaster Relief Fund provides a means for AFA members to assist other members and retirees who have suffered significant damage to their primary residence and/or faced relocation as a result of a disaster.  Since its beginning in the fall of 2001, the AFA Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) has provided financial support in the aftermath of many large-scale disasters including the September 11th terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and other natural and/or man-made disasters.

AFA is committed to ensuring funds are available when the need arises so we are raising funds so that we may help more members in need.  AmazonSmile has been selected as a simple and automatic way to raise funds for our cause.  When you shop at smile.amazon.com – Amazon donates a portion of the sale to the DRF.

When shopping at Amazon, your next purchase could support the AFA Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) at no cost to you.  The exact same low prices and selections are available as at Amazon.com.  When you make your purchase through AmazonSmile, 0.5% of your purchase price will automatically be donated to the DRF each and every time you shop.

To begin helping other Flight Attendants through AmazonSmile:

  1. Go to http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-2341209
  2. Use your same log-in information as you use for Amazon
  3. Shop
  4. Bookmark AmazonSmile so you use this instead of the regular Amazon website

In Solidarity,

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

[AS] MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Vacancy

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

The Master Executive Council (MEC) announces a vacancy for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee chairperson. On Thursday afternoon, Zac Weeks offered and the MEC accepted his resignation as MEC Scheduling Committee chairperson, effective immediately. The MEC wishes Zac the best in his future endeavors and thanks him for his service to AFA.

The MEC is currently determining a succession plan for the position, and we will provide an update once a decision has been made. In the meantime, continue to utilize your local Scheduling Committee members or Local Executive Council officers for scheduling-related issues.

In Solidarity,

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

[AS] Early Push Program Grievance Filed and Sustained

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

In the “Early Push Program” membership release dated May 11, 2017, the Master Executive Council (MEC) communicated our concerns about that program. Unfortunately, the situation did not significantly improve in the weeks following that communication, so AFA filed Grievance No. 36-99-2-37-17 “Violation of §8.D.1 Early Push Program” on June 1, 2017. In fact, you provided the MEC with numerous examples of posted boarding times that had been adjusted to more than 45 minutes prior to departure, which, in our opinion, is a clear violation of §8.D.1 of the contract.

AFA requested Alaska Airlines management to investigate the circumstances surrounding when the Company altered Flight Attendants’ scheduled departures 10 minutes earlier than scheduled, thereby pressuring Flight Attendants to arrive at the aircraft 55 minutes prior to departure rather than 45 minutes. AFA received great news on Tuesday: Management sustained the grievance, which means management agreed the contract was violated.

In the grievance response addressed to MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams, management writes:

Stephanie, we have asked airport services to move from a 10-minute early boarding to 5 minutes in the case of early pushes only. By pushing this from D-50 to D-45, we will be contractually compliant. Therefore, we requested and were guaranteed that departures be posted no greater than 5 minutes early instead of 10 effective immediately.

Management affirms that you are under no contractual obligation to arrive at the aircraft earlier than 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure. AFA continues to take the position that it is acceptable to begin boarding right at 45 minutes prior to departure for “early push” flights—but only if all required safety checks and the Flight Attendant briefing have been completed and the entire Flight Attendant crew voluntarily agrees without feeling pressured. Allowing boarding to commence right at 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure adds a few extra minutes to help out the operation (as compared to regular boarding).

Now that the grievance has been sustained, contact one of your local AFA representatives or file a report at http://support.afaalaska.org as soon as possible if you believe your van time has been adjusted in anticipation of an early push, your report time is changed or if you experience pressure to board earlier than 45 minutes prior to departure.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee; MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams, MEC Grievance Committee Member Christina Frees; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Zac Weeks

[AS] AFA Alaska System Board of Adjustment Interviews

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

The Master Executive Council (MEC) will be conducting interviews for one (1) member to serve on the 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 and its Flight Attendants.

Policy/Responsibilities

  • There shall 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.
  • 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 shall be selected for a two (2) year appointment period in accordance with the AFA Constitution and Bylaws. At least one appointment will be reviewed in June of each year.  Selection shall 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.
  • The MEC President shall 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, should the alternate not be available.
  • 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.

Expressing Interest and Interviewing Schedule

Interviews will be conducted during the July MEC meeting on Tuesday, July 25 at the AFA Alaska MEC office in Seattle.

To express interest for the position, please submit a declaration of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou at linda.christou@afaalaska.org no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on Friday, July 14, 2017.  Linda will be able to provide additional information regarding transportation and booking of flights if necessary.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee; LEC Presidents-Elect Terry Taylor and Mario de’Medici; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

Council 47 (LAX pmHA) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 12 PM PT today for the election of Council 47 LEC Officers, representing Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants based in Los Angeles. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: Joshua AokiLEC Vice President: Paul IkiokaLEC Secretary: Beth Hayes View the certified election results here >> These newly elected […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants In accordance with Article VI.C of the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, the terms of office for the MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions align with those of the MEC Officers. Since the current term for the MEC Officers will conclude on December 31, […]

Merged MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants The integration of our Master Executive Councils (MECs) is progressing steadily. Several committees have successfully merged over the past few months, and we are now planning for another committee to merge on January 1. As part of the committee merger process, our MEC will […]

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

November 1 marks the beginning of Native American Heritage Month in the United States. Also known as National Native American Heritage Month, this celebration originated from efforts to recognize an American Indian Day in the early 20th century. In 1916, New York became the first state to officially proclaim American Indian Day following a declaration […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, October 28, 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), […]

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