AFA Alaska + Hawaiian

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

Click here to report an issue to AFA
Menu
  • Local Councils
    • Anchorage (Council 30)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Honolulu (Council 43)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Los Angeles (Council 18 pmAS)
      • Officers
      • Committees
      • Los Angeles/Seattle (Council 47 pmHA)
        • Officers
        • Committees
      • Portland (Council 39)
        • Officers
        • Committees
      • San Diego (Council 15)
        • Officers
        • Committees
        • Seattle (Council 19 pmAS)
          • Officers
          • Committees
        • San Francisco (Council 35)
          • Officers
          • Committees

        • More About Local Councils >>
        Close
      • Master Executive Council
        • Officers
        • Close
      • Committees
          • Air Safety, Health, & Security (ASHSC)
            • Air Quality
          • Benefits
          • Communications
          • Employee Assistance Program & Professional Standards
          • Government Affairs
          • Grievance
          • Hotel
          • Human Rights & Equity
          • Inflight Service
          • Inflight Training
          • Membership
          • Membership Engagement
          • Reserve
          • Retirement
          • Scheduling
            • Pairing Construction
            • Preferential Bidding System (PBS)
          • Uniform

        • More About Committees >>
        Close
      • Contract
          • Contract Home
            • 2025 Alaska Contract
            • 2025 Hawaiian Contract Extension
            • Ask Contract Questions
          • Contract Resources
          • Alaska Contract Negotiations (2022-2025)
        • Close
      • Resources
          • What To Do If You Encounter Contaminated Cabin Air
          • Issues & Campaigns
          • Newsroom
            • AFA News Now
          • Event Calendar
          • Membership Services
          • New Members
          • About
          • Links
          Close
        • Merger
          • Joint Negotiating Committee
          • Close
        • Contact Us
        You are here: Home / Archives for Committees / Grievance Committee

        Recent Changes to COVID-19 Policies – Part 4

        November 24, 2021 09:00

        Recent Changes to COVID-19 Policies – Part 4

        Master Executive Council (MEC) and Grievance Committee

        Click here for Part 1 >

        Click here for Part 2 >

        Click here for Part 3 >

        In This Update

        • No §32 Attendance Policy Points for Workplace Exposure Quarantines
        • Grievance No. 36-99-2-241-21 “Violation of §32 Attendance Policy/COVID-19” Withdrawn
        • Reports of Bullying and Harassment

        No More §32 Attendance Policy Points for Workplace Exposure Quarantines

        In Inflight Bulletin 2021-0071 (AAG SSO required), Alaska Airlines management updated Company policy with regard to Section 32 Attendance Policy points assessed for unvaccinated  and “prefer not to state” Flight Attendants on a Company-directed COVID-19 workplace exposure quarantine.

        A few facts:

        • Management began implementing a policy to assess attendance points to such Flight Attendants effective August 30, 2021.
        • AFA pushed back and reached an agreement with management by the end of September to retroactively forgive points assessed under that policy change.
        • Management once again implemented a policy to assess attendance points to such Flight Attendants effective October 1, 2021.
        • AFA preemptively filed Grievance No. 36-99-2-241-21 “Violation of §32 Attendance Policy/COVID-19” on September 30, 2021, in anticipation of the policy change.
        • In the early days of October, MEC President Jeff Peterson brought forward concerns to management that assessing attendance points to unvaccinated employees who also have approved accommodations on file is discriminatory and therefore very likely illegal. This is because the accrual of attendance points can lead to discipline and potentially termination, and there is disparate treatment compared to vaccinated employees who do not receive attendance points for the same circumstances. Management was “looking into it.”
        • Buried under the heading “COVID-19 Vaccination Points” in the November 1st Bulletin Bundle, management quietly announced a revised policy retroactive to October 1st that rescinds the previous attempts to assess attendance points to such Flight Attendants.

        Coincidence? Absolutely not! Not one word from management about AFA’s advocacy here, but we’re going to take credit for this one.


        Grievance No. 36-99-2-241-21 “Violation of §32 Attendance Policy/COVID-19” Withdrawn

        AFA has subsequently withdrawn Grievance No. 36-99-2-241-21 “Violation of §32 Attendance Policy/COVID-19” because management’s policy change resolved the contractual dispute.

        AFA will continue to pursue a remedy for Grievance No. 36-99-2-230-21 “Violation of §16 Sick Leave/On the Job” because of the disparate treatment of unvaccinated and “prefer not to state” Flight Attendants, who are forced to use sick leave for a Company-directed COVID-19 workplace exposure quarantine.


        Reports of Bullying and Harassment

        Several Flight Attendants have contacted MEC leadership to report that they have felt bullied due to their COVID-19 vaccination status and/or their opinion about the Company’s COVID-19 policies. This goes both ways—we have received emails from both vaccinated and unvaccinated Flight Attendants. In general, the perceived bullying is not specific to an individual but rather to the groups of vaccinated or unvaccinated Flight Attendants. We wanted to take a minute to remind everyone that we are, first and foremost, all Flight Attendants. Our job is tougher than ever right now, and we need to be respectful of each other, both on the line and on social media.

        Many Flight Attendants have applied for and received valid religious or medical exemptions to the vaccination mandate. Alaska Airlines management creates, controls, and monitors the process for applying for and approving or denying such exemption requests. This process is mandated by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prevent religious discrimination and by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to prevent discrimination due to a medical condition. No Flight Attendant should be bullied or made uncomfortable because of exercising or not exercising their rights under the law. Since vaccination status in these cases is tied to a legally protected class, these laws prohibit discrimination and pervasive harassment against such individuals.

        On the flip side, some vaccinated Flight Attendants report being bullied about voicing their questions, concerns, frustrations, and general opinions about working conditions: specifically, management’s accommodations process and testing protocol. Federal courts have upheld employees’ rights to openly discuss such concerns. For example, employees are legally allowed to state that they believe the accommodations process is too easy to manipulate or that management should place all employees with approved exemptions on unpaid leaves. Similarly, other employees may express support for the existing process.

        These are potentially divisive issues with passionate opinions on both sides, but we need to be kind to each other regardless. We may vehemently disagree with someone, but that does not mean a discussion about it—even if legally protected—is welcome or is not hurtful. Life during the pandemic has been extremely rough, but with less than a year to go to contract negotiations, we need to look out for one another now more than ever and to find strength in our solidarity.

        Filed Under: Grievance Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: 2021, COVID, COVID-19

        AFA Alaska Update – October 15, 2021

        October 15, 2021 12:00

        In This Edition

        • System Board of Adjustment Interviews
        • Reminder: Zika Letter of Agreement
        • Understanding Panic Disorder

        System Board of Adjustment Interviews

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        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.

        Term of Appointment

        The selected candidate will serve the remainder of a term of appointment that concludes on June 30, 2023.

        Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

        The MEC will hold interviews of eligible candidates during the December Regular MEC Meeting on December 7, 2021.  If you’re interested in interviewing, plan to bid around this date or adjust your schedule accordingly to accommodate.  All interviews will be conducted using Google Meet videoconferencing.

        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 Tuesday, November 30, 2021.  After the submission deadline, MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou 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 MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams at stephanie.adams@afaalaska.org.


        Reminder: Zika Letter of Agreement

        Grievance Committee

        In 2017, AFA and management signed a letter of agreement (LOA) establishing protections for Flight Attendants who are pregnant, attempting to become pregnant, or whose partner is attempting to become pregnant and are scheduled to fly to a Zika-affected area.  The LOA outlines the protective provisions and associated procedures that eligible Flight Attendants are responsible for following.

        As Alaska Airlines is beginning service to Belize in November, it is timely that we offer a reminder that this LOA is still active.  Belize is considered a Zika affected area by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) which triggers the protections outlined in the LOA.

        Questions?

        If you have any questions about the Zika LOA or the procedures associated with using the protective provisions of the LOA, please contact your Local Grievance Committee.


        Understanding Panic Disorder

        Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

        What is Panic Disorder?

        Panic disorder is a psychological condition that shows up in the form of sometimes serious physical symptoms. These symptoms, called panic attacks, can literally make the victim feel as though he or she is dying: rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, excessive sweating, dizziness, trembling, intense anxiety, a feeling of loss of control, and helplessness. Imagine what it would be like to jump out of an airplane only to find your parachute won’t open – that’s pretty close to what panic attack victims are feeling in the moment.

        When the attacks occur regularly or appear to be caused by a specific set of circumstances, then panic disorder is the cause. There is no specific treatment for a panic attack, per se. But the underlying condition, panic disorder, can be treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy.  

        What Causes Panic Disorder?

        Like many psychological conditions, panic disorder can originate in many different ways, some of them making little logical sense. A person with a phobia such as fear of heights or enclosed places might experience a panic attack if he or she is in this situation. Alcohol, drugs, and trauma can trigger it.   But the cause itself has no bearing on the reaction to it because the threat felt by the victim is one entirely of perception rather than reality.

        What to Do if You Have a Panic Attack

        The only way to stop a panic attack is to allow it to end, and the only way to do that is to diminish the underlying fear that causes the symptoms. If you allow yourself to experience the symptoms, with a clear realization that there is no real danger, then the attack may be shortened. Breathe deeply and don’t give in to dangerous impulses such as running away or jumping off something. Know that the effects will pass. The more you experience even the smallest triumph of logic over fear, the less intense your attacks will become.  If the attacks continue, seek help from a medical professional.

        What to Do if You See Someone Having a Panic Attack

        You may feel pretty helpless when encountering someone having a panic attack.  Tell them to keep breathing and assure them that there is no danger.  The problem here is that the victim will tell you that they are having a heart attack, can’t breathe, or feels like they are about to pass out, and odds are good that you aren’t qualified to assess the reality of that perception. Call for help quickly and do your best to calm the victim until help arrives. The best thing you can do when it’s over is offer comfort, assure the person that professional help is available and encourage them to seek that assistance.

        Questions or Need Help?

        Our AFA EAP Committee is available to provide assistance with referrals.  Please call (949) 470-0493 or visit afaalaska.org/eap for contact information.

        Filed Under: EAP/Professional Standards Committee, Grievance Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: 2021, interviews, letter of agreement, System Board of Adjustment, Zika

        Recent Changes to COVID-19 Policies – Part 2

        October 5, 2021 17:00

        Recent Changes to COVID-19 Policies – Part 2

        Master Executive Council (MEC) and Grievance Committee

        Click here for Part 1 >

        In This Update

        • Presidential Executive Order Vaccination Mandate

        Presidential Executive Order Vaccination Mandate

        Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are government contractors and their employees subject to the related vaccination requirements under the Presidential Executive Order

        As you have almost certainly heard by now, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have determined that they are federal contractors and therefore their employees are subject to the vaccination requirements under the Presidential Executive Order. See the Company email to all employees “Important information about required vaccinations“ (September 30, 2021) for more information. Southwest, American, JetBlue and other airlines have likewise determined that the mandate applies to them.

        What does this mean for Air Group?

        First and foremost, vaccine mandates are legal and constitutional. The government has a compelling interest in public health, and the United States Supreme Court has upheld vaccination mandates in the past. Under the Executive Order (EO), all Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air employees will be required to be fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption on file as early as December 8, 2021 (unless this date subsequently gets pushed).

        Immunity from a prior COVID-19 infection is not sufficient under the mandate. To be considered fully vaccinated prior to that date, your last Pfizer or Moderna shot, or your single Johnson & Johnson shot, must be no later than November 24, 2021.  Regular testing under the EO is not considered an adequate substitute unless it is part of an accommodation for an approved exemption on file for substantiated medical reasons or a sincerely held religious belief.

        Medical / Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) exemptions

        If you are unable to receive any of the available vaccines for medical reasons, your employer must attempt to reasonably accommodate your disability.  An accommodation can involve making changes to your work environment to protect you and others, a long-term leave, or perhaps something in between, such as regular testing. The actual accommodation would depend both on the disability and the workplace and nature of the business. An employer is not required to make any particular accommodation you request, or to make an accommodation that would cause an undue hardship, which means great expense, inconvenience or disruption of the workplace. Alaska and Horizon management have not yet informed us how they intend to accommodate medical exemptions, or what medical evidence they will require to establish an exemption. Medical exemptions are rare, as most people can well-tolerate the COVID-19 vaccines.

        Sincerely held religious belief exemptions

        If an employee states that he or she has a sincerely held religious objection to vaccination, the employer must generally accept this as true—even if the religion (or other moral belief) is unfamiliar to the employer. However, employers are entitled to question and probe the belief, and may consider factors such as:

        • Whether the employee has behaved in a manner markedly inconsistent with the professed belief;
        • Whether the accommodation sought is a particularly desirable benefit that is likely to be sought for secular reasons; 
        • Whether the timing of the request renders it suspect (e.g., it follows an earlier request by the employee for the same benefit for secular reasons); and 
        • Whether the employer otherwise has reason to believe the accommodation is not sought for religious reasons.

        Proof of vaccination

        The vaccine mandate requires the Company to collect proof of vaccination from all employees who do not have a medical or religious exemption. You will not simply be able to attest that you have been vaccinated; you will be required to show one of the following:

        • A copy of the record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy;
        • A copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card;
        • A copy of medical records documenting the vaccination;
        • A copy of immunization records from a public health or state immunization information system; or
        • A copy of any other official documentation verifying vaccination with information on the vaccine name, date(s) of administration, and the name of health care professional or clinic site administering the vaccine.

        Data privacy and HIPAA

        This information is not protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), because employers such as Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are not covered entities under HIPAA. According to the latest guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the employer does, however, have an obligation to safeguard this as confidential medical information under the ADA that must be stored separately from the employee’s personnel file.


        AFA leaders will be meeting with management soon to gain clarity on how the Executive Order will be administered. The bottom line is that the mandate does apply to us under federal law, and we cannot negotiate around it or grieve it.  AFA will continue to advocate on behalf of the entire membership and to fairly represent all Flight Attendants throughout these challenging times.

        Stay tuned for more updates.

        Filed Under: Grievance Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: 2021, COVID-19

        Management vs. State and Local Laws – Part 3

        September 20, 2021 17:00

        Management vs. State and Local Laws – Part 3

        Master Executive Council (MEC), Grievance Committee, Benefits Committee

        This is the third in a series reporting on management’s opposition to various state and local laws, the latest developments to complex state law litigations related to these laws that are playing out in Washington and California, and what Flight Attendants can do about it.

        Read Part 2 here >

        Read Part 1 here >

        In This Edition

        • WA Long Term Care (Cares Fund)
        • CA 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

        WA Long Term Care (Cares Fund)

        Management will unilaterally decline to initiate payroll deductions for flight crew in January 2022

        The Washington Cares Fund is the nation’s first state-administered long-term care insurance program. Benefits will be funded by a 0.58% employee-paid payroll tax beginning January 1, 2022. However, Alaska Airlines management has unilaterally taken the position that the WA Cares Fund does not apply to flight crew and therefore will not initiate payroll deductions this coming January. In an email titled “Important Information About Washington’s Long-Term Care Act” (July 8, 2021), management advised all WA-domiciled Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants that flight crew may still consider pursuing a permanent one-time opt-out of the Program and all associated taxes and benefits by obtaining private long-term care insurance prior to the deadline of November 1, 2021. Currently, there is no opt-out option for any employee who becomes domiciled in (i.e., employed in) Washington after the applicable deadlines.

        If management will not deduct flight crew contributions, then why bother opting out?

        Flight Attendants may eventually change jobs within the Company (i.e., transfer to another position that is not classified as flight crew) or work for other employers within Washington. Additionally, the Company’s position regarding flight crew is currently untested from a legal perspective. It is entirely possible that the courts may eventually require Alaska Airlines to withhold WA Cares Fund payroll contributions on behalf of flight crew.

        Grossly unfair to non-resident employees

        Although all WA-domiciled flight crew would otherwise theoretically be required to contribute to the fund (except for management’s unilateral position regarding flight crew and certain state and local laws), only Washington residents may utilize Care Fund benefits. This is grossly unfair to non-resident flight crew (i.e., out of state commuters). Consequently, AFA Alaska agrees with and supports ALPA Alaska in filing legal objections with Washington State regarding concerns that the WA Cares Fund violates the Dormant Commerce Clause, which is inferred from Article I of the US Constitution, and the Privileges and Immunities Clause, which is derived from Article IV, Section 2 of the US Constitution. Resolution under this path could take a very long time, so this is another reason that non-resident WA-domiciled flight crew might consider opting out if possible.

        Challenges with opting out

        Unfortunately, it is extremely challenging to opt out unless you started applying for private insurance many, many months ago—especially if you are younger. AFA is unaware of any private insurers who are currently offering new long-term care policies. Additionally, there is a significant administrative backlog of applications with all known private insurers, so it is very concerning—and unknown—whether all pending policies will be executed prior to the November 1st deadline.

        Will I be required to directly contribute to the WA Cares Fund or pay back contributions not made on my behalf?

        Quite simply, it is unclear but doubtful. Again, AFA Alaska agrees with and supports ALPA Alaska filing legal objections with Washington State regarding concerns that the WA Cares Fund raises due process problems insofar as the law does not specify who bears consequences for an employer’s failure to remit employee premiums or what those consequences would be. However, there is no mechanism for employees to make direct contributions to the WA Care Fund, and there is no provision in the law to recoup contributions not withheld and made by the employer.

        Interestingly, Alaska Airlines management personnel from the People Team (i.e., Human Resources) have advised individual Flight Attendants who have directly inquired with them that the Company would “likely” be required to pay back the contributions owed on behalf of flight crew if Washington State came back and said that flight crew are required to pay such contributions. This is presumably under a scenario in which the State of Washington prevailed in the courts pursuant to this almost-inevitable dispute. However, Alaska Airlines management has not responded to the Association’s inquiry to confirm such guidance prior to publication of this update.

        Estimated (theoretical) contributions

        $25k gross annual earnings = ~$12/month | $50k gross annual earnings = ~$24/month | $75k gross annual earnings = ~$36/month | $100k gross annual earnings = ~$48/month


        CA 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

        Up to 80 paid hours for certain COVID-19 related absences from a separate employer-paid sick bank

        One of the more notable temporary COVID-19 laws is California’s 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave. The law was effective as of March 29, 2021, was retroactive to January 1, 2021, and ends soon on September 30, 2021.  It states that California employees will be paid up to 80 hours by the employer rather than through the employee’s own sick leave bank for COVID-19 related quarantines, vaccination appointments and vaccine symptoms. Click here for FAQs. Thus far, management has denied all requests from Flight Attendants to comply with the law, e.g., to pay out of the separate COVID-19 sick bank.  

        Filing a claim

        Any CA-domiciled Flight Attendant who has used Sick Leave for COVID-19 related absences between January 1st and September 30th should file a claim or a report of a labor law violation with the Labor Commissioner’s Office, which is the state agency charged with enforcement. Please file a claim as soon as possible, but our understanding is that the state accepts such claims for up to three years. Flight Attendants also always have the option to hire their own attorney at their own expense if so desired.

        AFA Alaska representatives are here to help

        Although AFA cannot represent any FAs regarding such claims, we would very much appreciate you keeping us posted on any developments. Outside counsel has already responded to some claims with very official-looking but in our opinion not entirely on point legalese. AFA Alaska representatives are more than willing to help by supplying basic information and tips, and we would cooperate with any requests from claim investigators. Do not let management’s legal tactics put you off from pressing forward with your rightful claim!

        Filed Under: Benefits Committee, Grievance Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: 2021, state laws

        AFA Alaska Update – September 17, 2021

        September 17, 2021 12:00

        In This Edition

        • Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month
        • PBS Subcommittee Appointment
        • Why a $5 Starbucks Card is Important to Your Contractual Rights

        Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month

        Human Rights Committee

        September 15 marks the first day of Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month in the United States.  The celebration, which is also referred to as National Hispanic Heritage Month, began as Hispanic Heritage week when it was established by legislation that was signed into law by President Lydon Johnson in 1968.  In 1988, the single week event was expanded to a month-long period to be celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15.

        September 15 is of significance as it marks the anniversary of independence of the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.  Mexico also celebrates independence on September 16, Chile on September 18, and Belize on September 21. 

        Learn More About Hispanic-Latinx History

        You can learn more about the accomplishments of Hispanic-Latinx Americans through some of the dedicated websites and resources below.

        • Library of Congress – National Hispanic Heritage Month
        • National Archives – Hispanic Heritage Month
        • National Park Service – Hispanic Heritage Month
        • Smithsonian Institution – Latino Center
        • Alaska Air Group Latin Culture Resource Group (LCRG) – Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (AAG sign-on required)

        Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month AFA Pins Coming in 2022

        The AFA Executive Board recently passed a resolution recognizing Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month and providing for the creation of a new diversity AFA pin in celebration.  You can read the complete text of the resolution by clicking here.  The new pin will be undergo the design and development process over the next year and will be made available in September 2022.

        Questions?

        If you have any questions, please contact your Local Human Rights Committee.


        PBS Subcommittee Appointment

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        Our Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews this week for an additional PBS Subcommittee Member as previously announced in the August 6 AFA Update email.  The MEC would like to thank the candidates who demonstrated willingness to represent our Flight Attendants. After thorough consideration, the MEC has appointed SAN-based Flight Attendant Steven Patronsky to the position.

        About Steve

        Representing the membership and upholding contract compliance are the aspects of the work that most excites Steve about being appointed to the PBS Subcommittee. His volunteering history for AFA includes work on the Scheduling and Hotel Committees.  Steve’s recent accomplishments include completing a Master’s Program at the University of Central Florida and remodeling a 50’s era Mid-Century home in Orlando. 

        About the Position

        The PBS Subcommittee, part of the Scheduling Committee, works with the company and the Inflight Crew Planning Department to maintain the company’s preferential bidding system and oversee the bidding and bid award processes.  The Subcommittee represents and advocates for the MEC position in matters pertaining to bidding and the preferential bidding system.  Additional information about the position and subcommittee can be found by clicking here.


        Why a $5 Starbucks Card is Important to Your Contractual Rights

        Grievance Committee

        In early 2020, our Grievance Committee included information in an AFA Update about a settlement agreement related to management issuing $5 Starbucks cards to ANC-based Flight Attendants for meeting an attendance goal back in 2015.  You can read the original communication from March 25, 2020 by clicking here (scroll to the Grievance Committee Update article, then the Recent Settled Grievances heading).  Due to the pandemic and other administrative issues, management is just now distributing the Starbucks card as agreed upon.

        So Why Is This Important?

        The issue at hand isn’t so much about the amount of the Starbucks card but rather what management did wrong.  The priority of our Grievance Committee is to ensure that management complies with our collective bargaining agreement (CBA).  In this case, management violated the CBA by awarding gift cards to a particular group of Flight Attendants for having better attendance rates than others without negotiating it with AFA.  Gift cards, which have a dollar value, are considered a form of compensation which is a negotiated part of our CBA.

        If our Grievance Committee had failed to address this contractual violation, regardless of how small it may seem, it could open the door to management making other attempts to change our compensation or working conditions in violation of the CBA.  This settlement agreement protects your rights and makes all Flight Attendants equal in terms of the CBA.  Although it may only be $5 to each Flight Attendant, the overall cost to management for the settlement agreement is significant and a reminder not to violate the language in our contract.

        Questions?

        If you have questions about the settlement agreement or reasoning behind it, please feel free to reach out to your Local Grievance Committee.

        Filed Under: Grievance Committee, Human Rights & Equity Committee, Preferential Bidding System (PBS), Scheduling Committee Tagged With: 2021, committee appointments, grievance settlement, Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month, PBS

        • « Previous Page
        • 1
        • …
        • 7
        • 8
        • 9
        • 10
        • 11
        • …
        • 25
        • Next Page »

        Need Help?

        Have an issue or concern to report to AFA?  Click here to access the AFA Alaska online support center.

        Latest News

        • AFA News in Review – August 14, 2026
        • 787-9 Inflight Service Grievance: Protecting Our Contract and Standards
        • Local Committee Appointments – August 2026
        • Pre-Merger Alaska Reserve Webinar Video and Q&A Recap – August 6, 2026
        • AFA News in Review – August 7, 2026
        • Council 47 SEA Base Update – SEA Membership Meeting Reminder
        • Wrapping Up Membership Engagement Focus Month: Stronger Together
        • Local Committee Interviews – September 2026
        • Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026
        • Council 47 Committee Update – Communication and Safety Vacancies

        787-9 Inflight Service Grievance: Protecting Our Contract and Standards

        August 14, 2026

        This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants For decades, Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants have defined the Spirit of Aloha. We take pride in delivering world-class service, but management’s current Boeing 787-9 service model is threatening that legacy. It isn’t just inefficient—it’s an unsustainable pace that undermines the quality our passengers expect and the professional […]

        Pre-Merger Alaska Reserve Webinar Video and Q&A Recap – August 6, 2026

        August 12, 2026

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Thank you to everyone who joined our first pre-merger Alaska Reserve Webinar! We created this interactive session to share practical contract tips and help you feel more confident about reserve life. You can now watch the recording on our YouTube channel using the link below. Please note that […]

        Wrapping Up Membership Engagement Focus Month: Stronger Together

        August 4, 2026

        July was a remarkable month for our Membership Engagement Committee. We set out with a clear purpose: to bring our Flight Attendant community closer together, share valuable resources, and build authentic connections throughout our system. Over the past four weeks, we explored what it means to be engaged in our AFA family. We kicked things […]

        Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026

        August 3, 2026

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Wednesday, July 22, our pre-merger Alaska Benefits Committee Chairpersons met for their regular monthly meeting. This meeting was an internal AFA-only meeting and did not involve management.  Representing you at the meeting were Ava McWilliams Ellington (LAX), Linda Gunselman (PDX), Sonia Quackenbush (SAN), Kathy O’Malley (SEA), […]

        Discover The AFA Online Learning Academy

        July 29, 2026

        As part of Membership Engagement Committee Focus Month, we’re excited to spotlight one of our core missions: empowering you with knowledge and confidence to participate more fully in our Union. When we understand how our Union works, we strengthen our collective voice and create a more engaged community. To help you on this journey, we’re […]

        Recent Posts

        • AFA News in Review – August 14, 2026
        • 787-9 Inflight Service Grievance: Protecting Our Contract and Standards
        • Local Committee Appointments – August 2026
        • Pre-Merger Alaska Reserve Webinar Video and Q&A Recap – August 6, 2026
        • AFA News in Review – August 7, 2026
        • Council 47 SEA Base Update – SEA Membership Meeting Reminder
        • Wrapping Up Membership Engagement Focus Month: Stronger Together
        • Local Committee Interviews – September 2026
        • Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026
        • Council 47 Committee Update – Communication and Safety Vacancies
        • Benefits Webinar – August 12, 2026
        • Meet Our Local Chairpersons
        • AFA News in Review – July 31, 2026
        • Council 39 July 2026 Update
        • Council 47 Reserve Committee – Meet Your Reserve Chairs

        Local Councils

        • Anchorage
        • Honolulu
        • Los Angeles (pre-merger Alaska)
        • Los Angeles/Seattle (pre-merger Hawaiian)
        • Portland
        • San Diego
        • San Francisco
        • Seattle (pre-merger Alaska)

        Master Executive Council

        • MEC

        Contract

        • Contract Home

        Committees

        • Air Safety, Health, & Security
        • Benefits
        • Communications
        • EAP/Professional Standards
        • Government Affairs
        • Grievance
        • Hotel
        • Human Rights
        • Inflight Service
        • Membership Engagement
        • Reserve
        • Retirement
        • Scheduling
        • Uniform

        News By Month

        News By Category

        AFA News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) AS/HA Merger AS/VX Merger Benefits Committee Committees Communications Committee Contract Contract 2014 Negotiations Blog Council 15 SAN Council 18 LAX (pmAS) Council 19 SEA (pmAS) Council 30 ANC Council 35 SFO Council 39 PDX Council 43 HNL Council 47 LAX/SEA (pmHA) EAP/Professional Standards Committee Extension 2021 Blog Featured Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee Hotel Committee Human Rights & Equity Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) Membership Engagement Committee Message from the MEC President Mobilization Committee Negotiations Pairing Construction Preferential Bidding System (PBS) Press Releases Reserve Committee Retirement Committee Scheduling Committee Uniform Committee
        • Email
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • YouTube

        Want To Stay In The Loop?

        Stay up-to-date on AFA Alaska + Hawaiian news and information by signing up for our email and text message updates. Click a button below to get started or update your preferences if you're already a subscriber.
        Sign Up for Emails
        Sign Up for Text Updates

        Connect With AFA

        • Contact Us
        • Online Support Center
        • AFA International
        • CWA
        • AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Social Media Guidelines
        • AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy

        Copyright © 2013-2026 Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Council, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO