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Joint Contract Negotiations Session 9 – November 2025

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Our JNC met with management this week on November 18 to November 20 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for December 9 to December 11
  • A Tentative Agreement (TA) was reached regarding Section 25 (Air Safety, Health and Security) which incorporates several improvements taken from the Hawaiian Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

Negotiations Update

Our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management on November 18 to November 20 in Seattle, WA. At the negotiating table for this session were:

Representing AFA and our Flight AttendantsRepresenting Management
Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee ChairpersonAllen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberNeil Osato, Director, Labor and People Relations, Hawaiian
Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
Suzanne Balzer, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorKaren Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska

In this round of negotiations, our JNC made progress on Section 25 (Air Safety, Health and Security), Section 27 (Association General), and Section 36 (Commuter Policy). We are getting closer to settling several issues where we still disagree.

We are pleased to share that we have reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) on Section 25 (Air Safety, Health and Security). We secured several procedural improvements, formalized support for important safety meetings and reports, and made progress on incorporating language around Cabin Air. The Hawaiian Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) helped the Committee make these valuable improvements.

Section by Section Progress

Tentative Agreements reached in this session:

  • Section 25 – Air Safety Health and Security (HA CBA Section 28)

Sections discussed in this session:

  • Section 27 – Association General (HA CBA Section 22)
  • Section 36 – Commuter Policy (HA CBA Section 34-28)

Sections in ongoing discussion:

  • Section 30 – Training (HA CBA Section 26)

Sections listed below are on hold until discussions regarding future sections, which affect specific provisions, take place.

  • Section 6 – Seniority (HA CBA Section 9)
  • Section 15 – Leaves of Absence (HA CBA Section 17)
  • Section 19 – Grievance Procedures (HA CBA Section 23)
  • Section 33 – Charters (HA CBA Section 12)

Local Council Meetings

Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) attended the Local Council Meeting with Council 39 (Portland) on Friday, November 21, in Portland. In December, we will continue our base visits, with our next stop at the joint Local Council Meeting with Council 18 (Alaska LAX) and Council 47 (Hawaiian LAX). Please check your Local Council communications for updates about future meetings.

What’s Upcoming

Our next session with management is scheduled for December 9 to December 11.

Sick Leave Survey Extension – Closing Soon

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Sick Leave Survey Closing on Friday, November 21 at Noon PT

Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is committed to prioritizing your health and well-being. We are eager to hear your thoughts on which elements of our paid sick leave policy are most meaningful to you, as we strive to improve our support for your needs.

Our paid sick leave policy is specifically designed to give you the assurance of taking necessary time off without the stress of losing pay. Understanding that every individual’s health journey is unique, our JNC is dedicated to ensuring our contract meets your healthcare needs.

The survey is currently open and will close on Friday, November 21, at Noon PT. For a quick comparison of the Alaska and Hawaiian Sick Leave please see Sick Leave Survey Now Open in AFA News Now. We strongly encourage you to take part in this brief survey, as your input is invaluable in helping us create a supportive environment for all.

If you have any questions regarding the survey feel free to contact the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

Sick Leave Survey Deadline Extended

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Sick Leave Survey extended to Friday, November 21 Noon PT

Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) has received reports that some Flight Attendants have not received the Sick Leave Survey emails. If you have not yet received the survey, please check your spam or junk folder. We are actively working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. To ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate, we are extending the survey deadline to Friday, November 21 at Noon PT.

For survey instructions and to review the comparison of Sick Leave sections of our respective CBAs, please review Alaska and Hawaiian Sick Leave Quick Reference Guide at Sick Leave Survey Now Open in AFA News Now.

Thank you for your patience and engagement as we work to ensure everyone’s voice is heard. If you have any questions regarding the survey please contact the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

Sick Leave Survey Closing Soon

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Sick Leave Survey Closing on Tuesday, November 11 at Noon PT

Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is committed to prioritizing your health and well-being. We are eager to hear your thoughts on which elements of our paid sick leave policy are most meaningful to you, as we strive to improve our support for your needs.

Our paid sick leave policy is specifically designed to give you the assurance of taking necessary time off without the stress of losing pay. Understanding that every individual’s health journey is unique, our JNC is dedicated to ensuring our contract meets your healthcare needs.

The survey is currently open and will close on Tuesday, November 11, at Noon PT. For a quick comparison of the Alaska and Hawaiian Sick Leave please see Sick Leave Survey Now Open in AFA News Now. We strongly encourage you to take part in this brief survey, as your input is invaluable in helping us create a supportive environment for all.

If you have any questions regarding the survey feel free to contact the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

Sick Leave Survey Now Open

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Your Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) believes that your health and well-being comes first. We want to understand which components of our paid sick leave policy is most important to you.  Our paid sick leave policy is here to support you in taking the necessary time off while ensuring that you don’t lose pay.

The Alaska Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has made significant strides with the introduction of the State Sick Leave Bank. This provision aligns with the state laws of Alaska, Oregon and Washington, offering you the flexibility to manage your health effectively. This means when using State Sick Leave you can take time off for personal health needs, including doctor appointments and circumstances surrounding domestic abuse.

Please keep in mind that this survey focuses specifically on our Sick Leave Policy and does not address attendance points or the Hawaiian Sick Leave Monitor Program. We value your feedback and will address these topics in the future.

Our JNC understands that every health journey is unique and we would like to ensure the our contract is there to support your healthcare needs. The survey is currently open and will close on Tuesday, November 11 at Noon PT. Please take the time to participate in this short survey.

Please see below to review the Sick Leave Survey Quick Reference Guide. The guide highlights key differences between Alaska and Hawaiian’s Sick Leave Programs.

To Access the Survey

  • For pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants, enter your PeopleSoft Number
  • For pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants, enter your Employee Number (without leading zeros)

Some important notes:

  • Once the survey is submitted, your responses cannot be edited. Please ensure your selections are final before hitting ‘Submit’. 
  • For ranking questions, all choices must be ranked. You may skip these questions, but remember to rank all options if you choose to respond.

We encourage you to participate, as engaged members are our greatest strength during negotiations. Thank you for your commitment to our shared success. If you have any questions about the survey, please reach out to the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

Hawaiian Flight Attendant Seattle Domicile Letter of Agreement Roadshow Information

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants The Hawaiian Seattle Domicile Negotiating Committee is hosting three virtual roadshows to share information about the newly negotiated Seattle Domicile Letter of Agreement (SEA LOA). Here are a few reminders: Mark Your Calendar If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your local leadership or email […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – November 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, November 25, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually 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), […]

Hawaiian Flight Attendant Seattle Domicile Letter of Agreement

After extensive negotiations, the Hawaiian Flight Attendant SEA LOA has been ratified, marking a significant milestone for both the union and management. This agreement introduces enhanced contractual provisions specifically designed to protect Hawaiian Flight Attendants as the new Seattle base is established. Hawaiian Flight Attendants are encouraged to review the SEA LOA and Q&A to understand their options.

Seattle Domicile Negotiating Committee – Question and Answer (Q and A)

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants General Q1. When will the Hawaiian SEA domicile open? A. Management anticipates opening the SEA domicile in April 2026. Q2. When will vacancies be posted and awarded for the SEA domicile? A. Management anticipates the initial vacancies to be posted in mid-December 2025 and awarded on January […]

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