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        You are here: Home / Archives for AS/HA Merger / Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC)

        Joint Contract Negotiations Session 7 – September 2025

        October 3, 2025 16:00

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

        • Our JNC met with management this week on September 30 to October 2 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for October 21 to October 23
        • A tentative agreement was reached regarding Section 13 – Uniforms
        • 2,207 Flight Attendants participated in the Vacation Survey, our JNC will review all responses submitted

        Negotiations Update

        The AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management.  The JNC met with management on September 30 to October 2 in Seattle, WA.  At the negotiating table for this session were:

        Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants  Representing Management
        Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee ChairpersonAllen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
        Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberRyan St. John, Vice President, Finance, Planning and Investor Relations, Alaska
        Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberJoe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations, Alaska
        Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
        Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
        Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
        Brian Palmer, MEC Communications ChairpersonKaren Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska

        Throughout this week’s negotiations, our JNC made meaningful strides in developing several sections of our agreement. Both parties demonstrated a willingness to collaborate, and while there are still some areas that need addressing, we are optimistic about the progress we are making together. As we continue this important dialogue, our goal is to advance further toward finalizing each section we’ve discussed.

        Brian Palmer joined the committee to share his expertise on connectivity in Section 27 – Association General. Our JNC aims to enhance communication with you, our Members, in crew rooms across all bases.

        Our JNC has reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) on Section 13 – Uniforms. We are working through various provisions, including the basic uniform, dry cleaning, uniform costs, footwear, jacket requirements, and gloves, which will be resolved once the final uniform design is determined. We successfully negotiated valuable items from the Hawaiian Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), including protective measures ensuring that surnames do not appear on name tags. We’ve enhanced the uniform replacement provisions and broadened the guidelines for Arctic boot wear, reflecting our commitment to improving the overall uniform standards.

        Section by Section Progress

        Tentative Agreements reached in this session:

        • Section 13 – Uniforms (HA CBA Section 6)

        Sections discussed in this session:

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

        We continue to advocate for safety improvements and reporting

        • Section 27 – Association General (HA CBA Section 22)

        As our Flight Attendant population continues to grow, we are actively seeking resources to ensure proper representation for our Flight Attendants.

        • Section 30 – Training (HA CBA Section 26)

        We are in discussions around recurrent training as we work through travel protections and compensation for the the requalification process.

        • Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation (HA CBA Section 4.C and Section 4.E)

        We are seeking enhancements to food accessibility on layovers.

        • Section 36 – Commuter Policy (HA CBA Section 34-28)

        We continue to advocate for ground and air commuter policy enhancements.

        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)

        Vacation Survey

        Thank you for participating in the Vacation Survey. We had a total of 2,207 Flight Attendants take part, with 64% of the responses coming from pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants and 37% from pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants. All responses will be reviewed and taken into consideration during the evaluation process.

        Additionally, please look out for the link to the upcoming Sick Leave Survey, which will be available in the coming weeks.

        Local Council Meetings

        On September 22, our JNC participated in the Local Council 35 meeting in San Francisco. It was a great opportunity to connect with members and LEC officers, addressing questions about the joint negotiating process and gathering valuable feedback. We’ll be attending Local Council meetings until the end of the year, including Local Council 30 today, October 3 in Anchorage. Be sure to stay connected with your Local Council for the latest updates and information.

        What’s Upcoming

        Our next session with management is scheduled for October 21 to October 23.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Tagged With: pmAS, pmHA

        Vacation Survey Closing Soon

        September 23, 2025 13:00

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

        • Vacation Survey Closing on Wednesday, September 24 at Noon PT

        Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is conducting a vacation survey to gather insights from Flight Attendants at Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines regarding their vacation benefits.

        Our committee aims to understand the varying ways these benefits are utilized and how to enhance them especially as there are significant differences between the Alaska and Hawaiian vacation systems. The JNC committee remains committed to advocating for the quality of work life for all Flight Attendants to ensure that both Alaska and Hawaiian employees retain their long-standing benefits.

        The survey will be available until Wednesday, September 24 at Noon PT. We strongly encourage you to take a moment to complete the survey. Your input will help the JNC advocate effectively for your needs.

        Thank you for being an essential part of this process!

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

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Tagged With: pmAS, pmHA, survey

        Vacation Survey Now Open

        September 10, 2025 09:00

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

        Your Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is working diligently to understand and improve the vacation benefits for our Flight Attendants at Alaska and Hawaiian. Your input is essential in ensuring that the vacation provisions we adopt reflect your needs and preferences.

        To gather your perspectives, we invite you to participate in our Vacation Survey. This survey will help us assess which vacation benefits matter most to you, given the significant differences between the Alaska and Hawaiian vacation systems. The survey is currently open and will close on Tuesday, September 24 at Noon PT. We encourage you to take a moment to click the survey link and share your thoughts, so the JNC can accurately represent your interests.

        Our goal is to combine the best aspects of both contracts to enhance your quality of work life. However, we recognize that management may prioritize productivity over flexibility, and it is our responsibility to advocate for your interests.

        Please take a moment to review the Vacation Quick Reference Guide, for more detailed information there is a comparison chart included in the survey to help you evaluate the potential improvements for your vacation benefits.

        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 take the time to participate, as an informed and engaged membership is our strongest asset during these negotiations. Thank you for your continued commitment to our collective success. If you have any questions about the survey, please reach out to the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Tagged With: pmAS, pmHA, survey

        Joint Contract Negotiations Session 6 – August 2025

        August 8, 2025 13:00

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

        • Our JNC met with management this week on August 5 to August 7 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for September 28 to October 3
        • Our JNC will be attending Local Council Meetings at your domicile, please stay informed through your Local Leadership for details
        • Two surveys are being finalized – Vacation and Sick Leave; look out for links to participate in these surveys in the upcoming weeks

        Negotiations Update

        The AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management.  The JNC met with management on August 5 to August 7 in Seattle, WA.  At the negotiating table for this session were:

        Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants  Representing 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

        During this week of negotiations Suzanne Balzer, AFA Senior Staff Negotiator and Neil Osato, Hawaiian Airlines, Director of Labor and People Relations joined us at the negotiating table. Throughout the week, we exchanged several proposals, carefully considering each one to ensure that they align with our goals and interests. While there was some movement on both sides, we encountered several provisions that continue to need resolution. It has become clear that addressing these specific areas is vital for us to reach a tentative agreement on those sections. As we continue this important dialogue, we hope to continue to make progress toward finalizing the agreement for each section addressed.

        Section by Section Progress

        Sections discussed in this session:

        • Section 13 – Uniforms (HA CBA Section 6)
        • Section 25 – Air Safety Health and Security (HA CBA Section 28)
        • Section 27 – Association General (HA CBA Section 22)
        • Section 30 – Training (HA CBA Section 26)

        Sections in ongoing discussion:

        • Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation (HA CBA Section 4.C and Section 4.E)
        • Section 36 – Commuter Policy (HA CBA Section 34-28)

        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)

        Our JNC is Coming To a Base Near You

        Our Joint Negotiating Committee will be attending the Local Council Meetings in your domicile. Please stay informed through your Local Council for more information.

        What’s Upcoming

        Our next session with management is scheduled for September 30 to October 2.

        We are in the process of finalizing two surveys: one for Vacation and one for Sick Leave. Each survey will be distributed separately. The Sick Leave survey will be sent out after the Vacation survey window has closed. Please keep an eye out for the links to these surveys in the coming weeks.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Tagged With: pmAS, pmHA

        Understanding JCBA Negotiations

        July 30, 2025 13:00

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

        • JCBA negotiations aim to create a new contract from two existing agreements, rather than improving an existing one
        • Our JNC will be conducting targeted surveys for specific contract sections and considers feedback from MEC Committee Chairs and Members
        • The goal is to negotiate a contract that incorporates the best aspects of both carriers, providing improvements that benefit all Flight Attendants

        JCBA vs. Regular Contract Negotiations: What’s the Difference?

        There are important differences between Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) negotiations and standard “Section 6” negotiations under the Railway Labor Act. This message outlines how JCBA negotiations work—and what you can expect.

        Regular Section 6 Contract Negotiations

        Most of you are familiar with Section 6 negotiations, which are used to update and negotiate your carrier’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Here’s how that process typically works:

        • Survey First: Before bargaining begins, the Negotiating Committee (NC) sends out a survey to all members to gather input on priorities on existing contract provisions.
        • Comparison and Strategy: The NC looks at recent gains by other Flight Attendant groups and compares contract terms across the industry.
        • Proposal Development: This information helps AFA create initial proposals for management—our roadmap for negotiations.  Management also brings wanted changes forward.
        • Negotiation Flow: Talks usually begin with non-economic sections and sections both sides agree don’t need changes. Tentative agreements are communicated to members along the way.
        • If Talks Stall: Either side can ask the National Mediation Board (NMB) for help. If mediation fails, AFA can request a “Proffer of Arbitration,” which may eventually lead to a 30-day cooling-off period—and the legal right to strike.

        All of this is governed by Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act. However, JCBA negotiations follow a very different process.

        JCBA Negotiations

        Here’s how JCBA talks differ from regular negotiations:

        • Not Section 6 Negotiations: Because our contracts are not amendable, we fall outside the regular Section 6 process and don’t have all of the above avenues under the Railway Labor Act.  However, the NMB can provide mediation/facilitation services if requested.
        • Creating One Contract from Two: Instead of improving a single contract, JCBA talks are about building an entirely new agreement from two existing contracts—each with its own culture, policies, rules, and operational concerns adding complexity to the process.
        • Different Survey Process: Because it wasn’t possible to capture the entirety of both contracts in one survey, the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) will send targeted “subject matter” surveys on specific contract sections. These will also help educate members on both carriers’ current provisions.
        • Input Matters: Besides survey feedback, the JNC also considers input and advice from committee chairs, and member emails, comments, and concerns when making decisions.

        The Framework: Merger Transition Protocol Agreement (MTPA)

        JCBA negotiations are guided by the MTPA, which outlines where and how often the JNC and management meet and other related details. The MTPA also establishes two main approaches:

        • Adopt-and-Go: Use an entire section from one contract as-is.
        • Modify-and-Adopt: Take a section from one contract, modify it, and include it in the new agreement.

        Because the JCBA will likely last beyond current amendable dates of the Alaska and Hawaiian CBAs, the JNC is also pushing for improvements that go beyond both current contracts. Industry comparisons play a key role in setting these goals.

        Balancing Two Contracts

        In consultation with the Master Executive Council (MEC), the JNC evaluates and compares each section from both contracts—like Sick Leave, Vacation, Open Time, and Training. These provisions often differ significantly between carriers. The JNC’s job is to find solutions that work best for the combined membership.

        Subject-matter survey results help guide these choices.

        Expect more information on surveys soon as the JNC tackles major contract sections.

        Merged Seniority List

        Under AFA’s Constitution and Bylaws, the merged seniority list is based on Flight Attendant date-of-hire. A joint committee of Flight Attendants from both airlines – under the guidance of the AFA International Secretary-Treasurer – verifies with documentation and with individual Flight Attendants – all training and hire dates and integrates them according to date-of-hire.

        Until a JCBA is finalized (which could take 2+ years), here’s what you can expect per the provisions of the MPTA:

        • Hawaiian and Alaska Flight Attendants will continue to operate separately and on their own operation’s aircraft
        • No cross-flying between airlines
        • Hawaiian widebody aircraft will be flown to Asia and Australia/New Zealand, etc. by Hawaiian Flight Attendants
        • Bases and pairings will stay separate
        • Alaska Flight Attendants will continue to receive higher pay rates and boarding pay

        While having control of the merged seniority list does give AFA significant leverage in these negotiations, there will also be pressure on the parties to combine the operation so that all members can work and take advantage of the entire, combined operation, receive higher pay, and transfer freely between bases- but the JNC will move at a pace that protects your contract rights and prioritizes improvements for all.

        Looking Ahead

        JCBA talks will involve tough decisions. The JNC will keep members informed and involved, working closely with MEC leaders every step of the way. Your feedback and engagement are vital.

        The JNC is committed to negotiating a contract that reflects the best of both carriers—with improvements over and above those provisions that will benefit all Flight Attendants.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Tagged With: pmAS, pmHA

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