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Joint Contract Negotiations Session 17 – July 2026

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

  • Our JNC met with management this week on July 21 to July 23 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for August 24 to August 26
  • Our JNC presented our response to the company’s initial proposal on Section 23 (Insurance Benefits), aiming to secure Flight Attendant specific provisions

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 from July 21 to July 23 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
 Karen Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska

This week the JNC started off by meeting with our pre-merger Alaska MEC Reserve Chairperson, Julie Thornton, to continue to review Alaska Reserve concerns. Julie also weighed in on formulating the Reserve survey to ensure all relevant pre-merger Alaska questions were addressed. The JNC will be meeting with the pre-merger Hawaiian MEC Reserve Chairperson, Kela Chong, prior to the next negotiating session.

The JNC passed our initial proposal on Section 23 (Insurance Benefits) this week, incorporating many of the protections found in the Hawaiian agreement and cementing those already in the Alaska agreement. One of our goals is to secure Flight Attendant specific insurance plan provisions in our JCBA, examples being Flexible Spending Accounts, coverage of dependent children up to age 26 and company provided life insurance.

We continued to discuss the remaining outstanding issues in Section 30 (Training) and have made much progress in this section. We have already secured Buddy Bidding for Recurrent Training and are working to secure other improvements in this section. This proposal is currently in the company’s court and we are hopeful to receive a response from management at the next session.

Section by Section Progress

The Alaska CBA is being used as the basis of the joint contract for language purposes. Each section and provision from both contracts will be reviewed individually to incorporate and amend the strongest elements from each agreement.

Sections discussed in this session:

  • Insurance Benefits (AS CBA Section 23 and HA CBA Section 32)
  • Training (AS CBA Section 30 and HA CBA Section 26)

Sections in ongoing discussion:

  • Vacations (AS CBA Section 14 and HA CBA Section 18)
  • Sick Leave (AS CBA Section 16 and HA CBA Section 19)
  • Leaves of Absence (AS CBA Section 15 and HA CBA Section 17)
  • General and Miscellaneous (AS CBA Section 24 and HA CBA Section 27)
  • Domiciles (AS CBA Section 28 and HA CBA Section 5, 14, and 27)
  • Commuter Policy (AS CBA Section 36 and HA CBA Section 34-28)

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

  • Seniority (AS CBA Section 6 and HA CBA Section 9)
  • Grievance Procedures (AS CBA Section 19 and HA CBA Section 23)
  • Charters (AS CBA Section 33 and HA CBA Section 12)

JCBA Negotiations

As a reminder, here’s how JCBA bargaining differs from regular negotiations:

  • Not Section 6 Negotiations: Because our contracts are not amendable, we fall outside the regular Section 6 process.
  • Creating One Contract from Two: Instead of improving a single contract, JCBA talks are about building an entirely new agreement from two existing contracts.
  • Different Survey Process: The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) will send targeted “subject matter” surveys on specific contract sections.

For more information about the process please see Understanding JCBA Negotiations

What’s Upcoming

Our next session with management is scheduled for August 24 to August 26.

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026

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On Wednesday, July 15, our Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) representatives met virtually to discuss ongoing safety concerns, operational challenges, policy updates, and workplace improvements impacting Flight Attendants across the operation. Representing you at the meeting were Deb Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Kalin Lackey (PDX), Bradley Young (SFO and MEC ASHSC Vice Chairperson), Kahea Alvarez (LAX pmHA), Carin Merritt (LAX pmAS), Bryce Sarmiento (LAX pmAS), Bri Shaw (LAX pmAS), Eva Gatus (SAN), Barron Lee (HNL), MEC ASHSC Vice Chairperson Kerri Ruiz, and MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple.

The Committee met with several members of Inflight leadership and Safety management, including Heidi Stiley (Cabin Safety & Compliance Manager), Matthew Coder (Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager), Wendy Kong (Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager), Ken Hawkins (Inflight Duty Program Manager), Nicky Sagum (Manager of Safety Compliance), Lavesh Bhatia (Inflight Policy & Procedure Specialist), Shari Hinshaw (Manager of Inflight Policy & Procedures) and base management representatives Aron Kahn (LAX Manager of Base Operations) and Benito Pasia-Garcia (Director of Inflight Base Operations).

The next scheduled Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee meeting will take place hosted by the SEA ASHSC on August 27

Topics of Discussion

The Committee reviewed several items when meeting with management. Some items discussed include (items which are Security Sensitive Information are not included):

  • Onboard Wheelchair Stowage: The Committee raised concerns that storing auxiliary supplies (gloves, soap, hand sanitizer) in the wheelchair compartment obstructs the space when the chair is removed, making re-storage difficult. Management is replacing the current wheelchair with a new design and will look at the stowage of other items in the 737 celling bins as part of this process.
  • Catering Consistency – Ice in G1: The Committee noted that ice stowed in the drawer in the G1 is leaking into the forward galley and flight deck during descent when no liner is used in the drawer. Management responded that this is a catering error and asked for Flight Attendant write-ups when liners are missing to support the case; a newsletter reminder was also issued recommending that ice be used first, as it causes issues when melted.
  • Broken Glass Disposal: With new glassware leading to increased breakage, the Committee discussed the need for a consistent, harmonized policy for safe disposal. Hawaiian carries a dustpan and whisk broom onboard; Alaska’s policy is less defined, though FAM language directs broken glass to be placed in a puncture-resistant bag. Management is working towards adding a dustpan and a whisk broom to the 737 fleet.
  • Required Briefings Communication: The Committee discussed instances of required briefings (CRS, UMs, 3-point) being missed prior to door closure. Management agreed to address cleaner cabin-ready communication and area-of-responsibility training through the cabin door closing working group.
  • Fumes in the LDMCR: A crew reported chemical fumes both during takeoff and later in flight in the lower crew rest area, with one crew member experiencing chest tightness and headache. Management is following up with Maintenance and Cargo to identify the source; Management emphasized that we can contact MedAire for assessment when we have symptoms.
  • Hot Beverage Temperature Safety: The Committee raised ongoing burn-risk concerns related to hot water and coffee temperatures. Management confirmed water temperature is regulated by a thermostatic switch, checked during scheduled overhaul inspections, and cannot be manually lowered without affecting brew quality. A new cup design compatible with tablet/cup holders is being launched; adding lids to cups was discussed, but will not be adopted at this time.
  • A321 Pneumatic Lav Door Closer: Reports indicate the pneumatic lav door closer, connected to the lav wall and folding door on the A321, may be being detached by cleaning crews and not reattached, causing the door to swing freely and creating a pinch/cut risk during reattachment. The fleet manager confirmed that cleaning staff should not be handling this mechanism and will send a reminder communication.
  • Fish Odor/Cargo Contamination Incident: There has been an uptick in the smell of rotting fish in aircraft cabins this summer, leading to air quality issues. The Committee asked for a standardized process for handling spills of this nature, better tools at all cargo-handling stations (not just HNL/SEA), and improved acceptance criteria for seafood when shipped.
  • Intelex Reporting System Issues: Multiple Flight Attendants reported login issues, lockouts, and app glitches, discouraging incident reporting. Management suggested utilizing the desktop version or emailing the crew can email inflightreports@alaskaair.com if the app doesn’t work.
  • Jumpseating Guidance (Boeing 737-700 Series Aircraft): The Committee identified unclear FAM language regarding jumpseater seat assignments on 737-700-series aircraft. Management agreed that clarification is needed and will work to update the manual with specific seating guidance.

Things The Committee Is Working On

  1. Cabin Secure Procedures: After the addition of the cabin-ready concept for boarding door closure and adding a cabin secure compliance check after door arming, there hasn’t been a clear indicator for the FFA / A Flight Attendant to know that the cabin is secure. We’ve been working with Inflight Policy and Procedure to develop a better system to ensure the cabin is ready for surface movement and to eliminate the current confusion around the process.
  2. Bulletins and Alerts Timing: Effective June 24, management changed when Flight Attendants must review bulletins and alerts. Per the manual, Flight Attendants must now ensure that all alerts, bulletins, and FAM revisions/EIBs are updated and read, and that required training is completed, after check-in but prior to boarding the aircraft. We are advocating that management restore the previous policy, requiring bulletins to be checked 24 hours prior to reporting for duty, which gave Flight Attendants adequate time to read and understand this information.

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve encountered any safety-related issues at work, you can help the Committee advocate for improvement and change by submitting a report:

  • pmHA: Use INTELEX to submit In-Flight Incident Reports (including fatigue and injury) and Hawaiian Safety Action Program (HSAP) reports.
  • pmAS: Use ReportIt! to submit FAIRs (including Fatigue reports), ASAP reports, and Employee Injury Reports (EIR).

If you need clarification or assistance on what type of report to file, please get in touch with a member of your Local ASHSC.

Your Local ASHSC is always ready to represent your voice to management. Please don’t hesitate to let us know about any issues or concerns you want us to bring forward. We would also love to hear any other feedback you may have for the Committee. You can find our contact information on the ASHSC page of the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian website.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026

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On Monday, July 13, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in-person to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA pmAS), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Le’a Tupola (LAX/SEA pmHA), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), and Kanani Vallot (SAN), and Matt Mitchell (HNL), with MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich facilitating the meeting.

The Committee met with Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Manager of Crew Hotel and Administration Diane Szubert, Senior Crew Hotels Support Specialist Nichole Turner, and Crew Hotel Support Specialist LaFay Williams.

Our next monthly meeting with management is scheduled for Monday, August 10.

Topics of Discussion

  • Guests in Ground Transportation (pmHA): The Hotel Committee advocated for alignment on guest policies in ground transportation. Previously, pmHA Flight Attendants could not have guests accompany them in crew transportation, whereas pmAS Flight Attendants could. Effective immediately, guests of pmHA Flight Attendants are allowed to ride in crew shuttles, except in locations where only crew are permitted on the shuttles. Working crew remains the priority, and there must be room for them and their bags. Guests must never cause delay, inconvenience, or displace crew during transport. If there is insufficient room for your guest, please be prepared to make other transportation arrangements.
  • Ad Hoc List Update (pmAS): Management uses a list of Hotel Committee-approved properties for relocations from our contracted crew hotels when necessary. Maintaining the list is no small task. The list is constantly evolving as properties are added (after site visits) and deleted (labor disputes, crew feedback, etc.). Previously, a single list was shared by both AFA and ALPA, but it has now been separated so that each union can elect the order of hotels they prefer. The Committee will update the list to incorporate the markets that were visited this year, then have the list posted to the Flight Attendant Website, as called for in CBA §34.A.6.b  
  • Hotel Contractual Terms (pmAS): We continue to notice that items discussed with hotel management during on-site visits are not being incorporated into final hotel contracts. There are a variety of reasons why this has happened: the hotel overpromised during a site visit and didn’t follow through, API negotiated away offered amenities (free breakfast, F&B discount, etc.) to secure a lower rate for the company, etc. The Hotel Committee has been actively monitoring these discrepancies, as our final hotel decisions are based on what was presented as a complete package during the site visit. To put this into context, we recently conducted a JFK site visit to find a new short-stay hotel. A hotel was selected on the premise that the hotel-provided shuttle would run on demand for crew, instead of the published 30-minute schedule. The hotel backtracked on the on-demand shuttle, which caused us to break with that property and utilize an on-airport property instead. If you notice any discrepancy in a crew amenity that is published in MyCrewCare or the Hotel Hotline, please ensure you write a CrewCare report and contact your Local Hotel Committee if necessary.  
  • City-Specific Issues/Updates:
    • RDU: There have been several recent write-ups regarding HVAC, noise, and the property’s condition. This market is up for renewal next year, but the Committee has asked that sourcing be expedited to find a suitable replacement.
    • BOS: There have been numerous reports of rooms not being ready for redeye arrivals, resulting in excessive wait times. This is unacceptable, as rooms should be taken out of service the night prior.  This has been escalated to Crew Hotels for follow-up.
    • SJO: We are still waiting for a final hotel decision in SJO. We have been told an update will be coming soon.
    • LIR: We are still investigating viable solutions to cut down on the transit time. We conducted another site visit to the market in June, but our top choice withdrew their bid shortly after the visit.  
  • Ground Transportation Live Tracking (pmAS): Instructions for tracking ground transportation with participating providers have been posted in the July Informational Bulletin on TeamAAG. Additionally, it has been requested that this information be displayed in Crew Access and posted to Comply365 on the IMD. This should help Flight Attendants track their ride.    

What The Committee Is Working On

1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: Our Hotel Committee conducts site visits on hotels under consideration by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. Market reviews are triggered by factors such as contract expirations, crew complaints, and cost-saving opportunities.  

  • Pre-Merger Alaska: The Committee is evaluating the need for additional site visits in 2026 and is getting a jump-start on the plan for 2027. The scheduled site visits through September 2026 are:
    • July: BZE, LGB (New Layover), BWI (Short), DEN (Short)
    • Aug: MCI (Short), CHS (Long)
    • Sept: YYC (New Layover), YEG (New Layover)
    • Oct: TUS (Short), OAK (Short/Long)
    • TBD: OGG
  • Pre-Merger Hawaiian: The scheduled site visits through June 2026 are:
    • Aug: HNL, OGG
    • Sept: SMF

2. Hotel Gainshare Update (pmAS): There continues to be no update on the Hotel Gainshare program, same as last month. Negotiations remain stalled due to management’s concerns about federal tax implications. AFA International has provided a legal counterargument, and we are still waiting for coordination between AFA International and Alaska Airlines Labor Relations management. Our goal remains to reach a consensus and finalize program negotiations. We know many Members are interested in this program and will continue to keep you informed.

We Want to Hear From You!

Our Hotel Committee relies on your feedback, whether positive or negative. Please report via CrewCare (pmAS) or the FA Crew Accommodations Feedback form (pmHA), which ensures your experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation is addressed. These are the only official way to report issues, as the Committee does not monitor social media channels.

Each CrewCare and feedback form submission is forwarded to our AFA Hotel Committee, Crew Hotels (Alaska/Hawaiian management), API, and the hotel or ground transportation provider. This ensures quick action can be taken to correct or fix the issue for the next crew member. It also allows us to monitor hotel and transportation trends. Pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants 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! Your 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 + Hawaiian website.

Alaska Management Announces Plan To Operate Boeing 737 Aircraft on Neighbor Island Flights

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Earlier today, Alaska Airlines management announced plans to transition the neighbor island 717 fleet to Hawaiian-branded 737 aircraft by 2028. However, buried within that same announcement is a more immediate and concerning development: Alaska Airlines management intends to introduce Alaska-branded 737 aircraft, operated by Alaska Airlines crews, on neighbor island routes, with plans to operate three daily round-trip flights between Honolulu and Maui (HNL-OGG) beginning as early as this October.

This decision by Alaska Airlines management is a profound disappointment and marks a clear break from the core commitments made to Hawaiian Airlines employees and the people of Hawaiʻi at the outset of the merger. At that time, management underscored that preserving the Hawaiian Airlines brand—its unique identity and operational presence—was essential to the merger’s success.

Throughout the merger process, Alaska Airlines management gave unequivocal assurances about a true dual-brand strategy. They insisted there was “no other choice” but to honor the culture and legacy built by Hawaiian Airlines over the past 97 years. Management further justified the merger by pledging it would enable the company to accelerate investments in passenger experience and technology, all while protecting the Hawaiian Airlines brand and Hawaiʻi-based jobs.

By introducing Alaska-branded aircraft to the core of neighbor island service, Alaska Airlines management is abandoning those commitments. This move replaces the iconic Pualani livery—a symbol deeply rooted in Hawaiʻi’s heritage—with an operational shift that overlooks the essential need for a distinct Hawaiian identity. While management has indicated that the Pualani livery will eventually be on these replacement aircraft and that they will be crewed by HNL-based Flight Attendants, these future assurances do not change the here and now of the situation.

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants are familiar with the lifeline nature of Arctic flying and the “milk run” within Alaska—routes where isolated communities rely entirely on the consistency of air service for everything from medical care to essential commerce. Neighbor island flying in Hawaiʻi serves that same vital, infrastructure-level purpose. It’s not just a route; it’s the heartbeat of the state.

For Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants, this decision is fundamentally personal. The neighbor island operation is where our airline started, serving as the core of what has been built over the decades. It is our legacy—the place where we learned the unique standard of care that defines our service. Encroaching on this work is not just a business decision; it undermines the history and foundation of the neighbor island operation and jeopardizes the stability of the single-duty-period pairings that enable our Honolulu-based Flight Attendants to serve their communities and return home to their families the same day.

Our MEC is already taking action. Our pre-merger Hawaiian MEC Grievance Committee is actively reviewing all available options under our collective bargaining agreements. We are prepared to pursue every avenue to challenge this encroachment, including filing a formal grievance and seeking all remedies necessary to protect our work and uphold our contracts. We are also in close communication with both the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines ALPA MECs and are aligning our efforts in response to management’s announcement.We stand together in both our disappointment and our resolve. We will hold management accountable for the promises made to our Flight Attendants and the people of Hawaiʻi. Updates will follow as we move forward together.

Need Help? Let Us Show You Where To Find It!

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As Flight Attendants, we all experience moments where we need AFA support but might not be entirely sure where to look. Instead of digging through old emails or panic-posting on Facebook, we want to make sure you know exactly how to access our Union resources.

Here’s everything you need to know to navigate our AFA resources with confidence:

  • Find Your Local Reps in Under 30 Seconds: It only takes a moment to connect with the right person. Go to afaalaska.org and click on “Local Councils.” There, you’ll see the Officers and Committees dedicated to your Local Council—fellow Flight Attendants who truly understand your base, concerns, and needs.
  • Rely on Our Specialized Committees: Each Committee is dedicated to a specific area—such as scheduling, inflight service, or membership engagement. If you have a question or sense something is off, start here. It’s never an inconvenience; our dedicated volunteers are here to support you, so you never have to tackle complex issues alone.
  • What to Do When Things Go Sideways: When challenges arise, you have several ways to get the support you need. Submitting reports not only helps resolve your issue but also empowers our Officers to spot trends and advocate for you and our fellow Flight Attendants even more effectively.
    • Pre-Merger Alaska Flight Attendants: Reach out directly to an LEC Officer or open a support ticket through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center. When submitting a ticket, always use your personal email—not your company address—for privacy and security.
    • Pre-Merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants: Contact your LEC Officers directly to report issues and receive support specific to your needs.
  • Why Contacting Us Matters: Our Union is strongest when everyone knows how to use its resources. If you ever have a question or feel uncertain, reach out—we’re here to help.

Watch the Video

Want to see these tips in action? Watch the video below, where SFO-based Flight Attendant and Local Membership Engagement Committee Chairperson Dani Kellogg walks you through the website step by step.

Watch the Video On YouTube ➔

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 17 – July 2026

This session, the JNC focused on refining the Reserve survey to ensure a comprehensive representation of member concerns. Significant progress was also made on Section 23 (Insurance Benefits), with proposals aimed at enhancing Flight Attendant protections and securing tailored insurance provisions. Additionally, productive discussions continued on Section 30 (Training). Further improvements are anticipated pending management’s response to our latest proposal.

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026

On Wednesday, July 15, our Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) representatives met virtually to discuss ongoing safety concerns, operational challenges, policy updates, and workplace improvements impacting Flight Attendants across the operation. Representing you at the meeting were Deb Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Kalin Lackey (PDX), Bradley Young (SFO and MEC ASHSC Vice […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026

On Monday, July 13, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in-person to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA pmAS), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Le’a Tupola (LAX/SEA pmHA), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), and […]

Alaska Management Announces Plan To Operate Boeing 737 Aircraft on Neighbor Island Flights

Earlier today, Alaska Airlines management announced plans to transition the neighbor island 717 fleet to Hawaiian-branded 737 aircraft by 2028. However, buried within that same announcement is a more immediate and concerning development: Alaska Airlines management intends to introduce Alaska-branded 737 aircraft, operated by Alaska Airlines crews, on neighbor island routes, with plans to operate […]

Need Help? Let Us Show You Where To Find It!

As Flight Attendants, we all experience moments where we need AFA support but might not be entirely sure where to look. Instead of digging through old emails or panic-posting on Facebook, we want to make sure you know exactly how to access our Union resources. Here’s everything you need to know to navigate our AFA […]

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