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Introduction to the Minimum Pay Rules Flow Chart

Scheduling Committee

We’re introducing a valuable new resource from our Scheduling Committee! We’ve developed a visually engaging flow chart that breaks down the Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs) outlined in Section 21.D of our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This chart is your go-to tool for understanding the essential elements of your pay provisions, ensuring that every Flight Attendant knows exactly what they are entitled to under the contract.

The flow chart highlights the following key elements:

  1. Duty Period Minimum (DPM). Guarantees a minimum of four (4.0) TFP for each duty period.
  2. Extended Overnight Rule (EOR). Provides an additional four (4.0) TFP for free periods between 1 AM and 11 PM.
  3. Multiday Sequence Minimum (MSM). Ensures a minimum of four (4.0) TFP based on the number of calendar days in a sequence.
  4. Average Duty Period Guarantee (ADPG). Guarantees a minimum of five (5.0) TFP times the number of duty periods in a sequence.

Click here to view the flow chart >

We encourage you to dive into this flow chart and familiarize yourself with the MPRs. Empower yourself to make the most of your contractual entitlements! If you have any questions or need more details, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson.

Thank you for being proactive in understanding your rights under our CBA. Your knowledge is key!

Notice of Election for Officers of Joint Alaska-Hawaiian MEC

AFA International

Dear Alaska and Hawaiian AFA Members:

As your merger moves forward, so does your representation. Our AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws calls for the merger of the Master Executive Councils in order to address our issues with the power of one voice. That starts with the election of MEC Officers. All of the Local Councils and your elected representatives will remain in place until the ratification of a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). After the ratification of the JCBA the dual Councils at LAX will be merged as well.

The MEC Officer elections for the merged MEC will be conducted on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, with an effective date of March 1, 2025. The Alaska and Hawaiian Local Council Presidents and the respective MEC Officers will meet in person in San Francisco for these elections.

Also on the agenda for the in person meeting is a discussion about how to start to merge MEC Policy and Procedures and Committee functions. As a reminder, enforcement of each pre-merger contract with Grievance and System Board will remain separate until a JCBA is ratified. Other Committees may transition to one committee in the immediate months following the March 1, 2025 merger of the MECs, and some committees may work jointly with representatives from each pre-merger airline. More details on that transition process will be communicated following the January 29, 2025 in person meeting. In all cases, only Local Presidents representing Flight Attendants from each respective airline may vote on issues specific to each pre-merger contract.

The International Office will collect Willingness to Serve forms and resumes for consideration by the Local Council Presidents representing both Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants.

MEC Officer Duties and Responsibilities are detailed in AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws Article VII.

We recommend submission of resume and willingness to serve no later than January 15, 2025 in order to provide ample time for consideration of all candidates. The International Office will provide a list of candidates and their resumes beginning January 7, 2025, with updates to the list completed at the end of each business day.

This communication is focused on the notice for these elections. We will continue to provide merger updates in the coming weeks and months.

In Solidarity,

Sara, Keturah, and Dante
AFA International Officers

De-Stress Your Holidays

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

The holidays can be fun, but they also can be a source of great stress. Below are some common holiday stressors and suggestions for managing them.  

How Can You Deal With Difficult Family Interactions During the Holidays?

Being realistic is the first step. Family dynamics typically revert to historic patterns when families come back together. You don’t have to pretend that all is well, but, you can sidestep difficulties by anticipating them and planning on ways to temporarily separate and defuse.  

Do Financial Pressures Stress You Out to the Point of Ruining the Holiday Spirit?

Knowing your spending limit is also a way to relieve holiday stress. People believe that they have to go out and buy gifts because it’s the holidays, even if they can’t afford to do so. Not only is it stressful to feel that you have to buy everyone a gift, but you’ll be stressed for the rest of the year trying to pay off your bills. Perhaps this is the year to make a pact not to exchange gifts but to share time together. This could also help someone who isn’t in a financial position to exchange gifts with you.  

How Do Time Pressures Affect You Around the Holidays? 

Putting routines on pause or totally rearranging schedules because of the holidays are the ingredients for exhaustion and chaos.   Prioritize activities that are important and can fit around important replenishing activities like sleep, proper meals and exercise.

How Do You Deal With the Holidays When You Have Just Experienced A Recent Tragedy, Death or Break-up?

If you’re feeling really out of sorts because of a loss or stressor, try to tell those around you what you really need, since they may not know how to help you. Ask for their understanding if you decline an activity or can’t summon up the holiday spirit. Give yourself permission to grieve just as you would any other time of the year.

How Do You Cope With Kids Who Want Everything for the Holidays? 

Parents need to tell their children to be realistic. It is OK to say to your child that a certain toy is too expensive. Even Santa Claus has limited funds and has to choose what most to give because he has a very long list. You can also tell your children that Mom and Dad and Santa Claus will try to choose the suitable present for the child. Children have to learn that their wish is not someone’s command and to curb their desires for instant gratification. 

How Do You Manage the Holidays If They Start Feeling Painful? 

If you are unable to shake what you think are “holiday blues” your feelings may not be just about the holidays, but about other things in your life. If you need help in sorting out or dealing with painful thoughts or feelings, call your AFA EAP for confidential assistance. Call (949) 479-0493 or find contact information at afaalaska.org/eap. 

Adapted in part from the American Psychological Association at www.apacenter.org

Upcoming Merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • The Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Councils (MECs) will soon merge into a single MEC, consisting of the LEC Presidents from both pre-merger airlines and three MEC Officers.
  • An election for new MEC Officers and some MEC Committee positions will take place in late January, with terms starting on March 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2025.
  • Local Councils and LEC Officers will remain separate until a JCBA is ratified, and only LEC Presidents from their respective pre-merger airlines can make decisions about their pre-merger contract and separate operation. Once the JCBA is ratified, new LEC elections will be held in bases with overlapping representation (only LAX) within 90 days.

As part of the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, the Master Executive Councils (MECs) of both airlines will soon be combined into a single MEC. This new MEC will consist of the six Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents from pre-merger Alaska Airlines, the two LEC Presidents from pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines, and three MEC Officers.

This unified MEC will represent Flight Attendants from both airlines, facilitate joint contract negotiations, and interface with senior management. Since the merged MEC will initially operate with two active collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), decision-making related to each individual CBA will remain with the LEC Presidents representing pre-merger Flight Attendants of Alaska or Hawaiian, respectively. For instance, any decisions that solely affect the Alaska CBA will be made by the six pre-merger Alaska LEC Presidents.

Election of MEC Officers and Committees

The merger of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs will require an election for new MEC Officers and certain MEC Committee positions. In late January, the AFA International Officers will hold a joint meeting of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs to elect MEC Officers for the combined MEC. Some MEC Committees will be merged immediately, while others will remain separate until a joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) is ratified. During this meeting, MEC Committee Chairpersons and representatives for the committees that will be merged will also be elected. The structure of the MEC Committees from both the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs is currently under thorough evaluation, and the specific committees that will be merged immediately are still to be determined. (Note: According to the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, at minimum, the Grievance Committee and the System Board of Adjustment will remain separate for each pre-merger airline until a JCBA is reached.)

The MEC Officers, MEC Committee Chairpersons, and other MEC Committee positions elected at this meeting will take office and begin their terms on March 1, 2025. According to the AFA Constitution and Bylaws, they will serve for the remainder of the current Alaska MEC election cycle, which ends on December 31, 2025. Both Alaska and Hawaiian AFA Members in good standing will be eligible to express their interest in and can be elected to these positions. AFA International will provide more information about the upcoming election, including the available positions and how to express interest in candidacy, in early December.

Local Councils Will Not Be Merged Until JCBA

The upcoming merger of MECs will not affect your Local Council representation or LEC Officers. All LEC Officers will continue to serve their terms based on their respective election cycles. Local Councils at bases with duplication—only LAX has bases for both pre-merger airlines—will remain separate until a JCBA has been established. After a JCBA is ratified, elections for new LEC Officers for the combined Local Council will occur within 90 days.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the upcoming merger of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs, please contact your LEC President.

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2024

Uniform Committee

  • Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Friday, November 15, to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.
  • The Committee met with management to discuss uniform issues reported by Flight Attendants, including quality, wearability, and availability.
  • If you encounter issues with uniform quality or construction, please report them to Unisync as soon as possible and include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson to help track any trends.

On Friday, November 15, our AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Dana Butchen (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Holmes (LAX), JP Perina (SAN), and MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Kiara Jenkins.

The committee also met with Director of Procurement and Logistics Eric Phillipson, Senior Product Manager Marketing Megan Low, and SFO Inflight Base Manager Cierra Lewis.

The next Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting will be held on February 13, 2025.

Topics of Discussion 

The committee reviewed several topics both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • The wear test for a more durable sweater is scheduled to begin in late December or early January.
  • The new transition jacket wear test is set to start in March 2025.
  • Management conducted uniform focus groups on November 4 and 8 to provide insights into merger uniforms.
  • AFA representatives will be contacting Alaska HR to explore alternatives to Occfit.
  • Management will improve efforts to ensure that marketing does not use photos in which employees do not comply with the uniform policy.
  • Wear test items will be shipped to bases. If a tester cannot pick up the items during base hours, they should contact the supervisor to arrange an alternative pickup. This information will be included in the wear test email.
  • The tote exchange program remains in effect for qualifying classes.
  • SEA Fit Center limitations have been resolved through the grievance Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process. Flight Attendants may bring worn or damaged items to the base, and supervisors will send them for repairs or alterations.
  • Unisync has committed to expediting the ordering process for wings, and Base Admins will now place orders every two weeks instead of once a month.
  • The chunky sole band applies to fashion boots; however, arctic boots are exempt as their tread is essential for effectiveness.

New Requests

  • Stuff sack for the puffer parka.
  • Consistent and sensible sizing, with model sizes displayed next to each piece—similar to Uniqlo, Gap, or Madewell websites.
  • Black nylons.
  • Allow pocket squares and scarves year-round for Patriotic and Breast Cancer Awareness.
  • Add pockets to maternity pieces.
  • Include reflectors on transition jackets for safety.
  • Coordinate with HR and a pantyhose company to offer them on the Unisync site so flight attendants do not have to pay out of pocket.
  • Create a uniform quality report on IMD or provide a link on Inflight.

Previous Requests That Were Denied By Management

  • ¼ zip sweater (No new pieces will be considered prior to the merger).
  • Allow brown handbags to be carried when wearing brown shoes or belts.
  • Allow blazers to be worn with warm-weather shirts (per management, this does not fit the casual look).
  • Have pocket squares unstitched for versatility (management states the stitch is meant for ease of use).
  • Allow boots year-round.
  • Allow boots to be worn with the aura dress.
  • Permit black shoes and boots.

Quality Concerns

  • Seams on wool pieces and holes in knitwear.
  • Seams on the aura dress and skirt.
  • Need for more stretch in pants and A-line dresses.
  • Wings continue to create holes in sweaters.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Stuff Sack. Sourcing a stuff sack so the puffer parka can be packed easily.
  2. Wear Testing. Wear testing for a new/more durable cardigan less prone to hem and seam issues will begin late December/early January. The transition jacket will be wear tested after the completion of the cardigan testing (March 2025).
  3. Tote Exchange Program. Specific to the post-COVID classes who were not given the normal selection process for totes due to supply chain issues. Please see your supervisor if you would like to exchange your bags.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please fill out the Quality Concern Form on the Uniform subsite on TeamAAG with any quality issues. Additionally, you may email your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson. Please consider opening a ticket at AFA Alaska Support so the Uniform Committee can track these issues.

Would you like to join the wear test pool? Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know!  Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management. You can find contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that […]

Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

On Monday, October 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle 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), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]

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