AFA News Now – Page 27

Upcoming AFA Alaska Phone and Email Outages

March 18, 2025 16:00

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

As we move forward with merging the Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils (MECs), we want to inform you about some changes happening this week that may affect your ability to contact AFA Representatives. Some of the communication systems we use at AFA Alaska, including our email and phone systems, will be combined with those used by AFA Hawaiian. During this transition, you may need to use alternative methods to reach an AFA Representative.

Phone System Outage

Starting tonight, March 18, at 5 PM PT, AFA phone lines—such as the main AFA Alaska number, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) line, and the Air Quality hotline—will be temporarily unavailable. We expect these services to be offline until early next week. In the meantime, if you need to reach someone, here are some alternatives:

You can contact Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers using their direct phone numbers on our website.
For EAP or Professional Standards assistance, please refer to the Committee Member or Chairperson phone numbers on your Local Committee page or call AFA International EAP at (800) 424-2406 to be routed to an on-call EAP Representative.
The Air Quality Reporting Hotline will be available at (503) 358-3436.

Email System Outage

Additionally, starting at 5 PM PT on Friday, March 21, our AFA Alaska email systems will also be offline until Monday morning, March 24. During this time, AFA Representatives won’t be reachable via their AFA Alaska email addresses and won’t be able to view or respond to tickets submitted through the AFA Online Support Center. However, you can still contact AFA Representatives directly by phone using the numbers listed on your Local Committee page.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate this transition. Merging our AFA systems is an important step towards better communication and efficiency, which will help us serve our combined group of Flight Attendants more effectively.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – March 2025

March 13, 2025 17:00

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Monday, March 10, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met for our first in-person meeting of the year 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 (SAN), with MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich chairing the meeting.

The committee met with Crew Hotels & Administration Manager Nichole Turner, Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and Managing Director of Operations Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette from management.

The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, April 14.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items during the meeting with management, most of which focused on hotel decisions and challenges in our layover markets. Some items discussed include:

Van Times: Van times remain a significant topic of discussion. In February, a 10-minute discrepancy between Flight Attendants and Pilots’ van times was identified due to an API processing error, which has since been corrected. The Hotel Committee is currently concerned about early arrivals at the airport. Except for ATL, DEN, and SLC, vans should not arrive at the airport earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled report time. We have observed a considerable number of early arrivals on weekend trips, as van times have not been adjusted for the reduced weekend traffic. Please report any van time discrepancies in MyCrewCare for documentation, research, and resolution.
Hotel Contractual Requirements: There is some confusion regarding our crew hotels’ requirements. There are two layers of hotel requirements: those outlined in section 34.A.2 of our collective bargaining agreement, which are contractual requirements, and those imposed by the company on the hotel, available on the front page of the Hotel Hotline under Crew Hotel Room Blocks. These are the only requirements for crew accommodations. If you notice any discrepancies regarding these requirements, please submit a report via MyCrewCare for documentation and resolution.
Hotel Information Timelines: The company provided a timeline for when hotel information is imported into NavBlue and CrewAccess. Recognizing that Flight Attendants bid or trade trips specifically for layovers, our Hotel Committee has advocated for both timely and accurate hotel information in these systems. We have successfully expedited the CrewAccess importation dates, allowing hotel information to be available at the start of trip trading. Previously, this migration began on the 19th of the month, days after trading began. Here are the hotel migration timelines for the applicable bid month:
- By the 21st: The final pairings sent to API for hotel assignments.
- By the 26th: Hotel assignments sent to Crew Planning and uploaded into NAVBLUE for bidding.
- On the 5th: Bidding opens.
- Final hotel assignments are available in Crew Access on staggered dates throughout the month:
  - On the 12th: Overnights imported for the 1st through the 10th
  - On the 13th: Overnights imported for the 11th through the 20th
  - On the 17th: Overnights imported for the 21st through the end of the month

What The Committee Is Working On

Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee visits hotels under consideration by management to advocate for selections that provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. The committee recently conducted site visits in AUS, SAT and LIR and are submitting their reports for company review. Currently, we have site visits scheduled in MCO (March), STL (March), MKE (April), IAD (May), FLL (May), LAS (May), RSW (June), and SEA (June). Contract expirations, crew complaints, and cost-saving opportunities are the primary factors that trigger a market review. Depending on the outcome of this review, a site visit may be scheduled in that city.
Hotel Gainshare Program: The recently ratified 2025-2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) includes a Commitment to Negotiate a Hotel Gain-Share Program Letter of Agreement (LOA). This LOA specifies that within four months of the ratification of the CBA, the parties will schedule and engage in negotiation sessions to discuss the Hotel Gain-Share Program. The goal of these negotiations is to implement the program, if feasible, within six months of the CBA ratification. The parties may mutually agree to extend these time limits. Conversations about this should begin shortly.

We Want to Hear From You!

Don’t let any unacceptable experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation provider go unnoticed! Please report the issue via CrewCare so that it can be addressed. CrewCare is the only official way to report issues, as the Hotel Committee does not monitor social media channels.

Each CrewCare submission is forwarded to your AFA Hotel Committee, Crew Hotels (Alaska management), API and the hotel or ground transportation provider. This ensures quick action can be taken to correct the issue or fix it for the next crewmember. It also allows us to monitor hotel and transportation trends. You 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! The 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 website.

Negotiations Support Representative Interviews

March 6, 2025 09:00

Background

The Negotiations Support Representative plays a vital role in assisting the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC). Key responsibilities include serving as the primary note-taker during negotiation sessions, developing and managing a communication plan, creating engaging informational content for Members, coordinating social media activities, and gathering and reviewing Member feedback. This position requires strong organizational skills, proficiency with various digital tools, and effective communication abilities. The Representative works closely with different AFA committees and others to support the collective bargaining process.

Duties & Responsibilities

Act as the primary note-taker during all negotiation sessions and related meetings. Ensure proper record-keeping of all negotiation-related notes, proposals, correspondence, and materials for all members of the JNC. Maintain confidentiality of information in accordance with AFA policy.
Develop and manage the JNC communications plan. Following the established MEC Communications development process, create informational and educational materials for the membership, including written content, graphics, and videos (both short and long form). Collaborate with the MEC Communications Committee Chairperson to schedule and publish approved content through MEC communication channels, including social media, the website, broadcast emails, and mobile messaging.
Coordinate social media activities on behalf of the JNC as directed. Work with the JNC to address feedback, comments, and concerns consistently and uniformly. Assist the MEC Communications Committee Chairperson in managing all social media and online platforms as instructed.
Develop, write, and edit correspondence and other communications. Aid in preparing committee reports for the MEC and other stakeholders.
Coordinate the collection of membership feedback on behalf of the JNC. Manage online feedback collection tools, analyze the information, compile feedback summaries, and report back to the JNC Chairperson.
Take responsibility for developing content and presentation materials for Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) Road Shows. Distribute road show materials as directed by the JNC Chairperson.
Maintain the JNC calendar. Schedule and plan meetings and videoconferences as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned by the JNC Chairperson or the AFA Senior Staff Negotiator.

Expectations/Qualifications

Current Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines AFA Member in good standing.
Extensive working knowledge of current pre-merger airline’s collective bargaining agreement. Working knowledge of both pre-merger collective bargaining agreements helpful.
Strong computer skills. Excellent proficiency with Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Chat, and Meet), Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), and website content management systems (WordPress and Squarespace) required.
Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to develop engaging membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external emails, track issues, prepare reports, plan meeting agendas, and take minutes.
Ability to create engaging membership communications for various channels, including broadcast email, web, and social media. Proficiency in storyboarding, scripting, producing, and editing both short-form and long-form video content is required.
Ability to check and respond to email regularly during the business week, meet deadlines, and follow up on assigned tasks.
Ability to participate in all required videoconferences and virtual meetings.
Ability to attend meetings and in-person activities as required (mainly in Seattle).
Ability to attend AFA International and other required training as needed.
Willingness to sign and abide by the AFA Alaska confidentiality policy and a company-provided non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Time Commitment & Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

The time commitment is approximately one week per month in Seattle, with additional remote work as needed. This may increase depending on the pace of negotiations.
Flight pay loss and related override(s) will be compensated in accordance with the applicable pre-merger Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) provisions and/or the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual.
Travel time is unpaid; exceptions will be treated on a case-by-case basis.
Meal, incidental expenses, and other reimbursements will follow the guidelines outlined in the MEC Policy & Procedure Manual and AFA-CWA C&B.

Working Relationships

With The Joint Negotiating Committee

This position works directly on a day-to-day basis with the members of the Joint Negotiating Committee, including the AFA Senior Staff Negotiator.

With The MEC Communications Committee

Constant interaction with the MEC Communications Committee Chairperson and members of the MEC Communications Committee. Occasional interaction with the AFA International Communications Department.

With The Master Executive Council

Regular interaction with the Master Executive Council as directed by the JNC Chairperson. This position reports to the MEC through the MEC President.

With Alaska & Hawaiian Airlines Management

Regular interaction with management’s appointed negotiating team members, particularly during negotiations sessions.

Expressing Interest & Interview Scheduling

The MEC will interview eligible candidates during the April Regular MEC Meeting on Tuesday, April 1, and Wednesday, April 2. If you are interested in interviewing, please plan to bid around these dates or adjust your schedule accordingly.

Eligible candidates can choose to interview in person in SeaTac, WA, or virtually via Google Meet videoconferencing.

To express your interest, please submit an expression of interest and your resume using the online form (link below). The submission deadline is 5 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. After the submission deadline, an MEC representative will contact eligible candidates to arrange specific interview times.

Click here to submit an expression of interest form >

Please note that a Google account is required to submit the expression of interest form. If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Time To Swap Out Your Red AFA Pin & Lanyard!

March 4, 2025 13:00

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

With our contract negotiations at Alaska wrapped up and our new collective bargaining agreement in place, we’ve officially completed our mobilization activities related to Contract 2022. A huge shoutout to everyone who stood with our Negotiating Committee during this journey. Your unwavering solidarity—wearing the red AFA pin, sporting the red lanyard, and participating in our days of action and other solidarity activities—really showcased our strength to management. We couldn’t have done this without your incredible support!

Now, it’s time to shift gears and put away those red AFA accessories. The MEC has officially passed a resolution to transition back to the classic white AFA pin, so the red pin is no longer our official pin. Please swap your red AFA pin for your white one, or pick a special edition AFA pin that you love! And don’t forget to trade in your lanyard for one that follows the company’s uniform policy (check the Uniform Policy Guide for all the details—AAG SSO required).

Need a new white AFA pin? Just reach out to your Local Council. If you’re looking for a compliant lanyard, your supervisor or manager at your base can help you out.

Thanks again for your amazing solidarity—it truly makes a difference!

Alaska & Hawaiian Master Executive Councils Become One Today

March 1, 2025 09:00

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Today marks the official merger of the Master Executive Councils (MECs) of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Our combined MEC consists of eight Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents—two from pre-merger Hawaiian and six from pre-merger Alaska—along with our newly elected joint MEC Officers, who begin their terms today. Together, our joint MEC will now be able to speak with one voice on behalf of all Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants, strengthening our voice with management, the public, and other stakeholders.

While we have now come together as one MEC, we continue to operate under two separate collective bargaining agreements. This will remain the case until we negotiate and ratify a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). This process will take time. Until then, decisions related to the Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendant contract will be made by the LEC Presidents from pre-merger Hawaiian, while decisions about the Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant contract will be made by the six LEC Presidents from pre-merger Alaska. When decisions impact both Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants, all eight LEC Presidents will collectively decide.

One thing that remains unchanged is the support and representation you receive from your Local Council. Each Local Council remains in place, and your directly elected LEC Officers continue to be your first point of contact for anything you may need help with. Eventually, and only once we reach and ratify a JCBA, the dual Local Councils at LAX will also merge.

Introducing Your Joint MEC Officers

As part of the MEC merger, our new MEC Officers, elected at a joint MEC meeting on January 29, begin their term today. They will serve for the remainder of the Alaska MEC election cycle, which concludes on December 31, 2025.

Timothy Green, MEC President

Tim Green has been an LAX-based Flight Attendant since hired in 2003. At different times throughout his career, he has flown regularly out of LAX, BUR, and SNA. This experience has helped him gain an understanding of the unique challenges we face.

Prior to running for MEC President, Tim represented Council 18 (LAX) as LEC President and previously as the Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson. During that time, he became a staunch advocate for our members. That experience inspired him to become more involved and run for elected office in 2016. As an elected officer Tim has never forgotten that he is a Flight Attendant first, union leader second, spending his weekends flying and sitting shoulder to shoulder with our local members. He believes our Union is strongest when everyone is informed and involved. To help facilitate that, he will ensure that AFA has a stronger, more visible presence. Tim believes in honest and open two-way communication and encourages members to reach out to AFA with their concerns.

Brice McGee, MEC Vice President

Brice began his career as a Flight Attendant first based in Los Angeles in 2006, transferring to Seattle and finally San Diego. He skillfully balances his professional responsibilities with family life, calling places like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Heredia, Costa Rica home. Renowned for his dedication, Brice has served as LEC Secretary for San Diego and is currently in his third term as the San Diego LEC President, prioritizing Union unity and the well-being of his colleagues.

He shares unforgettable travel experiences with his growing family. Brice’s life is a blend of professional commitment, family love, and a passion for adventure, all driving him to advocate for a stronger and more unified AFA.

Paul Ikioka, MEC Secretary-Treasurer

Paul Ikioka is Secretary-Treasurer for the joint Master Executive Council. Born and raised on the island of Maui, he attended Maui High School. He went on to attend college at California State University Long Beach and completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, as well as his MBA.

Paul had a 30-year career as a Financial Analyst at the Boeing Company, when he decided to become a Flight Attendant at Hawaiian Airlines. Citing Quality of Life as the main driver behind his career change, he started on the line in May of 2018 and never looked back.

Paul initially volunteered to join the Grievance Committee as a way to learn more about the Collective Bargaining Agreement. His experiences on the team made him realize that education of our Flight Attendants is the best way to help them to be able to advocate for themselves, and protect the rights that our contract provides.

Paul is committed to be transparent, fair, and continue to promote further education of the contract. He is excited to start on this new journey and continue to serve and support all of our team members.

Upcoming AFA Alaska Phone and Email Outages

Phone System Outage

Email System Outage