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Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

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

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons. 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 Hotel Committee Chairperson: James Bozanich  
MEC Membership Engagement Committee Chairperson: Mischelle Fielsch

These newly elected MEC Committee Chairpersons will coordinate the activities of their respective merged committees across both airlines. They’ll support the Local Committee Chairpersons from all eight Local Councils—both pre-merger Alaska and pre-merger Hawaiian. Their official term will begin on October 1, 2025. They’ll serve for the remainder of the current MEC Officer election cycle (January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025), as well as for the upcoming cycle (January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028).

If you have any questions about the MEC Committee Chairperson elections, please reach out to your LEC President.

Election Notice: Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Officer Elections

Click here to see the list of Flight Attendants who have submitted an expression of interest form for an MEC Officer position.

The term of office for our current Alaska + Hawaiian Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers will conclude on December 31, 2025. The voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will elect new MEC Officers at the November Regular MEC meeting. This communication serves as notice of the election in accordance with the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual.

Background

The MEC Officers are made up of a President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer. These officers serve as the coordinating council for the Members of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines and are responsible for implementing the decisions of the MEC. They are elected by the Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents, who are the voting members of the MEC.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the MEC Officers are defined in article VII.C.2 of the AFA Constitution & Bylaws.

MEC President

From the AFA Constitution & Bylaws (article VII.C.2.a)

The President shall be the official Union spokesperson and chief executive officer for that airline and shall have the authority and duty to: 

(1) Be responsible for and charged with administering the policies of that Master Executive Council, and implementing the objectives and policies announced by the Board of Directors and Executive Board. 

(2)  Be responsible for the expeditious processing of members’ complaints and grievances. 

(3)  Be the Union representative on that airline for the purpose of furthering and implementing the objectives and policies announced by the Board of Directors and Executive Board. 

(4)  Coordinate and compile Master Executive Council policy, review reports and recommendations and submit such material to the appropriate committees of the Union. 

(5)  Be a member of the Negotiating Committee. 

(6)  Be a member of the Executive Board. 

(7)  Be granted the privilege of the floor at all meetings of the Board of Directors, but shall have no vote, if not also a Local Council President. 

(8)  Be responsible for and supervise the business and managerial functions of the Union on that carrier. 

(9)  Consult with and be assisted by the Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer. 

(10)  Ballot the Master Executive Council if necessary or when required. 

(11)  Keep a current and accurate inventory of all Union property and supplies purchased or provided by the Union and submit a copy of this to the International Secretary-Treasurer of the Union. 

(12)  Inform all Master Executive Council Officers and committees that all files, correspondence, documents and other materials resulting from the work of such committees are the property of the Union, not the personal property of individuals, and are to be safeguarded. 

(13)  Maintain the Union’s files and property, then transfer them to her/his successor promptly. 

Additional Duties & Responsibilities

  • Attend regular and special MEC meetings, quarterly Labor Leader meetings with the company, and annual AFA-CWA Board of Directors meetings.
  • Participate in the MEC Duty Officer program 

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

  • This position is contractually provided 130 TFP of Flight Pay Loss (FPL) per month (pre-merger Alaska) or equivalent (pre-merger Hawaiian) and does not bid a monthly schedule.
  • Most work is completed remotely. Must have the ability to be present in the MEC Office in Seattle as needed.
  • The MEC President is on-call to respond to critical incidents and situations.

MEC Vice President

From the AFA Constitution & Bylaws (article VII.C.2.b)

The Vice President shall:

(1) Function under the jurisdiction of the President in carrying out the policies and directives of the Master Executive Council.

(2) Perform the duties of the President at her/his request or in the absence of the President.

(3) Be granted the privilege of the floor at all Master Executive Council and Board of Directors meetings, but shall have no vote if not also a Local Council President.

Additional Duties & Responsibilities

  • Serve as the MEC Officer responsible for overseeing the MEC Committees and inform the MEC Secretary-Treasurer and MEC Communications Committee Chairperson about upcoming meetings for scheduling.
  • Be responsible for obtaining a monthly written report from each of the MEC Committee Chairs and providing these reports to the MEC Secretary-Treasurer for submission with the monthly MEC agenda.
  • Attend regular and special MEC meetings, quarterly Labor Leader meetings with the company, MEC committee meetings (as needed), and annual AFA-CWA Board of Directors meetings.
  • Coordinate and participate in the MEC Duty Officer program 

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

  • This position is budgeted for monthly Flight Pay Loss (FPL) and does not bid a monthly schedule.
  • Most work is completed remotely. Must have the ability to be present in the MEC Office in Seattle as needed.  
  • The MEC Vice President is responsible for fulfilling the responsibilities of the MEC President during vacation and as needed.

MEC Secretary-Treasurer

From the AFA Constitution & Bylaws (article VII.C.2.c)

The Secretary-Treasurer shall:

(1) Assist the President in administering Master Executive Council funds.

(2) Maintain Master Executive Council records and perform such other duties that may be specifically assigned to the Secretary-Treasurer by the President or Acting President.

(3) Be responsible to the President and Master Executive Council.

(4) Be responsible for general record keeping and accounting of the Master Executive Council budget and any funds.

(5) Distribute a quarterly statement on expenditures to the Master Executive Council.

(6) Assist in preparation of the Master Executive Council annual report to the membership.

(7) Exhibit at all reasonable times the general records to any Officer or active member in good standing upon application.

(8) Maintain Master Executive Council records and record all meetings of the Master Executive Council.

(9) Deliver to her/his successor all monies and other property of the Master Executive Council. On demand of the International Office, s/he shall make available all books and records for examination and audit.

(10) Submit a copy of all Master Executive Council meeting minutes and nomination notices to the International Secretary-Treasurer of the Union.

(11) Be responsible for distributing a list of Master Executive Council committees’ flight pay loss to the Master Executive Council and the International Office each month; this list will include, but not be limited to, hours and ID(s) missed, days on projects, and projects charged.

(12) Be granted the privilege of the floor at all Master Executive Council and Board of Directors meetings, but shall have no vote if not also a Local Council President.

Additional Duties & Responsibilities

  • Maintain the MEC meeting agenda; solicit agenda items from members of the MEC
  • Reserve meeting space and other meeting resources as needed
  • Make arrangements for MEC hotel accommodations and meals as requested
  • Perform month-end financial reconciliation activities including:
  • Monthly submission of MEC flight pay loss to the company
  • Monthly reconciliation of Union Business flight pay loss
  • Monthly submission of all Union Business to AFA International
  • Review and approve expense reports
  • Monthly reconciliation of budget and expense reports
  • Attend regular and special MEC meetings, quarterly Labor Leader meetings with the company, and annual AFA-CWA Board of Directors meetings.
  • Participate in the MEC Duty Officer program 

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

  • This position is budgeted for monthly Flight Pay Loss (FPL) and does not bid a monthly schedule.
  • Most work is completed remotely.  Must have the ability to be present in the MEC Office in Seattle as needed.  
  • The MEC Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for fulfilling the responsibilities of the MEC Vice President during vacation and as needed. They are responsible for fulfilling the responsibilities of the MEC President if the President and Vice President are simultaneously unavailable.

Working Relationships

With The Master Executive Council (MEC)

Constant interaction with the LEC Presidents, other LEC Officers, and other MEC Officers

With MEC Committees

Constant interaction with MEC Committee Chairs and Committee Members.

With Management

Constant interaction with Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines management, particularly within the inflight and labor relations departments

With AFA International

Frequent interaction with AFA international officers and staff members

Term of Office

The regular term of office is for three years, beginning on January 1, 2026, and concluding on December 31, 2028.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

The MEC will hold interviews and conduct elections during the November Regular MEC Meeting on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. If you are interested in interviewing, please plan to bid around these dates or adjust your schedule accordingly.

While in-person interviews in SeaTac, WA, are preferred, a virtual interview via Google Meet may be requested if travel or scheduling presents a challenge.

To express your interest, please submit an expression of interest (including a commitment to serve form) and your resume using the online form (link below). Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their interest by 5 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to facilitate interview scheduling. After this time, an MEC representative will contact 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 don’t have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Posting of Candidates

On Tuesday, October 14, the names and resumes of candidates who have completed the expression of interest form will be publicly posted on the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian website. If additional Flight Attendants submit expressions of interest, the MEC Communications Committee will continue to update the candidate page at the end of each business day until the day before the election.

Questions?

If you have any questions about MEC duties and responsibilities or the election process, please email officers@afaalaska.org.

MEC Officer Candidates

The following list includes all Flight Attendants who have submitted an expression of interest form for an MEC Officer position as of 10/21/2025.

MEC President

  • None

MEC Vice President

MEC Secretary-Treasurer

  • None

SEA Domicile Negotiations – September 2025 Update #2

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Our SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee met virtually with management on September 11 to receive their response to our last proposal
  • Our union has a longstanding history of negotiation with management to establish new domiciles as supported by Section 27.D.2 of our CBA
  • Our priorities during these negotiations aim to support Flight Attendants during the transition to the SEA domicile while addressing operational and contractual concerns

Negotiations Update

Our SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee met with the company on September 11 to review their response to our September 5 proposal.  We feel that it is important to acknowledge the challenges within our company as Alaska management is struggling to understand our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and integrity of our working relationships. At the negotiating table for this virtual meeting were:

Representing AFA and our Flight AttendantsRepresenting Management
Tim Green, Committee ChairpersonJoe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations
Martin Gusman, Committee MemberAllen Thieman, Vice President, Inflight
Joshua Aoki, Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations
Jeffrey Fuke, Committee MemberKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations
Lea Franzoi, Committee Support RepresentativeAdriene Tom, Specialist, Labor Relations
Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff Negotiator

Hawaiian’s Negotiating History

For decades, the Association has negotiated with management to establish new domiciles.  There is a long history of precedent and collaboration with management to ensure fair and just protections for Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants. The Hawaiian Flight Attendant Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) establishes just that in Section 27.D.2:

Section 27.D.2

2. International

All domiciles other than Honolulu which are established for the international operation shall be geographically located within the fifty (50) United States. Prior to creating and opening any other domiciles, a supplement to this Agreement shall be negotiated in accordance with Section 6, Title I of the Railway Labor Act, as amended.

This language is longstanding and requires the company to negotiate in good faith prior to opening a new domicile. In the latest proposal it has become clear that Alaska management is unwilling to negotiate a fair agreement by rejecting many of our proposals that are beneficial to the Flight Attendants and that would support the long term viability of the company’s goals for International expansion.

Our Vision for the SEA Domicile

The company has expressed a brand promise to both the Flight Attendants and the Hawai’i community at large. In that promise is the expectation to uphold our brand integrity and culture which would entail capturing and honoring the Hawaiian Spirit of Aloha and hospitality, a culture that we are proud to share around the globe.


Our vision for the SEA domicile is fostering an experienced and knowledgeable foundation for long term growth. This means including protections that would encourage experienced Flight Attendants to volunteer for the SEA domicile. These Flight Attendants would bring the highest Hawaiian standards for hospitality to Alaska’s highest profile and flagship global flying onboard the Boeing 787-9, and in the process mentor new hire Flight Attendants who may be assigned there.


Looking back at when we were first hired, it was comforting to know that there was someone to help guide and support us as we embarked on this new journey of being a Flight Attendant. To be able to support and bring our work culture to our new SEA domicile would bring comfort to those who bravely volunteer to conquer this journey. By rejecting our current proposals, Alaska management is promoting a new base serving global destinations, which would leave them staffed with crews who have little to no experience on key routes (ICN and NRT) that we have preserved and cultivated for years.

Key Priorities

In our first SEA Domicile Update on September 6, we summarized the key areas we’re focused on. Please find the information below for your reference.

  • Transfer Processes – strengthening protective elements of the transfer process for those who may be interested in moving to the new domicile
  • Return to HNL or LAX Domicile – addressing the concern of Flight Attendants transferring to SEA and potentially wishing to return to their Hawaiian domicile before the merging of the Hawaiian and Alaska SEA domiciles
  • Staffing – ensuring that staffing is sufficient to meet operational demands
  • Moving Expenses – advocating for fair and comprehensive compensation related to any necessary relocations
  • Operational Concerns – defining the type of flying and pairings that will be constructed in the domicile
  • Safeguarding Existing Bases – protecting our HNL and LAX domiciles during this transition

Next Steps

Your SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee will meet with management from October 6 to 8 in Honolulu for our second round of SEA Domicile Negotiations. 

Let us remind everyone, our contract applies to this new management the same as it did to our previous management. Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines along with our fairly-negotiated contract, which remains in full force until ratification of a joint contract between Alaska’s and Hawaiian’s Flight Attendants. Being the acquired carrier does not release Alaska from following the contract, nor does it subject us to being second-class members of the Alaska ‘family.’ To that end, we will in good faith continue demanding further dates in order to negotiate in accordance with our contract.

We are sharing this with you so that you are aware of the uphill battle we are currently facing.  As we have expressed previously, only we can uphold the spirit of our culture and retain the Hawaiian spirit and experience that our community has come to know.  We ask for your support to make us successful by keeping informed, so we can come together as one voice and achieve fair and just protections for the SEA domicile.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local leadership or email the SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee at sea@afahawaiian.org.

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Thursday, September 11, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Conner Gallager (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Rebecca Garcia (SAN). Also present were MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton, MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Jarod McNeill and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams. 

The committee met with the Managing Director of Inflight Performance & Crew Scheduling Sara Cook and Interim Manager of Inflight Crew Scheduling Matthew Trujillo.

The committee is next scheduled to meet on Thursday, December 11.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items during both internal AFA-only discussions and meetings with management. Some of the topics discussed include:

  • Issues and glitches with Crew Access that are affecting Reserve Flight Attendants. Review of where known issues are documented and newly added/ fixed issues. 
  • Review of upcoming update to Crew Access software and associated fixes to current issues and other improvements prioritization for programming fixes.
  • Review of reserve-related scheduling issues that have occurred recently.
  • Review of reserve-related issues that have been escalated to the Scheduling Review Board (SRB) and Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes.
  • Ongoing concerns with no shows & non-contactables. Please report these issues through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center so that AFA Representatives can follow up with management. 

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Developing Additional Tools & Resources for Reserve Flight Attendants. Working to update Reserve 101 & the Reserve survival guide with new CBA provisions.
  2. Assisting Probationary Flight Attendants Through the Reserve Buddy Program. Answering questions from and providing support to probationary Flight Attendants through an expanded AFA Reserve Buddy program. Also, developing a checklist of common topics that new hire Flight Attendants need assistance with within the first 30 days after graduation.
  3. Addressing Reserve Contractual Concerns. Researching and investigating reports from Reserve Flight Attendants and actively ensuring that management complies with our contract.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Reserve Committee is your voice to management. You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Reserve Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month

September 15 marks the start of Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month in the United States, a vibrant celebration dedicated to honoring the rich contributions and diverse cultures of Hispanic-Latinx Americans. Spanning a full month, this observance—also known as National Hispanic Heritage Month—has its roots in Hispanic Heritage Week, which was established by legislation signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. In 1988, this week-long celebration was expanded to a full month, now taking place from September 15 to October 15 every year.

The choice of September 15 is significant, as it coincides with the independence anniversaries of several Central American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Each of these nations celebrates its sovereignty from Spanish rule during this time, adding a layer of meaning to the month-long festivities. Furthermore, Mexico carries the spirit of independence into the following day, September 16. Chile follows suit with its own independence celebrations on September 18, and Belize rounds out the list with its Independence Day on September 21.

Learn More About Hispanic-Latinx History

To enhance your understanding of Hispanic-Latinx history and contributions, we invite you to explore some of the following informative resources:

Celebrate with a Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month AFA Pin

We invite you to join the celebration by wearing a Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month AFA Pin! In 2021, the AFA Executive Board unanimously passed a resolution recognizing Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month. The resolution also introduced a special commemorative pin for AFA Members to wear throughout the month.

If you’re interested in learning more about the significance of the pin, reach out to your Local Human Rights & Equity Committee. Want to get your hands on this unique pin? Keep an eye out for availability updates from your Local Council or connect with your LEC Officers to ensure you don’t miss out.

Questions?

If you have any questions or are looking for more information, remember that your Local Human Rights & Equity Committee is here to assist you.

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 […]

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement

Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes to the rules surrounding how airlines report information about passengers and crew before flights. This system is called the Advance Passenger Information System, or APIS. These changes are in response to a Presidential Executive Order. What is APIS? APIS is a system that airlines are legally […]

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