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May 2023 MEC Meeting Recap

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, May 9, to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.
  • Due to contract negotiations taking place at the same time as the meeting, our MEC did not meet with management as part of this month’s meeting.
  • The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 26, and Tuesday, June 27. Please don’t hesitate to contact your LEC President if you have any questions.

On Tuesday, May 9, the Regular MEC Meeting for May 2023 was held as scheduled. Our MEC Officers, LEC Presidents, Grievance Committee, and Scheduling Committee provided updates on their respective areas. Furthermore, the MEC reviewed written reports from other AFA MEC Committee Chairpersons regarding their current work. 

No Meeting With Management This Month

Usually, our MEC meets with management during these meetings to discuss current issues and challenges that Flight Attendants face. However, this month, contract negotiations happened at the same time as the MEC Meeting. As a result, most key management personnel from inflight and labor relations were unavailable to meet with our MEC. Despite this, other meetings, such as the bi-weekly Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Meeting, are scheduled with management to address any other issues that come up promptly.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this month’s Regular MEC Meeting, please reach out to your LEC President.

COVID-19 Grievance Mediation & Settlement

Grievance Committee

  • Our MEC Grievance Committee successfully settled three outstanding grievances related to COVID-19.
  • Flight Attendants who received $200 from the Company for attesting to their vaccination status get to keep the payout.
  • In some cases, Flight Attendant sick leave will be restored.

We are pleased to inform you that our MEC Grievance Committee has successfully resolved three COVID-19-related grievances with the Company through mediation with Arbitrator Symonette and management. We have settled Grievance 36-99-2-230-21 for violation of §16 Sick Leave/On the Job Injury, Grievance 36-99-2-234-21 for §21 Non-Negotiated Compensation, and Grievance 36-99-2-233-22 for violation of §16 Sick Leave/On the Job Injury. Please take a look below for more details on the settlements or review the settlement agreement.

Grievance No. 36-99-2-230-21 – Violation of §16 Sick Leave/On the Job Injury

The grievance was about how the Company treated vaccinated Flight Attendants compared to unvaccinated Flight Attendants who contracted or were exposed to COVID-19 while on the job. Over two years, the Company’s stance on this matter changed multiple times, resulting in varying pay protections for different groups.

In our contract, Section 16 unequivocally applies to all Flight Attendants, regardless of their vaccination status. A Flight Attendant who is unvaccinated but holds a medical or religious exemption must be treated with the same level of respect and consideration as a vaccinated Flight Attendant. This means that even if an unvaccinated Flight Attendant must undergo quarantine while their vaccinated counterpart does not, they should not be treated differently.

We carefully reviewed the dates and changes made by the Company and devised a solution that will make exempted Flight Attendants whole. However, there were specific dates when we could not provide a remedy for those who did not disclose their status. Those who were covered before the vaccine and had access to exemptions will have their sick leave restored, and in some cases, they will have their attendance points removed. For more information, please refer to the Letter of Agreement.

Grievance No. 36-99-2-234-21 – Violation of §21 Non-Negotiated Compensation

This grievance alleges that the Company violated Section §21 [Compensation], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it announced on or about September 2, 2021, that it would pay $200 to each vaccinated Flight Attendant who provided proof of vaccination to the Company by October 15, 2021.   The provisions of Section 21 do not provide for any exemptions or differentiations based on vaccination status. Nevertheless, the Company unfairly imposed this exception on the entire bargaining unit without engaging in negotiations with AFA.

Management agreed that Flight Attendants who have been vaccinated will be able to retain their $200. However, they would not agree to give the same amount to those who are unvaccinated, even if they have a medical or religious exemption. After careful consideration, we decided to withdraw the grievance as the mediator expressed doubts about our likelihood of success in arbitration.

Grievance No. 36-99-2-233-22 – Violation of §16 Sick Leave/On the Job Injury

This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §16 [Sick Leave/On the Job Injury], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about May 11, 2022, it unilaterally implemented disparate quarantine procedures without adequate notice by posting and/or updating the Company intranet (“Alaska’s World”) with different quarantine requirements for symptom-free vaccinated versus symptom-free unvaccinated Flight Attendants. Our Grievance Committee argued that Alaska’s World articles are not sufficient notice of policy changes since they are not mandatory reading, and Flight Attendants must be informed of changes through must-read bulletins. 

The Company agreed it would notify Flight Attendants of any changes to COVID-19 quarantine policies and procedures through required (“must-read”) bulletins.

Questions?

Overall, the outcome of this settlement was successful, and we are glad to be able to provide some resolution to these grievances. Our commitment to ensuring fair treatment and safe working conditions for all our Members remains firm, and we will continue to work tirelessly towards that goal. Please don’t hesitate to contact your Local Grievance Committee or LEC President with any questions or concerns.

Mental Health Awareness Month

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

  • May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
  • Our AFA EAP Committee wants to share a few reminders about mental health, mental illnesses, and available support.
  • You can reach out to your local AFA EAP Committee Members for assistance in connecting with a professional or addressing concerns, for yourself or a loved one.

What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Can your mental health change over time?

Yes, it’s important to remember that a person’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors.  When the demands placed on us exceed our resources and coping abilities, our mental health could be impacted. 

How common are mental illnesses?

Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness. About 1 in 25 U.S. adults lives with a serious mental illness, such as major depression.

What causes mental illness?

There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as:

  • Adverse Childhood experiences such as trauma or a history of abuse 
  • Experiences related to other ongoing (chronic) medical conditions, such as cancer or diabetes
  • Biological factors or chemical imbalances in the brain
  • Use of alcohol or drugs
  • Having feelings of loneliness or isolation

How can you protect and support your own mental well-being?

Evaluate your mental well-being on a routine basis just like you are advised to do for your physical health. Your AFA EAP can help you connect with a professional to assist you with that process or to address any concerns you may have about your or a loved one’s mental health.  Your local AFA EAP Committee Members can be found on the EAP Committee page of the AFA Alaska website or you can call (949) 470-0493.

Building Community Power: Now and Then

Human Rights Committee

  • Our Human Rights Committee wants to invite you to our 2023 celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month on May 23rd.
  • Join our online presentation, Building Community Power: Now and Then, with panelists discussing community power in the past and present day.
  • AFA is joined by the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, and the International Women’s Alliance for this event.


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Join CWA Human Rights for Building Community Power: Now and Then, our 2023 celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month! We will hold an online presentation and panel on Tuesday, May 23, at 7pm EST, on what building community power for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander workers has looked like in the past and the present day.

We are excited to facilitate a discussion with panelists from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, and the International Women’s Alliance. AANHPI workers, as well as all union siblings and allies, are encouraged to attend.

Other Parents Like Me (OPLM)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

  • Our AFA EAP Committee wants to share a free online resource for parents and other caregivers of children struggling with mental health and/or substance use issues.
  • Other Parents Like Me (OPLM) offers several resources free of subscription charge for one year with the code/link provided.
  • This free subscription is a gift from OPLM founder and retired United Airlines Flight Attendant Cassie Fariello.

Other Parents Like Me (OPLM) is an online peer support community designed for parents and other caregivers of children struggling with mental health and/or substance use issues. Normally, it is a fee-based resource, which is now being provided to Flight Attendants free of any subscription charge for one year (1 year). 

OPLM offers a number of resources including:

  • Daily support groups: 17 virtual peer-led meetings every week that include, Men’s and Women’s, Adoptive Families, Meditation, to name a few
  • Subject Matter Speakers: At least 5 speaker meetings per month followed by a Q&A 
  • Parent Stories & Blogs: Personal stories and insights into the journey of parents like you
  • Resource Hub: Search podcasts, articles, apps, books, and more 

This free one-year subscription is being gifted by the OPLM founder and retired United Airlines Flight Attendant Casie Fariello who herself struggled with maintaining her career responsibilities while addressing behavioral health crises with her children.   

Flight Attendants can access their free one-year subscription by using this code: FADAP2023 or link: https://oplm.com/register/?coupon=FADAP2023.

DISCLAIMER OF ENDORSEMENT. AFA’s participation in notifying Flight Attendants of this free OPLM subscription does not constitute endorsement by AFA. AFA does not authorize, endorse, support or sponsor any OPLM product, service, or activity.

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