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October 2022 MEC Meeting Recap

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, October 11 to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.
  • As part of the meeting, the MEC met with members of inflight, crew planning, and payroll management to discuss issues and concerns that are facing our work group and need to be addressed.
  • The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 2.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your LEC President if you have any questions.

The October 2022 Regular MEC Meeting was held this week on Tuesday, October 11.  The meeting consisted of updates provided by our MEC Officers, LEC Presidents, Grievance Committee, and Scheduling Committee.  Our MEC also reviewed written reports submitted by other AFA MEC Committee Chairpersons about their current programs of work. 

Meeting with Management

As part of most Regular MEC Meetings, our MEC meets with management to review current issues and challenges that Flight Attendants are facing.  Attendees from management this month included Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Director of Crew Planning Mike Ostler, and Director of Payroll Leah Ables.

Some of the topics that were discussed include:

  • Domicile staffing & upcoming growth.  Our MEC once again advocated that upcoming staffing growth be distributed proportionally among all domiciles.  This is a continued reiteration of the message that our MEC sent to management in the Proportional Domicile Staffing letter in August. 
  • Staffing adjustment leaves & KCM eligibility.  Request that management continue to allow Flight Attendants access to KCM while on staffing adjustment leaves to the extent allowed by TSA policy.  Management agreed to work with other departments to establish a process when future staffing adjustment leaves are offered.
  • California meal and rest break laws.  Our MEC requested an update from management regarding their plan to comply with California meal and rest break laws in accordance with the decision in the Bernstein v. Virgin America case.  Management indicated they are continuing to lobby for a legislative resolution and did not have any further updates to offer.  
  • Employee parking lot bussing concerns.  Our MEC shared reports of overcrowding, lack of adequate space for luggage, chaotic boarding, and other safety issues that are ongoing with employee parking lot busses in multiple Flight Attendant domiciles.  These issues need to be addressed and resolved as soon as possible.

Upcoming MEC Officer Elections

As previously communicated, elections for Alaska MEC Officers will be held at the regular November MEC meeting on Tuesday, November 1, 2022.  The voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will elect an MEC President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer for a three year term that begins on January 1, 2023.  For more information about MEC Officer elections, click here.

Questions?

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

FAA Finalizes 10 Hours Rest Rule

Government Affairs Committee

  • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finalized a rule earlier this week requiring a minimum of 10 hours of irreducible rest for Flight Attendants between duty periods.
  • Though Alaska Flight Attendants have benefitted from contractual language ensuring scheduled rest of greater than 10 hours between duty periods for over a decade, this rule brings similar protections to all Flight Attendants throughout the industry.
  • This rule change is the culmination of tireless advocacy by members of our AFA Government Affairs Committee and other Flight Attendant activists from every airline.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier this week finalized a rule requiring 10 hours minimum, non-reducible rest for Flight Attendants between duty days – finally implementing a 2018 law that will make aviation safer for over 100,000 Flight Attendants and the passengers in our care. The rule will increase the rest period to 10 irreducible hours when scheduled for a duty period of 14 hours or less. Though Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants have had contractual language guaranteeing greater than 10 hours of scheduled rest between duty periods since 2006 and Alaska management and AFA implemented 10 hours of irreducible rest in June 2020, equivalent protections have not been in place for all other Flight Attendants across the industry up to this point.

“After years of fighting for the Fight For 10, the FAA on October 4, 2022 finalized 10 hours minimum rest. This is a pivotal moment for the aviation industry and we owe our thanks to the dedicated Flight Attendants from our Government Affairs Committee. For years our Committee Members fought hard and worked with our elected Representatives to make our careers safer by fighting to give us proper rest. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to achieving this milestone,” said Martin Monteblanco, AFA Alaska MEC Government Affairs Committee Chairperson.

AFA International President Sara Nelson also issued a statement about the rule, which can be read by clicking here.

Reassignment Flow Charts – Sections 10.R and 10.R.5

Scheduling Committee

As part of the ongoing efforts of the Scheduling Committee to assist Flight Attendants in understanding contractual language and compensation, it was recommended a flow chart related to reassignments under contract sections 10.R and 10.R.5 be produced and published.  The first flow chart is designed to help you understand your rights and obligations in the event that you are subject to a reassignment by Crew Scheduling.  The second flow chart will help you understand what pay you are due for a sequence containing a reassignment.

Click here to view the reassignment flow chart >

Click here to view the reassignment pay flow chart >

The Committee enlisted the help of MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson Justin Wetherell to produce the flow charts for distribution.  We wanted to take this opportunity to thank Justin for their time and commitment to this project.  

Questions or Feedback?

Please feel free to provide feedback on the flow charts and let us know if there are any other helpful documents you would like to see in the future.  If you have any questions about these flow charts or reassignments in general, please contact your Local Scheduling Committee.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

  • Domestic violence can affect anyone and abusers can come from any demographic or background.
  • Though there is no single defining personality of an abuser, abusers may display common traits or exhibit certain warning signs.
  • If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse, confidential help is available through your AFA EAP Committee at (949) 470-0493 or afaalaska.org/eap.

Signs of Domestic Abuse

Anyone can be an abuser. They come from all groups, all cultures, all religions, all economic levels, and all backgrounds. They can be anyone—your neighbor, your friend, your coworker, etc.  It is important to note that the majority of abusers are only violent with their current or past intimate partners. One study found 90% of abusers do not have criminal records and abusers are generally law-abiding outside the home. 

Traits Abusers May Have in Common

There is no one typical, detectable personality of an abuser. However, they may display common characteristics. An abuser often denies the existence or minimizes the seriousness of the violence and its effect on the victim and other family members. An abuser objectifies the victim and often sees them as their property or sexual objects. An abuser externalizes the causes of their behavior. They blame their violence on circumstances such as stress, their partner’s behavior, a “bad day,” on alcohol, drugs, or other factors. An abuser may be pleasant and charming between periods of violence and is often seen as a “nice person” to others outside the relationship. 

Warning Signs of an Abuser

Red flags and warning signs of an abuser include but are not limited to:

  • Extreme jealousy and/or possessiveness, even accusations of the victim flirting with others or having an affair.
  • Verbal abuse including blaming the victim for anything bad that happens
  • Extremely controlling behavior
  • Antiquated beliefs about roles of women and men in relationships
  • Sabotage or obstruction of the victim’s ability to work or attend outside activities
  • Controls all the finances
  • Control of what the victim wears and how they act
  • Demeaning and/or humiliating the victim either privately or publicly
  • Harassment of the victim at work

Confidential Help is Available

Remember, confidential help is available through your AFA EAP Committee.  Contact us at (949) 470-0493 or afaalaska.org/eap.

This information is provided by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Alaska Airlines Management’s Unlawful Continued Denial of Washington State Sick Leave Law

Grievance Committee

  • Washington’s Paid Sick Leave Law went into effect on January 1, 2018, which in part allows Flight Attendants to use sick leave to care for themselves or a family member – including preventative care – and for which they cannot be disciplined or given attendance points.
  • The industry trade association Airlines for America and Alaska Airlines management refused to comply with the law and spent the last four years litigating whether they had to or not; they ultimately lost in litigation, and the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit decision in favor of the State of Washington and AFA stands.
  • Management still refuses to comply with the law, so AFA needs Seattle-based Flight Attendants to file complaints with the State of Washington Labor & Industries agency to ensure the law is rightfully applied.

In 2018, a state law providing for paid sick leave went into effect in Washington State. Among other things, it required that employers provide:

  1. A minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked, and 
  2. The right to use your sick leave after 90 days of employment, not after the 180 days of employment (following probation) provided in our contract. 

Under the law, you can use this time to care for yourself or a family member — including preventative care. Additionally, the use of paid sick leave time cannot be counted as an absence that leads to or results in any type of discipline – and you cannot be given attendance points.

Click here for more info about WA Paid Sick Leave (WA Department of Labor & Industries) >

When the law went into effect in 2018, the MEC Grievance Committee contacted management to determine how they planned to implement the state law. We then learned that management had no intention of complying and instead would challenge the law through the court system. 

Click here for “Washington Paid Sick Leave Law 2018” (afaalaska.org – February 7, 2018) >

After four years of litigation and a win for the State of Washington and AFA in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court recently denied management’s request to hear the case. 

Click here for “Supreme Court Ruling on A4A v. WA L&I (WA Paid Sick Leave)” (afaalaska.org – July 14, 2022) >

As a result, the 9th Circuit’s ruling against Airlines for America (A4A) – including Alaska Airlines – is final, and no more appeals are possible. Even though the 9th Circuit’s decision in favor of the State of Washington and AFA is now binding, management still refuses to apply this law to Flight Attendants. They argue that litigation in district courts other the 9th Circuit that challenge how other states’ sick leave laws apply to flight crew could impact the application of the state law in Washington. 

AFA strongly disagrees with management’s approach. We encourage Seattle-based Flight Attendants to file claims with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) if any of the following occur:

  1. You are given attendance points for calling in sick to care for yourself or a qualifying family member when you have accrued sick leave to cover the event,
  2. You are denied the use of sick leave for preventative care, or
  3. You are denied the use of paid sick leave after 90 days of employment (and prior to the end of your probationary period of 180 days). 

While filing a claim can be time consuming, doing so helps you and your fellow crew members by protecting your rights and contributing to achieving what is legally due to you.

Click here for SEAFAs to file a claim online with WA L&I >  

We are also evaluating the applicability of the Washington law to all Flight Attendants under a prior arbitration award and will keep you updated on any further developments.

MEC Town Hall Video and Q&A Recap – March 3, 2026

The recording of our March 3 MEC Town Hall is now available! Watch the video on the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian YouTube channel using the private link below. Please note that the video is accessible only through the link here and is not publicly posted on our channel. We’ve also put together a summary of […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – March 2026

On Monday, March 9, 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), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), and Kanani Vallot […]

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

On Thursday, February 26, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work in representing our Flight Attendants and advocating for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Naomi Parcell (ANC), Ross DeJong (SEA), Todd Horn (PDX), Raymond Ramirez (SFO), Johanna Thomas (LAX pmAS), Gary Manoi (LAX pmHA), Andrew […]

2026 AFA Board of Directors Convention Recap

The 2026 AFA Board of Directors Convention concluded on Wednesday, marking the end of an engaging and productive three days. Delegates participated in a full agenda: hearing from elected officials and union leaders, joining a spirited picketing event at PDX to support Horizon Flight Attendants in their contract fight, honoring the achievements of AFA award recipients, electing […]

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, March 5, representatives from our pre-merger Alaska AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons 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) & MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire […]

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