AFA News Now – Page 8

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – August 2025

August 15, 2025 09:00

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Monday, August 11, 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 (SAN), with MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich facilitating the meeting.

The Committee met with Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Manager of Crew Hotels and Administration Diane Szubert, Senior Crew Hotels Support Specialist Nichole Turner and Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams. Manager of Inflight Crew Scheduling (Interim) Matthew Trujillo also joined for a portion of the meeting.

The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, September 8.

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:

Unplanned Accommodations in Remote Outstations: Over the summer, we had a few flight cancellations in the State of Alaska, resulting in significant accommodation challenges for Flight Attendants. Hotels are limited outside the larger Alaskan cities, especially contractually compliant ones. The Committee had a robust discussion with Matthew Trujillo about Crew Scheduling’s process in helping to secure rooms when flights are to be canceled. The goal was to identify opportunities in the process to accommodate crewmembers better.
Ad Hoc List: Early this year, the Committee undertook a large project to review and revise the hotel ad hoc list. The ad hoc list is vetted (by AFA and ALPA) and used by API when the designated crew hotel in a layover city is unavailable. This could happen for several reasons, such as known blackout dates, fire alarm testing, planned water shut off, local events that can lead to road closures or excessive noise, etc. API and Crew Hotels use this list to secure accommodation with the next best option. The Committee discussed the process to keep the list current and the plan to post this list for Flight Attendants to view, as called for in section 34.A.6 of the contract.
Bed Bug Reporting: Bed bugs have recently become a significant topic of discussion, and the Committee believes it is essential to clarify the procedures followed when a hotel is informed of potential bed bug sightings. Hotels take these reports seriously and are equally committed to resolving them as management is. Additionally, bed bug mitigation and treatment protocols are reviewed with each hotel during every site visit by the Hotel Committee. When a suspected bed bug report is made, the hotel will immediately take the affected room out of service, along with the adjacent rooms, as well as those above and below it, for at least 24 hours. During this time, a pest control vendor will inspect and treat the rooms, even if no bed bugs are found. This precautionary measure is taken to ensure safety. Management receives these reports upon request, which they have shared with the Hotel Committee. While it is impossible to prevent bed bugs entirely, we encourage Flight Attendants to remain vigilant and take precautions by familiarizing themselves with the AFA Bed Bug Resources.

What The Committee Is Working On

Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee conducts visits to hotels that are considered by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. Crew Hotels has provided the Committee with the remaining cities that will be visited in 2025: SLC (Sept), SAN (Oct), CUN (Oct), BNA (Nov), HNL (Nov), MCO – Long Stay (Nov), ORD – Short Stay (Dec), and SJO (Dec). Market reviews are triggered by factors such as contract expirations, crew complaints, and opportunities for cost savings. Depending on the outcome of these reviews, additional site visits may be arranged in those cities.
Hotel Gainshare Program: MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich, MEC President Tim Green, and MEC Vice President Brice McGee met with management on July 28 to continue discussions on a Hotel Gainshare program. Our prior meetings have focused on general program discussion and research. Our next steps are to build out the program’s concepts. We’ll continue to keep you updated as developments occur.

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.

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 6 – August 2025

August 8, 2025 13:00

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

Our JNC met with management this week on August 5 to August 7 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for September 28 to October 3
Our JNC will be attending Local Council Meetings at your domicile, please stay informed through your Local Leadership for details
Two surveys are being finalized – Vacation and Sick Leave; look out for links to participate in these surveys in the upcoming weeks

Negotiations Update

The AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management on August 5 to August 7 in Seattle, WA. At the negotiating table for this session were:

Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants	Representing Management
Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee Chairperson	Allen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee Member	Carmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee Member	Kalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee Member	Neil Osato, Director, Labor and People Relations, Hawaiian
Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee Member	Mike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
Suzanne Balzer, AFA Senior Staff Negotiator	Karen Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska

During this week of negotiations Suzanne Balzer, AFA Senior Staff Negotiator and Neil Osato, Hawaiian Airlines, Director of Labor and People Relations joined us at the negotiating table. Throughout the week, we exchanged several proposals, carefully considering each one to ensure that they align with our goals and interests. While there was some movement on both sides, we encountered several provisions that continue to need resolution. It has become clear that addressing these specific areas is vital for us to reach a tentative agreement on those sections. As we continue this important dialogue, we hope to continue to make progress toward finalizing the agreement for each section addressed.

Section by Section Progress

Sections discussed in this session:

Section 13 – Uniforms (HA CBA Section 6)
Section 25 – Air Safety Health and Security (HA CBA Section 28)
Section 27 – Association General (HA CBA Section 22)
Section 30 – Training (HA CBA Section 26)

Sections in ongoing discussion:

Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation (HA CBA Section 4.C and Section 4.E)
Section 36 – Commuter Policy (HA CBA Section 34-28)

Sections listed below are on hold until discussions regarding future sections, which affect specific provisions, take place.

Section 6 – Seniority (HA CBA Section 9)
Section 15 – Leaves of Absence (HA CBA Section 17)
Section 19 – Grievance Procedures (HA CBA Section 23)

Our JNC is Coming To a Base Near You

Our Joint Negotiating Committee will be attending the Local Council Meetings in your domicile. Please stay informed through your Local Council for more information.

What’s Upcoming

Our next session with management is scheduled for September 30 to October 2.

We are in the process of finalizing two surveys: one for Vacation and one for Sick Leave. Each survey will be distributed separately. The Sick Leave survey will be sent out after the Vacation survey window has closed. Please keep an eye out for the links to these surveys in the coming weeks.

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—September 2025

August 5, 2025 13:00

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

In accordance with Article VI.C of the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, the terms of office for the MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions align with those of the MEC Officers. Since the current term for the MEC Officers will conclude on December 31, 2025, the MEC will soon review all pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions.

Committees that have already merged or will merge before the beginning of next year go through a separate process for interviews and elections and will not be included in this review. Information about interviews for these positions will be communicated separately.

This review will take place over several months to allow extra transition time for committees that may benefit from it. This approach differs from previous election cycles, where all interviews were conducted simultaneously near the end of the term. Although the interviews will occur well before the current MEC term concludes, those elected to these positions will not assume their roles until January 1, 2026.

The first committees to undergo the review process will be the Grievance and Uniform Committees. During the upcoming September Regular MEC Meeting, interviews will be conducted for the following positions:

General Qualifications

Qualifications for all MEC-level Chairperson positions include:

Current Alaska Airlines AFA Member in good standing.
Currently qualified Flight Attendant or, if on an approved leave of absence, last qualification must have been within 36 months prior to start of term.
Previous experience as a Committee Member or Chairperson is preferred.
Previous committee-specific training preferred.
Strong ability to lead and coordinate a diverse team in a collaborative environment.
Ability to attend meetings as required, both via videoconference and in person.
Strong computer skills, including a good working knowledge of Google Workspace (email, calendar, Drive, and other applications) and Microsoft 365.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external emails, prepare reports, plan meetings (including scheduling, logistics, and agenda preparation), and take minutes.
Ability to meet deadlines, delegate responsibilities, and follow up on assigned tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Details about each committee’s duties and responsibilities are available on the respective committee pages of afaalaska.org. Additional information regarding MEC Committee Chairperson duties and responsibilities is available in this document.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

The time commitment for each position varies and may change based on current workload levels. Specific information about time commitment expectations and Flight Pay Loss for each position will be provided during the interviews. All positions operate in line with AFA’s spirit of volunteerism.

Term of Service

Candidates who are successfully elected will serve for the upcoming MEC Officer election cycle which begins on January 1, 2026, and concludes on December 31, 2028.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

The MEC will interview eligible candidates during the September Regular MEC Meeting from Tuesday, September 16, through Thursday, September 18. 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, September 9, 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 don’t have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Questions?

Any questions about MEC Committee Chairperson position duties and responsibilities can be directed to MEC Vice President Brice McGee at mecvp@afaalaska.org.

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Interviews—September 2025

August 5, 2025 09:00

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

The integration of our Master Executive Councils (MECs) is progressing steadily. Our first group of committees successfully merged on June 1, and we are now prepared to merge additional committees as we move forward. The next group of committees is scheduled to merge on October 1.

As part of the committee merging process, our MEC will elect a Chairperson for each newly merged committee from among the combined Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendant groups. The newly elected Chairperson will coordinate activities across both airlines and support the Local Committee Chairpersons from all eight Local Councils— both pre-merger Alaska and pre-merger Hawaiian. The MEC will conduct interviews during the September MEC Meeting for the following roles:

Other committees will merge later in the process. As we approach those dates, we’ll keep you informed about the integration timeline for each committee, including interview schedules.

General Qualifications

Qualifications for all MEC-level Chairperson positions include:

Current Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines AFA Member in good standing.
Currently qualified Flight Attendant or, if on an approved leave of absence, last qualification must have been within 36 months prior to start of term.
Previous experience as a Committee Member or Chairperson is preferred.
Previous committee-specific training preferred.
Strong ability to lead and coordinate a diverse team in a collaborative environment.
Ability to attend meetings as required, both via videoconference and in person.
Strong computer skills, including a good working knowledge of Google Workspace (email, calendar, Drive, and other applications) and Microsoft 365.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external emails, prepare reports, plan meetings (including scheduling, logistics, and agenda preparation), and take minutes.
Ability to meet deadlines, delegate responsibilities, and follow up on assigned tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

Term of Service

Candidates who are successfully elected will 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). Their official term will begin on October 1, 2025, and conclude on December 31, 2028.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

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

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.

Questions?

Any questions about MEC Committee Chairperson position duties and responsibilities can be directed to MEC Vice President Brice McGee at mecvp@afaalaska.org.

Understanding JCBA Negotiations

July 30, 2025 13:00

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

JCBA negotiations aim to create a new contract from two existing agreements, rather than improving an existing one
Our JNC will be conducting targeted surveys for specific contract sections and considers feedback from MEC Committee Chairs and Members
The goal is to negotiate a contract that incorporates the best aspects of both carriers, providing improvements that benefit all Flight Attendants

JCBA vs. Regular Contract Negotiations: What’s the Difference?

There are important differences between Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) negotiations and standard “Section 6” negotiations under the Railway Labor Act. This message outlines how JCBA negotiations work—and what you can expect.

Regular Section 6 Contract Negotiations

Most of you are familiar with Section 6 negotiations, which are used to update and negotiate your carrier’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Here’s how that process typically works:

Survey First: Before bargaining begins, the Negotiating Committee (NC) sends out a survey to all members to gather input on priorities on existing contract provisions.
Comparison and Strategy: The NC looks at recent gains by other Flight Attendant groups and compares contract terms across the industry.
Proposal Development: This information helps AFA create initial proposals for management—our roadmap for negotiations. Management also brings wanted changes forward.
Negotiation Flow: Talks usually begin with non-economic sections and sections both sides agree don’t need changes. Tentative agreements are communicated to members along the way.
If Talks Stall: Either side can ask the National Mediation Board (NMB) for help. If mediation fails, AFA can request a “Proffer of Arbitration,” which may eventually lead to a 30-day cooling-off period—and the legal right to strike.

All of this is governed by Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act. However, JCBA negotiations follow a very different process.

JCBA Negotiations

Here’s how JCBA talks differ from regular negotiations:

Not Section 6 Negotiations: Because our contracts are not amendable, we fall outside the regular Section 6 process and don’t have all of the above avenues under the Railway Labor Act. However, the NMB can provide mediation/facilitation services if requested.
Creating One Contract from Two: Instead of improving a single contract, JCBA talks are about building an entirely new agreement from two existing contracts—each with its own culture, policies, rules, and operational concerns adding complexity to the process.
Different Survey Process: Because it wasn’t possible to capture the entirety of both contracts in one survey, the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) will send targeted “subject matter” surveys on specific contract sections. These will also help educate members on both carriers’ current provisions.
Input Matters: Besides survey feedback, the JNC also considers input and advice from committee chairs, and member emails, comments, and concerns when making decisions.

The Framework: Merger Transition Protocol Agreement (MTPA)

JCBA negotiations are guided by the MTPA, which outlines where and how often the JNC and management meet and other related details. The MTPA also establishes two main approaches:

Adopt-and-Go: Use an entire section from one contract as-is.
Modify-and-Adopt: Take a section from one contract, modify it, and include it in the new agreement.

Because the JCBA will likely last beyond current amendable dates of the Alaska and Hawaiian CBAs, the JNC is also pushing for improvements that go beyond both current contracts. Industry comparisons play a key role in setting these goals.

Balancing Two Contracts

In consultation with the Master Executive Council (MEC), the JNC evaluates and compares each section from both contracts—like Sick Leave, Vacation, Open Time, and Training. These provisions often differ significantly between carriers. The JNC’s job is to find solutions that work best for the combined membership.

Subject-matter survey results help guide these choices.

Expect more information on surveys soon as the JNC tackles major contract sections.

Merged Seniority List

Under AFA’s Constitution and Bylaws, the merged seniority list is based on Flight Attendant date-of-hire. A joint committee of Flight Attendants from both airlines – under the guidance of the AFA International Secretary-Treasurer – verifies with documentation and with individual Flight Attendants – all training and hire dates and integrates them according to date-of-hire.

Until a JCBA is finalized (which could take 2+ years), here’s what you can expect per the provisions of the MPTA:

Hawaiian and Alaska Flight Attendants will continue to operate separately and on their own operation’s aircraft
No cross-flying between airlines
Hawaiian widebody aircraft will be flown to Asia and Australia/New Zealand, etc. by Hawaiian Flight Attendants
Bases and pairings will stay separate
Alaska Flight Attendants will continue to receive higher pay rates and boarding pay

While having control of the merged seniority list does give AFA significant leverage in these negotiations, there will also be pressure on the parties to combine the operation so that all members can work and take advantage of the entire, combined operation, receive higher pay, and transfer freely between bases- but the JNC will move at a pace that protects your contract rights and prioritizes improvements for all.

Looking Ahead

JCBA talks will involve tough decisions. The JNC will keep members informed and involved, working closely with MEC leaders every step of the way. Your feedback and engagement are vital.

The JNC is committed to negotiating a contract that reflects the best of both carriers—with improvements over and above those provisions that will benefit all Flight Attendants.

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