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June 2022 MEC Meeting Recap

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15 to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.
  • As part of the meeting, the MEC met with members of inflight, labor relations, and executive 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, July 12 and Wednesday, July 13.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your LEC President if you have any questions.

The June 2022 Regular MEC Meeting was held this week on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15.  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. 

System Board of Adjustment Interviews

Our MEC spent part of Tuesday interviewing candidates for the System Board of Adjustment position that was previously posted in April.   Members of the System Board of Adjustment are responsible for arbitrating any disputes or grievances that may arise under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Alaska Airlines and its Flight Attendants.  Our MEC would like to thank all of the candidates who expressed a willingness to serve and interviewed for the positions.

After extensive discussion and thorough consideration, the voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) have re-appointed Sandra Morrow to the position.  Sandra’s term of appointment will begin on July 1, 2022 and conclude on June 30, 2024.

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 Vice President of Inflight Matt Prainito, Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Managing Director of Inflight Strategy & Support Gloria Chow, Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling Denia Pisia, Managing Director of Operations Staffing & Resource Management Brittany Audette, and Managing Director of Labor Relations Carmen Williams.

Some of the topics that were discussed include:

  • Base visits by new Vice President of Inflight.  New VP of Inflight Matt Prainito will be conducted base visits this week and next week.  He will be attending Initial Training starting at the end of the month.
  • COVID points forgiveness.  Our MEC has formally requested that management resume forgiveness of attendance points for COVID-related absences.  
  • Quarterly Point Reduction Form (QPRF) errors.  If a mistake is made by a Flight Attendant when submitting a QPRF (e.g. selecting wrong start day of a sequence), management will deny the form and not give the Flight Attendant any opportunity to make corrections.  Our MEC requests that management provide notification to Flight Attendants in these instances and give them the opportunity to correct the error.
  • Distribution of Flight Attendant staffing by base.  Our MEC has requested that management add staffing to all bases.  Bases outside of SEA need additional Flight Attendants to provide relief, especially to Reserve Flight Attendants.
  • Cross-utilization of Reserve Flight Attendants between domiciles.  Our MEC has requested that management discontinue the practice of cross-utilizing reserves between domiciles, particularly between LAX and SAN.  Excessive use of this practice is unnecessarily burdensome on Reserve F/As.  With current staffing levels, our MEC believes there is no need for management to continue this practice.
  • Flight Attendant Initial Training (IT) classes.  Management is evaluating whether or not additional IT classes will be held this year on top of those already scheduled.
  • Service flights during Initial Training (IT).  Management would like to bring service flight back to the IT curriculum and is examining ways to do so.
  • Organizational changes in Crew Scheduling.  Some Crew Scheduling Duty Managers have taken positions elsewhere in the company.  The positions will be backfilled by new Crew Scheduling Supervisor positions.
  • Delays in getting Flight Attendants information during irregular operations.  There is a perception that Pilots often receive information about cancellations, delays, hotels for irops, etc. significantly before Flight Attendants do.  Management needs to take steps to address this perceived disparity and ensure that Flight Attendants are not left behind. 

MEC Policy & Procedure Manual Amendments

The AFA Alaska MEC Policy & Procedure Manual contains a provision requiring that the document be reviewed at least annually for possible updates and amendments.  Our MEC conducted that annual review during this meeting.  Of the 21 proposed agenda items, 19 were adopted.  One agenda item was amended and tabled until the next MEC meeting and another was referred back to the originator to be rewritten and resubmitted.  The agenda items that were adopted will be incorporated into the manual and posted to the AFA Alaska website early next week.

Questions?

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

AFA and Management Agree on a Remedy for the Delayed May & June 2022 Bid Awards

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • AFA Alaska leadership and Alaska Airlines management have reached agreement on a remedy for the delayed May & June bid awards.
  • All Flight Attendants who were active at any point during the May or June 2022 bid months will receive 4.0 TFP on their respective July 20th paychecks.
  • Thank you to the more than 4400 who participated in the “It’s Time to Make It Right!” letter writing campaign, and AFA appreciates management’s commitment to doing the right thing in these circumstances.

AFA Alaska leadership and Alaska Airlines management have reached agreement on a remedy for the delayed May & June bid awards:

All Flight Attendants who were active at any point during the May or June 2022 bid months will receive 4.0 TFP on their respective July 20th paychecks. *

* Flight Attendants must not have been on a leave of absence for the entirety of both bid months and newly hired Flight Attendants must have been eligible to bid for either bid period to be eligible for the settlement. The 4.0 TFP will have applicable taxes withheld at the regular withholding rate and less any other deductions/contributions.

Realistically, an arbitrator would not have awarded 4 TFP to all active Flight Attendants as a remedy to these contractual grievances, so we recognize that management ultimately agreed to more than we would have achieved through arbitration. This non-precedential monetary settlement compensates FAs for the inconvenience resulting from the contractual violations and demonstrates management’s willingness to accept responsibility for their actions. AFA appreciates management’s commitment to doing the right thing in these circumstances.

Thank you to the more than 4400 who participated in the “It’s Time to Make It Right!” letter writing campaign: Our collective action was an impressive show of solidarity that was invaluable in achieving this settlement!

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022

Reserve Committee

  • Our AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, June 9 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent and advocate for our Reserve Flight Attendants.
  • The Committee also met with management to review a number of specific concerns that were brought forward by Flight Attendants.
  • Your Local Reserve Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any reserve related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Thursday, June 9, 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 Haley Hirsch (ANC), Conner Gallagher (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Camile Caldwell (SFO), Meg Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Joe Coneglio (SAN).  Also present were MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton, MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Jarod McNeill, and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee also met with Inflight Crew Scheduling Duty Manager Nyxalyse Paul from management. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Ongoing concerns about low morale within our work group.
  • Review of upcoming update to Crew Access software and associated fixes to current issues and other improvements.
  • Update on topics of interest that were reviewed at the monthly Scheduling Committee meeting.
  • Review of reserve-related issues that have been escalated to the Scheduling Review Board (SRB) and Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes.
  • Update on probationary and new hire Flight Attendant concerns.  MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Jarod McNeill has been in regular contact with Inflight Probationary Support Supervisor Kaliko Howell to review issues.  Most frequent issues causing probationary occurrences are late to plane and forgetting to check-in on Block2Block.
  • Review of contractual issues and requests to be referred to the Negotiating Committee for consideration.
  • Possible project to create new easier-to-follow and more concise resources for new hire Flight Attendants to use to better understand the CBA and other job-related information.
  • Review of reserve utilization statistics.  Reserve coverage is anticipated to remain at approximately 24-26% for the remainder of summer and lineholder line averages will likely stay near the contractual minimum of 75 TFP.
  • Ongoing concerns about the need for relief for reserve Flight Attendants.  Many Flight Attendants who are on reserve outside of SEA have been on reserve for many years with no end in sight.  Management indicates that their plan is to adjust ARC numbers to allow for increased flexibility.  The Committee would like management to offer additional ways to provide relief.
  • Review of management’s planned upgraded telephone system in Crew Scheduling, currently planned for implementation later this year.
  • Review of reserve-related scheduling issues that have occurred recently.

The committee is next scheduled to meet on Thursday, September 8.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. 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.
  2. Addressing Reserve Contractual Concerns.  Researching and investigating reports from Reserve Flight Attendants and actively ensuring that management is compliant with our contract. 
  3. Developing Additional Tools & Resources for New Flight Attendants.  Working to create a plan to provide more user friendly, easy-to-access resources about the CBA and other job-related information for new Flight Attendants.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Reserve Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Reserve Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022

Human Rights Committee

  • Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, May 31 to discuss their ongoing program of work to advance human rights within our workplace and community.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates on what progress has been made on concerns that had been previously brought forward and address new concerns that have come to light. 
  • If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

On Tuesday, May 31, our AFA Local Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to build awareness and effect change within our workplace and community.  Representing you at the meeting were Yan Yan Teague (SEA), Sylvia Newbill (PDX), Sejal Patel (SFO), Louise Borras (LAX), and Erika Daniel (SAN).  Also present were MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou. The committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman and Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert from management. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Ongoing concerns about low morale within our work group.
  • Continued efforts to build relationships with the company’s Business Resource Groups (BRG) to ensure Flight Attendant representation in all areas.  The Committee would like to see BRG activities be more inclusive of Flight Attendant participation and made available in all bases.
  • Management is launching a new general email address for all employees to ask questions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  The new email address will launch on June 15.
  • Ongoing request to make DEI information easily accessible to Flight Attendants on the Inflight Mobile Device (IMD), including a link to the AFA Human Rights Committee resources page.
  • Tragedies that have taken place recently in communities across the United States and around the world.  The Committee will work with the AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee to request that resources be shared with Flight Attendants to help individuals cope with these events.
  • Ongoing issues related to the company’s use of Boxed Water as a supplier and concerns about ownership/investors whose values may be contradictory to those of Alaska Airlines.  The Committee met with management and Daryn Kuipers, CEO of Boxed Water to discuss these concerns.  Kuipers stated that Boxed Water fully supports human rights and treating people equally.  It was also shared that the company is an active supporter of LGBTQ events and has made both monetary and in-kind donations.
  • Management’s proposal to conduct DEI listening sessions with Flight Attendants in each base; discussion about involvement of the AFA Human Rights Committee.
  • Working to increase diversity and representation within the Flight Attendant Special Projects Pool.  

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Thursday, August 4, 2022.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Developing a Framework for Diversity & Inclusion Listening Sessions.  Discussing proposed plans with management to have our AFA Human Rights Committee facilitate sessions in each base that would allow Flight Attendants to discuss diversity and inclusion topics and concerns with management.
  2. Working to Make Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Information More Accessible.  Encouraging management to make information about DEI events, activities, and programs more accessible and visible to Flight Attendants through links on the IMD and more regular and relevant communication.  Requesting that management include links to the Human Rights Committee’s resource page on afaalaska.org.
  3. Building Relationships with the Company’s Business Resources Groups (BRGs).  Continuing to work to establish relationships with leaders of the Company’s BRGs to find areas where we can join together to advance human rights within the scope of each group.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Human Rights Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Human Rights Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022

Inflight Service Committee

  • Our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met on Wednesday, May 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to catering and onboard service/sales.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft.
  • Management continues to experience challenges in many locations that are affecting the correct loading on onboard catering supplies and retail products.  Please continue to report catering issues through Block2Block and safety-related issues through ReportIt!  

On Wednesday, May 25, our AFA Local Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push 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), and Chase Vandergrift (SAN).  Also present were MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairperson Stephanie Garnett and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, Managing Director of Guest Products Todd Traynor-Corey, and other management representatives from the food & beverage, catering operations, and inflight mobile teams. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Ongoing issues with errors in catering execution, provisioning, and loading across the entire system.  The committee believes management needs to get back to basics and significantly reduce the errors that are occurring before adding any additional products or making additional changes.
  • Issues with catering of flights to/from PAE that are catered in non-hub stations.  Catering errors on this flight have been substantial and highly impactful.  Management is looking to open a catering location in PAE.  In the meantime, they are looking to modify/reduce service so that something can be offered that is actually consistent given the current circumstances.
  • Concerns with lack of hands-on, practical service training during initial training.  New hire Flight Attendants continue to be placed at a disadvantage by management by not being set up for success.  The committee advocates for the reinstitution of service flights as part of initial training curriculum.
  • Products that are being advertised or promoted on the menu card are running out (True Lemon/True Lime).  If a product is being actively promoted, additional stock needs to be boarded in anticipation of increased demand from passengers.
  • Review of June 22nd catering changes.  Adding cranberry juice (boarded in 1 liter cartons) and POG as well as changes in beer and first class wine products.  Additional bags of liquor minis will be added to first class beverage carts for summer flying.
  • Safety concerns have been identified with coffee carafes falling off the beverage cart.  Management is looking to take action to address the concern.  There will be a new requirement that coffee carafes be placed inside a drawer on top of the cart to keep them from falling over.
  • New CSA announcements are being added for departures from some stations asking passengers to stow bags on sides in overhead bins (like a book on a bookshelf) and encouraging passengers to use restrooms in the terminal before boarding.  Corresponding Flight Attendant announcements will be added about bag stowage and at D-10 indicating that lavatories are closed until after takeoff.
  • MAX aircraft coffee maker brew baskets have been redesigned to better fit our coffee filter packs.  The new design has been tested by management and shows improved performance.  The redesigned brew basket should roll out across the MAX fleet across the next few weeks as the new parts are manufactured.
  • Continued supply chain issues affecting management’s ability to procure and stock service items and other products.  Most recently, this has affected stir sticks and potato chips.  Management is working to procure substitute products.  A disclaimer is being added to the menu card indicating that items may not be available and/or a substitute product may be offered due to supply chain issues.
  • Discussion about management’s desire to raise the main cabin pre-order meal limit.  The Committee shared concerns about the corresponding increase in trash and additional workload for Flight Attendants.
  • Discussion about some catering locations not providing an empty cart for trash as required.  Some stations are leaving carts onboard from previous legs with supplies or other items in them.  Please report these issues.  Conversely, please refrain from asking catering staff to load additional supplies in empty carts intended for trash stowage.
  • Concerns that the current snack basket being provided for first class passengers is lacking and not enough product is being loaded to allow all passengers much choice or selection.
  • Staffing levels within catering operations and currently open positions that management is working to fill.
  • Installation of Wi-Fi on newly delivered aircraft will continue to lag behind due an increase in aircraft deliveries and capacity limitations from the installation vendor.  Passengers will be notified by email and text message that their aircraft doesn’t have Wi-Fi.
  • Upcoming cabin refresh on the 800 fleet.  Will include new seat covers, seat cushions, carpet, bulkhead, and cabin divider.
  • Review of Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) replacement project scheduled to take place later this year.  Current devices will be replaced with the iPhone 13 (new hires are receiving the iPhone 12).  Block2Block will be updated to utilize the expanded screen space.  The new phones have the potential to use tap-to-pay functionality, which management is currently evaluating for potential use.
  • Update on upcoming Block2Block software fixes and improvements.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Addressing Catering Errors and Shortages.  Escalating catering issues reported through Block2Block and other reporting channels, voicing Flight Attendant frustration with ongoing errors in catering provisioning and loading, and working to hold management accountable to fix the problems that make our job more difficult.
  2. Reviewing Block2Block (B2B) Updates. Working to provide feedback to management on changes and improvements to the B2B app, focusing on ensuring that any changes are functional and that the app remains easy for Flight Attendants to use.
  3. Providing Input on New Aircraft Galley Designs.  Working to ensure that Flight Attendant needs are prioritized in the design of galleys and galley components for new aircraft that the company has on order.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please continue to report any catering issues or problems with onboard service using the catering feedback function in Block2Block.  If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please submit a report through ReportIt!  Your reports provide the Committee with the data needed to continue pushing management for meaningful improvements in our workplace.

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Inflight Service Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Inflight Service Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – June 2026

On Monday, June 8, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in-person 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 pmAS), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Le’a Tupola (LAX/SEA pmHA), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), and […]

MEC Town Hall Video and Q&A Recap – June 8, 2026

Whether you joined us live or are looking to watch on your own schedule, we’re excited to share the full recording of our June 8 MEC Town Hall! Catch up on the discussions and hear directly from our MEC Officers and AFA panelists—now available to you anytime on the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian YouTube channel […]

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, June 4, representatives from our pre-merger Alaska AFA Reserve Committee met to discuss ongoing work advocating for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Conner Gallager (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Kanako Yamada (LAX), Adrian Alcantara (SAN), and MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 15 – June 2026

The JNC has been actively negotiating key sections of the contract, focusing on vacation, sick leave, and temporary duty assignments. A tentative agreement was reached on Section 37 (Temporary Duty Assignments), ensuring financial protections and fair treatment for Flight Attendants during temporary assignments. These ongoing discussions demonstrate a commitment to integrating the best benefits from both Alaska and Hawaiian CBAs for all members.

Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month

Every June, we come together to honor LGBTQ Pride Month in the United States—a time to celebrate the remarkable resilience, diversity, and achievements of the LGBTQ community. Pride Month began as a tribute to the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan in 1969, a pivotal moment that ignited the modern LGBTQ rights movement. The inaugural Pride March, […]

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