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Merger Negotiations Session #8 Update – January 2018

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) just wrapped up our eighth merger negotiations session. We met with management from Tuesday, January 9th through Thursday, January 11th in Seattle, WA.

Representing management: Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays, Vice President of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America Inflight & Call Center/Guest Services Jeff Butler, Managing Director of Labor Relations Elizabeth Ryan, Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel and Alaska Airlines Financial Planning & Analysis Manager Brittany Schaub.

AFA Director of Collective Bargaining Joe Burns joined the JNC to support our efforts this week.

The parties exchanged several comprehensive proposals, and talks will continue in Seattle next Wednesday, January 17th.

In Solidarity,

Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

 

Keep in mind that merger negotiations are a different process than regular negotiations. Discussions are focusing on a limited list of Flight Attendant priorities. All the provisions in the AFA Alaska contract (scheduled pay raises, etc.) will continue in force for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants; all the provisions in the Virgin America work rules will remain in effect for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants unless modified and/or superseded by the AFA Virgin America letters of agreement.

Harvard Flight Attendant Health Study – Third Wave

Researches from Harvard University are continuing their Flight Attendant health study and are seeking additional participants for the next wave of the study.  All current and former Flight Attendants are welcome to participate in the confidential survey regardless of whether or not you have participated previously.  You can access the survey by clicking here.  Additional information about the study can be found below.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee and MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple

Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Update

New FAA Memorandum of Understanding outlines program for both pre-merger Alaska and Virgin America Flight Attendants

AFA is pleased to announce that a new Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by management, the FAA, and AFA, renewing the ASAP program for another two years.  The new MOU includes a provision to roll out an ASAP program to pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants in the near future and then integrate the pre-merger Virgin America ASAP program into the pre-merger Alaska ASAP program once a single collective bargaining agreement and integrated seniority list have been achieved.

Click here to view the new ASAP MOU

Along with the ASAP MOU, an accompanying letter of agreement (LOA) has been signed that specifically apply to the Flight Attendants at each specific pre-merger airline.  The LOAs spell out additional protective provisions of the program that complement the MOU.

Click here to view the ASAP additional provisions LOA for pre-merger Alaska F/As
Click here to view the ASAP additional provisions LOA for pre-merger Virgin America F/As

IMPORTANT: ASAP Reporting Timeline Change for Pre-Merger Alaska Flight Attendants

One important change to the ASAP program involves the timeframe for filing a report under the protective provisions of the program.  Previously, ASAP reports needed to be filed no later than 24 hours after the end of the sequence during which the event occurred.  Recently, the FAA has moved to a new standard template MOU that changes that timeline; this template was used to renew the AS ASAP program.  Under the new ASAP MOU, reports must be submitted no later than 24 hours after the end of the duty period during which the event has occurred in order to qualify for the protective provisions of the ASAP program.

Coming Soon: ASAP for Pre-Merger Virgin America Flight Attendants

AFA and management have also agreed to establish an ASAP program for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants.  Please note that even though the ASAP MOU and LOA have been signed, the ASAP Program for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants is not yet in effect.  A timeline for implementation is currently being discussed with management and more information will be communicated regarding training as well as the date the program will be effective.

Questions?

Pre-Merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

If you have questions about the ASAP program, please contact AFA ASAP ERC Representative Ronda Ruderman or a member of your Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC).

Pre-Merger Virgin America Flight Attendants

If you have questions about the upcoming ASAP program, please contact your Local Council Officers.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Merger Negotiations Session #7 Update – December 2017

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) just wrapped up this week’s session of merger negotiations, our seventh so far. We met with management from Tuesday, December 12th through Thursday, December 14th in Seattle, WA. Representing management: Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays, Vice President of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America Inflight & Call Center/Guest Services Jeff Butler, Managing Director of Labor Relations-Air Elizabeth Ryan, Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel and Alaska Airlines Financial Planning & Analysis Manager Brittany Schaub. Alaska Airlines Director of Retirement Services Chrystie Dickens and Retirement Benefits Analyst Jaime Smalley also joined to discuss 401(k).

The parties are down to the point in negotiations where we are exchanging comprehensive proposals and discussing primarily economic issues. AFA and management exchanged several proposals this session. However, management’s last pass to the JNC did not go far enough to address important concerns for our members, and it is not a deal that we believe our members would ratify.

The JNC’s message to management is that reaching a ratifiable merger agreement is our chance to unify the Flight Attendant groups and move forward together. We hope management takes our message to heart. Our next merger negotiations session is scheduled for January 9-11, 2018.

In Solidarity,

Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

Keep in mind that merger negotiations are a different process than regular negotiations. Discussions are focusing on a limited list of Flight Attendant priorities. All the provisions in the AFA Alaska contract (scheduled pay raises, etc.) will continue in force for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants; all the provisions in the Virgin America work rules will remain in effect for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants unless modified and/or superseded by the AFA Virgin America letters of agreement.

[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy Survey

This message is for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants

AFA and the Virgin America (VX) leadership team (management) agreed to test the Commuter Policy through January 2018. As a reminder, the Commuter Policy is paired with a third Short Call Reserve (SCR) reserve availability period and a sunset clause for the Stuff Happens Pass (SHP). A sunset clause for the SHP means the SHP would be phased out if the Commuter Policy were extended beyond January 2018. See the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA (9/14/2017) for details.

AFA is polling the Virgin America Flight Attendants to determine if there is sufficient interest in continuing with the Commuter Policy beyond January 2018. For security reasons, the survey link will be included in this communication but only via email to personal addresses on file in the AFA Newsletter Sending System. The survey link will not be available on the afaalaska.org website or on social media, and AFA requests that you do not repost the link.

The survey is now open to VX F/As only and will close on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at 9am Pacific Time.

[Survey link is located here in the emailed version of this communication.]

 

If you have any questions or if you need the survey link sent to you, email your Local Council 35 officers or from a personal email address. If you are requesting a survey link, please provide the following for verification purposes: your name, employee number and current domicile.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Council 30 (ANC) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 12 PM PT today for the election of Council 30 LEC Officers, representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in Anchorage. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: LeiLauni ScheidemanLEC Vice President: Heather ReierLEC Secretary: Anne Madsen View the certified election results here >> These newly elected officers […]

Apps To Help You Save Money On Food

Our AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee recognizes that Flight Attendants may be facing increasing challenges when it comes to accessing affordable food, whether on the road or at home. We want you to know that you are not alone. In response to these difficulties, we have compiled a list of apps to help […]

What You Need To Know About The FAA Capacity Cuts

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans for a 10% reduction in flight capacity across 40 markets, starting this Friday. According to news reports, these schedule reductions will begin on Friday and will gradually increase throughout the weekend until they reach the full 10% by the following week. Reports also suggest that all Alaska […]

Council 47 (LAX pmHA) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 12 PM PT today for the election of Council 47 LEC Officers, representing Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants based in Los Angeles. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: Joshua AokiLEC Vice President: Paul IkiokaLEC Secretary: Beth Hayes View the certified election results here >> These newly elected […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

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, […]

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