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Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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Joint Contract Negotiations Begin

Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) has completed the first week of negotiations for our Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). 

Normally, this update would have been published sooner; however, a lot has been happening at both Alaska and Hawaiian:

  • February 28: AFA Alaska TA2 was ratified for the Alaska Flight Attendant Contract
  • March 1: Merged Alaska + Hawaiian Master Executive Councils (MEC) officers’ term began 
  • March 3 and 4: JNC Negotiations Training
  • March 4-6, 10, 11, 13, 17: JNC Negotiations planning meetings took place
  • March 11: AFA Hawaiian reached TA on Contract Extension
  • March 18: JCBA Negotiations began
Our Joint Negotiating Committee is (L-R): Jeff Fuke, Paula Mastrangelo, Tim Green, Heather Reier, Virginia Fritz, and Martin Gusman

With the MECs of both carriers merged, we were now able to begin JCBA negotiations. This JCBA bargaining is unique as we merge two strong and complex contracts on the heels of negotiating successor contracts to both the Hawaiian and Alaska Contracts. As a result, our opening proposals in joint contract negotiations were broad and brief. Key highlights of our Opening Proposal:

  • Each contract section will be addressed individually.
  • The Alaska CBA will be used as a basis for language purposes.
  • Our commitment is to combine the best of both contracts. 
  • We will be seeking improvements over the current contract provisions.
  • Big decisions like TFP vs Block Pay, Open Time systems, etc., will be decided downline after surveying members and consulting with the MEC.

For our first session, we focused on the less controversial sections and passed proposals on the following: 

  • Non-Discrimination
  • Purpose of Agreement
  • Savings Clause
  • Status of Agreement
  • Probation Period
  • Seniority
  • Grievance Procedures
  • System Board of Adjustment
  • Association Security
  • Training
  • Leaves of Absence

Tentative Agreements were reached on the following sections:

  • Non-Discrimination
  • Purpose of Agreement
  • Savings Clause
  • Status of Agreement
  • Probation Period
  • Association Security
  • Medical Examinations

As we move forward, the JNC will normally meet with management for one session per month. Your input will be crucial as the JNC pinpoints the most beneficial language from our two contracts. Our plan involves consulting with our MEC and the relevant Alaska and Hawaiian AFA committee chairs. This will ensure the JNC possesses the necessary working knowledge to fully understand each contractual provision. Then, we will develop section-specific Member surveys to determine our negotiating priorities. 

The JNC will be conducting several membership surveys throughout JCBA negotiations that target specific areas of the contract. This will give you the opportunity to provide us with the most current feedback on many key contractual sections, including:

  • Reserve 
  • Pick Ups, Drops, Trades, and Exchanges / Exchange of Sequences 
  • Scheduling / Hours of Service 
  • Sick Leave 
  • Vacation 
  • Commuter Policy
  • TFP/Block Hours

Our first Survey about the Commuter Policy is currently being developed and will be sent out in the near future. Please anticipate these surveys throughout negotiations as we approach key sections.  

We value your feedback as we work together to create the best possible contract for our combined group. Please reach out to us with any questions or ideas you may have so that we can ensure we leave no ideas on the table.

In Solidarity,

Your Joint Negotiating Committee – Tim Green, Martin Gusman, Jeff Fuke, Virginia Fritz, Heather Reier, and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

  • Our AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, March 13, to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent and advocate for our Reserve Flight Attendants.
  • The Committee also met with management to review specific concerns that Flight Attendants brought forward.
  • Your Local Reserve Committee is available to answer questions, clarify contractual language, or help resolve reserve-related issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Thursday, March 13, 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 Brandi Urban (ANC), Conner Gallagher (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Rebecca Garcia (SAN). Also present was MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton and MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Jarod McNeill.

The committee met with the Interim Managing Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling & Inflight Operations (South) Sara Cook and Manager of Inflight Crew Scheduling Goose Hlaingmyint.

The committee is next scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 19

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items during both internal AFA-only discussions and meetings with management. Some of the topics discussed include:

  • Plans for the initial training classes for the remainder of the year. Management has canceled Class 6 this year; however, they still plan to hire more Flight Attendants. The number of classes and the specific number of students in each class will depend on the delivery of new aircraft. Class 2 is scheduled to be online on April 1, and Class 3 will be online on May 1.
  • Staffing within Crew Scheduling: six new schedulers have been hired and are currently in training, bringing the total number of crew schedulers to 49.
  • A review of reserve utilization statistics shows approximately 87.1% utilization across all bases. Reserve coverage is expected to be around 18% in all bases, except for Seattle, where it is anticipated to be about 20% for Q2.
  • A discussion about new contractual provisions and their implications for reserve Flight Attendants.
  • Ongoing concerns regarding no-shows due to issues with cell phone providers and cell service. Please report these issues through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center so AFA representatives can follow up with management.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Developing Additional Tools & Resources for Reserve Flight Attendants. Working to update Reserve 101 & the Reserve survival guide with new CBA provisions.
  2. 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. Also, developing a checklist of common topics that new hire Flight Attendants need assistance with within the first 30 days after graduation.
  3. Addressing Reserve Contractual Concerns. Researching and investigating reports from Reserve Flight Attendants and actively ensuring that management complies with our contract.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Reserve Committee is your voice to management. You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Reserve Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Upcoming AFA Alaska Phone and Email Outages

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

As we move forward with merging the Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils (MECs), we want to inform you about some changes happening this week that may affect your ability to contact AFA Representatives. Some of the communication systems we use at AFA Alaska, including our email and phone systems, will be combined with those used by AFA Hawaiian. During this transition, you may need to use alternative methods to reach an AFA Representative.

Phone System Outage

Starting tonight, March 18, at 5 PM PT, AFA phone lines—such as the main AFA Alaska number, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) line, and the Air Quality hotline—will be temporarily unavailable. We expect these services to be offline until early next week. In the meantime, if you need to reach someone, here are some alternatives:

  • You can contact Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers using their direct phone numbers on our website.
  • For EAP or Professional Standards assistance, please refer to the Committee Member or Chairperson phone numbers on your Local Committee page or call AFA International EAP at (800) 424-2406 to be routed to an on-call EAP Representative.
  • The Air Quality Reporting Hotline will be available at (503) 358-3436.

Email System Outage

Additionally, starting at 5 PM PT on Friday, March 21, our AFA Alaska email systems will also be offline until Monday morning, March 24. During this time, AFA Representatives won’t be reachable via their AFA Alaska email addresses and won’t be able to view or respond to tickets submitted through the AFA Online Support Center. However, you can still contact AFA Representatives directly by phone using the numbers listed on your Local Committee page.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate this transition. Merging our AFA systems is an important step towards better communication and efficiency, which will help us serve our combined group of Flight Attendants more effectively.

AFA Alaska News in Review – March 14, 2025

In This Edition

Contract Implementation Update

Originally posted March 12, 2025

The original implementation timeline, which only included provisions with agreed-upon implementation dates, was published prior to ratification. Several items needed additional discussion and/or programming before determining a projected date.

Read More >

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – March 2025

Originally posted March 13, 2025

On March 10, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to protect and improve the quality of hotel accommodations and ground transportation providers for Flight Attendants. The Committee met with management to discuss current trends and concerns regarding layover hotels and transportation. If you encounter problems or have positive feedback about hotels or transportation, please report it through the feedback function in the MyCrewCare app. Your feedback is crucial as it provides the Committee with essential data to support keeping high-quality hotels and push for change when conditions are unacceptable.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, March 18 – Thursday, March 20Joint Contract Negotiations
Wednesday, March 19United AFA Day of Action Informational Picketing
Thursday, March 20ANC Base Safety Meeting
Friday, March 21Council 35 (SFO) Local Council Meeting

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – March 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Monday, March 10, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met for our first in-person meeting of the year 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 chairing the meeting.

The committee met with Crew Hotels & Administration Manager Nichole Turner, Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and Managing Director of Operations Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette from management.   

The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, April 14.

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:

  • Van Times: Van times remain a significant topic of discussion. In February, a 10-minute discrepancy between Flight Attendants and Pilots’ van times was identified due to an API processing error, which has since been corrected. The Hotel Committee is currently concerned about early arrivals at the airport. Except for ATL, DEN, and SLC, vans should not arrive at the airport earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled report time. We have observed a considerable number of early arrivals on weekend trips, as van times have not been adjusted for the reduced weekend traffic. Please report any van time discrepancies in MyCrewCare for documentation, research, and resolution.
  • Hotel Contractual Requirements: There is some confusion regarding our crew hotels’ requirements. There are two layers of hotel requirements: those outlined in section 34.A.2 of our collective bargaining agreement, which are contractual requirements, and those imposed by the company on the hotel, available on the front page of the Hotel Hotline under Crew Hotel Room Blocks. These are the only requirements for crew accommodations. If you notice any discrepancies regarding these requirements, please submit a report via MyCrewCare for documentation and resolution.
  • Hotel Information Timelines: The company provided a timeline for when hotel information is imported into NavBlue and CrewAccess. Recognizing that Flight Attendants bid or trade trips specifically for layovers, our Hotel Committee has advocated for both timely and accurate hotel information in these systems. We have successfully expedited the CrewAccess importation dates, allowing hotel information to be available at the start of trip trading. Previously, this migration began on the 19th of the month, days after trading began. Here are the hotel migration timelines for the applicable bid month: 
    • By the 21st: The final pairings sent to API for hotel assignments.
    • By the 26th: Hotel assignments sent to Crew Planning and uploaded into NAVBLUE for bidding.
    • On the 5th: Bidding opens.
    • Final hotel assignments are available in Crew Access on staggered dates throughout the month:
      • On the 12th: Overnights imported for the 1st through the 10th
      • On the 13th: Overnights imported for the 11th through the 20th
      • On the 17th: Overnights imported for the 21st through the end of the month

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee visits hotels under consideration by management to advocate for selections that provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. The committee recently conducted site visits in AUS, SAT and LIR and are submitting their reports for company review.  Currently, we have site visits scheduled in MCO (March), STL (March), MKE (April), IAD (May), FLL (May), LAS (May), RSW (June), and SEA (June). Contract expirations, crew complaints, and cost-saving opportunities are the primary factors that trigger a market review. Depending on the outcome of this review, a site visit may be scheduled in that city. 
  2. Hotel Gainshare Program: The recently ratified 2025-2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) includes a Commitment to Negotiate a Hotel Gain-Share Program Letter of Agreement (LOA). This LOA specifies that within four months of the ratification of the CBA, the parties will schedule and engage in negotiation sessions to discuss the Hotel Gain-Share Program. The goal of these negotiations is to implement the program, if feasible, within six months of the CBA ratification. The parties may mutually agree to extend these time limits. Conversations about this should begin shortly.

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.

Vacation Survey Closing Soon

There’s just 1 DAY LEFT to complete the crucial vacation survey that will help shape future provisions—your insights are essential for advocating the best outcomes for all Flight Attendants. The survey is currently open and will remain available until Wednesday, September 24 at 12 PM PT.

Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons

We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on October 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

On Tuesday, September 16, our AFA Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to raise awareness and create positive change within our workplace and community. Your representatives attending the meeting included Nyachan Chuar (ANC), LaLa Davis (LAX-pmAS), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (LAX-pmHA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Erika Daniel (SAN), and Trista Vanta (SFO). […]

AFA News in Review – September 19, 2025

In This Edition Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month Originally posted September 15, 2025 Join us in celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, a time dedicated to honoring the vibrant cultures and significant contributions of Hispanic-Latinx Americans. Discover the history, participate in special events, and grab your commemorative Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month AFA Pin […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the first group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

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