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        You are here: Home / Archives for Latest News

        AFA News in Review – August 8, 2025

        August 8, 2025 17:00

        In This Edition

        • Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Interviews—September 2025
        • Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—September 2025
        • Joint Contract Negotiations Session 6 – August 2025
        • Next Week’s Events

        Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Interviews—September 2025

        Originally posted August 5, 2025

        Our first group of MEC committees merged on June 1, and we’re moving forward with plans to merge the next group on October 1. During the September MEC Meeting, we’ll hold interviews for MEC Committee Chairperson positions for the merged Hotel and Membership Engagement Committees. Interested candidates should submit an online expression of interest form by September 9, 2025, at 5 PM PT.

        Note: The original version of this post incorrectly listed the term of service for the positions. The correct term will begin on October 1, 2025, and will end on December 31, 2028. The version on the website has been updated to reflect this correction.

        Read More >


        Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—September 2025

        Originally posted August 5, 2025 | Pre-Merger Alaska

        Our MEC will soon begin interviewing and electing MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions for the upcoming new MEC Officer term. In September, interviews will be conducted for the MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson, Assistant, Payroll Representative, and MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson. If you’re interested in stepping up, submit your expression of interest by September 9!

        Note: The original version of this post incorrectly listed the term of service for the positions. The correct term will begin on January 1, 2026, and will end on December 31, 2028. The version on the website has been updated to reflect this correction.

        Read More >


        Joint Contract Negotiations Session 6 – August 2025

        Originally posted August 8, 2025

        During this week of negotiations we exchanged various proposals with careful consideration. We identified several provisions that need further evaluation to align with our collective goals. As we continue our dialogue, we remain hopeful that progress will be made in the upcoming sessions scheduled for September 30 to October 2.

        Read More >


        Next Week’s Events

        Monday, August 11 – Tuesday, August 12CWA Convention
        Monday, August 11Monthly Hotel Committee Meeting (pmAS)
        Wednesday, August 13Regular MEC Meeting
        Thursday, August 14Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting (pmAS)
        Thursday, August 14Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) (pmAS)

        See the MEC Event Calendar >

        Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: AFA News in Review

        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 ChairpersonAllen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
        Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
        Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
        Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberNeil Osato, Director, Labor and People Relations, Hawaiian
        Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
        Suzanne Balzer, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorKaren 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.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Tagged With: pmAS, pmHA

        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:

        • MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson
        • MEC Grievance Committee Assistant
        • MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative
        • MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson

        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.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: committee elections, interviews

        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:

        • MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson
        • MEC Membership Engagement Committee Chairperson

        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

        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 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

        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.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, AS/HA Merger, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: committee elections, interviews

        AFA News in Review – August 1, 2025

        August 1, 2025 17:00

        In This Edition

        • Understanding JCBA Negotiations
        • Shared on Social
        • Next Week’s Events

        Understanding JCBA Negotiations

        Originally posted July 30, 2025

        Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) negotiations are different from the usual Section 6 talks. Instead of updating one agreement, we’re working on merging two existing contracts into a single contract. Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) will be reaching out with focused surveys to hear your thoughts on specific sections, aiming to blend the best of both carriers.

        Read More >


        Shared on Social

        Check out this week’s highlights from our social media! Click on a graphic below to view the original post on Instagram. Be sure to follow us for the latest updates and news as we share it!

        Originally posted July 29, 2025


        Next Week’s Events

        Tuesday, August 5 – Thursday, August 7Joint Contract Negotiations

        See the MEC Event Calendar >

        Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: AFA News in Review

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        Have an issue or concern to report to AFA?  Click here to access the AFA Alaska online support center.

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        Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – January 2026

        February 2, 2026

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, January 27, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

        Celebrating Black History Month

        February 1, 2026

        February 1 marks the start of Black History Month in the United States—a vibrant celebration with roots dating back to 1925, when acclaimed historian Carter G. Woodson first introduced “Negro History Week” to highlight the remarkable achievements of Black individuals. In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford expanded it to Black History Month, calling on all […]

        Never Forget: Honoring Alaska Airlines Flight 261—January 31, 2000 

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        On this day, we pause to remember and honor the anniversary of the tragic loss of Alaska Airlines Flight 261, which occurred on January 31, 2000. This heartbreaking event claimed the lives of all 88 passengers and crew on board, leaving an enduring impact on all of us. As we reflect on this tragic day, […]

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