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Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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What’s In Your Personnel File?

Recently, we’ve become aware of inaccurate information contained in several Flight Attendant personnel files.  It was discovered that several personnel files contained documents that were incorrect or out-of-date.

The information contained in your personnel file chronicles your career at Alaska Airlines.  It contains routine administrative documents, kudos from customers and coworkers, and disciplinary records and reprimands.  Though it is likely that the information contained in your personnel file is accurate, there’s always the slight possibility that information that is inaccurate or no longer applicable (in the case of discipline older than 18 months).

It’s Always a Good Idea to Look Inside

According to our collective bargaining agreement, you’re entitled to a complete copy of your personnel file with at least seven calendar days’ notice (section 24.G).  We recommend that every Flight Attendant take advantage of this contractual right and review your personnel file on a regular basis.

Just Ask Your Performance Supervisor

To make a request for your copy of your personnel file, contact your performance supervisor.  We recommend doing so in writing, using FirstClass email.  You’ll find contact information for your performance supervisor below.

ANC

Natasha Kemp (natasha.kemp@alaskaair.com)

SEA

Last Name A-G: Michelle Kirschbaum (michelle.kirschbaum@alaskaair.com) and/or Rachael Mattioli (rachael.mattioli@alaskaair.com)
Last Name H-P: Candy Donaldson (candy.donaldson@alaskaair.com)
Last Name Q-Z: Natasha Kemp (natasha.kemp@alaskaair.com)

PDX

Candy Donaldson (candy.donaldson@alaskaair.com)

LAX

Michelle Kirschbaum (michelle.kirschbaum@alaskaair.com) and/or Rachael Mattioli (rachael.mattioli@alaskaair.com)

SAN

Natasha Kemp (natasha.kemp@alaskaair.com)

In Solidarity,

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

MEC 5B Logo

Management Pressure and Trading While on Probation

The Master Executive Council (MEC) has recently become aware of situations involving Inflight management discouraging new hires from exercising their contractual ability to trade, reposition, or give away trips or reserve days.  This kind of pressure violates our contract.

Have You Been Pressured Not To Trade?

When you were on probation, did a member of Inflight management discourage you from exercising your contractual rights to trade?  We’re looking for first-hand examples of Inflight supervisors or managers discouraging you from:

  • Asking for personal drops
  • Trading or giving away pairings (either on your line or picked up)
  • Repositioning, trading, or giving away reserve days or block

Share Your Example With Us

If you have a first-hand example of an Inflight supervisor or manager pressuring you not to exercise your contractual right, we’re looking for your feedback.  Flight Attendants currently on probation: please participate!  However, be assured that AFA will hold any responses from probationary Flight Attendants in strict confidence until the completion of probation.

Click here to complete a response form

Questions?

Send an email to probation@afaalaska.org

In Solidarity,

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

MEC 5B Logo

Personal Strategies for Approaching the 13th Anniversary of September 11th

From Your AFA EAP

As we approach the thirteenth anniversary of September 11th, many of us will begin to plan how we’ll recognize this day. Anniversaries offer an opportunity to acknowledge our memories and experiences, to connect with others who share in them, and to pay tribute to our individual and collective journeys. Anniversaries can also serve as personal and professional milestones of our healing and resiliency.   For some, September 11th will be marked with private personal gestures such as observing a moment of silence, spending quiet time reflecting, or dedicating our flying to our profession. For others, it will be marked with collective activities such as ceremonies and memorial services.

There is no right way or better way to recognize the anniversary; but, there are some suggestions that may prove helpful as we approach the anniversary of September 11th.

  • Observe the anniversary in a way that’s comfortable for you. Say “no” to events or activities that you sense may flood you with too many feelings.
  • Don’t compare yourself to how others around you appear to be dealing with the September 11th
  • Acknowledge that we all heal at different rates, in different ways, and with different outcomes.
  • Give yourself permission and time to be affected. Though uncomfortable, anticipate and plan for having a stress reaction as the anniversary approaches. Trust that if you have moments of difficulty, you’ll be able to pull yourself back together.
  • Try not to isolate. Isolation can often amplify difficult feelings. Pre-plan now to be with family or friends if you know you have this tendency.
  • Think through in advance how much and the type of anniversary media coverage you can comfortably absorb. Actively monitor and control what news coverage enters your personal space.
  • If you are interested in attending scheduled anniversary events, check local community websites or voicesofsept11.org.
  • Ask for help, support, and opportunities to talk. Your AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to listen. Telephone numbers of your local EAP committee members are listed at afanet.org under the EAP Section or at http://afaalaska.org/eap. You can also call the AFA International EAP at 1-800-424-2406 or the AFA Alaska EAP at 1-949-470-0493.

In solidarity,

Your AFA International and AFA Alaska EAP

Patriotic Ribbon

“Making the Connection” Training

Inflight management recently announced a voluntary training called “Making the Connection” via Inflight Bulletin 2014-0173, which seems to be visible to Seattle-based Flight Attendants only. The training is intended to provide Flight Attendants some familiarization with the duties of a Customer Service Agent and vice versa. AFA was informed of the program but it was rolled out without negotiating the terms of the training with the union.

Available for pick-up in Seattle Open Time

“Making the Connection” is currently being offered in Seattle only and may be picked up out of Seattle’s Open Time. It is available on Mondays through October and is a trial. If the class is successful, the program may be rolled out system-wide.

Flight Attendants in other domiciles are being allowed to pick up the training; however, be advised that management is not offering hotel accommodations in Seattle in order to position for the class. Compensation is quoted as 6 TFP, which is contractually consistent.

“Making the Connection” is not cross training!!!

The training is designed to foster a better understanding between the Flight Attendant and Customer Service Agent workgroups—nothing more. This is not cross training and AFA leadership and IAM leadership will pursue our respective dispute resolution processes if employees of one workgroup are required to perform duties of the other. However, we have no reason to believe this will happen.

AFA disputes the program “follows the same rules as Recurrent Training”

From the bulletin: “This program follows the same rules as Recurrent Training for rest requirements, date change requests and attendance (sick leave and Failure to Report to training would apply).” Through the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process, AFA is disputing that the program as described actually follows the contractual Recurrent Training rules for attendance, sick leave and to a certain extent date change requests.

Once AFA and management achieve agreement on the concerns, one or both parties will communicate the outcome. In the meantime, be aware that several aspects of this voluntary training class are in dispute.

In solidarity,

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

MEC 5B Logo (Email)

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Monday, September 8, 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), Ila Christy (PDX), Hilary […]

We Will Never Forget – September 11, 2001

AFA Never Forget Website United Flight 175 Robert J. FangmanAmy N. JarretAmy R. KingKathryn LaBorieAlfred G. MarchandMichael C. TarrouAlicia N. TitusCaptain: Victor SaraciniFirst Officer: Michael HorrocksCustomer Service Representatives: Marianne MacFarlane and Jesus Sanchez United Flight 93 Lorraine G. BaySandra BradshawWanda A. GreenCeeCee LylesDeborah WelshCaptain: Jason DahlFirst Officer: Leroy Homer American Flight 11 Barbara AresteguiJeffrey CollmanSara […]

Vacation Survey Now Open

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants Your Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is working diligently to understand and improve the vacation benefits for our Flight Attendants at Alaska and Hawaiian. Your input is essential in ensuring that the vacation provisions we adopt reflect your needs and preferences. To gather your perspectives, […]

SEA Domicile Negotiations – September 2025

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants Negotiations Update The SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management.  The SEA NC met with management on September 3 to September 5 in Honolulu. At the negotiating table for this session were: Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants   […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—October 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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