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[AFA Int’l Media Release] Flight Attendant Union Promotes Bill For Permanent Ban On Knives In The Aircraft Cabin

http://www.afacwa.org/flight_attendant_union_promotes_bill_for_permanent_ban_on_knives_in_the_aircraft_cabin

April 02, 2014

Washington, DC– The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today pledged unyielding support for a new bill that would place a permanent ban on knives in the passenger cabin. The bi-partisan bill, H.R. 4368, was introduced by Representatives Michael Grimm (R-NY), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), David Joyce (R-OH), and Daniel Lipinski (D-IL). It serves as companion legislation to Senate bill S. 1008. AFA issued the following statement, commending the lawmakers who are taking sound action for aviation security and refusing to forget why there is a ban on knives in the passenger cabin.

“After leading intense efforts last year to ensure that knives are kept on the prohibited items list and out of the passenger cabin, our Flight Attendant union remains steadfast in pushing for a permanent ban secured by law. We are dedicated to working with Congress on swift passage of this bill. Passengers, law enforcement, crew members, airport ground staff, security experts and airlines all agree: there should be no knives ever again.

“We applaud the leadership of Representatives Grimm, Gabbard, Joyce and Lipinski. These lawmakers are helping to strengthen our nation’s aviation security. Their work will result in safer flights for millions of Flight Attendants and passengers.

“Flight Attendants are united in this fight and have resoundingly sent one simple message: no knives on planes ever again. Together with our allies, AFA has been successful in keeping knives on the prohibited items list, but it is crucial that Congress act on this legislation for a permanent ban.

“This is a bipartisan issue that is supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans. It’s about our history and our future security. It’s time: No Knives, Ever Again.”

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 68 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 60,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.

MEC Update April 5, 2014: Inflight Management’s “New Sick Leave Communication”

Dear Flight Attendants,

The Master Executive Council (MEC) has received quite a bit of feedback in response to the “New Sick Leave Communication” email sent by Managing Director of Inflight Services Ron Calivin, dated April 1, 2014. Many of you have specifically requested the MEC to respond to the communication. In that email, management stated an intent to begin sharing charts and data highlighting one’s sick leave usage and balance. The charts and such will be contained in emails sent following a sick leave event. According to the email, management plans to include de-identified information about the individual’s peer sick leave average and the highest peer sick leave balance as well.

If you did not receive this email in FirstClass, you should contact your base supervisor. AFA has reason to believe management is experiencing continuing issues with their FirstClass distribution lists. This is not the first time in recent memory that AFA has received feedback from our membership indicating problems with Inflight communications via FirstClass. Because not everybody received the communication there is a rumor out on the line that the email (and the new policy) was retracted, but this is not true.

Many Flight Attendants have expressed they are upset with various aspects of the new policy highlighted in the email—particularly the peer comparison. The reality is that management is allowed to communicate with Flight Attendants regarding their sick leave usage as long as such communication is not disciplinary in nature. Flight Attendants may be disciplined for sick leave usage solely pursuant to the Attendance Policy outlined in Section 32 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement—except in the case of sick leave abuse.

If management were in violation of a contractual provision or established practice, AFA would take immediate action by filing a grievance. A Flight Attendant is not required to respond to email(s) sent in response to a sick leave event and the receipt of such email is not disciplinary in nature. Therefore, AFA does not find grounds to object to this new practice. It’s essentially a similar practice as the “get well” communications that management has been sending for some time now following an individual’s sick leave event.

Rest assured the MEC has communicated our members’ feedback to Inflight management. If you are concerned about the April 1st communication and/or aspects of the new policy, we encourage you to contact your base supervisor or Ron Calvin. Inflight management has publicly stated a desire to have open and honest two-way communication, so AFA encourages our members to take them up on the offer. If you think management is being too paternalistic or passive-aggressive, tell them so!

In solidarity,

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

MEC 5B Logo

PBS Update April 5, 2014 – 1415 PDT: Problem with May Bids Due to New Aircraft Codes Resolved

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

Bidding in Navtech’s PBS has re-opened and the bidding deadline extended to 12 noon PDT on April 10th.

 

This is from Inflight Bulletin 2014-0071 “May Bids Reopened – New Aircraft Codes Added”:


“Fleet planning has added new aircraft-type designator codes for aircraft that
have been through the fleet modification. These new aircraft types were not
added to PBS prior to bids opening at 9am on April 5th. Consequently bidding
was shut down at 1120am April 5th to add these new aircraft type codes.

Bidding reopened at 1:45pm PDT April 5th and will be extended until 12noon PDT
April 10th.

Here are the definitions of the new aircraft types:

8EX is the 73H (non-ETOPS 737-800) with 6 extra seats
9WX is the 737-900 with 9 extra seats w/winglets
9EX is the 737-900 with 9 extra seats

If you use Aircraft Type in your bid, check to make certain if these new
aircraft codes need to be added to your Award or Avoid statements.
Questions can be sent to PBS Q&A on FirstClass.”

 

There will be no further updates regarding this issue unless warranted.

 

In solidarity,

 

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

 

Your AFA PBS Committee—Stephen Poynter and Rebecca Asbell

MEC 5B Logo

PBS Update April 5, 2014 – 1300 PDT: Problem with May Bids Due to New Aircraft Codes

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

A problem has been identified with the May pairings that is affecting bidding. Consequently, bids have been locked in Navtech’s Preferential Bidding System (PBS) and the Joint PBS Committee is working quickly to resolve the issue. Bidding will reopen as soon as possible and the bidding deadline will be extended.

 

What is known so far is that unbeknownst to Crew Planning and the Joint PBS Committee, several new aircraft codes were loaded into the system:  8EX, 9WX and 9EX. The Joint PBS Committee began investigating the codes as soon as they were discovered. They have found out that these codes are related to aircraft that have been reconfigured with extra seats (the ‘X’)—nine seats on the -900 and six seats on the -800—and the new scimitar shaped winglets (the ‘W’).

 

Because many Flight Attendants bid by aircraft type, not addressing the issue would most likely significantly impact bid awards. Stand by for further updates!

 

In solidarity,

 

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

 

Your AFA PBS Committee—Stephen Poynter and Rebecca Asbell

 

MEC 5B Logo

Introducing the Mobilization Committee

Dear Flight Attendants:

The VOICE (Volunteer Organizers for Information, Communications, and Education) Committee has served us with distinction over the past several years during contract negotiations.  The MEC would like to thank these committee members for their dedication and contribution to AFA.  Today, we announce a new chapter, as the VOICE Committee evolves to become the new Mobilization Committee.

As we gear up for another round of negotiations, demonstrating our solidarity and unity is more important now than ever before.  Bringing Flight Attendants together through participation in organized solidarity activities will be the primary responsibility of the Mobilization Committee.  The Committee will also work to actively share information pertaining to negotiations and help Flight Attendants to find and access official sources of information.

Mobilization Volunteers

The backbone of our mobilization efforts will be our Mobilization Volunteers.  Volunteers will provide support to the Negotiating Committee through coordinated solidarity activity and two-way communication between the membership and the committee.  They will work closely with the Local Mobilization Chairperson to call other members to action through participation in organized solidarity activities and a program of information sharing with Flight Attendants.

Specific duties of a Mobilization Volunteer include:

  • Responsible for educating the membership and moving them to action.  They will provide information and support for targeted issues or specifically identified groups of Flight Attendants as defined by the Negotiating Committee.
  • To further the Flight Attendants’ understanding of key issues through active information sharing and referral to official sources of information
  • To dispel gossip, rumor, and inaccurate information regarding negotiations by directing Flight Attendants to official sources of information
  • To provide two-way communication of the needs and responses of the membership through feedback to the Local Mobilization Chairperson and the Negotiating Committee
  • Actively participate in organized solidarity activities such as canvassing of membership at airports and crew rooms, informational leafleting or picketing before the general public, or other activities as approved by the Master Executive Council (MEC) 

How To Get Involved

In order to get involved as a Mobilization Volunteer, plan now to attend one of the upcoming mobilization training sessions to be held in May.  Sessions will be held as follows:

Anchorage

Monday, May 12

10 AM to 12 PM § 1 to 3 PM

Seattle

Tuesday, May 13

8 to 10 AM § 11 AM to 1 PM § 2 to 4 PM

Portland

Wednesday, May 14

10 AM to 12 PM § 1 to 3 PM

Los Angeles

Thursday, May 15

10 AM to 12 PM § 1 to 3 PM

San Diego

Friday, May 16

9 to 11 AM § 12 to 2 PM

In order to sign up for one of these sessions, visit the online registration form here: http://alaskamec.org/mobilization/training.  Please note that space in each session is limited and registration will close once capacity is reached.

We are excited about the new Mobilization Committee and look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate our combined resolve for the contract improvements that we deserve!

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and MEC Mobilization Chairperson Adam Clarey

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – December 2025

On Monday, December 1, 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), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Interviews – January 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Do you want to help new Flight Attendants as they go through initial training and probation? Our MEC is seeking a dedicated and organized Member in good standing to serve as the MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation. In this role, you’ll be the primary […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson 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 […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for our next merged MEC Committee Chairperson and Representative positions. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Inflight Training Committee Chairperson: Megan BrownMEC Inflight Training […]

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