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Mobilization Training Reminder Before Bidding Closes

Dear Flight Attendants,

Bidding will close very soon for the month of May.  As you prepare your bids, we hope you will plan on getting involved with the Mobilization Committee by attending Mobilization Training.  To ensure that you’ll have the opportunity to get involved, please bid one of the following dates off and sign up for a Mobilization Training session here: http://alaskamec.org/mobilization/training.

  • 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

The training will include guest speakers, negotiations and mobilization strategies, Railway Labor Act (RLA) history and planning of future solidarity actions.

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

We are excited about the new Mobilization Committee and look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate our resolve to achieve the contract improvements we deserve!  If you cannot attend one of the training sessions there will other mobilization opportunities in the future.

In solidarity,

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

[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

Navigating Acute & Delayed Stress As A Flight Attendant

Stress is an inherent aspect of the Flight Attendant profession, often stemming from the demanding nature of responsibilities and the unpredictable nature of air travel. It’s essential for Flight Attendants not only to understand the different types of stress they may encounter but also to recognize the warning signs of acute and delayed stress for […]

Protect Yourself From Potential Discipline on Social Media

Our Grievance Committee would like to provide background on social media, protected classes, and discipline. Federal protected classes include race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or transgender status), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.  Alaska’s People Policy says: Personal Conduct22. Threatening, intimidating, or discourteous behavior, including abusive, profane, or obscene language, acts, […]

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

On Wednesday, March 25, 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 Louise Borras (LAX-pmAS), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (LAX-pmHA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Nyachan Chuar (ANC), and Yan Yan Teague (SEA). MEC Human […]

Pre-Merger Hawaiian Inflight Service Committee Update – March 2026

Editor’s Note: Our MEC Inflight Service Committee now represents both pre-merger airlines, but management still makes service decisions that affect each group of Flight Attendants differently. This update covers changes for both Hawaiian- and Alaska-branded flying, but is specific to aircraft flown by pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines crews. As the work of the merger progresses, we […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 13 – March 2026

Our JNC met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC focused on clarifying questions about moving expenses and presented a proposal for Sick Leave, using feedback from Flight Attendants to guide improvements. The Committee is working to incorporate the strongest elements from both contracts to ensure better support for all members.

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