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Negotiations Update July 8, 2013: Mediation Now Underway

July 8, 2013

 

Dear Flight Attendants,

Today is the first day of mediation in Valencia, California. Your Negotiating Committee finished a productive introductory meeting with National Mediation Board (NMB) mediator Victoria Gray this morning. We are now on a quick break while Victoria meets with management early this afternoon.

AFA is pleased to introduce transportation economist, Dan Akins, to our team. Dan joins the Negotiating Committee this week as negotiations support to help the committee evaluate the economics of various proposals and to provide the perspective of Alaska’s financial position in the industry to the discussion. Dan graduated from the London School of Economics with a concentration in Transportation Economics and he comes to us with over 20 years of industry experience. He has played a pivotal role in advising organized labor groups such as AFA and remains actively involved in supporting ongoing labor negotiations at major US carriers. As an example, Dan supported Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants during the last several rounds of their contract negotiations. Welcome, Dan!

The Negotiating Committee is very hopeful that this week will prove to be productive and looks forward to sitting down with management and Victoria very soon. We will update you as talks progress.

In solidarity,

 

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Tracy, Karina Cameron-Fetters, Jake Jones and AFA Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

 

“Five Bases, One Voice”

MEC Discussion Forum on the new website

Dear Flight Attendants,

The MEC Discussion Board is up and going and we encourage you to post your questions on this password protected site versus posting on other “Open” sites.

 We realize that the change to the website may be a little confusing, so we have prepared a step by step instruction list for you!

 First, the MEC website is an open site.

This means that no log in or password is required to view 99% of the site.

You will see that there is a rotating picture function on the main page that illustrates a picture for each base; it starts with Council 18- LAX and moves through the bases.

 Registering for the Discussion Forum:

On the main page you will find Discussion Forum tab along the top of the page. Click on this tab to go to the discussion forum area. If you have signed up for a login and password you will be asked to sign in to view the forum. If you are a new user you will need to register for the discussion forum.

To register simply click on the word register: You will be asked to provide an email address and a username. Once you register with this information an email will be sent to you with a generic password. Log into the discussion forum with your created user name and generic password- After you log into the discussion forum you can change your password and edit your preferences.

 You are now in the discussion forum and can continue to the discussion area.

 Viewing the discussion topics:

 In the middle of the page is the General Discussion box. To see the list of topics click on “Post Here” and the list of topics will appear. Simply click “Topic Title” to see the discussion and add your post.

If you want to go back to the Topics List simply hit the arrow back button on your page.

 If you have any problems logging into the discussion forum please do not hesitate to let us know by filling out the “Contact Us” form on the main page.

 Other helpful hints for the new site:

  •  In the middle of the home page you will find the latest updates from the MEC under the heading “Latest News.” Along the right side of the main page are important links- just one click away from your eMaestro page and the latest information from Negotiations.

  •  At the bottom of the page is the MEC Office address and location, along with a search function for the site and more helpful navigation links.

  •  Most of you will want to focus on the top of the main/home page. Here you will see tabs, starting with HOME, which will whisk you away to the different pages in the site. If you hold your mouse on the MEC Committee tab the list of MEC Committees will appear.

  •  Do you need information on getting out of the Twin Hill uniform and into the M and H? Click on the MEC Uniform Committee tab and on this page you will find “Your Uniform Your Health.” Simply click on this and you have the information you need to start the process.

  •  Moving back to the main page- locate the Local Councils tab. Hover your mouse over this tab and the local councils will appear. Are you PDX based? Simply click on Council 39 PDX to view officers and committee members in this base.

 Take some time click through the site! As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to let your LEC President know by filling out the Contact Us form on the main page!

MEC Grievance Update June 7, 2013: Washington Family Care Act (WFCA) Ruling

June 7, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

Another win for AFA and all Washington-based Flight Attendants! 

On Friday, May 31, 2013, Judge Robart of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, ruled that the Railway Labor Act (RLA) did not preempt the Washington Family Care Act (WFCA) in Alaska Airlines v. Schurke, Case No. C11-0616JLR, Document 101. This is a very big deal with national ramifications. So how did we get here?

Let’s start at the beginning.  Around the time that the former vice president of Inflight Services implemented her Sick Leave Improvement Plan, management also began cracking down on perceived abuses of our right to use our paid leave to care for sick family members.  They were assessing Emergency Drops (EDs)  if a Flight Attendant didn’t have enough sick leave to cover the absence. A number of Flight Attendants then filed charges with the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), alleging that Alaska had violated their rights under the Washington Family Care Act.  These cases were all settled.

Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines management filed a federal lawsuit asserting that the RLA preempted the WFCA and therefore L&I could not enforce the Washington Family Care Act against the Company.  The court dismissed the case because there was no Flight Attendant who had actually been harmed by Alaska’s failure to follow the WFCA. Shortly thereafter Flight Attendant (and AFA Council 19 SEA President) Laura Masserant called in sick child for a trip.  She did not have enough sick leave to cover the sequence, so she asked to use her accrued vacation time.  Management refused, saying that bid vacation could not be used.  Laura filed with L&I, who ruled in her favor.

Alaska Airlines management then did two things—it appealed the L&I order, and it re-filed the federal suit.  Management and L&I agreed to dismiss the appeal and concentrate on the lawsuit.  It was understood that the appeal would be reinstated if Alaska Airlines lost the case.

This all happened late last fall.  AFA grew increasingly concerned that our voice wasn’t being heard in the lawsuit.  L&I was on our side, but as a government agency has its own interests which might not always be identical to ours.  We were also concerned about the parties settling, which would stick us with whatever outcome they reached.

AFA International allocated significant financial resources to this case, allowing us to hire a legal expert in these matters: Seattle attorney Kathy Barnard.  She filed a motion to intervene (meaning to enter into a suit as a third party for one’s own interests) in the federal court case, which the judge granted.  Consequently, AFA officially became a party to the lawsuit with the right to file any necessary motions and be involved in any settlement talks.

Earlier this year, the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment.  The court granted AFA and L&I’s motions and denied Alaska’s motion.  That is, we won the case without having to go to trial!

Two things can happen now:  Alaska Airlines management can appeal the judge’s ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals or it can forego that option and reinstate the appeal before L&I.  AFA is hoping that management gives up the fight against our rights under Washington law.  However, AFA would retain our intervenor status in a federal appeal and we would ask for such status in an appeal before L&I.

So what does this all mean?  It means that Washington-based Flight Attendants continue to have the right to file charges with L&I if Alaska Airlines management violates their rights under the WFCA. Additionally, the federal court agreed with AFA and L&I that our WFCA rights exist separate from the collective bargaining agreement. It means that Alaska Airlines management must adhere to state law. Finally, it means that all of us stood up to Alaska Airlines management and its contracted legal help and kept our rights.

Many thanks to AFA International and to Kathy Barnard and her team for their support. Congratulations to us all!

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

MEC Grievance Chair Jennifer Wise MacColl and AFA Senior Staff Attorney Kimberley Chaput

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

References:

Alaska Airlines v. Schurke, Case No. C11-0616JLR, Document 101

COALITION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS COMMENDS TSA FOR KEEPING KNIVES OFF PASSENGER PLANES

For Immediate Release     

 

COALITION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS COMMENDS TSA FOR KEEPING KNIVES OFF PASSENGER PLANES

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The 90,000-strong Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions today celebrated the success of its campaign to keep knives off planes and commended the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for holding the line against weapons on flights.

 

“We promised ‘No Knives on Planes Ever Again,’ and today that promise was kept,” the Flight Attendant Coalition announced. “Terrorists armed only with knives killed thousands of Americans on 9/11/2001. As the women and men on the front lines in the air, we vowed to do everything in our power to protect passengers and flight crews from harm and prevent that type of atrocity from happening ever again. We commend the TSA for revising its policy based on input from front line aviation workers with the greatest stake in the rule change. The result is better security policy and the assurance that our nation’s aviation security system continues to be vigilant for knives that could be used in a terrorist attack or criminal act against passengers or crew.”

 

Five unions representing 90,000 Flight Attendants from across the industry quickly mobilized after the TSA announced plans on March 5, 2013 to allow knives with blades up to 2.36 inches long back onto aircraft cabins for the first time since 9/11. Knives in the hands of terrorists or mentally ill or drunk or drugged passengers would have posed a clear threat to everyone in the air and in airport secure areas.

 

On May 6, 2013, each of the coalition unions representing Flight Attendants joined with TSA screeners, pilots, law enforcement officers and airline passengers to file a legal petition to the TSA against the rule change that would have permitted knives in the aircraft cabin. Administrator John Pistole demonstrated leadership and sound judgment by responding to this petition and other stakeholder feedback. Today, the Administrator has determined that knives will remain on the official “prohibited items list” governing what airline passengers may carry on their persons or in carry-on bags onto planes.

 

The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions was quickly joined by organizations representing virtually everyone else potentially affected by a new knife policy, including TSA security officers, pilots, gate agents, federal air marshals, and airline passengers. The Flight Attendants thank the American Federation of Government Employees representing TSA Security Officers, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, FlyersRights.org, the nation’s largest organization representing air travelers, the Coalition of Pilots Associations, the United Airlines chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, the families of Betty Ong, Sara Low and Alfred Marchand as well as Airlines for America, the trade association representing U.S. Airlines

 

The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions was quickly joined by organizations representing virtually everyone else potentially affected by a new knife policy, including TSA security officers, pilots, gate agents, federal air marshals, and airline passengers. The Flight Attendants thank the American Federation of Government Employees representing TSA Security Officers, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, FlyersRights.org, the nation’s largest organization representing air travelers, the Coalition of Pilots Associations, the United Airlines chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, the families of Betty Ong, Sara Low and Alfred Marchand as well as Airlines for America, the trade association representing U.S. airlines.

 

Flight Attendants also wish to thank Members of Congress from both parties for their crucial support. House Homeland Security Members Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) were instrumental in pushing for a process that would include input from aviation stakeholders. Congressmen Ed Markey (D-MA) and Michael Grimm (R-NY) led the charge against knives in the aircraft cabin by introducing the No Knives Act of 2013 within days of the policy announcement. Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Kristin Gillibrand (D-NY), the late Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) co-sponsored the “Keep Knives Out of Our Skies Act.”

WWW.NOKNIVESONPLANES.COM

 

# # #

 

Media Contacts: Corey Caldwell, AFA, ccaldwell@afanet.org; Anthony DeMaio, APFA, ademaio@oneillandassoc.com; James Carlson, IAM, jcarlson@iamaw.org; David White, IBT, dwhite@teamster.org; Jamie Horwitz, TWU, media@twu.org.

The Flight Attendants Union Coalition coordinates on issues of mutual interest to Flight Attendants. Members of the Coalition are the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), and Transport Workers Union (TWU).

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that […]

Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 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 […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

On Monday, October 13, 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), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

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 next 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 […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. 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 Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]

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