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A Letter From The LEC Presidents

Dear Alaska Flight Attendants,

We just passed the 14th anniversary of Flight 261 and, for those of us who were here when this tragic day occurred, this day becomes a day of reflection. We think of the friends and co-workers we lost, we remember how our airline struggled to get back on its feet, and we remember how the employees all came together to solidify the family foundation that we enjoy today.

Shortly after our industry experienced turmoil in the wake of 9/11. For Flight Attendants it was not only an attack on our nation it was an attack on our profession. We came together to fight for stronger rules and regulations. We learned from the heroes, the First Responders, on the airplanes that day and their sacrifices provide us with safer regulations today.

We have struggled through the good and the bad during the last decade due to hard economic times. All employees at Alaska Airlines have helped our company survive the downturn of the economy, especially the Flight Attendants who voted to sign an extension to a contract so our company could focus on positioning the airline for success.

The Alaska Airlines family has successfully and gracefully worked together to ensure we can enjoy long careers in a family atmosphere with respect and compassion.

However, the long hard battles we have fought over the past 14 years are beginning to wear on us. High expectations for this round of negotiations are increasing tensions and the passion that makes us the best in the industry is starting to turn negative and directed in a manner that hurts one another.

Your LEC Presidents want to ask that we all take a deep breath and step back for a moment.

Contract negotiations are stressful for everyone; Flight Attendants, AFA Officers, Negotiation Committee members and our family members at home. We all feel the tension. We are aware of this fact and validate your concerns. This TA may be our Flight Attendant bible for the next 5 years and we respect the fact that it needs to meet your standards. With a diverse work group the reality is that we may not be able to find the solutions that everyone can appreciate. However, we have promised to deliver specific improvement and this TA answers those promises.

The TA is a positive improvement for some Flight Attendants and for other Flight Attendants it is not. We recognize this fact and remind you that you enjoy the right to vote in a manner that best reflects you.

We love healthy debates and healthy debates are good for the soul. As we enter into the next round of Road Shows your LEC Presidents want to remind everyone that we expect the debate and are happy to answer the tough questions, but we ask that the debate remains respectful.

The one thing we all have in common is we are first and foremost Flight Attendants. We have grown up together and watched our families grow together. Whatever the outcome of the upcoming vote, it is imperative that we continue to respect one another through the process.

All of us, the AFA Officers and the Negotiating Committee need to be kinder and more thoughtful in how we treat each other during this time.

We ask that you come to the Road Shows and gather all the information, ask your questions, and make your decision if you haven’t already done so.

Your LEC Presidents unanimously voted to endorse the TA for your consideration. We believe the TA has significant benefits and pay increases and we are obligated to share this with you. It is now up to you, the Flight Attendants, to decide if this is the right TA for us.

Your LEC Presidents continue to support our Negotiation Committee and we thank them for all the hard work and dedication they have given us over the past 3 years. There is a reason we select Flight Attendants to negotiate our contracts: Flight Attendants representing Flight Attendants who know our jobs, our desires, and our needs.

We truly appreciate the ability to represent you and thank you for being the best Flight Attendants in the industry!

Your LEC Presidents,

ANC LEC President Becky Strachan, SEA LEC President Laura Masserant, PDX LEC President Catherine Gwynn, and LAX/SAN LEC President Sandra Morrow

February 3rd– 8th

Feb 3 (Mon): PDX – 9 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM to 5 PM @ Sheraton Hotel PDX airport (8235 NE Airport Way)

Feb 4 (Tue): ANC I – 9 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM to 5 PM @ Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage Airport (4901 Spenard Road)

Feb 4 (Tue): PDX Q & A Session – 9 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM to 5 PM @ Sheraton Hotel PDX Airport (8235 NE Airport Way) LEC Officers hosting a Q & A Session, Negotiating Committee will not be present

Feb 5 (Wed): ANC II – 9 AM to 12 PM, 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM @ Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage Airport (4901 Spenard Road)

Feb 6 (Thu): SEA I – 9 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM to 5 PM @ Central Auditorium SEA TAC Airport Mezzanine Level

Feb 7 (Fri): SEA II – 9 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM to 5 PM @ Central Auditorium SEA TAC Airport Mezzanine Level

Feb 8 (Sat): SEA III- 9 AM to 12:15 PM, 1:15 PM to 4:30 PM @ Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center (17620 International Boulevard)

February 11th– 13th

Feb 11 (Tue): SAN – 9 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM to 5 PM @ Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Little Italy (1646 Front St)

Feb 12 (Wed): LAX – 9 AM to 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM to 5 PM @ Westin Hotel LAX Airport (5400 W Century Blvd)

Feb 13 (Thu): SNA – 9 AM to 12 PM, 1 PM to 4 PM @ Embassy Suites Santa Ana (1325 E Dyer Rd, Santa Ana, CA 92705)

 

Negotiations Update January 31, 2014: TA vs Current CBA Comparison Chart Posted

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

 

A comparison chart of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) vs the Tentative Agreement (TA) has been posted on TA information page: http://alaskamec.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Comparison-Chart-TA-vs-Current-CBA.pdf.

 

As a reminder, the second round of roadshows begins next week. A list of the roadshows is at the bottom of the TA information page: http://alaskamec.org/ta/.

 

 

Hope to see many of you soon!

 

 

In solidarity,

 

 

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

 

negotiations@alaskamec.org

 

AFA Alaska Logo

MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Chairperson Opening

Dear Flight Attendants:

Due to the cancelation of our January MEC meeting to accommodate the TA Roadshows, the previously scheduled interviews for the position of MEC Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee Chairperson have been re-scheduled.  The interviews will now be held February 19 and 20 at the MEC office in Seattle.

For those of you interested in applying for this position, there is still time to submit your resume.  Please submit your resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Gesch by fax at (206) 246-4752 or by email at ysgesch@gmail.com.  Resumes must be submitted by February 10, 2014.  Yvette will then contact you to schedule your interview.

For a description of the position responsibilities please see below.  If after reviewing this information, you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact current MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Chairperson Barb Moynier at shsc@alaskamec.org or MEC Vice President Brian Palmer, who oversees our MEC Committees, at bpalmer@alaskamec.org.

In Solidarity,

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

Scope

a.        The Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (SHSC) shall work with the Company on matters pertaining to cabin and Flight Attendant safety and health.

Policy/Responsibilities

a.        The MEC SHSC shall consist of the MEC SHSC Chairperson, MEC SHSC Vice Chairperson—Air Quality, and the Local SHSC Chairperson from each council.

b.        The MEC SHSC Chairperson is the primary contact with the Company, the FAA and the International office, regarding Flight Attendant safety and health issues.

c.         The MEC Chairperson shall:

(i)       Attend any safety meetings with the company.

(ii)      Attend FAA/Alaska Airlines safety meetings.

(iii)    Attend AFA-CWA Air Safety Department training seminars

(iv)     In conjunction with the International Office, develop and conduct initial and ongoing local Safety/Health training, including NTSB accident investigation procedures

(v)      Communicate with the AFA-CWA Air Safety Department.

(vi)     Communicate with other airline safety representatives, as appropriate.

(vii)   Participate in accident investigation, hijacking, sabotage, etc., as directed.

(viii)  Communicate with the Alaska ALPA MEC Safety Chairperson as appropriate.

(ix)     Attend and participate in Congressional hearings dealing with cabin safety, as directed.

(x)      Assign special safety assignments to local Safety/Health Chairpersons as appropriate.  The MEC officers and appropriate LEC President shall be advised of these special assignments.

(xi)     Handle safety incidents, i.e. equipment problems, occupational injuries, as they arise.

(xii)   Compose informational and educational articles of interest to the membership and provide them to the MEC Communications Chairperson to be included in MEC communications and posted to the MEC website.

(xiii)  Be on a 24-hour call-out in the event of an accident.

d.        The committee shall:

(i)       Participate in programs concerned with air safety, health and security.

(ii)      Act in an advisory role to the MEC on safety and health matters.

(iii)    Study safety and health problems and prepare recommendations to be presented to the MEC for consideration.

(iv)     Review material, handle correspondence and keep members informed of safety and health developments through the Communications Committee and/or reports at Local Council meetings.

(v)      Attend company debriefings after an accident or incident or when pertinent issues are discussed.

Position Description Information (Please Review Both Links)

Frequently Asked Questions About the Tentative Agreement (TA)

Dear Flight Attendants:

During the past two weeks, your Negotiating Committee and members of the Master Executive Council (MEC) have been conducting a series of TA Roadshows in the Flight Attendant domiciles throughout our system. While conducting these sessions, we have heard similar questions being asked by many of you in regard to certain sections of the TA. To assist in your understanding and to help bring clarity to these common questions, the Negotiating Committee has developed a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and corresponding answers.

Please take a few moments and read over the FAQ, which you can find here: http://alaskamec.org/ta/faq. On this page, you’ll find answers to general questions about the TA, negotiating timeline and procedures under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), as well as answers pertaining to specific sections and negotiated language. Additionally, the FAQ contains a correction to insurance costing projections based on exact figures whereas estimates were used at the roadshows. We hope that once you’ve had the opportunity to read over the FAQ, many of the rumors and misconceptions that have manifested about the TA will be put to rest.

If you have a question that is not answered in the FAQ, we invite you to attend one of the 2nd round of roadshows to be held the first two weeks of February. The roadshow schedule is posted on the TA info page, which can be found here: http://alaskamec.org/ta. In addition, you are always welcome to contact the Negotiating Committee directly to get your questions answered by emailing negotiations@alaskamec.org.

In Solidarity,

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

MEC Web Logo 5B

Adverse Weather Advisory: AFA International Office

Dear Flight Attendants:

Due to a rapid accumulation of snow in the Washington, DC area, staff members at the AFA International Office have been asked to stay at home today for their safety.  We realize many of you may be attempting to contact the International Office for assistance with ballot and voting information for the T/A and LEC Officer nominations for SEA and PDX.  You may leave a message for the Membership Services Department using their contact telephone number and messages will be returned as soon as possible once the office has reopened.

Membership Services Contact Information

To contact the Membership Services Department, follow these instructions:

Ballot and Voting Questions

Flight Attendants who do not receive their voting instructions with the 16 digit activation code must call the AFA Ballot Helpline 1-800-424-2401 PRESS 1 then EXT 706. (after the polls open 1-17-14)

Dues or Membership Issues

Flight Attendants who have dues or membership issues please have them call AFA Membership Services 1-800-424-2401 Press 7.

The office is normally staffed Monday through Friday 9:30 AM to 5 PM EST.

 

In Solidarity,

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

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