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MEC Update May 22, 2013: AAG Shareholders Meeting Recap

May 22, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

Many of our brothers and sisters participated in informational leafleting and picketing at the Alaska Air Group Shareholders meeting yesterday afternoon at the Bell Harbor Conference Center on Pier 66 in downtown Seattle. The event was a very successful solidarity action and the Flight Attendants delivered a professional, respectful message to management and our shareholders. Several AFA representatives entered the actual proceedings and Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson was the first to address the group during the Q&A portion of the meeting. AFA is appreciative of management’s efforts to ensure AFA was heard.

The Shareholders meeting was reported in an Alaska’s World article today (May 22, 2013) “Striving for success: Taking a long-term view on finances, growth and serving all stakeholders” (login required): http://splash.alaskasworld.com/NEWS/2013/05/22_annual_meeting.asp.

Private recording devices were prohibited during the proceedings, so we have to paraphrase the full text of Jeff’s question:

“The Flight Attendants have been negotiating with Alaska Airlines management for the past 18 months and talks have recently stalled, largely over compensation. We have since applied for mediation with the National Mediation Board. There are Flight Attendants engaging in informational picketing out front, which the Association believes is an unfortunate but necessary distraction. We had hoped to be announcing a tentative agreement at this meeting.

Back in 2009 AFA signed a contract extension that provided only very moderate increases to our base wage in order to ensure Alaska Airlines would be in a position to prosper in an uncertain economy and a turbulent industry. In the presentation we just saw, there was discussion about aligning shareholder and employee interests. It was mentioned that in the past several years there has been more than a 500% increase to share value. In approximately that same period, the Flight Attendant wage scale his slipped nearly 8% when adjusted for inflation.

Knowing all this, how are we going to move things forward to get the Flight Attendants a contract we deserve so that we can focus our efforts back on closing the gap with our competitors?”

The meeting broke at 3:30 pm, at which point the entire coalition reconvened outside for a brief recap of the activities. An unofficial social mixer followed at Anthony’s for several hours. Check out pictures of the event below!

The next negotiations session is scheduled for July 8-11, 2013, in Valencia, California.

In solidarity,

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

 

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

 

References:

Alaska’s World May 22, 2013 “Striving for success: Taking a long-term view on finances, growth and serving all stakeholders” (login required): http://splash.alaskasworld.com/NEWS/2013/05/22_annual_meeting.asp

[Correction: Press Advisory] Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Rally for Contract

Media Advisory for May 21, 2013 Contact: Laura Masserant 360-633-5905

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Rally For Contract

Washington, DC – As Alaska Air Group holds its annual stockholders meeting on Tuesday, award-winning Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, will rally outside as they continue to press management for a fair contract.

“Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants have been distinguished by numerous awards for our hard work, sacrifices and dedication. Bolstered by our exemplary
service, Alaska Airlines has just received the JD Power and Associates® award for the sixth year in a row—unprecedented in the industry. We have worked closely with management to create a winning strategy and have been key to the success of our airline. Despite this extraordinary performance record, our wages continue to fall below inflation and behind those of our peers in the industry. It is time for the over 3,100 Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants to reap the benefits of our airline’s success and be adequately compensated,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA president at Alaska Airlines. “We are stakeholders in this airline. We have proven our dedication.”

Flight Attendants’ contract negotiations began in November 2011 and have been ongoing for the past 18 months. AFA filed for mediation earlier this month after talks stalled over compensation. Mediation will begin in July.

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Rally Tuesday, May 21, 2013 1 p.m. Pacific Time (Stockholders meeting at 2 p.m.) Bell Harbor International Conference Center 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66 Seattle, Washington

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 67 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.

Invitation for Informatio​nal Leafleting at the Shareholde​rs Meeting

May 20, 2013

 

 

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

 

The Master Executive Council (MEC) invites you to join us for informational leafleting at the Alaska Air Group (AAG) Shareholders meeting beginning at 1pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at the Bell Harbor Conference Center, Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle, WA 98121 (http://www.bellharbor.com/).

 

From 1pm to 2pm, the entire group will participate just outside the venue, along the pier, on the Alaska Way sidewalk and possibly over the sky bridge leading to the parking structure across the street. You can check out a map and interactive view of the site on Google: http://goo.gl/maps/lF7DE. At 2pm, several members of the contingent with shares or proxies will enter the conference center and designated spokespersons will possibly make statements inside as appropriate. Those who do not have proxies may remain outside and continue to participate. Flight Attendants do not need to own shares or have a proxy in order to join us for leafleting, as there is plenty to do outside the venue! It is extremely important that we show our solidarity at this event so we need anybody who is not working but previously scheduled to be in Seattle or who is on a layover to come on down and join us for a few hours.  We are asking for your participation between approximately 1pm-3:30pm.

 

If you are coming from a layover in Seattle, you can be at the venue in about an hour and ten minutes. Directions for taking the light rail from SeaTac Airport station to Westlake Center downtown (approximately 50 minutes) are here: http://goo.gl/maps/dTdhe, and then walking directions from Westlake Center to the Bell Harbor Conference Center (approximately 20 minutes) here: http://goo.gl/maps/lbwdj. Driving directions from all points: http://www.bellharbor.com/directions.php; a printable driving map of the area: http://www.bellharbor.com/pdf/BH_Driving_Directions.pdf. For those of you that live in the Seattle Area there are several non-driving options available to get to Pier 66.  If you live in West Seattle, the West Seattle Water Taxi service drops you off a short walk from Pier 66: http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/WaterTaxi.aspx. If you are coming from the Peninsula, the Bremerton and Bainbridge Ferry service will drop you off a short walk from Pier 66: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/. In King County several bus routes will take you to Westlake Center where you will be able to follow the walking directions posted above. These routes include: Aurora Bus Route 358, Ballard Route 40 or Rapid Ride D, U District Route 73, Bellevue Route 550, Kirkland Route 255, Issaquah Route 554, and Mountlake Terrace Route 511.  For Information on these and other transit routes visit http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/.

 

AFA will be supplying complimentary AFA Alaska t-shirts to all who attend the event, supplies permitting. We ordered a fairly significant quantity of t-shirts in a variety of sizes so we anticipate having enough for everybody. The t-shirts are a royal blue with the AFA logo and identify us as Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants; there are no other slogans so these may be used for a wide variety of purposes. Again, a free AFA Alaska t-shirt to all those who can make it, supplies permitting. Please do not wear your uniform to the event! We will also have signs, buttons, flyers, and balloons.

 

We want to show our professionalism, and why we are the best FAs in the industry, to the shareholders while we express our concern over the company’s inability to negotiate a fair contract with us!

In Solidarity,

 

 

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

 

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

Negotiations Update May 17, 2013: Negotiated TA Changes AFA Version

May 17, 2013

 

 

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

 

This is the fourth installment in a series of negotiations updates this week.

 

AFA has been working on a summary of negotiated contract changes for some time now. Management was kind enough to provide a summary last week, but we thought it was important to publish our version as well. You will find the document here: Negotiated TA Changes AFA.

 

Informational leafleting and picketing at the Alaska Air Group (AAG) Shareholders meeting will begin at 1pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at the Bell Harbor Conference Center, Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle, WA 98121 (http://www.bellharbor.com/). AFA will be providing free AFA t-shirts to all participants, supplies permitting. Do not wear your uniform to the event and do not non-rev in solely for the purpose of picketing!

 

 

In solidarity,

 

 

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

 

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

 

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

References:

Negotiated TA Changes AFA:  http://alaskamec.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Negotiated-TA-Changes-AFA.pdf

* * *

Bell Harbor Conference Center: http://www.bellharbor.com/

Interactive view of the Bell Harbor Conference Center:  http://goo.gl/maps/lF7DE

Link light rail directions from SeaTac Airport Station to Westlake Center downtown: http://goo.gl/maps/dTdhe

Walking directions from Westlake Center to Bell Harbor Conference Center: http://goo.gl/maps/lbwdj

Driving direction: http://www.bellharbor.com/directions.php

Printable driving map: http://www.bellharbor.com/pdf/BH_Driving_Directions.pdf

Negotiatio​ns Update May 15, 2013: Informatio​nal Leafleting

May 15, 2013

 

 

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

 

This is the third installment in a series of negotiations updates this week. We are going to take the opportunity at the Alaska Air Group (AAG) Shareholders meeting next week to participate in informational leafleting. What exactly does this entail?

 

First of all, we know there are Flight Attendants around the system who are interested in participating in the event. We are extremely thankful for the show of support but please be advised that System Regulations 6.100, General Provisions prohibits an employee from  the “use [of] on-line or offline non-revenue and reduced rate tickets for…travel that is contrary to the best interests of Alaska Airlines. This includes, but is not limited to…travel in connection with picketing against the company…” That means if you are previously scheduled to be in Seattle or if you are on a layover, please join us. If you are planning non-revenue travel solely for the purpose of leafleting please make other arrangements (such as carpooling for Portland-based Flight Attendants). Jumpseating, positive space tickets (V class), reciprocal cabin seat, reciprocal jumpseat (Horizon) and non-revenue travel on other carriers are all included under the regulation.

 

Except as outlined above regarding non-revenue travel, please be assured that you cannot be disciplined by Alaska Airlines for participating in informational leafleting and picketing as you are completely within your rights as a union member to engage in such activities. Of course there are legal limits to these activities in the sense that our actions must be peaceful and non-disruptive. Therefore, nobody will be lying down in front of traffic on Alaskan Way! We will be handing out informational leaflets highlighting our bargaining history and alerting the Shareholders as to why we are moving forward with mediation. The goal is to demonstrate the professionalism of our award-winning Flight Attendant and communicate why we deserve to achieve our bargaining objectives. AFA will supply all the leafleting materials for the event. There will be some media presence expected, which will be handled exclusively by the officers and/or their designees.

 

From 1pm to 2pm, the entire group will participate just outside the venue, along the pier, on the Alaska Way sidewalk and possibly over the skybridge leading to the parking structure across the street. You can check out a map and interactive view of the site on Google: http://goo.gl/maps/lF7DE. At 2pm, several members of the contingent with shares or proxies will enter the conference center and designated spokespersons will possibly make statements inside as appropriate. Those who do not have proxies may remain outside and continue to participate. Flight Attendants do not need to own shares or have a proxy in order to join us for leafleting as there is plenty to do outside the venue! It is extremely important that we show our solidarity at this event so we need anybody who is not working but previously scheduled to be in Seattle or who is on a layover to come on down and join us for a few hours.

 

If you are coming from a layover in Seattle, you can be at the venue in about an hour and ten minutes. Directions for taking the light rail from SeaTac Aiport station to Westlake Center downtown (approximately 50 minutes) are here: http://goo.gl/maps/dTdhe, and then walking directions from Westlake Center to  the Bell Harbor Conference Center (approximately 20 minutes) here: http://goo.gl/maps/lbwdj. Driving directions from all points: http://www.bellharbor.com/directions.php; a printable driving map of the area: http://www.bellharbor.com/pdf/BH_Driving_Directions.pdf.

 

AFA will be supplying complimentary AFA Alaska t-shirts to all who attend the event, supplies permitting. We ordered a fairly significant quantity of t-shirts in a variety of sizes so we anticipate having enough for everybody. The t-shirts are a royal blue with the AFA logo and identify us as Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants; there are no other slogan so these may be used for a wide variety of purposes. Again, a free AFA Alaska t-shirt to all those who can make it, supplies permitting. Please do not wear your uniform to the event!

 

The next negotiations session is scheduled for July 8-11, location TBD but either in Los Angeles or Seattle. Informational leafleting and picketing at the Alaska Air Group (AAG) Shareholders meeting will begin at 1pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at the Bell Harbor Conference Center, Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle, WA 98121 (http://www.bellharbor.com/). More information about negotiations and the upcoming event will be out in the coming days. Also, check out the new AFA Alaska MEC website at www.alaskamec.org.

 

 

In solidarity,

 

 

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

 

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

 

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

References:

Bell Harbor Conference Center: http://www.bellharbor.com/

Interactive view of the Bell Harbor Conference Center:  http://goo.gl/maps/lF7DE

Link light rail directions from SeaTac Airport Station to Westlake Center downtown: http://goo.gl/maps/dTdhe

Walking directions from Westlake Center to Bell Harbor Conference Center: http://goo.gl/maps/lbwdj

Driving direction: http://www.bellharbor.com/directions.php

Printable driving map: http://www.bellharbor.com/pdf/BH_Driving_Directions.pdf

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