Alaska & Hawaiian Master Executive Councils Become One Today
Master Executive Council (MEC)
Today marks the official merger of the Master Executive Councils (MECs) of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Our combined MEC consists of eight Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents—two from pre-merger Hawaiian and six from pre-merger Alaska—along with our newly elected joint MEC Officers, who begin their terms today. Together, our joint MEC will now be able to speak with one voice on behalf of all Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants, strengthening our voice with management, the public, and other stakeholders.
While we have now come together as one MEC, we continue to operate under two separate collective bargaining agreements. This will remain the case until we negotiate and ratify a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). This process will take time. Until then, decisions related to the Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendant contract will be made by the LEC Presidents from pre-merger Hawaiian, while decisions about the Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant contract will be made by the six LEC Presidents from pre-merger Alaska. When decisions impact both Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants, all eight LEC Presidents will collectively decide.
One thing that remains unchanged is the support and representation you receive from your Local Council. Each Local Council remains in place, and your directly elected LEC Officers continue to be your first point of contact for anything you may need help with. Eventually, and only once we reach and ratify a JCBA, the dual Local Councils at LAX will also merge.
Introducing Your Joint MEC Officers
As part of the MEC merger, our new MEC Officers, elected at a joint MEC meeting on January 29, begin their term today. They will serve for the remainder of the Alaska MEC election cycle, which concludes on December 31, 2025.
Timothy Green, MEC President
Tim Green has been an LAX-based Flight Attendant since hired in 2003. At different times throughout his career, he has flown regularly out of LAX, BUR, and SNA. This experience has helped him gain an understanding of the unique challenges we face.
Prior to running for MEC President, Tim represented Council 18 (LAX) as LEC President and previously as the Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson. During that time, he became a staunch advocate for our members. That experience inspired him to become more involved and run for elected office in 2016. As an elected officer Tim has never forgotten that he is a Flight Attendant first, union leader second, spending his weekends flying and sitting shoulder to shoulder with our local members. He believes our Union is strongest when everyone is informed and involved. To help facilitate that, he will ensure that AFA has a stronger, more visible presence. Tim believes in honest and open two-way communication and encourages members to reach out to AFA with their concerns.
Brice McGee, MEC Vice President
Brice began his career as a Flight Attendant first based in Los Angeles in 2006, transferring to Seattle and finally San Diego. He skillfully balances his professional responsibilities with family life, calling places like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Heredia, Costa Rica home. Renowned for his dedication, Brice has served as LEC Secretary for San Diego and is currently in his third term as the San Diego LEC President, prioritizing Union unity and the well-being of his colleagues.
He shares unforgettable travel experiences with his growing family. Brice’s life is a blend of professional commitment, family love, and a passion for adventure, all driving him to advocate for a stronger and more unified AFA.
Paul Ikioka, MEC Secretary-Treasurer
Paul Ikioka is Secretary-Treasurer for the joint Master Executive Council. Born and raised on the island of Maui, he attended Maui High School. He went on to attend college at California State University Long Beach and completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, as well as his MBA.
Paul had a 30-year career as a Financial Analyst at the Boeing Company, when he decided to become a Flight Attendant at Hawaiian Airlines. Citing Quality of Life as the main driver behind his career change, he started on the line in May of 2018 and never looked back.
Paul initially volunteered to join the Grievance Committee as a way to learn more about the Collective Bargaining Agreement. His experiences on the team made him realize that education of our Flight Attendants is the best way to help them to be able to advocate for themselves, and protect the rights that our contract provides.
Paul is committed to be transparent, fair, and continue to promote further education of the contract. He is excited to start on this new journey and continue to serve and support all of our team members.
AFA Alaska News in Review – February 28, 2025
In This Edition
- Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2025
- Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2025
- Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – February 2025
- Tentative Agreement Ratified
- Shared on Social
- Next Week’s Events
Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2025
Originally posted February 24, 2025
Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on February 13, to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms. The Committee met with management to discuss uniform issues reported by Flight Attendants, including quality, wearability, and availability. If you encounter issues with uniform quality or construction, please report them to Unisync as soon as possible and include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson to help track any trends.
Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2025
Originally posted February 25, 2025
Our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met on February 20 to represent Flight Attendants’ interests related to catering and onboard service/sales. The Committee met with management to discuss and receive updates on issues and problems faced by Flight Attendants onboard. The Committee continues to work with management to address catering concerns and improve processes in the future. Please report catering issues through Block2Block and safety-related issues through ReportIt!
Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – February 2025
Originally posted February 27, 2025
On February 25, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work representing Flight Attendants’ interests in lineholder scheduling. The Committee met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems Flight Attendants face with scheduling, pairings, and bidding. Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to assist with any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help!
Tentative Agreement Ratified
Originally posted February 28, 2025
Flight Attendants have spoken with their vote and the 2025 Tentative Agreement (TA2) has been ratified. It is the new Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Contract. The ratification vote closed at 12 PM PT today with 90.8% of eligible voters participating. Thank you for being engaged. Exercising your vote is using your voice. With a 90.8% participation rate, our collective voice is clear. Results: 5620 voted FOR the agreement, for a total of 95%, 315 voted AGAINST the agreement, for a total of 5%.
Shared on Social
TA2 Vote Updates
Find all TA2 information including the full text, provision change videos and graphics, the roadshow and Q&A recordings, and voting information at contract2022.afaalaska.org/ta2.
Monday, February 24 –75.8%
Tuesday, February 25 – 79.7%
Wednesday, February 26 – 82.6%
Thursday, February 27 – 85.4%
Voting closed on February 28 at 12 PM PT.
Next Week’s Events
| Monday, March 3 | Regular MEC Meeting |
| Monday, March 3 – Tuesday, March 4 | Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Negotiations Training |
| Thursday, March 6 | Council 35 (SFO) Local Council Meeting |
| Thursday, March 6 | Scheduling Review Board (SRB) |
Find Us on Social Media
You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts. Click below and follow so you can stay connected!
Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – February 2025
Scheduling Committee
- On February 25, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work representing Flight Attendants’ interests in lineholder scheduling.
- The Committee met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems Flight Attendants face with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
- Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to assist with any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help!
On Tuesday, February 25, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons/Representatives met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Kanako Yamado (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz.
The committee met with Crew Planning Analyst Lead John Bumanglag, Manager of Crew Planning Jeffery Hunt, Inflight Crew Scheduling Supervisor Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, Crew Hotels and Admin Manager Nichole Turner, Crew Hotel Support Specialist LaFay Williams and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.
The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, March 25.
Topics of Discussion
The committee reviewed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:
- Pay Discrepancies: Scheduling Committee Chairpersons have needed to step in and advocate for pay owed when not correctly done.
- Pairing Construction: Discussion of desired pairings and impact of Network Planning.
- Bidding and Awards: Recap of ongoing base sits and upcoming changes to NAVBLUE.
- Implementation Timelines of TA2 If Ratified: Clarification on how the Committee will support and what changes will be implemented.
- Operational Challenges: Discussion of impact of PDX snowstorm and other operational factors impacted Flight Attendants in the past month.
What The Committee Is Working On
- NAVBLUE. The PBS Subcommittee preparing for a new release of Navblue. Once received they will test before the release is implemented. The Committee is also continuing to provide in person and virtual base sits so that all flight attendants may attend and get answers to all PBS bidding related questions.
- Crew Scheduling. A monthly review of PowerPoint presentations covered various aspects such as reserve utilization, detailed breakdowns, sick leave (week by week and year over year), premium, personal drops, and other relevant agenda items.
- Crew Planning. Crew Planning shared a monthly presentation about Pairing Statistics. Crew Planning is focused on anticipating increased block hours as the summer season approaches, with specific strategies to optimize trip lengths and identify commutability for flight crews. The team is also collaborating with operational analytics to develop dashboards that facilitate better decision-making and efficiency in scheduling.
- Crew Pay: Crew pay is working on additional communications aimed at improving clarity and addressing the high volume of queries surrounding pay discrepancies. The payroll team is committed to resolving ongoing issues quickly to ensure crew members receive their compensation accurately and on time.
- AFA Payroll Representative: The Committee has been advocating for a streamlined process to resolve outstanding pay issues for crew members efficiently. The focus is on ensuring timely compensation and improved communication.
We Want to Hear From You!
Whether you have feedback for the Committee, concerns to share, or items you’d like brought up with management – don’t hesitate to let us know. Your Local Scheduling Committee is here to be your voice to management. You can easily open a support ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or directly contact us using the information provided on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.
Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2025
Inflight Service Committee
- Our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met on February 20 to represent Flight Attendants’ interests related to catering and onboard service/sales.
- The Committee met with management to discuss and receive updates on issues and problems faced by Flight Attendants onboard.
- The Committee continues to work with management to address catering concerns and improve processes in the future. Please report catering issues through Block2Block and safety-related issues through ReportIt!
On Thursday, February 20, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Naomi Parcell (ANC), Ross DeJong (SEA), Kelly Kochanek (PDX), Raymond Ramirez (SFO), and Chase Vandergrift (SAN). MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairperson Stephanie Garnett, MEC Vice President-elect Brice McGee, and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer were also in attendance.
The committee met with Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, Principal Cabin Product and Experience Manager Chris Dela Rosa, Director of Food and Beverage Products Mita Padhi, Manager of Food and Beverage Planning and Programs David Rodriguez, Senior Food and Beverage Product Manager Jessica Johnston, Food and Beverage Planning Systems Manager Gayatri Watwe, F&B Planning Systems Manager Andrea Carns, Director of Catering Operations Andrew Moyer, Service Strategy Product Manager Jesse Starmer, and Marketing/Sales, IT Contractors Chris Pettigrew and Chris Daniels, and Ann McCurties. Management guests from Hawaiian Airlines included Senior Manager of Inflight Service & Mobile Technology Wendy Kong and Food & Beverage Planning System Manager Kanoe Yama, who are both a part of the Alaska Air Group Product and Planning Team.
The next committee meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 15.
Topics of Discussion
The Committee discussed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some of the items included:
- Redesigned Coffee Brew Baskets: Several members of the Inflight Service Committee tested the redesigned coffee brew baskets during regularly scheduled flights. There were no issues with the new brew baskets during the testing process. A Safety Risk Assessment (SRA) has been completed, and the new brew baskets will be installed on Classic and Endura coffee makers starting in late April 2025.
- Morning Beverage Snack for First Class: Based on Flight Attendant feedback, the Committee requested that management implement a morning beverage snack for First Class passengers. Management will add a warm pastry on premium long-haul flights (including Hawaii). Passengers will receive a Biscoff cookie with their first beverage on long-haul and medium-haul flights.
- Improvement of Galley Loading: The Committee will continue to work with management to improve galley loading opportunities. Catering has already implemented a request for a change in the loading of pre-departure beverage items, and they are receiving favorable feedback from Flight Attendants. Additionally, a design change for wine cans, featuring a different-colored can top as recommended by the Committee, will be adopted to facilitate easier loading by catering and use by Flight Attendants.
- Introduction of Thermal Ice Bags: Thermal ice bags have been designed and manufactured to address concerns related to improving ice quality throughout the network. They have been tested and found to adequately insulate ice for return flight segments. Loading at downline stations will continue throughout the rollout of the new bags. Information regarding catering and clarification on using the bags will be communicated to all Flight Attendants. Management intends to use the new bags on all main cabin 5-cart galley configurations.
- Increase in Pre-Departure Beverage Orange Juice: Management inquired about the use of the pre-departure beverage orange juice product. The Committee responded that supplies need to be increased for pre-departure use.
- Service Levels Review: Management will soon conduct a comprehensive system-wide review of current service levels.
- POG Brand Change: The POG brand is changing to Aloha Maid, which is currently served on Hawaiian Airlines.
- Catering Operations Team Coordination: The Catering Operations Teams from Alaska and Hawaiian are coordinating to work as a unified team.
- Catering Operations Focus Areas: Alaska Catering Operations currently has three focus areas: kitchen audits, engaging Flight Attendants through the Block2Block (B2B) Flight Attendant comment system, and implementing an ice plan for the warmer months. Kitchen audits are now underway. Catering Operations encourages Flight Attendants to use the B2B Flight Attendant comments to report issues, which will help find solutions. An ice plan is in place for almost all stations during the summer months.
- Flight Attendant Comments Tool Upgrade: The Flight Attendant Comments reporting tool is being upgraded, and the Committee has requested to be included in the Flight Attendant-facing portion of this project.
- Standard Process for Aircraft Swaps: The Committee is advocating for a standardized process for aircraft swaps system-wide.
- Fleet Refresh Project: The Fleet Refresh Project is ongoing and aims to standardize the first-class cabin to 16 seats on all Boeing 737-800, -900, MAX-8, and MAX-9 aircraft. Placarding for the MAX lavatory trash bins should be installed soon.
- MAX 10 Galley Options: New galley options may be available for the MAX 10, and work on galley planning will soon commence.
- Tech Updates: The Committee initiated a discussion about the status of updates for B2B and resolving issues related to flight information becoming unavailable when a tech stop occurs. Management shared a prototype of the next version of B2B, which is currently in development. The Committee believes the proposed B2B updates will be intuitive. The issue of information loss during tech stops is recognized and is being addressed. A joint platform for Alaska and Hawaiian is being developed to provide easily updated service flow information, eliminating the need to rely on the onboard service handbook (OSH) for some service flow data.
What The Committee Is Working On
- Enhanced Packaging for Onboard Products: The Committee looks forward to working with management on new onboard products. It’s essential for the Committee that discussions include considerations of safety, packaging, sustainability, ease of use, and acceptance by both Flight Attendants and passengers.
- Improved Beverage Cart Loading: The Committee is actively seeking creative solutions for effective space utilization and will prioritize safety when recommending additional products, loading strategies, and service changes.
- Addressing Flight Attendant Concerns with Management: The primary goal of the Inflight Service Committee is to enhance the service tools available to all Flight Attendants.
We Want to Hear from You!
Please continue to report any catering issues or problems with onboard service using the catering feedback function in Block2Block. If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please submit a report through ReportIt! Your reports provide the Committee with the data needed to continue pushing management for meaningful improvements in our workplace.
Do you have other feedback for the Committee or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Inflight Service Committee is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the Inflight Service Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- …
- 324
- Next Page »
