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AFA Alaska News in Review – November 29, 2024

In This Edition

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2024

Originally posted November 25, 2024

Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Friday, November 15, 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.

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Reminder to Maintain the Status Quo

Originally posted November 26, 2024

Under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), participating in “self-help” actions such as strikes or work slowdowns is only allowed after the National Mediation Board (NMB), at its sole discretion, releases the parties and a 30-day cooling-off period has passed. Engaging in or supporting these actions before the cooling-off period ends is against the law and could result in serious consequences for individual Flight Attendants, including disciplinary action or termination. It could also harm our Union’s negotiations and bargaining position. Both parties must maintain the “status quo” during negotiations, which means no changes to current pay, rules, or working conditions are allowed.

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Upcoming Merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils

Originally posted November 29, 2024

The Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Councils (MECs) will soon merge into a single MEC, consisting of the LEC Presidents from both pre-merger airlines and three MEC Officers. An election for new MEC Officers and some MEC Committee positions will take place in late January, with terms starting on March 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2025. Local Councils and LEC Officers will remain separate until a JCBA is ratified, and only LEC Presidents from their respective pre-merger airlines can make decisions about their pre-merger contract and separate operation. Once the JCBA is ratified, new LEC elections will be held in bases with overlapping representation (only LAX) within 90 days.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Monday, December 2 – Tuesday, December 3Regular MEC Meeting
Thursday, December 5SFO Base Safety Meeting
Thursday, December 5Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

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!

Upcoming Merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • The Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Councils (MECs) will soon merge into a single MEC, consisting of the LEC Presidents from both pre-merger airlines and three MEC Officers.
  • An election for new MEC Officers and some MEC Committee positions will take place in late January, with terms starting on March 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2025.
  • Local Councils and LEC Officers will remain separate until a JCBA is ratified, and only LEC Presidents from their respective pre-merger airlines can make decisions about their pre-merger contract and separate operation. Once the JCBA is ratified, new LEC elections will be held in bases with overlapping representation (only LAX) within 90 days.

As part of the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, the Master Executive Councils (MECs) of both airlines will soon be combined into a single MEC. This new MEC will consist of the six Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents from pre-merger Alaska Airlines, the two LEC Presidents from pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines, and three MEC Officers.

This unified MEC will represent Flight Attendants from both airlines, facilitate joint contract negotiations, and interface with senior management. Since the merged MEC will initially operate with two active collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), decision-making related to each individual CBA will remain with the LEC Presidents representing pre-merger Flight Attendants of Alaska or Hawaiian, respectively. For instance, any decisions that solely affect the Alaska CBA will be made by the six pre-merger Alaska LEC Presidents.

Election of MEC Officers and Committees

The merger of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs will require an election for new MEC Officers and certain MEC Committee positions. In late January, the AFA International Officers will hold a joint meeting of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs to elect MEC Officers for the combined MEC. Some MEC Committees will be merged immediately, while others will remain separate until a joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) is ratified. During this meeting, MEC Committee Chairpersons and representatives for the committees that will be merged will also be elected. The structure of the MEC Committees from both the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs is currently under thorough evaluation, and the specific committees that will be merged immediately are still to be determined. (Note: According to the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, at minimum, the Grievance Committee and the System Board of Adjustment will remain separate for each pre-merger airline until a JCBA is reached.)

The MEC Officers, MEC Committee Chairpersons, and other MEC Committee positions elected at this meeting will take office and begin their terms on March 1, 2025. According to the AFA Constitution and Bylaws, they will serve for the remainder of the current Alaska MEC election cycle, which ends on December 31, 2025. Both Alaska and Hawaiian AFA Members in good standing will be eligible to express their interest in and can be elected to these positions. AFA International will provide more information about the upcoming election, including the available positions and how to express interest in candidacy, in early December.

Local Councils Will Not Be Merged Until JCBA

The upcoming merger of MECs will not affect your Local Council representation or LEC Officers. All LEC Officers will continue to serve their terms based on their respective election cycles. Local Councils at bases with duplication—only LAX has bases for both pre-merger airlines—will remain separate until a JCBA has been established. After a JCBA is ratified, elections for new LEC Officers for the combined Local Council will occur within 90 days.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the upcoming merger of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs, please contact your LEC President.

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2024

Uniform Committee

  • Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Friday, November 15, 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.

On Friday, November 15, our AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Dana Butchen (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Holmes (LAX), JP Perina (SAN), and MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Kiara Jenkins.

The committee also met with Director of Procurement and Logistics Eric Phillipson, Senior Product Manager Marketing Megan Low, and SFO Inflight Base Manager Cierra Lewis.

The next Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting will be held on February 13, 2025.

Topics of Discussion 

The committee reviewed several topics both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • The wear test for a more durable sweater is scheduled to begin in late December or early January.
  • The new transition jacket wear test is set to start in March 2025.
  • Management conducted uniform focus groups on November 4 and 8 to provide insights into merger uniforms.
  • AFA representatives will be contacting Alaska HR to explore alternatives to Occfit.
  • Management will improve efforts to ensure that marketing does not use photos in which employees do not comply with the uniform policy.
  • Wear test items will be shipped to bases. If a tester cannot pick up the items during base hours, they should contact the supervisor to arrange an alternative pickup. This information will be included in the wear test email.
  • The tote exchange program remains in effect for qualifying classes.
  • SEA Fit Center limitations have been resolved through the grievance Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process. Flight Attendants may bring worn or damaged items to the base, and supervisors will send them for repairs or alterations.
  • Unisync has committed to expediting the ordering process for wings, and Base Admins will now place orders every two weeks instead of once a month.
  • The chunky sole band applies to fashion boots; however, arctic boots are exempt as their tread is essential for effectiveness.

New Requests

  • Stuff sack for the puffer parka.
  • Consistent and sensible sizing, with model sizes displayed next to each piece—similar to Uniqlo, Gap, or Madewell websites.
  • Black nylons.
  • Allow pocket squares and scarves year-round for Patriotic and Breast Cancer Awareness.
  • Add pockets to maternity pieces.
  • Include reflectors on transition jackets for safety.
  • Coordinate with HR and a pantyhose company to offer them on the Unisync site so flight attendants do not have to pay out of pocket.
  • Create a uniform quality report on IMD or provide a link on Inflight.

Previous Requests That Were Denied By Management

  • ¼ zip sweater (No new pieces will be considered prior to the merger).
  • Allow brown handbags to be carried when wearing brown shoes or belts.
  • Allow blazers to be worn with warm-weather shirts (per management, this does not fit the casual look).
  • Have pocket squares unstitched for versatility (management states the stitch is meant for ease of use).
  • Allow boots year-round.
  • Allow boots to be worn with the aura dress.
  • Permit black shoes and boots.

Quality Concerns

  • Seams on wool pieces and holes in knitwear.
  • Seams on the aura dress and skirt.
  • Need for more stretch in pants and A-line dresses.
  • Wings continue to create holes in sweaters.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Stuff Sack. Sourcing a stuff sack so the puffer parka can be packed easily.
  2. Wear Testing. Wear testing for a new/more durable cardigan less prone to hem and seam issues will begin late December/early January. The transition jacket will be wear tested after the completion of the cardigan testing (March 2025).
  3. Tote Exchange Program. Specific to the post-COVID classes who were not given the normal selection process for totes due to supply chain issues. Please see your supervisor if you would like to exchange your bags.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please fill out the Quality Concern Form on the Uniform subsite on TeamAAG with any quality issues. Additionally, you may email your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson. Please consider opening a ticket at AFA Alaska Support so the Uniform Committee can track these issues.

Would you like to join the wear test pool? Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know!  Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management. You can find contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

AFA Alaska News in Review – November 22, 2024

In This Edition

Introducing Our AFA Alaska Joint Negotiating Committee and Seniority Merger Integration Committee Members

Originally posted November 15, 2024

This week, our Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews for two positions on the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) and two positions on the Senior Merger Integration Committee (SMIC). We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the candidates who participated in the interviews and demonstrated their commitment to serving our Flight Attendants. After careful consideration, we are pleased to announce the election of Virginia Fritz and Heather Reier to the JNC positions, as well as Marie Maxwell and Camile Caldwell to the SMIC positions. All will serve as the pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant representatives on their respective committees in the upcoming merger.

Read More >

Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2024

Originally posted November 21, 2024

Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Monday, November 18, to discuss their ongoing program of work to advance human rights within our workplace and community. The Committee also met with management to receive updates on what progress has been made on concerns previously brought forward and address new concerns that have come to light. If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – November 2024

Originally posted November 21, 2024

On November 19, 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!

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TA2 Mediation Session 1

Originally posted November 22, 2024

This week was our first TA2 Mediation Session with management and the mediator assigned by the National Mediation Board. We presented our initial TA2 Proposal addressing targeted issues from TA1, based on the TA2 Survey and guidance from the MEC. The mediator directed the parties not to publish Opening Proposals or specific details. We discussed the proposal and made progress on several provisions. The next scheduled session is December 17-19.

Read More >

Shared on Social

TA2 Negotiations Begin

Our Negotiating Committee begins TA2 Negotiations today in Seattle, WA. The Committee will present the TA2 Opening Proposal, drafted in collaboration with the MEC and based on your responses in the TA2 Survey. This week we will begin pushing for improvements to TA1. This is the first of two scheduled mediation sessions with management and the mediator assigned by the National Mediation Board.

See The Post >

Next Week’s Events

No Events Next Week 

See the MEC Event Calendar >

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 – November 2024

Scheduling Committee

  • On November 19, 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, November 19, 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), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz.

The committee met with Interim Managing Director Inflight Operations & Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Managing Director Ops Staffing & Resource Management Brittany Audette, Managing Director of Crew Staffing Nicholas Giles, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Senior Manager of Product Management Rick Mitchell, Manager of Inflight Scheduling (Training/ Policy Procedures) Interim Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Planning Jeffery Hunt, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

Local Committee Chairperson Discussion

  • Open AFA Alaska Online Support Center Tickets. Three open tickets regarding sit pay with deadhead release were denied by payroll. Further collaboration with MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative Kiara Jenkins is planned for review.
  • Hawaiian Airlines (HA) Route Adjustments. Request for an executive summary on HA flying route adjustments for 2025.
  • Change in Flying Schedules. Inquiry regarding the timeline for changes to flying schedules in PDX and other domiciles.
  • Staffing Adjustment Leaves (SAL). Notification of 250 SALs available for 30 days.
  • 4k Error Inquiry. Flight Attendants are requesting clarification on the 4k error and its implications.
  • Daylight Savings Impact. Issues arose concerning reporting times during the night of daylight savings, leading to an extra hour wait for some flights. An email review with Crew Scheduling is to follow.
  • Complaints About Hawaii Flying. Feedback from Flight Attendants about reduced block hours and seasonal flying; concerns over missing standard flying patterns from previous years.
  • Storm Impacts. Ongoing storms are affecting crews flying to LIR/SJO, leading to diversions and strandings.
  • Sick Leave Miscommunication. Clarification regarding sick leave balances in Rainmaker and discrepancies in the 2011 bulletin is needed.
  • Jetbridge Swap Incident. Report of a late arrival to the plane under 32.C.16.
  • Open Time (OT) Trading. No AFA Alaska Online Support Center tickets reported system issues on Open Time trading for November drops in December.
  • ADR Update. Update required on previous OT tickets.
  • Vacation Direct Trade Testing. Testing in progress for vacation direct trades with OT in cases of incorrect PS number entry.
  • Flight Cancellations. Crew listed as ST (sick transport) instead of deadhead; this is the proper listing and pay will be reconciled. 
  • Pay Flow Chart Proposal. AFA officers expressed interest in developing a pay flow chart to clarify minimum pay rules.

PBS Subcommittee Report

  • Bidding for December. High activity with numerous inquiries on bid preparation for coverage.
  • Bid Awards. Notable coverage increase in California despite improved stack heights.
  • Bid Protests. Increased protests due to complex coverage awards.
  • Upcoming Meetings. Meetings will be held with IT regarding changes and updates to the PBS system.
  • Future Releases. Confirmation of 25.1 as the next release with no additional updates anticipated.

Pairing Construction Subcommittee Report

  • C Solution for December. Chosen pairing solution; issues noted with 4k redeye trips.
  • Crew Planning Participation. Collaboration with AFA at the Jeppesen Connection Conference provided valuable insights.
  • Impact of Network Planning. Discussed how ongoing changes in flights and trips are being adjusted based on passenger demand and route planning.

MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Report

  • New Class Launch. A new class will begin in PDX/LAX on December 1, 2024, with no significant hiring changes for 2025.
  • PPP Concerns. Issues were raised regarding the distribution of the PPP for mid-month hires.

Information Technology Systems (ITS) Report

  • Updates. Testing for the software version 24.5 release is in progress; upcoming releases are scheduled for early 2025.

Crew Planning Report

  • 4k Redeye Issues. Noted problems with illegal ground times; a quality checklist for pairings is being implemented to prevent future occurrences.
  • Staffing Updates. Ongoing discussions about staffing and budget planning for 2025 amidst operational changes.

Crew Scheduling Report

  • Sick Leave Trends. Current trends show decreased sick leave use, with stable rates for lineholders and reserves.
  • Fatigue Monitoring. Low fatigue levels were reported this month; new temp supervisors to enhance scheduling support.

Crew Pay Report

  • Pay Queries Review. A decrease in pay queries was noted, with ongoing efforts to improve efficiency in handling pay-related issues.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. NAVBLUE. The PBS Subcommittee is seeking feedback on how they can improve their assistance to flight crews regarding bid awards and understanding results. They provided both in-person and virtual meetings for this purpose. The PBS Subcommittee is working with management on PBS base sit budgets.  Management has the committee keep track of how money is being spent to assist flight crews with their bidding. We appreciate your participation in virtual and in person base sits. 
  2. Pairings Survey. There is a discussion of reviewing bidding data from NAVBLUE to see what kind of pairings Flight Attendants are interested in flying instead of sending out a survey. We will continue to review options. 
  3. Chime Communications. To reduce phone call volumes, Flight Attendants may soon be able to chat with Crew Scheduling via app/Microsoft Teams. The chat will be for Flight Attendant-initiated contact only. The function is currently in the early stages of development and still needs to be discussed with Labor Relations management and our MEC. Testing and implementation are continuing over the next few weeks. We are working on a letter of agreement for implementation, which is still pending review. 
  4. 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.
  5. Crew Planning. Like Crew Scheduling, there was a monthly review of PowerPoint presentations that covered subsequent month staffing, trip length distribution, Flight Attendant block hours, special initiatives (e.g., IROPs), commutability, and other relevant agenda items. Statistics around teaming continue to be reviewed. Crew Planning continues to maximize pairing construction and optimizing teaming strategies to minimize costs and ensure that crews (Flight Attendants) can stay together for multiple segments.
  6. ITS. Representatives from ITS joined the scheduling meeting to provide updates on NAVBLUE, Crew Access, internal systems, and Block2Block. These updates include performance reviews, data analysis, and information about future releases. 

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.

2026 AFA Board of Directors Convention: What You Need To Know

Next week, our Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers, Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents, and several other LEC Officers, Committee Chairpersons, and Committee Members will attend the 53rd Annual AFA Board of Directors (BOD) Convention in Portland, Oregon. They will join representatives from other AFA airlines to address our Union’s business at the international level. Watch […]

Hawaiian Flight Attendant Seattle Domicile Negotiations – March 2026 Update

Management currently requires Flight Attendants to provide proof of relocation to receive the flat-rate moving expense, a policy that the AFA is formally challenging through the grievance process. While this dispute is ongoing, Flight Attendants able to submit proof of relocation must submit two forms of documentation, such as a lease or updated driver’s license, within 60 days of transfer if they wish to be paid under management’s terms. The union continues to advocate for a fairer process and encourages members to keep records of all related interactions.

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 12 – February 2026

During this negotiation session, we made progress on Sections 15 (Leaves of Absence) and 22 (Expenses). The JNC advocated for positive developments from the Hawaiian CBA to strengthen our proposals. We also introduced our initial proposal for Section 28 (Domiciles) and remain committed to meaningful improvements in all areas of discussion.

Reminder: Don’t Miss Next Week’s MEC Town Hall!

Mark your calendar—Tuesday, March 3, is almost here! There’s still time to register for our Alaska + Hawaiian Town Hall and hear directly from your MEC Officers: MEC President Tim Green, MEC Vice President Brice McGee, and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Paul Ikioka. Join us for the latest updates and get answers to your questions. The Details What […]

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, February 19, our AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), Bob Moore (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Holmes […]

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