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AFA Alaska News in Review – February 23, 2024

In This Edition

February 2024 MEC Meeting Recap

Originally posted February 19, 2024

The February 2024 Regular MEC Meeting was held last week on Wednesday, February 14. Our MEC debriefed on the successful Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action, which received extensive media coverage and brought our fight further into the public eye. The strike vote results were reviewed, where 99.48% of Flight Attendants voted in favor of authorizing a strike. Thank you to our Mobilization Volunteers for their hard work and contribution to achieving this outcome!

Read More >

Alaska Management Refuses to Remove Dangerous Coffee Makers From Service Despite Injury Risks to Flight Attendants

Originally posted February 20, 2024

Several Flight Attendants have been injured recently due to older-style B/E Aerospace coffee makers spewing hot coffee and grounds. Management denied an AFA request to discontinue using these coffee makers despite the risk to Flight Attendant and passenger safety. A formal complaint is being filed with the FAA, and a contractual grievance will be filed against the company.

Read More >

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – February 2024

Originally posted February 20, 2024

On February 20, 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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Negotiations Talk

Management might ask about negotiations – here’s an easy way to respond! “My Negotiating Committee speaks for me.” Our Negotiating Committee is our collective voice! Report these conversations by filling out a Management Interference Report on the Contract 2022 website, just like you would if you are asked to remove your AFA Contract Now lanyard.

Watch the Instagram Reel >

Don’t Care Bear Accessories

You asked, we delivered! Don’t Care Bear accessories are available now on the AFA Union Store – buy yours today while supplies last! Purchase a Don’t Care Bear Bag Tag or Pin at https://myunionstore.com/pages/afa-store.

The Don’t Care Bear Bag Tag and Pin are currently sold out, but we have ordered additional inventory to restock.

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, February 27Quarterly Inflight Service Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 29Alternate 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!

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – February 2024

Scheduling Committee

  • On February 20, 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 20, our AFA Scheduling 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 Heather Reier (ANC), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Kamako Yamado (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz, and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones.

The committee met with Managing Director Inflight Operations & Crew Scheduling Allen Thieman, Managing Director Ops Staffing & Resource Mgt Brittany Audette, Director of Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Director of Crew Planning Mike Ostler, Manager of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and other management representatives from Crew Planning/Crew Scheduling.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on March 26, 2024.

Topics of Discussion

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

  • SWGCO – Completed communication about making up days in PDX domicile.
  • Request for blocked seats for DH crews.
  • Researching options for creating names for blocked seats.
  • Concerns about nighttime flying and fatigue.
  • Request from AFA for balance in Redeye flying.
  • Confusion about commuter policy and handling of retimed charter.
  • Discussions about ground commuting vs severe weather policies.
  • Issues with pairing cancellations and pay adjustments.
  • Requests for more consistency in pairings.
  • Questions about crew pay adjustments and confusion.
  • Safety concerns raised about long sit times on aircraft.
  • PBS Bidding in February: Release 23.7.8 loaded, Bid Awards fast, Bid Protest normal/light.
  • PBS Meetings: Updates on pilot calls, focus on prioritizing FA’s after pilot, new release installed with fixes.
  • PBS Future Releases: Estimated in April, Base Sits completed with form to fill out.
  • Pairing selection challenges and frustrations with changing targets monthly.
  • Updates on SRB issues, night rule discussions, and new contract discussions.
  • Updates on upcoming classes, probation completion, and graduation plans.
  • Crew Planning for April: Staffing adjustments, commutability stats, and dealing with 737 Max delays.
  • IROP recovery planning initiatives: Teaming with pilots, In and Backs strategy, and Ice Event post mortem details.
  • Network planning updates: Redeye flying breakdown, route structure changes, and hotel arrangements.
  • AFA seeks discussion on assisting Crew Schedulers in commuting training for Flight Attendants inquiring about air, ground commuting, and severe weather.
  • Crew Scheduling management addresses challenges in scheduling, including high sick leave, reserve utilization, and flexibility levers. Notable points include premium low for February TFP, personal drops, and bulletin drops.
  • Agenda items cover email format concerns with pre-cancels, debrief inconsistencies, and the need for improved communication with CSAs.
  • Commuting issues are highlighted, emphasizing the importance of continued learning for schedulers and proper handling of commuter queries.
  • Discussions on MBL processes, ground commuting delays, and the need for training to address disconnects in communication.
  • Efforts to track and address commuter issues effectively are emphasized by Crew Scheduling and other team members.

What the Committee is Working on

  1. NavBlue. The PBS Committee 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.
  2. Pairings Survey. There is a discussion about conducting a survey on pairing construction, and there is a possibility of organizing a virtual session or town hall. A meeting with management occurred June 5, 2023, with a follow-up meeting to be arranged. However, there is no update or estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the moment.
  3. Chime Communications. Flight Attendants may chat with crew scheduling via app/Microsoft Teams to reduce phone calls. Flight Attendant-initiated contact. Early stages of development, to be discussed with AS Labor Relations and AFA. Testing and implementation to occur in the next few weeks. We are working on a letter of agreement for implementation. This is still pending review. 
  4. Crew Scheduling. There was a monthly review of PowerPoint presentations that 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. Similar to Crew Scheduling, there was a monthly review of PowerPoint presentations that cover subsequent month staffing, trip length distribution, Flight Attendant block hours, special initiatives (e.g., IROPs), commutability, and other relevant agenda items.
  6. ITS. Representatives from ITS joined the scheduling meeting to provide updates on NavBlue, Crew Access, internal systems, and Block 2 Block. 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.

Alaska Management Refuses to Remove Dangerous Coffee Makers From Service Despite Injury Risks to Flight Attendants

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

  • Several Flight Attendants have been injured recently due to older-style B/E Aerospace coffee makers spewing hot coffee and grounds.
  • Management denied an AFA request to discontinue using these coffee makers despite the risk to Flight Attendant and passenger safety.
  • A formal complaint is being filed with the FAA, and a contractual grievance will be filed against the company.

Over the past several months, at least nine Flight Attendant injuries have been reported, caused by scalding hot coffee and grounds spewing from the brew basket of older-style B/E Aerospace coffee makers on various aircraft. This is an alarming situation that requires immediate attention. It’s suspected that the recent changeover in coffee served onboard, which is packaged differently than the old product, may be contributing to this issue. Management has begun investigating the root cause and has identified some potential solutions to address the problem. However, it will likely take significant time to implement the mitigations fully.

Last week, our Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) sent management an official request to discontinue using B/E Aerospace coffee makers until physical mitigations can be implemented. Despite the inconvenience this may cause by leaving some aircraft with fewer or no coffee makers to use, the Committee believes that potentially seeing multiple Flight Attendants injured while waiting for long-term fixes is unacceptable. Disappointingly, management denied the request, knowingly putting the physical safety and well-being of employees and passengers at risk for the sake of a few more cups of coffee.

This decision by management is a clear violation of their own core value of “owning safety” and displays a shocking level of negligence. Given the gravity of the situation, we will be taking immediate action by filing a formal complaint with the FAA to escalate the issue. Additionally, our Grievance Committee will file a contractual grievance based on management’s violation of section §25.B of our collective bargaining agreement (“The Company will provide a safe and healthy workplace…”).

Flight Attendant and passenger safety must not be compromised. It’s reckless and unacceptable for management to put Flight Attendants at risk by keeping hazardous coffee makers in operation. Removing these coffee makers from service is the right thing to do and the only responsible action for management to take. It’s our right to work in a safe environment, and we demand that this right be upheld.

February 2024 MEC Meeting Recap

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • The February 2024 Regular MEC Meeting was held last week on Wednesday, February 14.
  • Our MEC debriefed on the successful Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action, which received extensive media coverage and brought our fight further into the public eye.
  • The strike vote results were reviewed, where 99.48% of Flight Attendants voted in favor of authorizing a strike. Thank you to our Mobilization Volunteers for their hard work and contribution to achieving this outcome!

Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) held its regular meeting for February 2024 on Wednesday, February 14. These meetings, required under the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, provide an important opportunity for the MEC to discuss and address issues and concerns affecting our Union and Members at the airline level. Your directly elected LEC President (or their designee) attends these meetings as your representative and votes on your behalf when decisions need to be made.

During the meeting, the MEC received updates from the MEC Officers, LEC Presidents, Grievance Committee, and Scheduling Committee. Additionally, the MEC reviewed written reports submitted by other AFA MEC Committee Chairpersons detailing their current work and activities.

Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action

Our MEC debriefed the previous day’s Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action informational picketing events. The events were wildly successful, with incredible participation by Alaska Flight Attendants at all six bases (including the SNA and ONT co-terminals) and several other participating airports around the country. Coupled with the announcement of our strike vote results, we gained significant local and national media coverage, bringing our fight further into the public eye. Read more about the Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action, including a summary of media coverage, by clicking here.

Strike Vote Results & Mobilization Volunteer Thank You

Our MEC reviewed the results of our strike vote, where a resounding 99.48% of Flight Attendants voted in favor of authorizing a strike! This overwhelming mandate is a major milestone in our ongoing battle for an industry-leading agreement, and it empowers AFA leadership to request a release from the National Mediation Board if management fails to agree to significant improvements at the negotiating table. Thank you to everyone who voted and made their voices heard!

Additionally, our MEC would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering dedication and hard work of our Mobilization Volunteers. Their tireless efforts in encouraging and helping Flight Attendants to vote were critical to the success of our strike vote. From sharing voting information and resources, answering questions, joining airport outreach sits and terminal walks, and assisting with the text messaging campaign, they truly made a difference in achieving the incredible voter turnout. We are stronger together because of their commitment to our collective voice. A special thank you to all our Mobilization Volunteers!

Contract Now Lanyards

Last week at the Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action picketing events, we introduced bright red AFA Contract Now lanyards to bring even more visibility to our fight for an industry-leading contract. A supply of lanyards has been provided to Mobilization Volunteers and others for distribution. Flight Attendants can expect to see Mobilization Volunteers at the airport in our six bases at varying times to hand out lanyards. Look for additional information from your Local Council about when and where to find Mobilization Volunteers with lanyards. As a reminder, if you face any attempt from management to interfere with our ability to wear a Union lanyard, report it immediately using the Management Interference Report form.

Contract Negotiations/Mediation

Our MEC was updated on the negotiation session that took place the previous week with the mediator assigned by the National Mediation Board (NMB). The update included a discussion about negotiation logistics and upcoming scheduling. You can find more information about the session here.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this month’s Regular MEC Meeting, please get in touch with your LEC President.

AFA Alaska News in Review – February 16, 2024

In This Edition

Strike Vote: Last Day To Vote!

Originally posted February 12, 2024

Note: This information is for historical reference only. Voting closed on Tuesday, February 13. For information on the voting results, please see Flight Attendants at Alaska Airlines Vote 99.48% to Authorize a Strike (below).

Today is the last full day to vote before voting closes tomorrow (Tuesday, February 13) at 12 PM PT! As of this morning, 91% of Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants have participated in the Strike Authorization Vote. Our goal is 100% participation and 100% FOR authorization! If you have not done so already, cast your vote TODAY! Make sure to encourage your friends and crews to vote FOR the strike authorization!

Read More >

Flight Attendants at Alaska Airlines Vote 99.48% to Authorize a Strike

Originally posted February 13, 2024

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), voted 99.48% yes on strike authorization should management fail to agree to significant improvements. 

“Our time is now!” said AFA Alaska President Jeffrey Peterson. “Alaska Flight Attendants today backed up our fight for an industry-leading contract with a 99.48% strike vote. And we’re out on the picket line demonstrating that we’re ready to do whatever it takes to get the contract we deserve. There’s no excuse: Alaska management has the money to buy another airline, they certainly have the money to invest in Flight Attendants. We have a simple message for management: Pay us, or CHAOS!”

Read More >

AFA “Contract Now” Lanyards Are Here!

Originally posted February 13, 2024

AFA Contract Now lanyards will be available from our Mobilization Volunteers and LEC Officers. Wear them as a show of solidarity with your flying partners and our Negotiating Committee in our fight for an industry leading contract. Report all supervisor interference with our solidarity activities by filling out a Management Interference Report on the Contract 2022 website or by clicking here.

Read More >

The Power of Unity: Our Day of Action and Strike Vote

Originally posted February 15, 2024

This week, thousands of Flight Attendants from across the industry showed up in full force to make history. We stood in complete solidarity, leaving no room for doubt, and demanded the contracts we’ve rightfully earned. Our strong and united voice sent a powerful message to management industrywide that we are done being undervalued and underappreciated. We won’t tolerate their stall tactics and disrespect any longer. We stand firm and will do whatever it takes to get a contract with the pay and work rule improvements we deserve. Management can no longer ignore our demands or play games with our livelihoods. We’ve made it crystal clear that we won’t back down until our voices are heard and our contracts are secured.

Read More >

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Join The Virtual Picket Line on February 13!

Originally posted February 11, 2024

If you’re scheduled to work on February 13 or won’t be able to make it to a picketing event in person, you can still participate in our Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action. Help turn up the heat on social media and take part in our virtual picket! 

Our Day of Action Is Tomorrow!

Originally posted February 12, 2024

Tomorrow, Flight Attendants worldwide are coming together like never before to fight corporate greed. Standing together, we’re making it clear to management that we demand better contracts and fair treatment and won’t back down. We’re more than 100,000 strong and ready to push our careers forward. Join us in solidarity and be a part of history as we picket at over 30 airports worldwide. It’s time to demand the respect we deserve!

Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action – Day of Event Information

Originally posted February 13, 2024

Tired of corporate greed and disrespect from management? It’s time to stand up and fight back!

Today is our Day of Action, and Flight Attendants from across the industry are coming together to participate in informational picketing events at over 30 airports worldwide. Check out this post for all the key details, including meeting points, times, and contact information for Alaska bases. Swipe through to find out more about the virtual picket and resources to participate.

Still have some questions or need more info? Head to the Day of Action event page at https://contract2022.afaalaska.org/feb-13-action and get all the answers you need. It’s time to come together and make our voices heard – let’s do this!

Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action Recap

Hundreds of Flight Attendants and allies came together in SFO and over 30 airports around the world today to make history. We stood in solidarity to bring attention to our collective struggle against corporate greed and to demand the contracts we have rightfully earned. Our strong and unified voice, and the announcement that Alaska Flight Attendants voted 99.48% to authorize a strike, sent a powerful message to management that we won’t tolerate stall tactics and disrespect any longer. Today was a testament to the power of standing together and fighting for what’s right!

See photos on Instagram from ANC, LAX, ONT, PDX, SAN, SEA, SFO, SNA >

Day of Action Recap

This is what solidarity looks like! Unions standing together are an unstoppable force that will not rest until we receive what we rightfully deserve. Our unwavering determination has already shown management that we are not to be underestimated. We will continue to fight until we secure a contract that truly reflects our value, and we will not settle for anything less. Workers united will never be divided!

Watch the Reel on Instagram >

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, February 20Monthly Scheduling Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 22Quarterly Human Rights Committee Meeting

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!

Navigating Acute & Delayed Stress As A Flight Attendant

Stress is an inherent aspect of the Flight Attendant profession, often stemming from the demanding nature of responsibilities and the unpredictable nature of air travel. It’s essential for Flight Attendants not only to understand the different types of stress they may encounter but also to recognize the warning signs of acute and delayed stress for […]

Protect Yourself From Potential Discipline on Social Media

Our Grievance Committee would like to provide background on social media, protected classes, and discipline. Federal protected classes include race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or transgender status), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.  Alaska’s People Policy says: Personal Conduct22. Threatening, intimidating, or discourteous behavior, including abusive, profane, or obscene language, acts, […]

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

On Wednesday, March 25, our AFA Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to raise awareness and create positive change within our workplace and community. Your representatives attending the meeting included Louise Borras (LAX-pmAS), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (LAX-pmHA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Nyachan Chuar (ANC), and Yan Yan Teague (SEA). MEC Human […]

Pre-Merger Hawaiian Inflight Service Committee Update – March 2026

Editor’s Note: Our MEC Inflight Service Committee now represents both pre-merger airlines, but management still makes service decisions that affect each group of Flight Attendants differently. This update covers changes for both Hawaiian- and Alaska-branded flying, but is specific to aircraft flown by pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines crews. As the work of the merger progresses, we […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 13 – March 2026

Our JNC met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC focused on clarifying questions about moving expenses and presented a proposal for Sick Leave, using feedback from Flight Attendants to guide improvements. The Committee is working to incorporate the strongest elements from both contracts to ensure better support for all members.

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