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AFA Alaska News in Review – May 3, 2024

In This Edition

Alaska & Hawaiian MECs Meeting

Originally posted May 1, 2024

On April 26, our AFA International President convened a virtual meeting with the Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils (MECs). The group met to review progress on the demands set by the MECs’ previous unanimously adopted resolution. While there has been progress, the first demand — an industry-leading AFA Alaska contract — has not been met. The group passed a resolution extending the deadline for determining our support, opposition, or neutrality to the merger. The Alaska and Hawaiian MECs will reconvene the week of May 20th to evaluate conditions and review management’s action/inaction to review our position.

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Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Originally posted May 1, 2024

May 1st marks the first day of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States.  This tradition dates back to 1978 when Congress passed a resolution to commemorate the first Asian/Pacific American Heritage week the following year. Read more about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, learn about the accomplishments of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below. Join the celebration by wearing an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month AFA Pin during the month of May.  If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

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Solidarity Summer: Worldwide Day of Action, June 13, 2024

Originally posted May 3, 2024

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, June 13, 2024

AFA and APFA Flight Attendants are standing together against corporate greed on June 13 for a Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action. Flight Attendants across airlines are fed up and unified in the fight to secure the contracts we deserve! Save the date to turn up the heat and finish the job!

Mark your calendars for June 13!

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Shared on Social

Additional Negotiations Dates

Our Negotiating Committee is committed to reaching a Tentative Agreement as soon as possible. We were able to secure additional negotiation sessions with management in the coming months. Although the mediator will not be present, we hope to continue making progress toward the contract we have earned. Currently, we have added sessions and preparation work in May, June, July, and August.

Next Week’s Events

Monday, May 6Quarterly Human Rights Committee Meeting
Thursday, May 9Alternate 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!

Alaska & Hawaiian MECs Meeting – April 26, 2024

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • On April 26, our AFA International President convened a virtual meeting with the Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils (MECs).
  • The group met to review progress on the demands set by the MECs’ previous unanimously adopted resolution. While there has been progress, the first demand — an industry-leading AFA Alaska contract — has not been met.
  • The group passed a resolution extending the deadline for determining our support, opposition, or neutrality to the merger. The Alaska and Hawaiian MECs will reconvene the week of May 20th to evaluate conditions and review management’s action/inaction to review our position.

On April 26, 2024, our International President convened a virtual meeting with the Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils (MEC). This includes the directly elected Local Council Presidents and MEC officers at each airline. Our AFA professionals from Legal, Collective Bargaining, Government Affairs, and Communications were in attendance to support the elected Flight Attendant representatives.

The group met to review progress on the demands set by the MECs’ previous unanimously adopted resolution. While there has been progress, the first demand — an industry-leading AFA Alaska contract — has not been met. The group passed a resolution extending the deadline for determining our support, opposition, or neutrality to the merger. Read the full resolution.

The Alaska and Hawaiian MECs will reconvene the week of May 20th to evaluate conditions and review management’s action/inaction to review our position.

AFA Alaska News in Review – April 26, 2024

In This Edition

System Board of Adjustment Interviews – June 2024

Originally posted April 22, 2024

Our Master Executive Council (MEC) will be conducting interviews for one (1) Member to serve on the AFA System Board of Adjustment. Members are to serve on the System Board of Adjustment for the purpose of arbitrating any disputes or grievances that may arise under the terms of the Agreement between Alaska Airlines and its Flight Attendants.

Read More >

MEC Employee Assistance Program/Professional Standards Committee Vice Chairperson Interviews – June 2024

Originally posted April 22, 2024

Our MEC thanks Elizabeth Dillon for the significant role she played in supporting Flight Attendants through her service as MEC EAP/Professional Standards Committee Chairperson. MEC Committee Vice Chairperson Lisa Haugen will succeed Elizabeth as the new MEC Committee Chairperson, with the Vice Chairperson position becoming vacant. Interviews for a new Vice Chairperson will be conducted at the June Regular MEC Meeting.

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AFA Presents Our Case To The National Mediation Board

Originally posted April 24, 2024

AFA Representatives met with the National Mediation Board (NMB) in Washington, DC, to discuss Alaska Flight Attendant negotiations. The meeting aimed to present our concerns, emphasizing the need for significant improvements to bring Alaska Flight Attendants up to par with the industry. AFA proposed additional negotiation dates directly with management due to the federal mediator’s limited availability, aiming to expedite progress toward an agreement.

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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – April 2024

Originally posted April 25, 2024

On April 23, 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!

Read More >

New Industry Comparison Resource

Originally posted April 26, 2024

We have published a new resource on the Contract 2022 website. This page contains comparisons of publicly available contracts for airlines based in the United States. The information is up to date with our recent Comprehensive Proposal, as well as the recently ratified Southwest Flight Attendant Agreement and the recently announced 5% raise for Delta Flight Attendants. We hope you find this resource useful as we continue with negotiations and mediation.

Review The Industry Comparison >

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Settle For Nothing Less

After nearly two years at the negotiating table, and billions of dollar spent elsewhere, Alaska management maintains that an industry leading contract for their Flight Attendants is too expensive. We have one thing to say to that: PAY US OR CHAOS.

Watch Our Instagram Reel >

Congratulations Southwest Flight Attendants!

Congratulations to the Members of TWU Local 556 on the ratification of their new Collective Bargaining Agreement with Southwest Airlines. Your success reminds us of the power we hold when we stand together. We look forward to seeing the positive changes this contract will bring to your Members and our industry. Here’s to the continued success of our collective fight against corporate greed!

Gaslighting

Tell us you think we’re not paying attention without telling us you think we’re not paying attention. 

We see Alaska Airlines management spending billions of dollars and then they tell us we’re asking too much. Pay attention to this, management: #PayUsOrCHAOS

Watch Our Instagram Reel >

Next Week’s Events

Monday, April 29Council 39 (PDX) Local Council Meeting
Wednesday, May 1Council 19 (SEA) Local Council Meeting
Thursday, May 2SFO Base Safety Meeting
Thursday, May 2Scheduling Review Board (SRB)

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 – April 2024

Scheduling Committee

  • On April 23, 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, April 23, 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, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz.

The committee met with Managing Director Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Managing Director Ops Staffing & Resource Mgt Brittany Audette, Director of Crew Staffing Nicholas Giles, Manager of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Sr Mgr Product Management Rick Mitchell, Manager Inflight Crew Scheduling Goose Hlaingmyint, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, and other management representatives from Crew Planning/Crew Scheduling.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on May 21, 2024.

Topics of Discussion

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

  • Reassignments/Delays
    • FA’s seeing increase in Reassignments over past two months
    • Reassignments happening in base or after check-in with little notice
    • Delays on overnights reported close to report time
  • Rest Concerns
    • Flight attendants who did not waive rest are frustrated that their check in is delayed to allow rest rather than the Flight Attendant being removed from trip due to short staffing
  • Pay Issues
    • Trend in seeing delays in confirmation that corrected pay has been applied
  • Trading Issues
    • All bases discussed the open tickets regarding the JCTE trading issues and calendar display
  • Hotel Issues
    • Crews had incorrect information on pairings regarding their hotels creating lengthly waits for hotel rooms and short rest periods. All Local Scheduling Committee Chairs continue to fight for additional pay when applicable
    • Crews having non-contractual rooms
    • See Hotel Hotline for each hotel’s contract language as well as file an API report when issues arise
  • PBS Bidding
    • Request that PBS in-person bidding continue especially with new classes arriving

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.

System Board of Adjustment Interviews – June 2024

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Our Master Executive Council (MEC) will be conducting interviews for one (1) Member to serve on the AFA System Board of Adjustment.

Scope

Members are to serve on the System Board of Adjustment for the purpose of arbitrating any disputes or grievances that may arise under the terms of the Agreement between Alaska Airlines and its Flight Attendants.

Policy/Responsibilities

  • There shall be two members selected by the MEC from active members in good standing to represent the Association. Members will be selected at-large without regard to Local Council or domicile. 
  • Any person seeking a position as a System Board of Adjustment Member must submit a resume. Candidates must interview with the MEC.
  • System Board Members shall be selected for a two (2) year appointment period in accordance with the AFA Constitution and Bylaws. At least one appointment will be reviewed in June of each year. Selection shall be made, insofar as possible, to ensure that both members will not be new at the same time.  
  • The System Board Members will act in the best interest of the membership and the Association and will be consistent with the Agreement between the Flight Attendants and Alaska Airlines.
  • The MEC President shall have the ability, in the event of an emergency, to appoint a qualified member in good standing to fill an ad hoc position on the Board.
  • The MEC on an ad hoc basis, by majority vote, may appoint an expert as a substitute for one member of the System Board of Adjustment.

Qualifications

  • Current Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant
  • Willingness to attend the requisite grievance training(s)
  • In depth knowledge of the contract
  • Understanding of the principles of just cause
  • Adherence to Grievance Committee policies, procedures, and standards of ethical conduct
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive and personal information
  • Maintenance of member-in-good-standing status
  • Ability to remain in good standing with the company
  • Ability to analyze written data and information with high attention to detail
  • Strong written and communication skills
  • Strong computer skills.

Term of Appointment

The selected candidate will serve a term of appointment that begins on July 1, 2024 and concludes on June 30, 2026.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

The MEC will hold interviews of eligible candidates during the June Regular MEC Meeting on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. If you’re interested in interviewing, plan to bid around this date or adjust your schedule accordingly to accommodate. All interviews will be conducted in person or using Google Meet videoconferencing at the candidate’s discretion.

Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume using the online expression of interest form. The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. After the submission deadline, an MEC representative will contact eligible candidates to arrange a specific interview time.

Please note that to submit an expression of interest, you must have a Google account.  If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Questions?

Any questions regarding the position or application process should be directed to MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams at stephanie.adams@afaalaska.org.

Go In-Depth with Our AFA Membership Engagement Committee Chairperson

Building on the momentum of our Membership Engagement Committee introduction video and this week’s look at the committee’s history, we’re excited to introduce the next feature of our July Committee Focus Month. Today, we’re launching an in-depth interview that offers an inside look at the mission and people powering the Membership Engagement Committee. What You’ll […]

Register Now: Reserve Webinar – Thursday, August 6

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants As a follow-up to our June 23 save-the-date announcement, we’re excited to share full details and open registration for our August pre-merger Alaska Reserve Webinar! If you’ve ever wondered, “Can they do that?” when Crew Scheduling calls with a reserve assignment or schedule change—whether you’re a Reserve Flight […]

AFA Committee Focus Month: Membership Engagement

July marks our latest AFA Committee Focus Month, and we’re excited to spotlight our Membership Engagement Committee. In May, we kicked off this initiative by showcasing the exceptional work of our EAP/Professional Standards Committee—illustrating how our committees serve and support us every day. Our Membership Engagement Committee is here to make sure every Member feels genuinely […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 16 – July 2026

The JNC has been actively negotiating key sections of the contract, focusing on vacation, sick leave, and temporary duty assignments. A tentative agreement was reached on Section 37 (Temporary Duty Assignments), ensuring financial protections and fair treatment for Flight Attendants during temporary assignments. These ongoing discussions demonstrate a commitment to integrating the best benefits from both Alaska and Hawaiian CBAs for all members.

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2026

On Wednesday, June 24, 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 were Nyachan Chuar (ANC), Yan Yan Teague (SEA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Trista Vanta (SFO), Louise Borras (LAX-pmAS), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (LAX-pmHA), […]

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