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AFA Alaska News in Review – August 11, 2023

In This Edition

Get Ready For Our Day of Solidarity!

Originally posted August 8, 2023

Don’t forget to RSVP for our Day of Solidarity informational picketing events next week on Tuesday, August 15. As a reminder, Flight Attendants scheduled to work during the events must refrain from participating. If you’re not able to attend in person, you can join our virtual picket using the resources on the contract website.

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August 2023 MEC Meeting Recap

Originally posted August 9, 2023

Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, August 8 and Wednesday, August 9, to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants. The MEC was scheduled to meet with management to discuss issues affecting our work group, but the meeting was canceled by our MEC due to a lack of availability by many key management participants. The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 18 and Tuesday, September 19.

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Shared on Social

Don’t Forget – Keep Your Schedule Clear On August 15!

This is a friendly reminder that our Day of Solidarity is coming up on August 15! We appreciate your support and ask that if you RSVP’d to attend, you keep a close eye on your schedule and refrain from picking up or trading into trips that day. Your commitment to attend and participate in the picketing events means everything to our Negotiating Committee, and we’re counting on you to be there. Let’s stand together!

#AFAAlaska #RedHotSummer

Next Week’s Events

Monday, August 14 – Wednesday, August 16Contract Negotiations
Tuesday, August 15Day of Solidarity Informational Picketing
Thursday, August 17Scheduling 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!

August 2023 MEC Meeting Recap

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, August 8 and Wednesday, August 9, to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.
  • The MEC was scheduled to meet with management to discuss issues affecting our work group, but the meeting was canceled by our MEC due to a lack of availability by many key management participants.
  • The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 18 and Tuesday, September 19.

The August 2023 Regular MEC Meeting was held this week on Tuesday, August 8 and Wednesday, August 9.  The meeting consisted of updates from our MEC Officers, LEC Presidents, Grievance Committee, and Scheduling Committee.  Our MEC also reviewed written reports submitted by other AFA MEC Committee Chairpersons about their current programs of work. 

Mobilization and Solidarity Activities

A large part of the meeting focused on discussing mobilization efforts for the upcoming Day of Solidarity informational picketing on August 15. Progress updates were given on logistics and planning for the events.

Meeting with Management Canceled

During most regular MEC meetings, we meet with management to review the challenges faced by Flight Attendants. Unfortunately, many key management participants were unavailable or did not respond to the meeting invitation from AFA this month. As a result, our MEC canceled the meeting as it would not have been productive without key decision-makers present to discuss concerns and work toward solutions.

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 – August 4, 2023

In This Edition

Talking To The Public About Contract Negotiations

Originally posted July 31, 2023

Our Negotiating Committee would like to offer some guidance on how to handle questions from various individuals regarding negotiations. Passengers should be directed to raise their concerns through Alaska Listens. Family, friends, and allies can support by participating in informational picketing events or posting on Alaska Airlines’ social media accounts. Media inquiries should be referred to an AFA spokesperson.

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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – July 2023

Originally posted July 31, 2023

Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, July 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding. Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Building Support In Our Communities

Originally posted August 4, 2023

We’ve launched a new page on the contract website to inform our communities about our fight for a fair contract. The page includes ways for everyone to show support, including a petition, social media tools, and printable signs. Please share the page with family, friends, and community members and ask that they do the same.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, August 8 – Wednesday, August 9Regular MEC Meeting
Tuesday, August 8Retirement Committee Meeting
Tuesday, August 8Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting
Thursday, August 10Quarterly Hotel 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!

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – July 2023

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, July 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
  • Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Tuesday, July 25, 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), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Natalie Codd (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.

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

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on August 22, 2023.

Topics of Discussion

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

  • Block hours reduction. Line averages will be lower during the fall of 2023, starting with the September bid month.
  • JCTE/Crew Access update. We are expecting a new update (7.4 MR13) for filters and a “trade handshake” in September 2023. 
  • Leaves. At this time there are no leaves expected through the remainder 2023. We expect to see leaves offered in January 2024.
  • Pilot Retiming Block In/Out. Management recently issued a bulletin bundle providing an update on this issue and a plan for implementation in a future Crew Access update. 
  • Base Turns. Each month Flight Attendants are surprised when they combine two sequences over 10 hours 30 minutes and that some contractual legalities are waived. When adding sequences together, refer to Section 8.T.
  • Vacation Bidding. In preparation for 2024 vacation bidding we are completing user testing with payroll. 
  • Section 34.A.5. It was discovered after bid awards that Flight Attendants were flying and transporting within Mexico alone. AFA remedies included 1.5x premium for the entire trip and/or pay protection for affected Flight Attendants. 
  • Section 11.E.1.c. “ISA” marker. Unavailable for self assignment. When Flight Attendants trade into/out of trips with this label, the premium will disappear. If you notice a trip in Open Time labeled as “ISA” without premium, you can contact CS and request removal of the ISA label or for the premium to be added back onto the trip. Crew Scheduling has the discretion to determine which action they choose. 
  • Hotel wait times. If you wait in excess of over one (1) hour for a hotel please ensure you keep in contact with Crew Scheduling and open a ticket with AFA. 

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. NavBlue. We’ve reviewed the base sits and would like more feedback and participation from Flight Attendants. Please let us know your thoughts and ideas on involvement in reviewing bids. 
  2. Pairings Survey. It’s been a few years since we submitted a survey on pairing construction. We are discussing survey questions and the possibility of a virtual session or town hall. A follow up meeting needs to be scheduled.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Scheduling Committee is your voice to management.  You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

AFA Alaska News in Review – July 28, 2023

In This Edition

Milestone Anniversary Celebration Event

Originally posted July 25, 2023

Management recently sent an email to employees celebrating a milestone anniversary with the company this year (10 years of service and every five years after that) with an invitation to this year’s milestone anniversary celebration on September 23.  For those of you who received one, we want to congratulate you on reaching these milestones and on your commitment to our career!

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Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2023

Originally posted July 27, 2023

Our AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met on Thursday, July 13 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to safety, health, and security in our workplace. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft. Reporting safety concerns is more important than ever given the challenges we are currently facing as a workgroup.  Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Reports (ASAP), and fatigue reports can all be filed through Report It!  Please contact a member of your Local ASHSC if you need assistance.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Thursday, August 3Alternate 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!

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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