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        You are here: Home / Archives for Master Executive Council (MEC) / Message from the MEC President

        It’s Time for a New Generation to Lead

        January 13, 2025 17:00

        Master Executive Council President Jeffrey Peterson

        • MEC Elections Update: The MEC Officer elections for the merged MEC will occur on January 29th, effective March 1st. The candidate page is updated each workday by the Membership Department at afacwa.org/AlaskaHawaiian.
        • Leadership Transition: After five terms, MEC President Jeff Peterson will not seek reelection, planning to return to the line on February 28th. His focus remains on setting up the new MEC president for success in JCBA negotiations starting in March.
        • Contract Negotiation Goals: The ideal goal is to use a ratified TA2 as a foundation for further contractual improvements during JCBA negotiations.

        As has been previously reported, the MEC Officer elections for the merged MEC will be conducted on January 29th with an effective date of March 1st. The Membership Department has been updating the candidate page at the end of each business day at afacwa.org/AlaskaHawaiian. 

        Although I have previously posted my intentions on social media a few times in the past many months, I believe it’s important to communicate more broadly via official AFA Alaska channels. This is especially true now that the preferred deadline of January 15th for candidates to make themselves known is just days away. I would have made the announcement sooner, but I was holding off on doing so because my focus has been on bargaining.

        After five consecutive terms as MEC president, it’s time for me to step aside and give a new generation the opportunity to lead. Therefore, I am not seeking reelection and plan on returning to the line. I sincerely thank all the candidates who step forward and are willing to serve, and I look forward to the interviews in a few weeks.  

        However, this isn’t a goodbye from me quite yet as there is a lot of work to be done between now and my last day in office on February 28th. The next month and a half will be spent closing the books on TA2 and preparing for the new joint MEC administration. My primary goal is to set up the next MEC president to helm Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) negotiations starting in March from the most optimal position possible. 

        I’ll leave you with this thought for your consideration: If the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) were able to use a ratified TA2 as a stepping stone to build upon in the JCBA, then we would all benefit from a proverbial second bite at the apple for additional contractual improvements. In the meantime, stay tuned for developments as we work through the TA2 ratification process. 

        In Solidarity,

        Jeff

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Message from the MEC President

        Response to the November 18th Inflight Town Hall Webcast

        November 18, 2022 12:00

        California meal & rest breaks

        Management’s continued scare tactics and speculative “what-if’s” as put forward during the Inflight Town Hall webcast today regarding California meal & rest breaks are unnecessary and extremely disappointing. Although it is true there are some challenging aspects of compliance with California meal & rest break laws for commercial aviation, AFA International continues to partner with Alaska Airlines management, other labor groups and the wider aviation industry to achieve a legislative fix. Alaska Airlines management, if you want AFA’s continued partnership on this issue, then maybe you can lay off the specific gloom and doom scenarios for now?

        From our perspective, management is nowhere near implementing the following for California-based Flight Attendants: clocking in and out during a duty period, attesting to meal & rest break opportunities, restricting 4k flying, or downsizing or closing California domiciles. Remember earlier this year when management was adamant that they would have to take drastic efforts in response to Bernstein v. Virgin America? It’s been mostly crickets since then. Meanwhile, staffing has started to increase in California – and other carriers have yet to make any discernible changes to their operations.

        Management is unnecessarily freaking you out – don’t fall for it!

        Filed Under: Message from the MEC President Tagged With: Bernstein, California meal & rest

        ALPA Alaska Approves Tentative Agreement for Pilot Ratification

        September 23, 2022 18:00

        Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson

        The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Alaska Airlines leadership recently announced they approved a tentative agreement (TA) with Alaska Airlines management for pilot ratification.

        Click here for the Alaska Airlines Pilots TA Quick Guide (September 2022) >

        At a quick glance, the TA contains impressive improvements to scope, compensation, work rules, hours of service, retirement, and other additional improvements.

        Regardless of the outcome of the ratification vote, this TA raises the bar for Alaska Airlines pilots — and raises our expectations of Alaska Airlines management in Flight Attendant negotiations!

        In Solidarity,

        Jeff

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Message from the MEC President Tagged With: ALPA, negotiations, pilots, TA, tentative agreement

        Masks Are No Longer Required in Airports or Onboard

        April 18, 2022 16:41

        The CDC and TSA report the federal mask mandate is no longer in effect after today’s court ruling. The Administration is still reviewing its legal options for addressing the issue of executive authority to issue public health initiatives. 

        Additionally, Alaska Airlines management just announced via multiple channels that the mask mandate is lifted effective immediately on all aircraft. This policy change has been picked by media outlets, so it is very likely that passengers will be reading this information possibly before crews hear about it.

        We have asked management to push an ACARS message to all aircraft, which we are told should be happening soon–if it hasn’t already.

        Filed Under: Message from the MEC President Tagged With: 2022, mandate, masks

        December 2021 MEC Meeting Recap

        December 8, 2021 17:00

        December 2021 MEC Meeting Recap

        Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson

        Just wrapped up chairing our monthly MEC meeting yesterday and today.

        As usual, your AFA committee chairs and reps provided written reports to the MEC about the latest developments in their areas, and we received live briefings regarding dispute resolution & grievances, scheduling, FA pay, and fatigue. Lots going on out there!

        Meeting w/ COO + Inflight + Labor Relations + FA Crew Pay

        Notable topics discussed:

        • Recent leadership change and the path forward
        • Acting on FA feedback – Management to communicate administrative details to FAs as soon as possible in the next bulletin
          • 1.5x pay for all  DHD conversions (i.e., including unscheduled DHD conversions) November 1, 2021 – January 2, 2022 – There is no mechanism in Crew Access to track all conversions, so FAs must manually submit in Rainmaker. (November flight activity will process soon, so please submit ASAP if you want November conversions to be paid in December!)
          • Forgiving attendance points for all FA COVID+ absences (i.e., up to 10-day Single Continuous Occurrence substantiated by a positive COVID test that includes the FA’s name, testing facility and date) – Use the COVID+/Vaccine Reaction Points Forgiveness Form (AAG SSO required: Inflight –> Admin –> Performance –> COVID+/Vaccine Reaction Points Forgiveness Form)
          • Removing time restrictions for submissions of the COVID+/Vaccine Reaction Points Forgiveness Form (i.e., no longer a requirement to submit by the end of the next sequence and retroactive 18 months) – Management is researching whether records for previous timeliness denials can be used to retroactively approve.
        • Q4 Computer Based Training (CBT) aka Annual Compliance Training (ACT) – Due December 31st. More than 3000 FAs have not yet completed this.
        • Existing inflight service and pending additional offerings – FAs are exhausted, frustrated, and anxious. Due to pandemic-related concerns, they do not want to be out in the cabin more right now. There is no room for trash. In the MEC’s opinion, Alaska FAs will grow even more upset and mobilized unless management provides additional relief.

        I hope you found this recap timely and informative.

        In Solidarity,
        Jeff

        Filed Under: Latest News, Message from the MEC President Tagged With: 2021, CBT, COVID-19, Inflight Service

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