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        You are here: Home / Archives for Master Executive Council (MEC)

        Negotiations And Washington State Bill 5725 2023-2024

        March 30, 2023 16:00

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        • Management solicited AFA’s support for WA SB 5725 in the context of contract negotiations, and the MEC ultimately agreed after careful consideration.
        • Our Negotiating Committee subsequently secured an agreement for near-term implementation of onboard rest breaks and a tentative agreement on Paid Sick Leave (PSL) provisions.
        • The failure of WA SB 5725 to advance out of committee may have some effect on negotiations.

        Overview

        Alaska Airlines management initiated the legislative effort that became WA State Bill (SB) 5725 2023-2024 (“Clarifying the application of the industrial welfare act and minimum wage act to airline cabin crews”). Management also approached AFA to solicit our support in the broader context of contract negotiations. After much negotiation and deliberation, AFA ultimately agreed to support WA SB 5725. The underlying issues are complex, the stakes are high – and being in negotiations, AFA is in a complicated balancing act.

        In a public hearing on the bill last Friday March 24 AFA offered testimony in support of passage. On Tuesday March 28, the Washington State House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee declined to advance the bill out of committee. This action effectively killed SB 5725 for this legislative session, which will likely have consequences for negotiations going forward. 

        Some Flight Attendants subsequently brought forward concerns about WA SB 5725 and questioned AFA’s support of the bill.  It was not a cavalier decision, and the reasons are articulated below.

        WA SB 5725 2023-2024 References

        • Overview >
        • Full text >
        • Senate Bill Report (i.e., Senate summary) >
        • House Bill Analysis (i.e., House summary) >
        • House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee Public Hearing on March 24, 2023 at 10:30 am PT re: SB 5725 (full) >
          • Testimony of Alaska management >
          • Testimony of Jason Rittereisier for HKM Employment Attorneys LLP (a law firm representing WA-based Alaska FAs in a pending class certification putative lawsuit involving meal & rest breaks) >
          • Testimony of AFA Alaska MECP Jeff Peterson and AFA Senior Staff Attorney Kimberley Chaput >

        Background

        Alaska Airlines management approached AFA in the context of contract negotiations, seeking our support for legislative amendments that would exempt Washington-based Flight Attendants from (1) meal & rest breaks, (2) overtime, (3) minimum wage, and (4) pay interval requirements under Washington State law. Management also wanted those exemptions to (5) take effect immediately and to (6) apply retroactively. Because we were aware of a pending punitive class action lawsuit being pursued by Seattle-based Flight Attendants who are alleging violations of meal & rest break provisions, our deliberations proceeded cautiously with that in mind.

        To be clear, AFA categorically rejected any consideration to exempt minimum wage. However, after many discussions between AFA leadership and our attorneys, it became clear to us that we needed to harmonize Flight Attendants’ schedules, working conditions, pay structure and pay timing with the existing legislative provisions in Washington State. In some cases, significant work is needed to bring our collective bargaining agreement in line with state law. Further, AFA refused to support full retroactive immunity, and instead agreed to endorse limited retroactive liability on meal/rest requirements of the law because individual Flight Attendants had active lawsuits pending.

        In exchange, after years of litigation with no end in sight, we secured implementation of paid sick leave under state law to be applied systemwide. Over the years, we’ve heard from so many of you of the importance of securing paid sick leave under state law. As a result, we pushed for the Company to incorporate paid sick leave, and this was a big win for Flight Attendants. 

        Contractual Challenges and/or Conflicts with Washington State Law

        The following represent problems for AFA and management that must be resolved either through bargaining and/or through legislation:

        • Meal & rest breaks: Reconciling flight schedules and required safety duties with break times at prescribed time periods.
        • Minimum wage: Washington State does not allow averaging of pay rates across a work week to determine compliance with minimum wage requirements. 
          • To further complicate matters, Alaska Flight Attendants are currently paid based on standard and non-standard TFP (“trips for pay”), which are measures of distance rather than of time. TFPs are two degrees removed from the traditional clock hour worked (i.e., duty-hour), which is referenced in the law; and one degree removed from the industry standard “block hour,” which is generally based on when an aircraft is in motion between block-out and block-in. (Definitions of block-out and block-in vary between carriers.) 
          • AFA is very aware of Flight Attendants’ expectations to be clearly compensated for all hours worked whether through boarding pay and/or duty pay. However, we need to be extremely careful about avoiding unintended consequences. 
            Example: If we were theoretically to completely convert our pay structure from TFP to duty hours (no Flight Attendant contract has this), the transcon and Hawaii trips with one leg per duty period that are currently considered desirable and efficient under TFP would become relatively devalued at only seven hours of duty time or less as compared to other trips with longer duty days.
        • Overtime: Flight Attendants consistently work schedules based on monthly and not weekly or daily schedules, which is why airline crew are already exempted from federal overtime requirements. We have existing premium pay provisions of 1.5x our contractual rates of pay or better to compensate for certain hours or days involuntarily worked in excess of scheduled work. It would be more advantageous to keep those bargained-for provisions and continue to improve them.
        • Pay intervals: We have several contractual pay provisions requiring a full month lookback that we would need to reconcile with existing state law requiring pay the week following the work performed. 

        What AFA Secured for Our Support

        In consideration of AFA’s support for WA SB 5725:

        • Management agreed to negotiate the best of all paid sick leave (PSL) provisions from every state in which there are Flight Attendant domiciles with PSL laws – currently Washington and Oregon (there is a PSL carve-out for collective bargaining agreements in California and no such law in Alaska) – and to apply those to all Flight Attendants regardless of where they are domiciled upon ratification of a new agreement. We reached a tentative agreement (TA) on those PSL provisions late last Thursday during contract negotiations. The parties also made a mutual strategic decision to not communicate about certain details of the session until this week to give our respective lawyers adequate time to advise and assist us in tying up loose ends.
          (See the “Supplemental Negotiations Update” publishing shortly for more details about negotiations.) 
        • A standalone letter of agreement to be implemented next week that provides for onboard breaks. For the Flight Attendant Onboard Breaks LOA click here >
        • For details regarding the scope of our agreement pursuant to the WA SB 5725 2023-2024 Amendment Support LOA click here >

        Meal & Rest Break Retroactivity with Limited Liability

        Candidly, the portion of SB 5725 that provided retroactivity but limited liability on meal & rest break requirements was not something we proposed and would generally not support. However, for management, it was a “must have” that we would not have been able to come to an agreement without. With that in mind, we ensured that had the legislation been passed into law that Flight Attendants who took legal action on meal & rest break violations prior to the effective date would still be able to recover compensatory damages as named plaintiffs. 

        The direct concern about retroactivity has now been resolved due to failure of the bill. However, the MEC knows some Flight Attendants are particularly upset about our support. Know that this decision was admittedly very difficult to make with no easy choice given the potential shortcomings of any decision. Yet, we believed this was the optimal path forward with the greatest benefit to Flight Attendants. Our support for this legislation ensured, for the first time, that Alaska management would implement Paid Sick Leave and apply it system-wide. This was a very important improvement and protects the most vulnerable among us.

        What Happens Now That WA SB 5725 Failed?

        The parties have now tentatively agreed to Paid Sick Leave provisions.  This agreement is a big win for Flight Attendants and resolves major portions of Sections 15 – Leaves of Absence, 16 – Sick Leave and On the Job Injury, and 32 – Attendance Policy. The agreed-to PSL provisions would require variances from WA Labor & Industries (L&I) for the minimum sick leave draw and potentially for the unit of accrual depending on whatever pay structure (TFP vs. block-hours vs. duty hours) is ultimately agreed to in bargaining, so we’ll work through those details. Otherwise, AFA is planning to continue negotiations on the same aggressive bargaining schedule of meeting twice per month. 

        Management informed us that they are assessing the situation and determining next steps.

        Whatever happens, we will keep you informed.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: state laws

        Washington State Legislature Declines to Advance State Bill 5725

        March 29, 2023 17:00

        Master Executive Council

        Yesterday, the Washington State House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee declined to advance WA State Bill (SB) 5725 (“Clarifying the application of the industrial welfare act and minimum wage act to airline cabin crews”) out of committee. This action effectively killed the bill for the 2023-2024 legislative session. 

        Alaska Airlines management was championing the effort, and AFA ultimately agreed to support the bill after much negotiation. Flight Attendants have brought forward questions and concerns about WA SB 5725 and AFA’s support. The underlying issues are complex, the stakes are high – and being in negotiations, AFA is in a complicated balancing act. 

        The bill’s failure this legislative session may impact bargaining. Both sides are assessing the situation and determining next steps, which may not be known until contract negotiations next week. In the meantime, AFA is working on a more comprehensive communication to publish tomorrow. 

        Thank you in advance for your patience!

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: state laws

        Upcoming 2023 AFA Board of Directors Meeting

        March 16, 2023 17:00

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        • Members of our Master Executive Council (MEC) and other AFA Representatives will attend the AFA Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting next week. The BOD meeting is where business affecting all AFA airlines is conducted.
        • Your LEC President is your representative at the BOD meeting and will be voting on your behalf regarding the approval of the AFA International budget.
        • If you have any questions about the BOD meeting, please contact your LEC President.

        Next week, our Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers, Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents, and many other LEC Officers and Committee Chairs will be attending the 50th Annual AFA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting being held virtually. They will join representatives from the other airlines that make up AFA to conduct the business of our Union at the international level.

        Schedule of Events

        Monday, March 20Board of Directors Meeting

        BOD Meeting Agenda Items

        Your LEC President represents you and the other members of your Local Council on the Board of Directors and will be casting votes on your behalf at the BOD meeting. Your MEC Officers serve in an ex-officio capacity on the BOD but do not have voting privileges.

        This year, as in all odd-numbered years, the only advanced agenda item for consideration by the Board is the annual AFA-CWA budget. Each Local Council has held or will hold a Local Council meeting before the BOD meeting to discuss the proposed budget and gain your feedback. Details about the proposed 2023-2024 AFA-CWA budget are available from your LEC President.

        Questions?

        If you have any questions or thoughts about the BOD meeting or the proposed AFA-CWA budget, please get in touch with your LEC President.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: AFA International, Board of Directors (BOD)

        March 2023 MEC Meeting Recap

        March 9, 2023 17:00

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        • Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Monday, March 6, and Tuesday, March 7, to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.
        • The MEC also met with executive management and a group of union leaders from other company workgroups to receive updates and discuss concerns affecting employees company-wide.
        • The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11, and Wednesday, April 12. Please don’t hesitate to contact your LEC President if you have any questions.

        The March 2023 Regular MEC Meeting was held this week on Monday, March 6, and Tuesday, March 7.  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. 

        Meeting with Management

        As part of this meeting, the MEC met with company executive management and a group of union leaders from the other union-represented workgroups within the company.  The intent of these meetings, usually held once per quarter, is to receive updates from management and allow for a broader discussion of issues and concerns facing all company employees.  Some of the items that our MEC brought forward include the following:

        • Recent winter weather issues throughout the system. These weather issues resulted in a significant disruption to employees and operations in general. Management needs to anticipate problems, react sooner, and create an environment that recovers faster than before. There is also a need to resolve issues with throughput in Seattle during irregular operations and severe weather. Management states they are working on a plan to address these points.
        • Uptick in weight and balance restrictions. There has been a noticeable uptick recently in weight and balance restrictions in certain stations due to winds and other weather conditions. The restrictions are impacting non-rev and commuter travel as employees need to make plans based on information in FLY and cannot do so. Management needs to be more transparent when weight and balance restrictions are anticipated in specific cities or on particular flights and adjust inventory accordingly.
        • Lack of Positive Space Travel (PST) availability. Despite changes by management to how PST inventory is allocated, there needs to be more availability of PST seats for desirable destinations during vacation and other peak travel periods. The lack of availability devalues the benefit of PST for employees. Management indicated they would again review how PST inventory is allocated and internally discuss options for the current program.
        • Issues with transition to new leave/absence management vendor. Numerous employee reports have revealed that management’s transition to a new vendor for leave and absence management has been full of issues. Employees have reported not being paid correctly, a lack of responsiveness from the vendor, and other issues. Management says they are working with the vendor to address and resolve problems as they come up.

        Action on Agenda Items

        The MEC took action on two agenda items that were submitted in advance of the meeting.

        • An update to the MEC Policy & Procedure Manual was approved to expand the scope of the Inflight Training Committee to include Flight Attendants conducting Probationary Observation Flights and Initial Operating Experiences (IOEs).  The amended language can be found in Article VII.J [MEC Committees: Inflight Training Committee]
        • An updated version of the AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines was approved.  The updated guidelines have been posted on the AFA Alaska website.

        Questions?

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

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: MEC Meeting

        February 2023 MEC Meeting Recap

        February 17, 2023 09:00

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        • Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, February 14, to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.
        • As part of the meeting, the MEC met with members of inflight, crew planning, and marketing management to discuss issues and concerns that are facing our work group and need to be addressed.
        • The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 6, and Tuesday, March 7. Please don’t hesitate to contact your LEC President if you have any questions.

        The February 2023 Regular MEC Meeting was held this week on Tuesday, February 14.  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. 

        Meeting with Management

        As part of most Regular MEC Meetings, our MEC meets with management to review current issues and challenges that Flight Attendants are facing.  Attendees from management this month included Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Constance von Muehlen, Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Managing Director of Inflight Services Gloria Chow, Director of Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Guest Experience Sangita Woerner, Managing Director of Marketing and Advertising Eric Edge, Associate Vice President of Finance and Resource Planning Ryan St. John, Managing Director of Operation Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette, Director of Crew Planning Mike Ostler, and Vice President of Labor Relations Jenny Wetzel.

        Some of the topics that were discussed include:

        • Current company marketing and advertising. Management provided an update on current marketing efforts and media campaigns in key growth markets. Our MEC brought forward questions seeking more information about why management selected some of the talent and characters they did in recent advertising.
        • Timing of upcoming uniform wear tests. Our MEC asked about the timing of the upcoming wear test of the new gender-neutral mock turtleneck and why it was scheduled to take place during the summer months.  Management indicated they wanted to complete the wear testing process quickly to allow the new piece to be introduced as soon as possible.
        • Staffing and growth.  Management provided a review of staffing plans for the year.  The projections are constantly shifting based on anticipated aircraft deliveries and market conditions.
        • iPhone 13 Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) distribution. Management provided an update on the rollout of the new iPhone 13 IMDs. Our MEC brought forward Flight Attendant concerns about long wait times, even for those who have pre-scheduled appointments for pickup. There are also reports of supervisors not offering to make separate arrangements for pickup, including direct shipping, as provided in the iPhone 13 IMD Distribution Letter of Agreement.
        • Longevity PTO assignments. Our MEC shared frustration from Flight Attendants about how longevity PTO has been awarded during the vacation bidding process for those with eligible seniority and then subsequently removed if the 960 TFP threshold wasn’t met. Management was asked to consider a different approach that better honors seniority and preferred awarded vacation dates.

        Questions?

        If you have any questions about this month’s Regular MEC Meeting, please contact your LEC President.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: MEC Meeting

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