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MEC Government Affairs Committee Chairperson Interviews

The AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) would like to thank Bev Bullock for her service as MEC Chairperson of the AFA Government Affairs Committee for over 15 years.  Bev has been a tireless advocate for issues affecting our profession on Capitol Hill and has spearheaded countless campaigns on behalf of Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.  Her presence as MEC Committee Chairperson will truly be missed.

Background

The MEC Chairperson of the Government Affairs Committee is responsible for leading the committee’s effort to monitor and pursue legislative activities that relate to the AFA-CWA political agenda and to build positive relationships with candidates for office and elected officials.

Additional Information from the MEC Policy Manual

1. SCOPE

a. The Government Affairs Committee will keep members informed of legislative actions that could affect Flight Attendant income, working conditions, job security and safety.

b. The MEC Government Affairs Chairperson coordinates activity on all legislative issues with the MEC and AFA-CWA International, and shall interact with local, state and national legislatures, as appropriate, to advocate for AFA-CWA positions on relevant issues.

2. POLICY/RESPONSIBILITIES

a. The MEC Government Affairs Committee shall consist of the MEC Government Affairs Committee Chairperson and the Local Government Affairs Committee Chairperson from each council.

b. Committee Members should be registered to vote.

c. The MEC Chairperson shall:

(i) Administer the Committee and conduct activities to further the stated objectives of the AFA-CWA International Legislative Policy Committee

(ii) Compose informational and educational articles of interest to the membership and provide them to the MEC Communications Chairperson to be included in MEC communications and posted to the MEC website

d. The Committee shall:

(i) Act in an advisory role to the MEC on political matters.

(ii) Maintain an involvement in the political activities sponsored by local and central Labor Councils with which the MEC is affiliated

Qualifications

  • Previous Government Affairs Committee or political/legislative activist experience preferred
  • Knowledge of current political climate and legislative issues affecting Flight Attendants
  • Ability to attend meetings as required, including occasionally being present in Seattle
  • Ability to participate in meetings with elected officials, including occasional travel to Washington, D.C.
  • Ability and willingness to participate in political and legislative action events
  • Ability to attend AFA International and other required training as needed
  • Strong computer skills. Excellent working knowledge of Google email and Microsoft Office.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to write communications, respond professionally to internal and external e-mail, prepare reports, and take meeting minutes.
  • Ability to meet deadlines and follow up on assigned tasks

Duties

  • Act on and follow through on directives as established in the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws and FlightPAC
  • Act on recommendations of the AFA-CWA Director of Government Affairs and AFA-CWA Legislative Policy Committee. Provide input, suggestions, and feedback as appropriate.
  • Represent the MEC with local and central Labor Councils
  • Coordinate FlightPAC program enrollment at the MEC level
  • Schedule and attend meetings with elected officials and key staff
  • Coordinate committee participation in AFA-CWA political and legislative action events
  • Correspond with the Local Government Affairs Committee Chairpersons and MEC regularly to provide status updates. Prepare and send a monthly committee report to the MEC.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

  • This position is eligible for Flight Pay Loss (FPL) reimbursement by AFA. Union Business (UB) FPL is compensated at 0.75 TFP per hour when participating in pre-approved meetings or activities.
  • Time commitment is highly variable depending on the work to be completed each week and month. Workload will likely be higher when campaigning for key legislative issues and during election periods.  Most work can be accomplished remotely.

Working Relationships

With The Government Affairs Committee

Regular interaction with the Local Government Affairs Committee Chairpersons and Local Government Affairs Committee Members.

With The Master Executive Council

This position reports to the Master Executive Council. The MEC executive sponsor for the committee is the MEC Vice President.

With AFA International

Frequent interaction with the AFA-CWA Director of Government Affairs.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

  • The MEC will hold interviews during the July MEC meeting on Monday July 18 or Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Bid around the interview date or plan to arrange your schedule accordingly to accommodate.
  • Submit a declaration of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Satterlee at yvette.satterlee@afaalaska.org no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on Friday, July 8, 2016. Yvette will contact qualified candidates to schedule a specific interview time.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and LEC Presidents-Elect Tim Green and Brice McGee

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Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Vice Chairperson Interviews

The AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) would like to thank Karyn Kobe her service as Chairperson of the AFA Air Quality Subcommittee and also as Council 18 LAX ASHSC Chairperson over the past several years.  Karyn has helped numerous Flight Attendants through incidents of contaminated cabin air exposure and has relentlessly advocated for continued improvement to the way that the company handles air quality events.

With the continued growth of the company and corresponding increase in work for the ASHSC, the MEC has elected to establish a Vice Chairperson position for the ASHSC.  The former responsibilities of the Air Quality Subcommittee will become part of the duties of the new ASHSC Vice Chairperson.

Background

The Vice Chairperson of the ASHSC will assist the MEC Chairperson as needed with the work of the committee.  S/he will also have responsibility for overseeing all AFA and ASHSC efforts pertaining to aircraft air quality including responding to complaints or incidents involving possible contaminated air.

Additional Information from the MEC Policy Manual

1. SCOPE

a. The Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) shall work with the Company on matters pertaining to cabin and Flight Attendant safety and health.

2. POLICY/RESPONSIBILITIES

a. The MEC ASHSC shall consist of the MEC ASHSC Chairperson, MEC ASHSC Vice Chairperson, and the Local ASHSC Chairperson from each council.

…

d. The MEC Vice Chairperson shall:

(i) Perform the duties of the MEC Chairperson in her/his absence

(ii) Assist the MEC Chairperson as needed

(iii) Regularly communicate with and provide updates to the MEC ASHSC Chairperson on all activities, meetings, and work being performed

(iv) Work on all matters pertaining to the quality of air onboard the aircraft.  Coordinate ASHSC response to any incidents or complaints involving air quality, specifically:

(A) Handle any air quality or contamination issues as they arise

(B) Work with the company to investigate and address the source of air quality or contamination when it occurs

(C) Assist Flight Attendants in obtaining proper care, treatment, and testing when involved in an air quality or contamination incident

(D) Follow up with the Flight Attendant(s) involved to ensure they have received proper care, treatment, and testing

(E) Keep members informed of air quality incidents and developments through the MEC Communications Committee

(F) Attend Cabin Air Review Team (CART) meetings and other air quality-related meetings

(G) Develop, distribute, maintain, and update membership education materials about air quality, contamination, symptoms, and follow up procedures

(H) In conjunction with the International Office, develop and provide initial and ongoing training to the ASHSC of each Local Council

Qualifications

  • Previous ASHSC experience required
  • Knowledge of contaminated cabin air exposure protocols
  • Ability to attend meetings as required, including being present in Seattle regularly
  • Ability to attend AFA International and other required training as needed
  • Strong computer skills. Excellent working knowledge of Inflight Mobile Device, Google email, and Microsoft Office.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to write communications, respond professionally to internal and external e-mail, prepare reports, and take meeting minutes.
  • Ability to meet deadlines and follow up on assigned tasks

Duties

  • Fulfill the duties of the MEC Chairperson when s/he is absent or otherwise committed
  • Perform tasks as assigned by the MEC Chairperson. Regularly communicate with and provide updates to the MEC Chairperson on all activities.  Assist the MEC Chairperson in preparing the monthly committee report to the MEC.
  • Actively respond to any incidents involving aircraft air quality. Provide assistance to the affected Flight Attendants.  Work with management to determine the root cause.
  • Represent AFA and the ASHSC at bi-monthly Cabin Air Review Team (CART) meetings in Seattle
  • Assist the MEC Chairperson in planning and conducting bi-monthly meetings of the committee and other meetings and conference calls as needed. Attend and actively participate in all meetings and conference calls in coordination with the MEC Chairperson.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

  • This position is eligible for Flight Pay Loss (FPL) reimbursement by the Company under §27.P Company Business (CB) Flight Pay Loss with a 5% override and “A” pay. CB is compensated at 0.75 TFP per hour of work.
  • Estimated 4-6 hours per week (12 to 18 TFP per month).  This amount is highly variable and may be higher or lower depending on the amount of work to be completed each week and month.  Some work may be accomplished remotely.  Regularly required to be in Seattle to work on projects and attend meetings.

Working Relationships

With The ASHSC

Frequent interaction with Local ASHSC Chairpersons and Committee Members

With The MEC ASHSC Chairperson

Constant interaction; this position reports to the MEC ASHSC Chairperson

With Alaska Airlines Management

Constant interaction with inflight management, particularly the Director of Inflight Safety & Compliance, Manager of Inflight Policy, and Inflight Safety & Policy Specialists

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

  • The MEC will hold interviews during the July MEC meeting on Monday July 18 or Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Bid around the interview date or plan to arrange your schedule accordingly to accommodate.
  • Submit a declaration of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Satterlee at yvette.satterlee@afaalaska.org no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on Friday, July 8, 2016. Yvette will contact qualified candidates to schedule a specific interview time.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; LEC Presidents-Elect Tim Green and Brice McGee; and MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple

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Seeking Two Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Members

Pursuant to Section X.D [Merger Policy and Related Employee Protective Provisions: Contractual Protection] of the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws (C&B), the AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) is seeking two members in good standing (dues current) to serve on the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for merged contract negotiations.

As of today, the Virgin America Inflight Team Members (ITMs), who are represented by the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), do not have a first contract. However, they have achieved several tentative agreements on individual sections, so it is very possible they will have a ratified contract by the time the acquisition/merger receives regulatory approval from the Department of Justice. Even if the Virgin America ITMs do not have a first contract, management will still need to negotiate with AFA to address the merger/integration of the work force. Although there is no statutory oversight of contract bargaining in a merger like there is in Section 6 negotiations under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), this can be an opportunity for Flight Attendants to achieve improvements.

Purpose of the JNC

The purpose of the JNC is to obtain interim safeguards, including a fence agreement with management (which maintains separate Inflight operations for a specified period of time), and merging the collective bargaining agreement(s) and/or respective work rules.  Many issues will need to be decided in order to provide for a smooth transition into one, combined carrier.

Scope of the JNC

From AFA-CWA C&B Section X.D.4: “The members of the negotiating committee shall have complete and full authority to resolve any and all trackage* disputes between the flight attendant groups including those arising from the interpretation or implementation of any agreement embodying interim safeguards.” *Trackage is a somewhat antiquated term originally associated with the railroad industry.

Duties of the JNC

  • Fully prepare for merged contract negotiations.
  • Attend initial training of new JNC members.
  • Survey/poll the membership regarding bargaining objectives.
  • Conduct a review of the respective agreements (or work rules) to identify commonalities, differences, areas of cultural preference, benefits of each agreement (or work rules), and unique issues associated with specific air service.
  • Review collective bargaining agreements and employment terms at comparable airlines.
  • Create the union’s opening position (“opener”) for joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) negotiations utilizing the work of the JNC, industry comparisons and membership feedback/polling results.
  • Interface with counterparts at Virgin America and engage in discussions to reach mutually acceptable provisions on merging the two Flight Attendant groups.

Expectations/Qualifications

  • Appointed by the AFA Alaska MEC and terms are served to completion at the approved of the MEC. Takes direction from the chairperson of the JNC (i.e. in this case the AFA Alaska MEC president) with input from the AFA Int’l Collective Bargaining Department (i.e. staff negotiator) and Legal Department (i.e. staff attorney). After successful ratification of the JCBA will continue to serve as a contract interpretation resource for the JCBA.
  • Maintain a complete record of negotiations including proposals, notes and communications, and such record is the property of AFA-CWA.
  • Public interactions (including social media) must reflect favorably on AFA Alaska. If requested by AFA Alaska, JNC members must be willing to reasonably limit social media interactions for the duration of JCBA preparation, negotiations and implementation.
  • Ability to tolerate controversy amongst one’s peers.
  • Willing to travel for training, preparation, negotiations, roadshows and other meetings as needed.
  • Must be willing to adjust her/his schedule as needed, sometimes with very little notice.

Compensation/Expenses

  • 6 TFP for each 8 hours of work (0.75 TFP per hour)
  • 5% override on TFP in lieu of per diem
  • Travel time is unpaid; exceptions will be treated on a case-by-case basis.
  • Meal & incidentals and other expenses to be reimbursed according to AFA Alaska Policy Manual and AFA-CWA C&B.

Application Process

  • Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Satterlee at satterlee@afaalaska.org.  The deadline for applications is Friday, June 17th at 5 PM PDT.
  • Yvette will contact applicants to coordinate an interview with the MEC. Interviews will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
  • The MEC president is an ex-officio (i.e. “by right of holding another office”) member of the JNC.

* * *

Any questions regarding Joint Negotiating Committee members should be directed to MEC President Jeffrey Peterson at jeffrey.peterson@afaalaska.org.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; LEC Presidents-elect Tim Green and Brice McGee

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Upcoming AFA Board of Directors Meeting

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers, Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents, and many other LEC Officers and Committee Chairs will be attending the 44th Annual AFA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting being held next week in Atlanta, Georgia.  This annual meeting is where AFA conducts the business of our union at the international level.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 21

Regular MEC Meeting

Sunday, May 22

Executive Board Meeting (MEC Presidents from each airline)

Monday, May 23

Board of Directors Meeting
Equality March to Center for Civil and Human Rights
Bridge The Gap Campaign Picketing

Tuesday, May 24

Board of Directors Meeting continues

Wednesday, May 25

Special MEC 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.

A total of 14 advance agenda items were submitted for consideration by the Board at this meeting. Each LEC held a Local Council meeting over the past several weeks to discuss these agenda items and gain your feedback.  You can find a list of these agenda items and complete language at http://afa-bod.org/index-of-agenda-items.

MEC Meetings

In conjunction with the BOD meeting, two MEC meetings will also be conducted; the regular May MEC meeting being held on Saturday, May 21 and a special MEC meeting on Wednesday, May 25.  The purpose of the special MEC meeting with International President Sara Nelson, the International Officers and certain members of AFA staff is to discuss the proposed merger of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America in accordance with section X.B.5 of the AFA International Policy Manual.

Equality March and Bridge the Gap Picketing

As part of the BOD meeting, AFA leaders will be participating in an equality march from the meeting site to the Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta.  Once there, a picketing activity will be conducted to support the Bridge the Gap campaign. Bridge the Gap is an AFA International campaign designed to build public awareness of the disparate treatment of Flight Attendants at regional carriers.  Despite flying under the same airline name as their mainline counterparts, Flight Attendants at regional airlines are often paid substantially less and suffer from longer duty days, less crew rest, and a host of other work rules that lag behind the industry.  You can find more information about the Bridge the Gap campaign at http://www.afacwa.org/bridge_the_gap.

Questions?

If you have any questions or thoughts about the BOD meeting or any of the submitted agenda items, please contact your LEC President.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt and LEC Presidents-Elect Timothy Green and Brice McGee

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AFA Alaska System Board of Adjustment Interviews

The 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.  Appointments will be reviewed in January of each even numbered 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, should the alternate not be available.
  • 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

  • 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

Expressing Interest and Interviewing Schedule

Interviews will be conducted during the June MEC meeting on Tuesday, June 28 at the AFA Alaska MEC office in Seattle.

To express interest for the position, please submit a declaration of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Satterlee at yvette.satterlee@afaalaska.org no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on Monday, June 20, 2016.  Yvette will be able to provide additional information regarding transportation and booking of flights if necessary.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; LEC Presidents-Elect Timothy Green and Brice McGee; MEC Grievance Chairperson Jennifer Wise-MacColl and MEC Grievance Representative Stephanie Adams
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Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that […]

Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

On Monday, October 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]

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