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Get Involved: Seeking Two Merger Representatives

One of the most important aspects of any merger of airlines is the integration of the seniority list.   The AFA Constitution and Bylaws provides for the Master Executive Council (MEC) to appoint two merger representatives.  Merger representatives have complete and full authority to act on behalf of the Flight Attendants of their respective airline for the purpose of compiling necessary employment data and a single flight attendant seniority list.  More information about duties and responsibilities of merger representatives are spelled out in Section X.C of the AFA Constitution and Bylaws.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Determine seniority numbers for each flight attendant by reviewing and determining date of bidding for seniority, initial training date, number of days of initial training, and if seniority was accrued for training (and if so, how many days were accrued)
  • Evaluate all protests to determined seniority, determine validity, and adjudge accordingly.
  • Compile and certify a combined system seniority list

Qualifications

  • Must be a current Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant and AFA member in good standing (dues current)
  • Ability to analyze written data and information with high attention to detail
  • Ability to commit time necessary to complete assigned responsibilities, including flexibility to meet on short notice.  Some travel will be required.

Application Process

  • Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Satterlee at yvette.satterlee@afaalaska.org.  The deadline for applications is Friday, April 8 at 5 PM PDT.
  • A member of the MEC will contact finalist candidates to schedule a telephone interview.  Telephone interviews will be conducting during next week’s MEC meeting on April 12th or 13th.
  • Merger representatives will be selected by the MEC by the conclusion of the MEC meeting

Questions

Any questions regarding merger representative positions or the application process 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; and LEC Presidents-elect Tim Green and Brice McGee

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AFA Council 15 San Diego Certified Election Results

The following AFA Council 15 San Diego Flight Attendants were elected to a Local Executive Council (LEC) term of office beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2019. Certified Council 15 San Diego election results are posted on www.afacwa-elections.org, or click here.

Council 19 San Diego

LEC President: Brice McGee

LEC Vice President: Melanie Buker

LEC Secretary: Stephen Couckuyt

The Master Executive Council (MEC) congratulates the officers-elect and we sincerely thank all those who stepped forward to run in the election.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

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MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairperson Interviews

The AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) would like to thank Blair Kimball for stepping up and serving as MEC Chairperson of the AFA Inflight Service Committee over the past several years. Under Blair’s leadership, the committee has expanded involvement and helped to advocate for Flight Attendants as management has introduced major service changes. Blair will remain in position during the transition period as the MEC selects and appoints a new MEC Chairperson.

Background

The MEC Chairperson of the Inflight Service Committee is responsible for coordinating the activities of the committee at the airline level. The Chairperson works closely with each Local Committee Chairperson to gather feedback and input and represents the positions of the Committee and MEC in interactions with management.

Additional Information From the MEC Policy Manual

INFLIGHT SERVICE COMMITTEE

1. SCOPE

a. The Inflight Service Committee shall act to support the Union’s interest with respect to inflight service and sales onboard flights. The Committee shall meet with the Company to discuss any change in inflight service or sales, procedures to be followed and other pertinent matters prior to the implementation of such service

2. POLICY/RESPONSIBILITIES

a. The MEC Inflight Service Committee shall consist of the MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairperson and the Local Inflight Service Committee Chairperson from each council.

b. It shall be the policy of the Union to make any significant change in inflight service or sales subject to negotiations between the parties. The Union shall always place Flight Attendants’ health and safety as its first priority when considering the feasibility of any inflight service or sales change and the location of inflight service or sales items in galleys or other stowage locations.

c. The MEC Chairperson shall:

(i)  Immediately contact the MEC President should the Company override his/her objections and proceed to implement changes in inflight service or sales against his/her recommendation

(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)  Represent the Flight Attendant point of view to the Company in all matters pertaining to onboard sales and service policies, procedures, and practices

(ii)  Work with the Scheduling Committee to determine available service time, projected loads and staffing when the Company determines a certain service is required on a flight

(iii)  Monitor feedback from all domiciles on flights where services, load, staffing, or flight time cause the Flight Attendants difficulty in completing the standards of performance

Qualifications

  • Robust working knowledge of inflight service procedures, including all positions and routes (including short haul, Mexico, Hawaii, midcon, and transcon)
  • Ability to attend meetings as required, including being present in Seattle on occasion
  • Strong computer skills. Excellent working knowledge of Inflight Mobile Device, Google email, and Microsoft Office.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external e-mail, prepare reports, and plan meetings agendas and take minutes.
  • Ability to meet deadlines, delegate responsibilities, and follow up on assigned tasks

Duties

  • Participate in reviews of inflight catering, packing, service, and sales with management
  • Review Flight Attendant complaints or concerns regarding catering and inflight service. Gather information and work with management to satisfactorily resolve each issue.
  • Schedule, plan, and conduct quarterly meetings of the committee and other meetings and conference calls as needed
  • Correspond with the Local Inflight Service 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 is position 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 8-10 hours per week (24 to 30 TFP per month). Some work may be accomplished remotely. Regularly required to be in Seattle to work on projects and attend meetings.

Working Relationships

With The Inflight Service Committee

Constant interaction with the Local Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons. Frequent interaction with Local Inflight Service 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 Alaska Airlines Management

Constant interaction with inflight management, particularly the Manager of Inflight Experience (Matthew Coder) and Director of Catering Operations (Susan Morse)

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

  • The MEC will hold interviews during the April MEC meeting on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. Bid around the interview date or plan to arrange your schedule accordingly to accommodate.
  • Interviews will be at the AFA Alaska MEC office in Seattle. Our office is located in the Alaska Airlines Flight Operations and Training Center, Suite 280 at 2651 South 192nd Street, Seattle, WA 98188.
  • Submit a declaration of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Gesch at yvette.gesch@afaalaska.org no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on Friday, April 1, 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 Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

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Alaska AFA Information At Your Fingertips

AFA Alaska news and information are now easier to access than ever with the recent launch of our new optimized mobile website.  Just visit afaalaska.org on your IMD or personal smartphone for easy access to AFA resources when you’re on the go.

There’s An App For That

If you’re using an Apple device, you can save the AFA Alaska mobile website as an app icon on your device’s desktop.  It’s easy; just follow these steps (or check out the screenshots below):

  • On your device, visit afaalaska.org
  • Click the center icon at the bottom of the screen (arrow pointing up inside a square)
  • Click “add to home screen”
  • Click “add” in the top right corner

The mobile web app will be available as an icon on your desktop an you’ll have easy access whenever you need it.  Please note that the AFA Alaska web app requires an active Internet connection to function.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your Local Council.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

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Step 1 – Click the center icon (arrow pointing up)

Step 2 - Click "Add to Home Screen"

Step 2 – Click “Add to Home Screen”

Step 3 - Click "Add"

Step 3 – Click “Add”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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AFA Alaska Support for Horizon Air Flight Attendants

Horizon Air can acquire ERJ-175—if its employees accept cuts

As you may know, Alaska Air Group (AAG) management has told Horizon Air that it can acquire ERJ-175 aircraft and start flying jet routes—but only if Horizon cuts operating expenses so that its cost per block hour is comparable to that of SkyWest. If Horizon employees can’t accept those cuts, management says the planes will go to SkyWest and Horizon will be a rapidly shrinking Q-400 operator.

 

As part of its plan, Horizon has asked its AFA-represented flight attendants to make significant, mid-term changes to their contract.  They’re asking this even as Alaska Air Group reports record profits and growth, and even as J.D. Power has awarded “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Traditional Network Carriers” to Alaska/Horizon for the eighth consecutive year.

 

Unanimously adopted resolution by the AFA-CWA Executive Board of Directors

For your information, the following resolution was unanimously adopted on September 10th at the 40th AFA-CWA Executive Board Meeting in Washington, DC September 9-10, 2015:

 

Whereas, Horizon Flight Attendants find themselves facing an either/or choice from Management to accept cuts in pay and work rules in exchange for promises of new aircraft and increased flying, or by maintaining their contract provisions the threat of downsizing and loss of jobs; and

 

Whereas, this is the latest example of Airline Management’s continual shell game of pitting Regional Carriers against each other to drive down wages, work rules and benefits;

 

Therefore Be It Resolved; that the 40th AFA-CWA Executive Board, representing 18 Airlines and 50,000 Flight Attendants around the globe pledges its commitment and support to the Horizon Flight Attendants, Leaders and Members as they consider the best course to follow to protect their contract and provide a strong future for their members and airline.

 

AFA Alaska MEC offers support and solidarity to our flight attendant brothers and sisters at Horizon Air

The AFA Alaska Master Executive Council firmly believes that all Alaska Airlines flying should remain within the wholly owned (and unionized) AAG carriers. In our opinion, contracting out more flying to a non-union carrier may be financially beneficial in the short term but ultimately hurts all Air Group employees over the long term—including Alaska Airlines flight attendants.  The struggle at Horizon is one that we have seen repeatedly throughout the regional industry and we do not wish it to continue within Air Group. Accordingly, the Alaska MEC offers our support and solidarity to our AFA brothers and sisters at Horizon Air in these difficult times.

 

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In Solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

AFA Alaska

Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Management has recently informed our Master Executive Council (MEC) that they are distributing new Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) to Flight Attendants with devices nearing the end of their lifecycle. The specific schedule for this distribution will be communicated by management separately. Flight Attendants with the oldest devices […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 23, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at Alaska Airlines Corporate Headquarters 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), […]

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the first 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 […]

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

On Thursday, September 18, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing efforts to represent our Flight Attendants and advocate for improvements in our workplace. Although our Inflight Service Committee has now merged, meetings with management continue to focus primarily on the Alaska or Hawaiian brands individually. This particular meeting was centered […]

Vacation Survey Closing Soon

There’s just 1 DAY LEFT to complete the crucial vacation survey that will help shape future provisions—your insights are essential for advocating the best outcomes for all Flight Attendants. The survey is currently open and will remain available until Wednesday, September 24 at 12 PM PT.

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