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

        MEC Update April 28, 2014 – New AFA-CWA Council 15, San Diego

        April 28, 2014 13:30

        Dear Flight Attendants,

        Congratulations to all for reaching another milestone in our continued growth! Earlier yesterday during the Executive Board of Directors (XBOD) meeting in Orlando, Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson petitioned the XBOD to have the San Diego domicile represented by its own council. This resolution was brought forward on behalf of the Alaska MEC and pursuant to Article III.A of the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws (C&B). The XBOD unanimously approved the creation of Council 15 San Diego, which will be effective on June 1, 2014.

        The appointed Local Council officers are:

        President Stephen Couckuyt (spacak@gmail.com)

        Stephen Couckuyt has been with Alaska Airlines one month shy of 19 years. He started as a Customer Service Agent (CSA) in Anchorage before joining Inflight one year later.  Stephen was Anchorage based  from 1996 to 2011, during which he helped establish the Anchorage local council (AFA-CWA Council 30).  First serving as Interim Vice President, followed by two terms as elected Vice President and one term as President. Stephen also served on the AFA-CWA International Political/Legislative Committee. In 2011, Stephen decided that after 46 years of living in Alaska that it was time for a change. He moved to Chicago, first transferring to PDX and then SEA. In September of 2013, Stephen transferred to and now resides in San Diego.

        “I am thrilled for the opportunity of working with all of you in establishing a new AFA-CWA Local Council in San Diego . I am honored to be working with Melanie Buker,  Brice McGee and MEC Leadership on your behalf with the priority that your voices be heard and your concerns are addressed.“

        Vice President Melanie Buker (melanie.buker@gmail.com)

        Melanie started her flying career with Horizon Air in 1986, based in Boise, ID.  While at Horizon, she joined the Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP), which led her to join the AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at Alaska when hiring on in 2002. She was elected as the Council 30 Anchorage president in January of 2011.

        “Union and volunteer work has always been important to me; I believe that you have to be the change that you want to see. I also know that there is a time and a place for everything and I hope that if the time is right, you also take on a roll within our local council…we need you!

        I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Flight Attendants here in San Diego that I have had the pleasure of working with, we seem to be a very diverse group and I look forward to meeting you all soon. I am honored to be working with Stephen and Brice; I have a lot of respect for both of them.”

        Secretary Brice McGee (brice_mcgee@hotmail.com)

        Brice is originally from Helena, MT. He started his flight attendant career 8 years ago in Los Angeles, transferring to Seattle and finally San Diego. He has been a commuter from Cancun Mexico for 7 years and is currently looking for a new home in the San Diego area or possibly Dallas, TX.  He has been active in various focus groups regarding scheduling, sick leave and flexibility.

        “I am honored and excited to represent our San Diego base. I look forward to working with my friends Stephen and Melanie and I think we will make a great team and support system for the San Diego base.”

         

        Council 15 will be in Election Category III per Article VIII.C.3 of the C&B, with appointed officers’ terms ending June 30, 2016. Elections will be held in spring 2016 for the next term beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2019.

        The MEC thanks the Council 18 Los Angeles leadership for setting a solid foundation of representation for the San Diego Flight Attendants. It is upon this foundation that the new Council 15 officers will build. Welcome Council 15 President Stephen Couckuyt, Vice President Melanie Buker and Secretary Brice McGee.

        In solidarity,

        Your MEC–Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and in-coming Council 15 President Stephen Couckuyt

        Resources

        • AFA Executive Board Resolution

        MEC 5B Logo

        Filed Under: Council 15 SAN, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC)

        Harvard Flight Attendant Health Study

        April 23, 2014 05:00

        Dear Flight Attendants,

        Researches from Harvard University have contacted us seeking assistance in finding Flight Attendants to participate in a health study to help better understand the health implications of our profession.  The researchers are ideally seeking candidates who, in addition to having a layover in Boston, will have approximately two weeks off during which the candidate is not planning to travel by air.  The two weeks off may occur either immediately prior to or following the Boston layover.  Having two weeks free of air travel is not a requirement of the study however and any Flight Attendant working a trip that includes a layover in Boston is encouraged to volunteer.  A letter from the Harvard researchers and information about how to participate can found by clicking here.

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

        Resources

        • Letter from Harvard Researchers: http://alaskamec.org/latest-news/harvard-flight-attendant-health-study-researchers-letter
        • Flight Attendant Health Study Website: http://fahealth.org

        Filed Under: Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), Committees, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC)

        Negotiations Update April 22, 2014 – AFA Negotiations Phone Survey Begins

        April 22, 2014 16:42

        Dear Flight Attendants,

        The follow up AFA negotiations survey by Hart Research Associates will begin this evening.  The first phase is a phone interview, which will be capped at a limited number of respondents.  Calls will begin at approximately 5pm PDT and will continue until 9pm PDT.  This will be repeated each evening for 4-5 days or until we have reached the cap–whichever occurs first.  Only Flight Attendants for which we have already received an updated phone number will be eligible to participate in the limited phone interviews.

        Important: Interviewers from Hart Research Associates will display as “blocked” or “restricted” on caller ID.  Unfortunately there was no way around this.  You must be prepared to answer a blocked or restricted call between 5pm and 9pm PDT.  Hart will not leave a message and there is no call back number.  If you are not able to participate in the phone survey, you will have the opportunity to take the Internet survey which will be live after completion of phase one phone interviews.

        April-May Negotiations Timeline*

        * Dates are approximate.  Following Negotiating Committee appointments, negotiations training for the second round NC is anticipated sometime between the week of April 21 and the next mediation session on May 13.

        Week of April 21: AFA negotiations phone survey conducted by Hart Research Associates to be live for 4-5 nights.

        Week of April 28: AFA negotiations email survey conducted by Hart Research Associates to be released following completion of the phone survey.  Email survey to be live for approximately one week.

        Week of May 5: Survey results provided by Hart Research Associates to second round Negotiating Committee

        Week of May 12: Round two of mediation begins in Tempe, AZ

        May 20: System-wide solidarity action (details to follow)

        Once the phone interviews have been completed, the Internet survey will begin shortly thereafter.

        In solidarity,

        Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow; and

        Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

        MEC 5BSS Logo

        Filed Under: Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC), Negotiations

        Negotiations Update April 19, 2014 – Introducing Your Second Round Negotiating Committee

        April 19, 2014 19:40

        Dear Flight Attendants,

        The Master Executive Council (MEC) is pleased to pass along some additional information to help you get to know the second round Negotiating Committee a little better.

        Jeffrey Peterson, AFA-CWA Alaska MEC president

        Jeffrey Peterson hails from Anchorage, AK, and graduated from A.J. Dimond High in south Anchorage. Jeff was conferred a Presidential Scholar Award in 1991 and went on to achieve a BA in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. Prior to being a Flight Attendant, he spent several years in hotel management working for Marriott International and a franchise company associated with Marriott Hotels. He started out his Flight Attendant career 15 years ago in Los Angeles. Jeff has also been based in Seattle and now San Diego. Jeff’s term as AFA-CWA Alaska MEC president began on July 1, 2011, and he is in his second term of office which expires December 31, 2016. Jeff currently commutes between his home in San Diego and the AFA office in Seattle, which he believes is a small price to pay for living even part-time in “America’s Finest City.”

        “There was a lot of good work done in the previous Tentative Agreement that will provide a framework for the second round of negotiations. With their votes, the membership has communicated a very clear mandate to me as MEC president that the next TA must contain significant improvements. Please guide the bargaining objectives of the Negotiating Committee by completing the follow-up negotiations survey to be released shortly. I am re-energized by the high participation rate of our membership in the TA vote and the unambiguous result. With the assistance of this Negotiating Committee and “Five Bases Standing Strong” behind us, I am confident we will deliver a much-improved TA.”

        Kristy Stratton, social media coordinator

        Kristy Stratton has been a Los Angeles-based Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant since 2005. In addition to flying, Kristy is an entrepreneur, mother and artist. Her professional history and wide range of experience includes business development, project management and she has been a freelance executive consultant for more than 15 years.

        “I am honored to represent our outstanding workgroup with expertise and fortitude to achieve a mutually beneficial and innovative contract which represents our commitment and contributions to the success of our great airline.”

        Lisa Pinkston

        Lisa Pinkston has been a Flight Attendant at Alaska Airlines since 2005.  She is married to “my best friend, Brian,” and she has two daughters, Kinsley (6) and Keeley (3), both of whom she describes as “wonderful.”  Lisa loves living in Alaska and enjoys everything that beautiful state has to offer.  Prior to joining Alaska Airlines, she held a number of positions in the insurance industry, including writing medical policies for Aetna, adjusting claims at Oklahoma Farm Bureau, and assisting the General Counsel in handling mediation, arbitration, and litigation at State Farm. Lisa is currently serving as AFA-CWA Council 30 Anchorage vice president.

        “I am very excited to be a part of the negotiating committee, and I look forward to working towards a contract that recognizes the great contribution and positive spirit our flight attendants bring to our customers and company.”

        Jake Jones

        Jake Jones is currently serving a second term as vice president of AFA-CWA Council 19 Seattle. Jake is a Seattle-based Flight Attendant and joined the company in 2006. He holds an AA in Business Administration and Management. Prior to working for Alaska Airlines, he was in the banking industry for seven (7) years.  His partner Jeff is an Alaska CSA and they live in Auburn, WA with their two dogs Shanti and Houston.

        “I’m excited to once again represent Alaska flight attendants in achieving a contract that truly recognizes our contributions and award winning service through increasing compensation, work rules and benefits while continuing to provide financial and long term success to Alaska Air Group.”

        Christina Frees

        Christina Frees started what she calls “my grown up life” working in the medical field stitching up wounds and what she describes as “poking small children with needles.” Since then, she has worked large scale events for Microsoft across the US. Christina has raised funds for children with cancer and their families with Ronald McDonald House Charities. She has also taught children computer tech skills and worked with children with disabilities in Northshore School District. Christina is a co-owner in a plumbing and contracting business in which her husband has carried on the family trade in Seattle dating back to the 1930s. She became a member of the Alaska family two years ago to “start a new adventure of travel with my family.” Christina has found this job to be more unique than any other she has done.

        “In my life, I have always been drawn to advocate for others. I’m a mother of three–ages 20, 14 and 12–and couldn’t be more honored and excited to advocate on behalf of this wonderful and unique work group. Looking forward to the work ahead!”

        Congratulations to your second round Negotiating Committee!

        In solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

        MEC 5BSS Logo

        Filed Under: Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC), Negotiations

        Negotiations Update April 19, 2014 – Second Round Negotiating Committee Appointments

        April 19, 2014 19:38

        Dear Flight Attendants,

        Your Master Executive Council (MEC) interviewed for the second round Negotiating Committee on April 17th and 18th at the AFA Alaska office in Seattle, WA. The MEC was joined by Council 39 Vice President-elect Steven Maller in addition to Council 39 President Cathy Gwynn. Since the Council 39 Portland presidency is in a run-off election for the next term of office, Steven is the highest confirmed officer-elect at present. Although not required by the AFA Constitution and Bylaws (C&B), Cathy extended the invitation for Steven to attend and provide input for Council 39. Council 18 LAX Vice President Kelly Johnson sat in as Local Executive Council (LEC) President Sandra Morrow’s designee on behalf of Council 18. Sandra Morrow was unavailable because she is at home expecting her first set of grandchildren any moment–twins, in fact!

        As a reminder, under the AFA C&B the voting members of the MEC are the LEC presidents (LECPs) or their designees in accordance with the C&B. As the directly-elected representatives of membership, the LECPs are guided by the will of their membership. The MEC executive officers (president, vice president and secretary-treasurer) provide recommendations but do not have a vote except in the case of a tie amongst the LECPs, in which case the MEC president may break the tie.

        The following candidates applied for the positions: Karina Cameron-Fetters, Christina Frees, Jake Jones, Kenny Kasel, Lisa Pinkston, Kristy Stratton, Bryan Wall and Erik Velez. There were many factors to consider in the decision-making process, including but not limited to membership feedback, previous experience, specific skills, demographics (i.e. seniority, domicile, etc.) and how individual personalities would affect the committee’s “chemistry.”

        After much discussion, the MEC unanimously arrived at the same appointments. Keep in mind that per Article VII.C.2.a.(5) of the AFA C&B, the MEC president is automatically a member of the Negotiating Committee by virtue of holding the office.Your MEC is pleased to announce your second round Negotiating Committee:

        • MEC President Jeffrey Peterson
        • Kristy Stratton*, social media coordinator
        • Lisa Pinkston
        • Jake Jones
        • Christina Frees

        * The second round Negotiating Committee will not have an alternate like the first round committee. The MEC petitioned AFA-CWA International President Veda Shook for an additional committee member per Section VI.A.1.c of the C&B. Veda has verbally approved the request and given permission to communicate regarding the fourth member of the committee, Kristy Stratton.

        The MEC recognizes the power that social media had on the previous Tentative Agreement. Kristy will be present as an additional set of eyes throughout the process. An agenda item in regard to social media is an agenda item for the upcoming AFA-CWA Board of Directors meeting next week. Following the BOD, the MEC will communicate a formal social media policy and Kristy will be working with us to maximize the power of social media in the second round negotiations.

        There is much work to be done and the second round Negotiating Committee will be hitting the ground running in the coming weeks. However, let’s take a moment to recognize the invaluable contributions of the first round Negotiating Committee. The MEC sincerely thanks Brian Tracy, Karina Cameron-Fetters and Jake Jones for their years of dedication and personal sacrifice. They built a solid foundation with their own blood, sweat and tears; that effort will not be forgotten!

        The follow up negotiations survey will begin this coming week and the initial second round mediation session is scheduled for the week of May 12th in Tempe, AZ. A separate introduction to the second round Negotiating Committee will follow.

        In solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

        MEC 5BSS Logo

        Filed Under: Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC), Negotiations

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