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

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

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

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

Customer Service Agents and TwinHill Uniforms

Dear Flight Attendants,

Recently, Delta Air Lines ended its ground handling relationship with Alaska Airlines in many outstations across the United States.  In cities where many of us are used to seeing Customer Service Agents (CSAs) in Delta uniforms providing customer service for our flights, we will now be working with a new set of CSAs.  These CSAs are not Alaska Airlines employees, but are employed by a variety of ground handling companies who are under contract by Alaska Airlines to provide customer services for our flights.

The recent transition of Flight Attendants and Alaska CSAs to the Land’s End Business Outfitters (LEBO) uniform severely depleted the inventory of the pieces that are specific to our uniform program within the Land’s End inventory.  Management has advised the Master Executive Council (MEC) that LEBO will not have enough stock to outfit the new vendor CSAs until later this year.  These new vendor CSAs have been outfitted in old TwinHill pieces until LEBO stock has been replenished enough to allow for a transition.  For your information, we have compiled the following list of stations throughout our system that are staffed by CSAs wearing garments produced by TwinHill.

Alaska Airlines Mexico CSAs

Alaska Airlines Mexico CSAs in the following stations continue to wear Alaska Airlines TwinHill uniforms:

  • San Jose del Cabo (SJD)
  • Puerto Vallarta (PVR)
  • Mazatlan (MZT)
  • Guadalajara (GDL)
  • Mexico City (MEX)

Alaska Airlines Mexico CSAs are expected to be transitioned to LEBO uniforms by the end of April.

Vendor CSAs

Vendor CSAs in the following stations are currently outfitted with Alaska Airlines TwinHill uniforms:

  • Kahului, Maui (OGG)
  • Honolulu (HNL)
  • Kailua/Kona (KOA)
  • Lihue, Kauai (LIH), effective with the vendor change expected at the end of April
  • Adak (ADK)
  • Manzanillo (ZLO)
  • Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (ZIH)
  • Salt Lake City (SLC)
  • Tucson (TUS)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
  • Austin (AUS)
  • San Antonio (SAT)
  • Houston-Bush (IAH)
  • Kansas City (MCI)
  • St. Louis (STL)
  • Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP)
  • Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
  • Atlanta (ATL)
  • Philadelphia (PHL)
  • Newark (EWR)
  • Boston (BOS)

Vendor CSAs are anticipated to begin transitioning to LEBO uniforms on September 15, 2014.  The transition is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Horizon Air PSAs

Horizon Air Passenger Service Agents (PSAs) handle Alaska Airlines flights and wear some pieces manufactured by TwinHill that are not part of the Alaska Airlines uniform program. The PSAs are located in the following stations:

  • Vancouver, BC (YVR)
  • Bellingham (BLI)
  • Spokane (GEG)
  • Sacramento (SMF)

There is no plan for Horizon PSAs to transition out of their current uniforms.

The MEC has and continues to advocate for a faster transition time out of the TwinHill uniform for these CSAs. However, in our discussions with management we are continually told that LEBO stock will not be adequate to begin transition until at least mid-September.

Some of our Flight Attendants have had severe reactions associated with even casual contact with TwinHill uniform pieces.  Because of the potential for these Flight Attendants to experience very severe reactions as a result of coming into close contact with vendor CSAs wearing the TwinHill uniform, the MEC believes it is important to make this information available.

In Solidarity,

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

Introducing the Mobilization Committee

Dear Flight Attendants:

The VOICE (Volunteer Organizers for Information, Communications, and Education) Committee has served us with distinction over the past several years during contract negotiations.  The MEC would like to thank these committee members for their dedication and contribution to AFA.  Today, we announce a new chapter, as the VOICE Committee evolves to become the new Mobilization Committee.

As we gear up for another round of negotiations, demonstrating our solidarity and unity is more important now than ever before.  Bringing Flight Attendants together through participation in organized solidarity activities will be the primary responsibility of the Mobilization Committee.  The Committee will also work to actively share information pertaining to negotiations and help Flight Attendants to find and access official sources of information.

Mobilization Volunteers

The backbone of our mobilization efforts will be our Mobilization Volunteers.  Volunteers will provide support to the Negotiating Committee through coordinated solidarity activity and two-way communication between the membership and the committee.  They will work closely with the Local Mobilization Chairperson to call other members to action through participation in organized solidarity activities and a program of information sharing with Flight Attendants.

Specific duties of a Mobilization Volunteer include:

  • Responsible for educating the membership and moving them to action.  They will provide information and support for targeted issues or specifically identified groups of Flight Attendants as defined by the Negotiating Committee.
  • To further the Flight Attendants’ understanding of key issues through active information sharing and referral to official sources of information
  • To dispel gossip, rumor, and inaccurate information regarding negotiations by directing Flight Attendants to official sources of information
  • To provide two-way communication of the needs and responses of the membership through feedback to the Local Mobilization Chairperson and the Negotiating Committee
  • Actively participate in organized solidarity activities such as canvassing of membership at airports and crew rooms, informational leafleting or picketing before the general public, or other activities as approved by the Master Executive Council (MEC)

How To Get Involved

In order to get involved as a Mobilization Volunteer, plan now to attend one of the upcoming mobilization training sessions to be held in May.  Sessions will be held as follows:

  • Anchorage – Monday, May 12 – 10 AM to 12 PM / 1 to 3 PM
  • Seattle – Tuesday, May 13 – 8 to 10 AM / 11 AM to 1 PM / 2 to 4 PM
  • Portland – Wednesday, May 14 – 10 AM to 12 PM / 1 to 3 PM
  • Los Angeles – Thursday, May 15 – 10 AM to 12 PM / 1 to 3 PM
  • San Diego – Friday, May 16 – 9 to 11 AM / 12 to 2 PM

In order to sign up for one of these sessions, visit the online registration form here: http://alaskamec.org/mobilization/training.  Once you’ve registered, be sure to mark your calendar and plan to bid the day off.  Please note that space in each session is limited and registration will close once capacity is reached.

We are excited about the new Mobilization Committee and look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate our combined resolve for the contract improvements that we deserve!

In solidarity,

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

Find Us On Facebook!

Dear Flight Attendants,

Over the past several years, social media has become an increasingly important part of how many of us access information about businesses and organizations, interact with one another, and express our opinion on matters that are important to us.  Most of us have an account on at least one social media site and many people have a presence on multiple sites.

Because social media has become such a vital link in the communication chain, the Master Executive Council (MEC) is excited to announce that we have expanded our social media presence.  You’ll now be able to get official AFA Alaska information on Facebook.  If you receive AFA Alaska email blasts or regularly visit alaskamec.org, this information will now be pushed out on Facebook as well.

Like us at http://www.facebook.com/alaskamec or search for “AFA Alaska”

The former Alaska Airlines Negotiations Facebook page, which many of you are friends with, is being replaced with the new AFA Alaska Facebook page.  The Alaska Airlines Negotiations Facebook page will remain active through March 31.

In addition, the MEC is exploring the possibility of a Facebook-based discussion platform to further improve your ability to communicate with your committee members and elected leaders.  More information will be forthcoming as the concept is currently in development.

We welcome your questions, comments, and feedback about our increased social media presence.  Please visit our Facebook page and click “message” to send us a note and let us know what you think!

In Solidarity,

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

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