Master Executive Council (MEC)

Your Best AFA Resource: Your Local Council

May 15, 2015 05:00

Our union is built on a strong foundation that starts in your base at your Local Council. Within your Local Council, you directly elect the officers who serve you and represent you at all levels of AFA. Those same officers, along with your appointed committee members and chairs, are also your best point of contact when you need AFA support.

Whether you need a question answered, information clarified, or have a pressing situation that you need help with, these AFA leaders and representatives stand ready to assist you. Here are some tips to get help when you need it:

Have a specific question? Start with your Local Committees.

Local Committees are made up of fellow Flight Attendants from your base that specialize in helping you with specific areas of importance. They are an expert, a resource, and a voice in the work of their committee. You can contact the committee chair or any member of the committee for help.

Want to know more about what each committee does? Visit http://afaalaska.org/committees and click on the committee you’d like to know more about!

Bigger issue? Your Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers are here to help!

If you don’t know which committee to contact or you have a concern that is outside the scope of the committees, the place to go for help is one of your LEC Officers. Your LEC Officers are fellow Flight Attendants from your base who are directly elected to represent you. When you think, “I need help from the Union,” your next step should be to contact one of your LEC Officers!

What about the Master Executive Council (MEC)?

The MEC Officers and Committee Chairs work behind the scenes to address issues that are affecting multiple bases or all Flight Attendants. As a coordinating group, the MEC takes direction from the LEC Officers or Local Committees. When you need help, you should contact your directly elected LEC Officers; they will first work to resolve issues locally and then elevate things to the MEC-level for resolution as appropriate.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your Local Council for assistance or clarification.

In Solidarity,

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

Introducing the MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson

February 13, 2015 12:00

At a meeting held earlier this week, your Master Executive Council (MEC) interviewed candidates for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson. In total, six candidates interviewed for the position (five Seattle-based Flight Attendants and one Anchorage-based Flight Attendant). The MEC would like to thank those candidates for stepping forward in the spirit of Union service. After much discussion, the MEC has appointed Jake Jones to the position.

About Jake

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. Recently, he served as a Negotiating Committee Member for the past three years on our new collective bargaining agreement. He holds an AA in Business Administration and Management. Prior to working for Alaska Airlines, he was in the banking industry for seven years. His partner Jeff is an Alaska CSA and they live in Auburn, WA with their two dogs Shanti and Houston.

Local Scheduling Committees Forming Soon

More opportunities for involvement are coming up, as Local Scheduling Committees will be forming soon within each domicile. If you are interested in serving on the Local Scheduling Committee, contact your LEC President. You can find contact information for your LEC President through the Local Councils page of the AFA Alaska website at http://afaalaska.org/locals.

In Solidarity,

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

AFA Alaska Social Media

July 28, 2014 11:00

Social media, websites, and online communication have grown incredibly more important over the past decade and are now an integral part of our daily lives. Many companies and organizations have embraced these new communication mediums and use them to interact with others. AFA Alaska recognizes how important social media and online communications are and are taking steps to improve the online experience for our members.

Keeping Things Respectful

In order to help ensure that AFA Alaska social media accounts and websites remain an interactive and productive place for all of our members, the Master Executive Council (MEC) has adopted a set of Social Media Guidelines. These guidelines contain two sections—one for users of AFA Alaska social media accounts and websites and another for your AFA representatives. These guidelines, coupled with the AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy, are in place to help make sure that everyone’s voices are heard in an environment driven by solidarity and respect. Please take a few moments to review the Social Media Guidelines and AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy when you have the opportunity.

Where You’ll Find Us

Getting accurate and up-to-date information from your AFA officers and Negotiating Committee is easy! You’ll find us on our official AFA Alaska social media channels and website. On these sites, you can interact with your AFA leaders and Negotiating Committee members, ask questions, and get the answers you need in order to stay informed.

afaalaska.org • facebook.com/alaskamec • twitter.com/afaalaska

Negotiations and Social Media

Soon, you’ll have the ability to interact with your Negotiating Committee via the new Negotiations Blog. Hosted by Negotiating Committee Member Kristy Stratton and the other members of the Negotiating Committee, the blog will be your opportunity to have insight into how your Negotiating Committee is hard at work to bring you a tentative agreement with hard earned and well-deserved improvements! Look for more information about the Negotiations Blog in August.

In Solidarity,

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

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

RED Hot Informational Picketing on August 27th

July 26, 2014 11:27

It’s time to turn up the heat and show our support to the Negotiating Committee when they go back to the table August 25th through 28th. Your Master Executive Council (MEC), in coordination with the Mobilization and Negotiating Committees, are planning to share our message with the public at each of our five bases. Be on the lookout for more information from your Local Council about the details of our August 27th informational picketing events.

In Solidarity,

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

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

Gear Up For Solidarity on July 22nd

June 6, 2014 05:00

Are you ready to GEAR UP for our next solidarity activity? Things are going to get RED Hot as we go back the negotiating table with management. The time has come to STAND UP In support of your Negotiating Committee at the next system-wide SOLIDARITY event on July 22nd!

Here’s what you can do to help support your Negotiating Committee:

Bid July 22nd off so that you can participate in the next SOLIDARITY event
Continue to show management our STRENGTH by wearing your RED AFA pin

More information will be out soon about the July 22ndevent, including time slots for each base.

Ready to take it a step further? It’s not too late to become a MOBILIZATION VOLUNTEER. Let your Local Mobilization Chairperson know that you’re interested in getting involved. You can find their contact information at alaskamec.org/mobilization.

Spread the word and get ready to demonstrate our UNITY on July 22nd!

Your Best AFA Resource: Your Local Council

Have a specific question? Start with your Local Committees.

Bigger issue? Your Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers are here to help!

What about the Master Executive Council (MEC)?