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Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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Next negotiation session October 6th – 9th

How many Sections are closed?

28 of 35 Sections are TA’d.

What Sections are open and what are major topics in each?

Section 3 – Scope (Management Flying)

Section 11 – Reserve (ER days, Reserve reposition calendar)

Section 12 – Exchange of Sequences (Open Time trial period)

Section 14 – Vacation (480 provisions, accrual, 960 tfp for extra week)

Section 16 – Sick Leave/On the job injury (Two sick leave banks, 480 provisions, 12 mo look back)

Section 21 – Compensation (Step Rates/Scale, Signing Bonus, Retro pay)

Section 29 – Retirement (401K matching increase)

Where is the next negotiation meeting being held?

Chicago, IL

If I have questions or comments for the negotiating committee where else am I able to post besides Facebook and Twitter?

The negotiating committee is looking to engage Flight Attendants by using our new website www.afaalaska.org and on the negotiations blog.  If you have questions or concerns there is also the ability to visit the website and send in a feedback form or email the committee directly.

Sick Leave Make-up

How does Sick Leave Make-up work?

A Flight Attendant who calls in sick, whether line holder or reserve, who accessed their sick leave bank will have the ability to restore the sick leave by picking up Sick Leave Reserve Days.

Who will designate Sick Leave Make-up Days and the number of days?

Crew Scheduling will designate the number of days available which will be 1, 2, 3, or 4 days AM/PM blocks.

How many times will there be an opportunity to make up sick leave?

There will be no fewer than four (4) days designated per month.  These four (4) days will be designated with at least 24hrs notice.  Additional days, if designated, may be declared at any time.

May I choose to sit fewer days of reserve than what I called in for sick ?

Yes.  There is a formula and calculation to determine that maximum number of days allowed and you will be able to sit less days to make up your sick leave.

May I pick up Sick Leave Reserve Days on the same day(s) as the trip/reserve day(s) for which I called in sick ?

No, you may not.  A Flight Attendant may not pick up available Sick Leave Reserve Day(s) within 24 hrs of reporting sick. If you call in sick and subsequently are able to fly, you will call in well and the provisions of calling in well will apply. For any sick leave used prior to calling in well you will have the opportunity if you choose to utilize the sick leave make-up provisions.

How much time do I have to make up the sick leave?

A Flight Attendant will have the current bid month and up to the next two (2) bid periods to restore sick leave.

What if I am given an assignment which is in excess of my sick leave make-up?

A Flight Attendant who makes up sick leave shall have their sick leave restored to their sick leave bank on a TFP for TFP basis.  You shall receive pay and credit for any time flown as sick leave make-up in excess of sick leave restored.

If I pick up Sick Leave Make-up Reserve day am I considered a lineholder or reserve?

Any Flight Attendant who sits Sick Leave Reserve Day(s) shall be considered a Reserve Flight Attendant on that day.

How does this program benefit my sick leave accrual?

In the contract you accrue sick leave based on tfp which is 1tfp sick leave for 10 tfp flown or credited during the month, sick leave will not be accrued on TFP credited for sick leave.  If you were to call in sick for a trip that required use of 20 tfp, it would take you 200 tfp to restore it.  This rapid accrual allows you to sit 4 days of reserve (in this example) to make up sick leave in a few days what could potentially require months of flying or credit.

Which Section of TA2 will I find provisions regarding Sick Leave Make-up?

Section 16, Sick Leave/On The Job Injury

Section 32 – Attendance Policy

What are some of the changes in Section 32 during the last session?  I am hearing different things on the line…..

Do we still have to fly a leg prior to calling in sick online at domicile for check-in?

In the last negotiating session the committee told management that many changes were required to meet our Flight Attendants expectations.  The committee brought forward concerns regarding the requirement to fly the first leg of a sequence to call out “sick online”.  We were able to remove the requirement, however there is a .5 point associated with calling out sick online at domicile prior to flying the first leg of a sequence.  An example is if you had a 4 day trip, it would be 2 points total for the sick call plus the .5 point for calling out sick at domicile prior to flying a leg for a total of 2.5 points.  Points for the sick online could be mitigated by calling in well.  If you have a FMLA on file or you are injured in the workplace (workers compensation) you will be exempt from the additional .5 point.

 

Do we still have black out dates attached with our quarterly doctors note?

No, the committee was able to remove all black out dates!

 

Is there a quarterly or year-end (annual)  flying requirement to receive record improvement?

For quarterly improvement there is no flying requirement.  In TA1 there was a 120 tfp requirement which is now eliminated.

Year-end record improvement does require on December 31st that you meet your 480 tfp (including vacation, excluding sick leave) for the calendar year.  You must avoid any occurrences in the months of Nov/Dec as described in TA1 and if you have 4 points or under will have your points reduced back to zero.

How many bank points will I be able to accrue?

The committee was able to maintain the improvement of 6 bank points from TA1.

Under the current contract I am penalized when I call in sick using my doctors note because I have bank points, is anything being done about this?

Yes, under TA2 you will not be penalized.  You will have the ability to choose whether you use your bank points for the occurrence or the quarterly note which will remove the points and continue to maintain your banked points.

With the provisions of TA2, what are the changes regarding a Single Continuous Occurrence?

A Single Continuous Occurrence will be valid for ten (10) consecutive days beginning from the day of the sick call.  If you are going to be out for any length of time and qualify you should consider taking a medical leave.  The medical leave handbook is currently being revised to reflect the current practice.  If you have questions or concerns regarding medical leaves please contact your AFA Benefits Representatives by visiting us online at http://afaalaska.org/benefits.

Negotiating Committee Financial Survey Reminder

The Negotiating Committee is grateful for the amazing response of our Flight Attendants and their willingness to share their financial struggles with us.  This is a personal issue and we value your honesty and trust.

We are concerned but not surprised by the number of responses.  We know, however, this is not all of you.  We have heard some say that this survey was available for a short period of time and flight attendants could not continue to participate.  That is incorrect.  We are committed to gathering your stories for as long as it is necessary to ensure that everyone wanting to share has had the opportunity.

Because of the statistics involved in this survey and our desire to understand all of the needs of our group, the sooner you can return your survey the better.  This helps us have stable statistics as we move forward in negotiations.

To make this easier for you to respond, we are going to attach the questionnaire in this communication.  Please return it to one of the negotiators below or whichever one you feel most comfortable with.  If you have any questions please continue to ask.  We are here to help and listen.

ANC SEA & PDX LAX & SAN
Lisa Pinkston Christina Frees Kristy Stratton
lvarner22@mac.com freesitintime@gmail.com stratton.kristy@gmail.com

AFA Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Financial Aid Questionnaire

All information will be handled with the utmost care and confidentiality.  Your name will not be shared outside the Negotiating Committee.  The information collected is strictly for negotiation and statistical purposes.  Individual Flight Attendant names will be removed and kept confidential.

1. What is your name? Answer:

2. Where you are currently based? Answer:

3. Are you on reserve (Y/N)? Answer:

4. Are you on active status or on a leave of absence? Answer:

5. What is your average monthly paid TFP? Answer:

6. What is your pay step? Answer:

7. What is your household size? Answer:

8. Are you the sole provider (Y/N)? Answer:

9. Do you have a second income (job, rent out rooms etc) to subsidize your monthly income? Answer:

10. At any time in the past 5 years, while you were an Alaska Flight Attendant, have you applied for any form of financial assistance, government, local, third party assistance or loan deferment/forgiveness (Y/N)? If so, what type?
Answer:

11. Are you currently receiving, or have received any of the following types of financial assistance in the past five years while you were an Alaska Flight Attendant? (You do not need to tell us what type of assistance if you do not wish, simply answer with A, B, C, D or AFA Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Financial Aid Questionnaire all of the above.) (Y/N)? Answer:

A. Government (food stamps, WIC [Women, Infants & Children] assistance, housing, low income housing, medical, school lunches, cash, other) (Y/N)? Answer:

B. Local (lost cost, subsidized or reduced housing, rent, mortgage, utilities, phone, water, electric, trash, food bank, local charity, non-profits, other) (Y/N)? Answer:

C. Third-party (family, friend, church, Employee Assistance Fund, car payment, free or reduced rent, mortgage assistance, cash, other) (Y/N)? Answer:

D. Deferment or forgiveness program (student loan, mortgage, etc) (Y/N)? Answer:

12. Would you be open to being contacted in the future in regards to this topic (Y/N)? Answer:

If yes, please provide the best way to contact you (email / phone / text / other):

We understand this can be a sensitive topic. On behalf of the Negotiating Committee, thank you for participating and assisting us in collecting this information.

MEC 5BSS Logo (Web)

Protect Yourself From Potential Discipline on Social Media

Our Grievance Committee would like to provide background on social media, protected classes, and discipline. Federal protected classes include race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or transgender status), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.  Alaska’s People Policy says: Personal Conduct22. Threatening, intimidating, or discourteous behavior, including abusive, profane, or obscene language, acts, […]

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

On Wednesday, March 25, our AFA Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to raise awareness and create positive change within our workplace and community. Your representatives attending the meeting included Louise Borras (LAX-pmAS), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (LAX-pmHA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Nyachan Chuar (ANC), and Yan Yan Teague (SEA). MEC Human […]

Pre-Merger Hawaiian Inflight Service Committee Update – March 2026

Editor’s Note: Our MEC Inflight Service Committee now represents both pre-merger airlines, but management still makes service decisions that affect each group of Flight Attendants differently. This update covers changes for both Hawaiian- and Alaska-branded flying, but is specific to aircraft flown by pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines crews. As the work of the merger progresses, we […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 13 – March 2026

Our JNC met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC focused on clarifying questions about moving expenses and presented a proposal for Sick Leave, using feedback from Flight Attendants to guide improvements. The Committee is working to incorporate the strongest elements from both contracts to ensure better support for all members.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – March 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, March 24, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Rebekah Olds (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

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