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Negotiations News Archives

RED Hot Informational Picketing on August 27th

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

 

Negotiations Update July 25, 2014: Negotiations Frequently Asked Questions

Dear Flight Attendants,

The Negotiating Committee has developed a Frequently Asked Questions forum, which is now posted here.

If you have additional questions about negotiations, see our contact information below.

In solidarity,

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

afaalaska.org/negotiations | negotiations@afaalaska.org | Negotiations Feedback Form

 

Negotiations FAQ – July 24, 2014

SECTION 9 – JUNIOR AVAILABLE

Q Can we have “limited immunity for trips traded off of FA’s original line” from the opener specified more thoroughly?

Sure.  We are proposing that if a Flight Attendant trades away – with Open Time or another Flight Attendant – a trip and does not replace flying on those days, then any days on which s/he does not replace flying (i.e. pick up new flying) would be immune from JA.  Today, a Flight Attendant could trade around her/his entire line and be immune from JA for the entire month (extreme case) even though s/he was flying a full schedule.  This happens today and it sometimes forces JA very senior.

In the survey, members were very adamant that immunity from JA should still remain for days on which a trip was dropped for a special event or to extend vacation/ holiday time off. 

SECTION 11 – RESERVE

Q Being on reserve for two years I feel like I can speak for the majority of reserves that ER days are not wanted. The last tentative agreement that was proposed had a lot of great changes for reserves, most importantly getting rid of awarding reserve days on lines, but still being able to convert. The biggest thing I didn’t like about the reserve portion of the contract was getting rid of the reserve premium.

Based on feedback, we are reviewing ER days vs conversions in the overall context of the TA.  We have already added discussion of ER days/ conversions back onto the agenda for the next meeting.  Additionally, we have secured the reinstatement of the Reserve Premium from management. 

Q Another issue for reserves is not having transparency in open time for trading reserve days.  My previous airline used a system for trading and reserve coverage which gave a lot of information.  Each day showed the reserve coverage if it was open for drops was listed in green.  The number of reserves available each day was shown as well as the threshold. Is this possible?

That is pretty much exactly what was negotiated in TA1.  The OT system was completely transparent with all open/closed days, reserve thresholds, reserve usage, etc. listed.  For reserves, if the reserve trade board listed the day open, you would be allowed to trade – through automation.  No more submitting a request and waiting for a response.  We have proposed retaining that system from TA1 and so far, management is on the same page. 

SECTION 12 – EXCHANGE OF SEQUENCES (and Open Time)

Q Why would we be going back to current practice instead of what was negotiated in Sec 12 of TA1?

In the survey, Flight Attendants overwhelmingly conveyed that reverting to the current OT system would be preferential to changing to another system that they did not know.  However, it is important to remember that if either party cancels the OT ‘Test’ system, AFA and management would immediately sit down to negotiate a new system – using all the information from the ‘Test.’  During that time, the OT system would revert to the current practice.  Once a new system is negotiated, that new procedure would be submitted for membership vote and put in place once ratified.  So the “going back to current practice” part would only last as long as negotiations for new system- which FAs would vote on. 

NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE RAILWAY LABOR ACT (RLA) (including policy/procedures, solidarity activities, the National Mediation Board, etc.)

Q Why are the full survey results not being published?

The actual results of negotiations surveys done by AFA are never published to the membership.  In 2011, before the opening proposals were written, the Negotiating Committee sent out the negotiations survey to all members.  Those results were used by the Committee to learn your bargaining objectives and priorities.  If AFA had published those results, then management would know which provision was more important than another and that would be detrimental to our bargaining strategy.

The Hart Survey was basically another negotiations survey, one scientifically done with a much lower margin of error by a very highly regarded professional polling company.  Because we do not want management to know your exact priorities in negotiations, we will not be publishing those results either.

Q How was the opener for this second round of negotiations derived?

The opener was created using the priorities in the Hart Survey.  When a tentative agreement fails to ratify, the subsequent negotiations for a new agreement focus on ‘fixing’ the provisions which were not acceptable.  It is not about going back to the beginning and starting all over.

MEC 5BSS Logo

 

Negotiations Update July 21, 2014: Seeking Financial Assistance Information

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

As we continue negotiations, the Negotiating Committee is interested in gathering important data from our workgroup. The negotiations survey was a huge success and provided us with clear objectives. Now, we are looking to collect information of a more personal nature. Please know we would never ask for this if we didn’t believe it was vital information to assist us in fighting for fair compensation in our contract.

 

Many of our Flight Attendants have voiced their concern about the growing number of those who qualify for or are receiving financial assistance. For statistical purposes, we are collecting data on Flight Attendants who require a second job; and/or are currently receiving, or in the past five years have received any of the following types of financial assistance:

 

  • Government (Food Stamps, WIC, housing, low income housing, medical, school lunches, cash, other)

 

  • Local (low- cost, subsidized or reduced housing, rent, mortgage, utilities, phone, water, electric, trash, food bank, local charity, non-profits, other)

 

  • Third-party (family, friend, church, EAF, car payment, free or reduced rent, mortgage assistance, cash, other)

 

  • Student Loan Deferment/Forgiveness Program

 

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 negotiations and statistical purposes. Individual Flight Attendant names will be removed and kept confidential.

 

This information could have a huge impact for negotiations. If you are willing to participate, email one of the Negotiating Committee members listed below who is coordinating information for your base. Please use a personal, non-company email address when communicating with a Negotiating Committee member.

 

If you prefer to reach out personally to one of these members—even if she is not coordinating for your base—please feel free to do so.  Once contacted, one of your Negotiating Committee members will email you a questionnaire to complete.

 

ANC – Lisa Pinkston – lvarner22@mac.com

SEA & PDX – Christina Frees – freesitintime@gmail.com

LAX & SAN – Kristy Stratton – stratton.kristy@gmail.com

 

Thank you in advance to those who are willing to help the Negotiating Committee by sharing your story. Your experience will assist us in addressing the financial needs of all Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.

 

In Solidarity,

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

alaskamec.org/negotiations | negotiations@alaskamec.org | Negotiations Feedback Form

 

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Negotiations Update July 8-9, 2014: AFA Presents TA-2 Opening Proposal

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

AFA resumed mediation this week with Alaska Airlines management at the National Mediation Board (NMB) in Washington, DC. Management was represented by Shane Tackett, vice president of Labor Relations; Andy Schneider, vice president of Inflight Services; Elizabeth Ryan, managing director of Labor Relations-Air; Mike Link, manager of Inflight Labor & Work Performance; and Patrick Sundaresan, division controller for Air, Maintenance & Engineering. Ben Minicucci, chief operating officer (COO), also joined us on the first day. Victoria Gray returned as our federal mediator from the NMB.

 

AFA presented our opening proposal (AFA Alaska 2014 TA-2 Opening Proposal) and engaged in productive discussions.  Management was receptive to some aspects of our proposal and the parties reached an agreement in concept on several items:

 

  • Section 9 Junior Available,
  • Section 11 Reserve,
  • Section 12 Exchange of Sequences, and
  • Section 23 Insurance Benefits.

 

The parties confirmed our August 25th-28th session, which is tentatively scheduled for San Francisco, CA. We also scheduled additional dates in early October and November. Unfortunately, our mediator had no availability in September.

 

The latest negotiations video update recapping this session has been posted.

 

What can you do between now and our August negotiations? Wear your RED AFA pin, stay informed and stay engaged. More information about upcoming solidarity events in July and August is at alaskamec.org/mobilization.

 

Looking for more information or have questions/concerns about negotiations? Visit the negotiations page of the AFA Alaska website, fill out a Negotiations Feedback Form or send the Negotiating Committee an email. Look under our signature line below for all the links!

 

In solidarity,

 

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

alaskamec.org/negotiations | negotiations@alaskamec.org | Negotiations Feedback Form

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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – December 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, December 16, 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 Heather Reier (ANC), Melinda Jorge (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, December 11, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Conner Gallager (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Rebecca Garcia (SAN). Also present […]

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2025

On Thursday, December 4, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work in representing our Flight Attendants and advocating for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Naomi Parcell (ANC), Ross DeJong (SEA), Todd Horn (PDX), Raymond Ramirez (SFO), Johanna Thomas (LAX pmAS), and Andrew Malone (SAN). MEC […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 10 – December 2025

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met with management this week to continue bargaining sessions in Seattle, WA. Discussions focused on narrowing issues in Leaves of Absence, Association General, and reviewing vacation provisions as part of the joint contract process.

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