Negotiations News Archives

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 25^th-28^th 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

Dear Flight Attendants,

Your Negotiating Committee and Master Executive Council (MEC) are wrapping up a busy week. The MEC held its monthly meeting on Monday and Thursday and negotiations training on Tuesday and Wednesday in Seattle, WA.

The Negotiating Committee, the MEC and Mobilization Chair Adam Clarey attended the intensive negotiations training, facilitated by AFA Director of Collective Bargaining Clare Burt, International Staff Representative Guy Bosworth, Senior Staff Attorney Kimberley Chaput and Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo. In addition to training, the Negotiating Committee presented the opening proposal for a new contract to the MEC. The opener was unanimously approved by the MEC.

National Mediation Board (NMB) Chairperson Linda Puchala, Senior Mediator Pat Sims and Mediator Victoria Gray met with AFA for a presentation and discussion regarding the NMB and the Railway Labor Act. AFA presented an executive summary of the negotiations survey to management and the NMB in separate sessions.

AFA Hart Negotiations Survey Executive Summary

Negotiations Video Update June 25, 2014

What can you do in the meantime to strengthen our position at the table? We are on the countdown to 100% RED so make sure to wear your RED AFA pin on your uniform! Don’t have one yet? Contact your local Mobilization chairperson: alaskamec.org/mobilization.

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 Calendar

 July 8-9: Negotiations – NMB, Washington, DC

July 22: Solidarity Event (details TBA) [see alaskamec.org/mobilization]

Week of August 25 (tentative): Negotiations – location TBD

Dear Flight Attendants,

Your Negotiating Committee just wrapped up two days of successful internal meetings in Seattle, WA. We used this time to craft an opening proposal based on your indications in the follow-up negotiations survey. We will publish an executive summary of the survey by the end of next week.

The new Negotiating Committee will attend an intensive negotiations training next week along with the entire Master Executive Council (MEC).  As part of the training, the Negotiating Committee will present the opening proposal to the MEC for approval per Section VI.B.3.c of the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws.

We head back to mediated talks with management under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board in Washington, DC, July 8-9.  In that meeting we will present our proposal for a new contract and advocate for the positions you voiced in the survey.

What can you do in the meantime to strengthen our position at the table? We are on the countdown to 100% RED so make sure to wear your RED AFA pin on your uniform! Don’t have one yet? Contact your local Mobilization chairperson: afaalaska.org/mobilization.

In solidarity,

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

Negotiations Calendar

• June 24-25: Negotiating Committee, MEC, AFA International staff and NMB members meet for negotiations training – Seattle, WA
• July 8-9: Negotiations – NMB, Washington, DC
• July 22: Solidarity Event (details TBA)
• Week of August 25 (tentative): Negotiations – location TBD