Negotiations News Archives

Negotiations Update April 15-18, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

This session was a roller coaster of a week for your AFA Negotiating Committee.  It started out on a negative note and ended with a renewed commitment to forging ahead and narrowing the gap.

The week started off somewhat contentiously before talks had even started because management disallowed our “Show Us the Money” pin backers over the weekend.  Many of you had started to wear the pin backers when the memo came out banning them. 

The Master Executive Council was in Seattle to meet with the Negotiating Committee and receive management’s response to our comprehensive proposal.  Management did not meet with us on Monday, saying that some on their team did not have the date reserved on their calendars.  For us, it was a wasted day and wasted resources.

On Tuesday, a key member of management’s team was unavailable to meet.  At this point, we were doubting management’s focus and commitment to Flight Attendant  negotiations.  We contacted CEO Brad Tilden, who agreed to meet with the MEC and the Negotiating committee that same day.  The extended meeting took place at corporate HQ with Brad, COO Ben Minicucci and Vice President Labor Relations Shane Tackett and VP Inflight Services Andy Schneider.  

A very frank discussion ensued regarding frustrations with these negotiations and relations between AFA and management. Management reaffirmed their commitment to negotiations and to good labor relations.  How to get the talks back on track was the focus of our discussion.  All agreed that the parties engaging in some “off the record” discussions might be helpful to jump-start negotiations. As a sign of good faith, the MEC resolved that the officers and the Negotiating Committee would not wear the pin backers during this session.

Negotiations resumed on Wednesday morning. Both teams continued to exchange proposals on non-economic sections: section 3 Scope, S27 Association general, S16 Sick Leave.  We are moving closer in all those sections.

We gave a power-point presentation to management detailing Flight Attendants’ loss of real buying power as a result of wages not keeping up with inflation.  The presentation highlighted FAs contribution to Alaska’s success and the many awards FAs have earned consistently over the years.

Neither the AFA nor the management negotiating teams passed formal comprehensive proposals this week.  However, both sides engaged in detailed discussion about components of the proposals.  The mood at the table was much improved from the beginning of the week.  At this point in negotiations and as talks progress, the elements of comprehensive compensation proposals may rapidly and significantly change so we will not be reporting out specifics about our proposals.  However, we will keep you informed about how negotiations are going in general. 

We’ve gotten reports of individual FAs or groups of FAs taking their own solidarity actions such as wearing colored ribbons, etc.  While we admire your spirit, we have to caution everyone against taking independent actions not sanctioned by AFA.  We do not want to see anyone disciplined over this.

Our next session is in Seattle in less than a week and a half, starting on April 29.  Until then, please remember to wear your AFA pin as a sign that your Negotiating Committee has the support of over 3,100 Flight Attendants.

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Tracy, Karina Cameron-Fetters, Jake Jones and AFA Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

References:

AFA Alaska Negotiations channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AFAALANegotiations

Alaska Airlines Negotiations facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/alaskaairlines.negotiations

VOICE Comment Card Report April 2013

[Important: Going forward the Negotiating Committee will read every comment card just like today. However, we will only confidentially publish non-anonymous comment cards. That is, for a comment card to be pushed there must be some identifying information on the card such as a name or arctic number. We will continue to “scrub” the identifying information from the cards when published.]

April 13, 2013

 Dear Flight Attendants:

  As you know, AFA recently distributed pin backers to be worn behind our AFA pin that states “Show Us the Money.” On April 10, 2013, in compliance with the AFA Constitution and By-Laws, the Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) passed a resolution adopting the pin and its backer as our official union pin/insignia.

 Yesterday, Vice President of Inflight Services Andy Schneider requested the MEC to rescind the pin backer. We subsequently received notice that management would issue directives to Flight Attendants prohibiting them from wearing the AFA pin with the “Show Me the Money” pin backer. The MEC unanimously voted to retain the new pin design and informed her as such this morning.

  In yesterday’s meeting, Andy stated that Flight Attendants who refuse to comply with the directive by removing the pin backer would be disciplined. Inflight bulletin #2013-0081 “Uniform Standards Update” was subsequently issued as a “must-read” around 1pm Pacific Time today. The bulletin more or less states the same, although the disciplinary aspect is not overtly indicated but rather implied.

 How can management be so concerned over a small plastic disc? The intent was for Flight Attendants to wear as a sign of support for our Negotiating Committee and to express dissatisfaction with management’s disappointing compensation proposal last session and our expectation that future proposals be greatly improved. Obviously, it is not the backer itself or even the message on it that is the cause of such anxiety. The truth is that management is scared of our solidarity!

 While the MEC believes that Flight Attendants have a legal right to wear the authorized union pin while on duty, we also do not want Flight Attendants to be disciplined. Please comply with any directive issued to you. AFA will address the issue through the grievance procedure or other appropriate legal means. You cannot be issued a directive to remove the pin itself. You can and should continue to wear your AFA pin without the backer.

 We disagree with management in regards to wearing this harmless little plastic disc. However, absolutely AFA agrees with the following statement (from the bulletin): “Another thing that is very important to us is that we retain and continue our exemplary award winning company service.” This is very true. One of the best things you can do to assist the Negotiating Committee is to continue to provide the same level of award-winning service each and every day—while wearing your now “classic” AFA pin, of course! 😉

 At the end of the day, it really does not matter what the legal outcome of the pin backer may be because its purpose has already been fulfilled. (However, be assured that we will not just let the issue drop!) The message was delivered loud and clear to management: we expect them to come to the table with proposals that your Negotiating Committee can actually work with and we will not hesitate to make our displeasure more widely known if our expectations are not met.

 If you have any questions, please contact a VOICE representative or one of your local officers. If you are questioned or disciplined about your wearing of the pin or backer, contact a grievance representative immediately.

  In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Tracy, Karina Cameron-Fetters, Jake Jones and AFA Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

 Your VOICE Committee – Adam Clarey, Lisa Pinkston, Shannon Hyde, Shawn Grill, Stacey Uebelhor and all the men and women who help get out the word

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

April 11, 2013

  Dear Flight Attendants,

  The Master Executive Council (MEC) is pleased to announce that we passed a resolution to change the appearance of our AFA pin at Alaska Airlines. As a sign of solidarity with the Negotiating Committee, the AFA pin will be worn in combination with a 1 1/4” diameter dark green pin “backer” that reads “SHOW US THE MONEY” in white font. The pin backers are being distributed effective today. Please contact a VOICE committee member or AFA officer to receive a backer and special instructions for wearing it. A higher resolution photo of the new pin may be found linked below in ‘References.’

 The next negotiations session is scheduled for next week: April 15-18, 2013, in which we expect management to respond to AFA’s comprehensive proposal and show us the money!

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

   Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Tracy, Karina Cameron-Fetters, Jake Jones and AFA Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

   Your VOICE Committee – Adam Clarey, Lisa Pinkston, Shannon Hyde, Shawn Grill, Stacey Uebelhor and all the men and women who help get out the word

 “Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

References:

AFA ALA Show Us the Money Pin 2013

 Negotiations Update March 18-21, 2013

 Dear Flight Attendants,

 This was a difficult and high-intensity week in negotiations. Right off the bat on Monday we received management’s initial compensation proposal. It was unsatisfying to say the least. Management’s proposal did almost nothing to recognize how low some of our rates are compared to the industry and despite the outstanding performance we deliver year after year.

There is a link below in ‘References’ to the proposed wage scale that shows management’s proposed rates and AFA’s proposed rates (just look at the SWA rates for our proposed rates as they are one and the same). Many if not all of you have already received this information via an email from Vice President of Inflight Andy Schneider sent earlier today, along with two other documents for your consideration. Although all the information in Andy’s email is factually accurate, we trust you will see there is a subtext to the communication. Stay strong and support your Negotiating Committee as we fight on your behalf to be appropriately compensated for our contributions! Just remember the phrase “My Negotiating Committee speaks for me!”

In addition to proposing the Southwest wage rates, AFA’s proposal provides for trip and duty rigs, increases to current premium pays, improved holiday pay and additional holidays, and other upgrades which will increase our take-home pay. Typically in negotiations, each side initially proposes pay positions which are very far apart. Then the parties attempt to get closer together over subsequent passes. We will see what happens in the next session. It is important to remember that rates are not the only components of compensation. Rigs, premium pays, international pay and other forms of compensation all add to our take-home pay.

Section 23: Insurance Benefits and Section 29: Profit Sharing and Retirement. Both of these sections are tied to compensation and we are still significantly apart in these areas.

On a brighter note, we did make significant progress in Sections 32: Attendance Policy, and Section 27: General-Association. We can report that we are a lot closer in those sections.

Section 3: Scope – the very important section which protects our jobs and our work. Management proposed a vastly expanded ability for supervisors and managers to fly our trips, which is clearly a concern for us. Management also rejected our proposed protections from engaging in future onboard product service or sales related to non-consumable items. However, we continue to fight for protections from having to sell duty free and rental cars or vacation packages onboard (just as a few examples) without the ability to negotiate the terms of such work. Discussions are still ongoing in regards to concerns with increased capacity purchase agreement (CPA) flying within Alaska Air Group. While many issues in scope are still hotly contested by us, AFA and management are close to agreeing on some protections for our flying related to who will serve as Flight Attendants on our current and future aircraft.

The bulk of our time was spent in caucus as each side worked separately on individual proposals. We will be back at the table next month on April 15-19^th and April 29^th –May 2^nd.

Now is the time when we all must present a united front to management. As we move forward in this process, wear your AFA pin in solidarity. If you need another one, contact one of your local officers or VOICE committee chair.

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Tracy, Karina Cameron-Fetters, Jake Jones and AFA Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

“Four Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

References:

AFA Alaska Negotiations channel on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/user/AFAALANegotiations

Alaska Airlines Negotiations facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/#!/alaskaairlines.negotiations

Flight Attendant Payscale Comparison:

FA Payscale Comps 030713

VOICE Comment Card Report March 2013

VOICE Comment Card Report March 2013_1_

March 19, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

We have received management’s comprehensive compensation package. At this time all we have to report is the proposal is extremely disappointing. We will continue to negotiate improvements and hope to have better news by the end of this week.

Remember to wear your AFA pin to show your support for the Negotiating Committee!

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Tracy, Karina Cameron-Fetters, Jake Jones and AFA Staff Paula Mastrangelo

“Four Bases, One Voice”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x-w0e0cUGis

VOICE Comment Card Report March 2013_1_