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Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

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Grievance Committee

  • Our Grievance Committee protects all Flight Attendants from arbitrary and unjust disciplinary action and upholds our collective bargaining agreement. This update briefly summarizes the committee’s work over the past few quarters.
  • Management has issued discipline lately for a variety of reasons. Read on for more information about why management is disciplining and terminating Flight Attendants.
  • If you’ve faced a situation that you believe might be a contractual violation, please report the issue through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center. AFA Representatives review each report submitted and will follow up to help you determine options and a course of action.

Our Grievance Committee has been very hard at work ensuring disciplinary due process and contractual compliance on your behalf.  The contract requires a minimum of 13 arbitration dates yearly to dispute discipline/termination cases and contractual issues.  Termination cases are usually given first priority in order to return a Flight Attendant back to work as soon as possible; however, we seek a balance between discipline and contractual cases.  AFA and management mutually decide which cases to arbitrate next based on many factors.

Steps of discipline are confirmation of oral warning (COW), written warning (WW), suspension (varied number of days) to termination.  COWs, WWs, and suspensions remain in a Flight Attendant’s file for 18 months, and then are removed.  If a Flight Attendant is in a step of discipline and gets another violation, the new violation will build on the previous violation.  Management doesn’t always progressively travel up the steps of discipline.  If management investigates a Flight Attendant for theft or abuse of sick leave, for example, management will terminate the Flight Attendant if there is evidence to support its findings; if there is no evidence, then the Flight Attendant will most likely be issued a record of discussion (ROD). An ROD is not considered discipline.  There is no middle ground for certain violations. 

Many Flight Attendants are under the impression that if they’ve been an overall good employee, have no to low attendance points, good kudos, decent seniority, etc.…that they will not get disciplined.  This is not the case, regardless of any good work qualities one may have, if management believes the FA committed an offense, they will be disciplined.

If a supervisor or manager calls and asks questions pertaining to a flight, work issue, or disciplinary issue and no AFA representative is on the call, you should assert that you would like an AFA rep on the call.

Subject of Most Recent Discipline

  • Sick leave and FMLA abuse. Terminations are on the rise due to travel audits among other things.  Anything written in the comments/remarks on posted trip trades and personal drops can be seen, even if eventually deleted. Management can also see every drop/trade attempt, even if it was not processed successfully. If management determines abuse it results in termination. If you’re not going to make it to work and you’re not sick and can’t get a management drop, your best option might be to simply no-show the trip. You should never call in sick unless you are actually too ill or injured to fly. Calling in sick for a pet is a terminable offense as well.
  • Theft. Removing anything from the aircraft other than an opened/used bottle of water, unused pilot crew meal or purchased food will result in termination. 
  • Timecard fraud.  Examples: Intentionally delaying boarding door closure to obtain sit pay.  Management has terminated for this violation.
  • Reserve “Roulette”.  Not being within two hours of base for your Reserve Availability Period (RAP) and calling in sick only once given an assignment.  The Company considers this a terminable violation.  Management regularly reviews the trip trade postings and history related to sick calls and whether comments and money incentives are added to trips which are subsequently called in sick.  Even deleted trade history or postings can be seen by management.
  •  Lying in an investigation
  •  Drug/Alcohol violations
  • Giving miles in exchange for kudos or filled out Visa applications
  • Harassment
  • Refusing scheduling revisions or ignoring requests to call Crew Scheduling. 
  • Reserves commuting during Reserve Availability Period (RAP) even if self-assigned a trip and/or not being in base for the entirety of reserve period. Management usually gives a two-week suspension or termination depending on circumstances.
  • Social media violations including sending friend or follow requests to passengers on social media based on information gained from Block2Block.
  • Commuter Violations
    • Flight Attendant released from DHD and used D8Y home
    • Flight Attendant used D8Y when they picked up out of base
    • Flight Attendant used D8Y to/from incorrect cities
    • Flight Attendant used D8Y for pleasure travel.  
  • Commuter audits are conducted monthly, and usually reserve FAs not in base are discoverable in said audits.
  • Lost IMD or other required items
  • Failing to complete CBT—even if FA just forgets to hit the close out x at the top to switch it from in process to complete.
  • Uniform Issues—Flight Attendants can and have been pulled from working their flights without pay for uniform non-compliance.
  • Late to gate/flight delay

Reminder

CBA §32.C.5 says, “Short Sick Call, When a Flight Attendant calls in sick less than two hours (2:00) prior to scheduled check-in.”  If you intend to call in for a short sick call, but not get the 2.5 points, the call to Crew Scheduling must be after SCHEDULED check in, and not just after you check in per §32.C.6.

Recent Arbitration/Mediation

September 2024Disciplinary Grievance
October 2024Contractual Grievance
November 2024Disciplinary Grievance

Recent Contractual Arbitration Awards

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-340-23-Violation of §11.E.1.c & §11.H.8.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §11.E.1.c [Reserve:  Order of Assignment/Reserve Self-Assignment] and §11.H.8 [Reserve:  Reserve Exchange of Days, Pick-Ups and Trades], and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it prohibited Reserve Flight Attendants who had been assigned sequences with the an Ineligible for Self-Assignment (ISA) code from giving such sequences away to another Reserve Flight Attendant or trading such sequences in open time or with another Reserve Flight Attendant.   

Awaiting Decision

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-38-24-Violation of §8.M and Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-458-22 Violation of §8.D Check In and Debrief.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §8.M [Hours of Service: Domicile Rest] and Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-458-22 [Violation of §8.D Check In and Debrief], and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or around September 23, 2023, the Company refused to allow a Flight Attendant who had operationally-impacted reduced domicile rest (§8.M.2) to utilize the applicable contractual provisions of §8.M, which would have allowed the Flight Attendant to be removed from their subsequent sequence beginning September 24, 2023, without pay pursuant to §8.M.3, due to the domicile rest time between sequences projecting to fall below CFR-required rest. Instead, on the evening of September 23, 2024, Crew Scheduling altered the Flight Attendant’s check-in time for the subsequent sequence (on September 24, 2023) to a later check-in time in violation of §8.M.2, thereby denying them access to their contractual right to be released from the subsequent sequence without pay pursuant to §8.M.3. 

Awaiting Decision

Grievances Previously Filed, Denied by Management and Currently Awaiting Arbitration Dates

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-22-14-Violation of Required Maternity Leave.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Section 15.D. and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it failed to require Flight Attendants to begin Maternity Leave after the 28th week of pregnancy.  

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-55-17-Violation of §21.V Winds Aloft Adjustment of Sit Pay in JCTE.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §21.V [Compensation: “Scheduled” or “Actual” For Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs) and/or Sit Pay], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when its Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) trading system displayed each posted trip as a static ‘snapshot’ taken at the time of posting rather than a ‘live’ view, thus denying the Flight Attendant the ability to determine whether a trip is eligible for 1.0 TFP of Sit Pay due to an automated scheduling adjustment (e.g. by the Winds Aloft program).

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-41-19-Violation of §25.D.2 Failing to Notify MEC President and ASHSC of Reconfiguration or Re-design Prior to Final Decision. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §25.D.2 [Air Safety, Health and Security: Safety Information], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it failed to notify the MEC President of a decision to reconfigure or re-design the interior of the Airbus aircraft and when it failed to discuss with the ASHSC the parties’ interests and concerns for inflight safety prior to making a final decision on the reconfiguration/re-design.

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-36-20-Violation of §25.B ANC Training Facility.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §25.B [Air Safety, Health and Security: Safe and Healthy Workplace], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it conducted Recurrent Training (RT) drills in Anchorage, Alaska in the Ross Aviation Hanger, and on or about February 16-19, 2020, the external temperature ranged from 18 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit and when the hanger door opened, frequently without notice, the internal hanger temperature dropped to as low as 46 degrees.  After the external hanger door opened it took approximately two hours with a loud heater to get the internal temperature back up to the low to mid 60s. 

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-207-20-Violation of §10, §11.D & §24.L Bundled Scheduling Notifications.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10 [Scheduling], §11.D [Reserve:  Scheduling/Notice of Time to Report] and §24.L [General and Miscellaneous: Company-Provided Inflight Mobile Device (IMD)], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when its Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) scheduling system sent bundled scheduling notifications to Flight Attendants on their Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) or directly in Crew Access, requiring Flight Attendants to batch acknowledge or ignore such notifications and thereby resulting in Flight Attendants potentially waiving multiple contractual protections via an extra-contractual point of contact (i.e. Crew Access scheduling notifications). 

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-384-20-Violation of §10.S Scheduling Notifications.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10.S [Scheduling :  Pre-Cancellations], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it used non-contractual scheduling notifications sent to Flight Attendants via the Crew Scheduling system in order to communicate and assign alternate flying or an obligation to call Crew Scheduling within a specific window of time.  If a Flight Attendant accepts such non-contractual scheduling notification(s), which is neither contact by Crew Scheduling via Company email nor via primary phone contact as defined in §10.S.1.a, the scheduling notification(s) violates the contract by abrogating the Flight Attendant’s ability to: (1) decline the alternate assignment and waive pay protection (§10.S.2.b), (2) decline the “out of original footprint by more than two hours” alternate assignment and call Crew Scheduling between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM (local domicile time) the night prior to the start of the original sequence (§10.S.2.c), or (3) waive pay protection and be relieved of any further scheduling obligation (§10.S.3).

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-386-20-Violation of §8.Q & §8.R Contactability and Notification of Delay or Cancellation. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §8.Q [Hours of Service: Contactability] and §8.R [Hours of Service: Notification of Delay or Cancellation], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it used non-contractual scheduling notifications sent via the Crew Scheduling system in order to communicate and assign revised flying to Flight Attendants who were off-duty on a remain overnight (RON). Such scheduling notifications are in violation of the contractually defined means of contact and/or the Flight Attendant’s obligation to respond pursuant to these provisions.

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-84-22-Violation of §21.J Ground Delay Pay.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §21.J [Compensation:  Block and Ground Delays], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it did not pay ground delay pay accumulatively, requiring each delay to go over 11 minutes to be eligible for pay, when a flight (same flight number/same routing) returns to gate one or more times.   

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-176-22-California Family School Partnership Act Violation of Past Practice and Roberts Award.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of past practice, the Roberts Award 36-99-2-49-03, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it unilaterally disallowed the California Family School Partnership Act for those Flight Attendants based in Los Angeles (LAX); then reinstated, with no notice, the state law for LAX based Flight Attendants only, but not for the other California based Flight Attendants in San Diego (SAN) or San Francisco (SFO), and not for the rest of the Flight Attendants based in our system, Seattle (SEA), Portland (PDX) or Anchorage (ANC), in violation of Roberts.

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-215-23-Violation of §10.J.4 Bidding Packet and Bidding Times and Violation of Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-116-18.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10.J.4 [Scheduling:  Bid Packets and Bidding Timelines], Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-116-18, past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about July 10, 2023, it and/or the NAVBLUE Preferential Bidding System (PBS) vendor did not provide an administrative lock-out function or a mutually agreeable alternate solution to allow for the correction of a technical issue when processing bid awards without opening up the system to all users.  

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-248-23- Violation of §32 and Roberts Decision.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §32 [Attendance], past practice, the Roberts Award 36-99-2-49-03, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it unilaterally rolled out state leave laws on a state-by-state basis rather than applying the most liberal of state leave laws to all Flight Attendants regardless of domicile, thereby disparately treating Flight Attendants within the Collective Bargaining unit, in violation of Roberts.

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-41-24- Violation of §25.B Safe and Healthy Workplace-B/E Aerospace Coffee Makers.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §25.B [Air Safety, Heath and Security:  Safe and Healthy Workplace] and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about February 15, 2024, it refused AFA’s request to discontinue the use of older style B/E Aerospace coffee makers until adequate physical mitigations are put into place to prevent the coffee makers, when coupled with the Company’s new onboard coffee product, from spewing hot coffee and grounds during the brew process, which has previously resulted in the injury of at least ten Flight Attendants.

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-170-24-Violation of §15.G Leaves Related to Serious Aircraft/Crewmember/Passenger Incidents (AQ).  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §15.G [Leaves of Absence: Leaves Related to Serious Aircraft/Crewmember/Passenger Incidents] and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about August 30, 2024, it refused to allow Flight Attendants the ability to use the above provisions when they had a documented air quality event, as they are requiring the Flight Attendants to file workers’ compensation claims, which are frequently denied.

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Scheduling Committee

We’re introducing a valuable new resource from our Scheduling Committee! We’ve developed a visually engaging flow chart that breaks down the Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs) outlined in Section 21.D of our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This chart is your go-to tool for understanding the essential elements of your pay provisions, ensuring that every Flight Attendant knows exactly what they are entitled to under the contract.

The flow chart highlights the following key elements:

  1. Duty Period Minimum (DPM). Guarantees a minimum of four (4.0) TFP for each duty period.
  2. Extended Overnight Rule (EOR). Provides an additional four (4.0) TFP for free periods between 1 AM and 11 PM.
  3. Multiday Sequence Minimum (MSM). Ensures a minimum of four (4.0) TFP based on the number of calendar days in a sequence.
  4. Average Duty Period Guarantee (ADPG). Guarantees a minimum of five (5.0) TFP times the number of duty periods in a sequence.

Click here to view the flow chart >

We encourage you to dive into this flow chart and familiarize yourself with the MPRs. Empower yourself to make the most of your contractual entitlements! If you have any questions or need more details, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson.

Thank you for being proactive in understanding your rights under our CBA. Your knowledge is key!

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AFA International

Dear Alaska and Hawaiian AFA Members:

As your merger moves forward, so does your representation. Our AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws calls for the merger of the Master Executive Councils in order to address our issues with the power of one voice. That starts with the election of MEC Officers. All of the Local Councils and your elected representatives will remain in place until the ratification of a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). After the ratification of the JCBA the dual Councils at LAX will be merged as well.

The MEC Officer elections for the merged MEC will be conducted on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, with an effective date of March 1, 2025. The Alaska and Hawaiian Local Council Presidents and the respective MEC Officers will meet in person in San Francisco for these elections.

Also on the agenda for the in person meeting is a discussion about how to start to merge MEC Policy and Procedures and Committee functions. As a reminder, enforcement of each pre-merger contract with Grievance and System Board will remain separate until a JCBA is ratified. Other Committees may transition to one committee in the immediate months following the March 1, 2025 merger of the MECs, and some committees may work jointly with representatives from each pre-merger airline. More details on that transition process will be communicated following the January 29, 2025 in person meeting. In all cases, only Local Presidents representing Flight Attendants from each respective airline may vote on issues specific to each pre-merger contract.

The International Office will collect Willingness to Serve forms and resumes for consideration by the Local Council Presidents representing both Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants.

MEC Officer Duties and Responsibilities are detailed in AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws Article VII.

We recommend submission of resume and willingness to serve no later than January 15, 2025 in order to provide ample time for consideration of all candidates. The International Office will provide a list of candidates and their resumes beginning January 7, 2025, with updates to the list completed at the end of each business day.

This communication is focused on the notice for these elections. We will continue to provide merger updates in the coming weeks and months.

In Solidarity,

Sara, Keturah, and Dante
AFA International Officers

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In This Edition

De-Stress Your Holidays

Originally posted December 4, 2024

The holidays can be fun, but they also can be a source of great stress. Below are some common holiday stressors and suggestions for managing them.  

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Thursday, December 12Quarterly Reserve Committee Meeting
Thursday, December 12Scheduling Review Board (SRB)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

The holidays can be fun, but they also can be a source of great stress. Below are some common holiday stressors and suggestions for managing them.  

How Can You Deal With Difficult Family Interactions During the Holidays?

Being realistic is the first step. Family dynamics typically revert to historic patterns when families come back together. You don’t have to pretend that all is well, but, you can sidestep difficulties by anticipating them and planning on ways to temporarily separate and defuse.  

Do Financial Pressures Stress You Out to the Point of Ruining the Holiday Spirit?

Knowing your spending limit is also a way to relieve holiday stress. People believe that they have to go out and buy gifts because it’s the holidays, even if they can’t afford to do so. Not only is it stressful to feel that you have to buy everyone a gift, but you’ll be stressed for the rest of the year trying to pay off your bills. Perhaps this is the year to make a pact not to exchange gifts but to share time together. This could also help someone who isn’t in a financial position to exchange gifts with you.  

How Do Time Pressures Affect You Around the Holidays? 

Putting routines on pause or totally rearranging schedules because of the holidays are the ingredients for exhaustion and chaos.   Prioritize activities that are important and can fit around important replenishing activities like sleep, proper meals and exercise.

How Do You Deal With the Holidays When You Have Just Experienced A Recent Tragedy, Death or Break-up?

If you’re feeling really out of sorts because of a loss or stressor, try to tell those around you what you really need, since they may not know how to help you. Ask for their understanding if you decline an activity or can’t summon up the holiday spirit. Give yourself permission to grieve just as you would any other time of the year.

How Do You Cope With Kids Who Want Everything for the Holidays? 

Parents need to tell their children to be realistic. It is OK to say to your child that a certain toy is too expensive. Even Santa Claus has limited funds and has to choose what most to give because he has a very long list. You can also tell your children that Mom and Dad and Santa Claus will try to choose the suitable present for the child. Children have to learn that their wish is not someone’s command and to curb their desires for instant gratification. 

How Do You Manage the Holidays If They Start Feeling Painful? 

If you are unable to shake what you think are “holiday blues” your feelings may not be just about the holidays, but about other things in your life. If you need help in sorting out or dealing with painful thoughts or feelings, call your AFA EAP for confidential assistance. Call (949) 479-0493 or find contact information at afaalaska.org/eap. 

Adapted in part from the American Psychological Association at www.apacenter.org

In This Edition

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2024

Originally posted November 25, 2024

Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Friday, November 15, to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms. The Committee met with management to discuss uniform issues reported by Flight Attendants, including quality, wearability, and availability. If you encounter issues with uniform quality or construction, please report them to Unisync as soon as possible and include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson to help track any trends.

Read More >

Reminder to Maintain the Status Quo

Originally posted November 26, 2024

Under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), participating in “self-help” actions such as strikes or work slowdowns is only allowed after the National Mediation Board (NMB), at its sole discretion, releases the parties and a 30-day cooling-off period has passed. Engaging in or supporting these actions before the cooling-off period ends is against the law and could result in serious consequences for individual Flight Attendants, including disciplinary action or termination. It could also harm our Union’s negotiations and bargaining position. Both parties must maintain the “status quo” during negotiations, which means no changes to current pay, rules, or working conditions are allowed.

Read More >

Upcoming Merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils

Originally posted November 29, 2024

The Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Councils (MECs) will soon merge into a single MEC, consisting of the LEC Presidents from both pre-merger airlines and three MEC Officers. An election for new MEC Officers and some MEC Committee positions will take place in late January, with terms starting on March 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2025. Local Councils and LEC Officers will remain separate until a JCBA is ratified, and only LEC Presidents from their respective pre-merger airlines can make decisions about their pre-merger contract and separate operation. Once the JCBA is ratified, new LEC elections will be held in bases with overlapping representation (only LAX) within 90 days.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Monday, December 2 – Tuesday, December 3Regular MEC Meeting
Thursday, December 5SFO Base Safety Meeting
Thursday, December 5Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • The Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Councils (MECs) will soon merge into a single MEC, consisting of the LEC Presidents from both pre-merger airlines and three MEC Officers.
  • An election for new MEC Officers and some MEC Committee positions will take place in late January, with terms starting on March 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2025.
  • Local Councils and LEC Officers will remain separate until a JCBA is ratified, and only LEC Presidents from their respective pre-merger airlines can make decisions about their pre-merger contract and separate operation. Once the JCBA is ratified, new LEC elections will be held in bases with overlapping representation (only LAX) within 90 days.

As part of the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, the Master Executive Councils (MECs) of both airlines will soon be combined into a single MEC. This new MEC will consist of the six Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents from pre-merger Alaska Airlines, the two LEC Presidents from pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines, and three MEC Officers.

This unified MEC will represent Flight Attendants from both airlines, facilitate joint contract negotiations, and interface with senior management. Since the merged MEC will initially operate with two active collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), decision-making related to each individual CBA will remain with the LEC Presidents representing pre-merger Flight Attendants of Alaska or Hawaiian, respectively. For instance, any decisions that solely affect the Alaska CBA will be made by the six pre-merger Alaska LEC Presidents.

Election of MEC Officers and Committees

The merger of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs will require an election for new MEC Officers and certain MEC Committee positions. In late January, the AFA International Officers will hold a joint meeting of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs to elect MEC Officers for the combined MEC. Some MEC Committees will be merged immediately, while others will remain separate until a joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) is ratified. During this meeting, MEC Committee Chairpersons and representatives for the committees that will be merged will also be elected. The structure of the MEC Committees from both the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs is currently under thorough evaluation, and the specific committees that will be merged immediately are still to be determined. (Note: According to the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, at minimum, the Grievance Committee and the System Board of Adjustment will remain separate for each pre-merger airline until a JCBA is reached.)

The MEC Officers, MEC Committee Chairpersons, and other MEC Committee positions elected at this meeting will take office and begin their terms on March 1, 2025. According to the AFA Constitution and Bylaws, they will serve for the remainder of the current Alaska MEC election cycle, which ends on December 31, 2025. Both Alaska and Hawaiian AFA Members in good standing will be eligible to express their interest in and can be elected to these positions. AFA International will provide more information about the upcoming election, including the available positions and how to express interest in candidacy, in early December.

Local Councils Will Not Be Merged Until JCBA

The upcoming merger of MECs will not affect your Local Council representation or LEC Officers. All LEC Officers will continue to serve their terms based on their respective election cycles. Local Councils at bases with duplication—only LAX has bases for both pre-merger airlines—will remain separate until a JCBA has been established. After a JCBA is ratified, elections for new LEC Officers for the combined Local Council will occur within 90 days.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the upcoming merger of the Alaska and Hawaiian MECs, please contact your LEC President.

Uniform Committee

  • Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Friday, November 15, to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.
  • The Committee met with management to discuss uniform issues reported by Flight Attendants, including quality, wearability, and availability.
  • If you encounter issues with uniform quality or construction, please report them to Unisync as soon as possible and include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson to help track any trends.

On Friday, November 15, our AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Dana Butchen (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Holmes (LAX), JP Perina (SAN), and MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Kiara Jenkins.

The committee also met with Director of Procurement and Logistics Eric Phillipson, Senior Product Manager Marketing Megan Low, and SFO Inflight Base Manager Cierra Lewis.

The next Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting will be held on February 13, 2025.

Topics of Discussion 

The committee reviewed several topics both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • The wear test for a more durable sweater is scheduled to begin in late December or early January.
  • The new transition jacket wear test is set to start in March 2025.
  • Management conducted uniform focus groups on November 4 and 8 to provide insights into merger uniforms.
  • AFA representatives will be contacting Alaska HR to explore alternatives to Occfit.
  • Management will improve efforts to ensure that marketing does not use photos in which employees do not comply with the uniform policy.
  • Wear test items will be shipped to bases. If a tester cannot pick up the items during base hours, they should contact the supervisor to arrange an alternative pickup. This information will be included in the wear test email.
  • The tote exchange program remains in effect for qualifying classes.
  • SEA Fit Center limitations have been resolved through the grievance Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process. Flight Attendants may bring worn or damaged items to the base, and supervisors will send them for repairs or alterations.
  • Unisync has committed to expediting the ordering process for wings, and Base Admins will now place orders every two weeks instead of once a month.
  • The chunky sole band applies to fashion boots; however, arctic boots are exempt as their tread is essential for effectiveness.

New Requests

  • Stuff sack for the puffer parka.
  • Consistent and sensible sizing, with model sizes displayed next to each piece—similar to Uniqlo, Gap, or Madewell websites.
  • Black nylons.
  • Allow pocket squares and scarves year-round for Patriotic and Breast Cancer Awareness.
  • Add pockets to maternity pieces.
  • Include reflectors on transition jackets for safety.
  • Coordinate with HR and a pantyhose company to offer them on the Unisync site so flight attendants do not have to pay out of pocket.
  • Create a uniform quality report on IMD or provide a link on Inflight.

Previous Requests That Were Denied By Management

  • ¼ zip sweater (No new pieces will be considered prior to the merger).
  • Allow brown handbags to be carried when wearing brown shoes or belts.
  • Allow blazers to be worn with warm-weather shirts (per management, this does not fit the casual look).
  • Have pocket squares unstitched for versatility (management states the stitch is meant for ease of use).
  • Allow boots year-round.
  • Allow boots to be worn with the aura dress.
  • Permit black shoes and boots.

Quality Concerns

  • Seams on wool pieces and holes in knitwear.
  • Seams on the aura dress and skirt.
  • Need for more stretch in pants and A-line dresses.
  • Wings continue to create holes in sweaters.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Stuff Sack. Sourcing a stuff sack so the puffer parka can be packed easily.
  2. Wear Testing. Wear testing for a new/more durable cardigan less prone to hem and seam issues will begin late December/early January. The transition jacket will be wear tested after the completion of the cardigan testing (March 2025).
  3. Tote Exchange Program. Specific to the post-COVID classes who were not given the normal selection process for totes due to supply chain issues. Please see your supervisor if you would like to exchange your bags.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please fill out the Quality Concern Form on the Uniform subsite on TeamAAG with any quality issues. Additionally, you may email your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson. Please consider opening a ticket at AFA Alaska Support so the Uniform Committee can track these issues.

Would you like to join the wear test pool? Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know!  Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management. You can find contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

In This Edition

Introducing Our AFA Alaska Joint Negotiating Committee and Seniority Merger Integration Committee Members

Originally posted November 15, 2024

This week, our Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews for two positions on the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) and two positions on the Senior Merger Integration Committee (SMIC). We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the candidates who participated in the interviews and demonstrated their commitment to serving our Flight Attendants. After careful consideration, we are pleased to announce the election of Virginia Fritz and Heather Reier to the JNC positions, as well as Marie Maxwell and Camile Caldwell to the SMIC positions. All will serve as the pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant representatives on their respective committees in the upcoming merger.

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Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2024

Originally posted November 21, 2024

Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Monday, November 18, to discuss their ongoing program of work to advance human rights within our workplace and community. The Committee also met with management to receive updates on what progress has been made on concerns previously brought forward and address new concerns that have come to light. If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – November 2024

Originally posted November 21, 2024

On November 19, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work representing Flight Attendants’ interests in lineholder scheduling. The Committee met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems Flight Attendants face with scheduling, pairings, and bidding. Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to assist with any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help!

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TA2 Mediation Session 1

Originally posted November 22, 2024

This week was our first TA2 Mediation Session with management and the mediator assigned by the National Mediation Board. We presented our initial TA2 Proposal addressing targeted issues from TA1, based on the TA2 Survey and guidance from the MEC. The mediator directed the parties not to publish Opening Proposals or specific details. We discussed the proposal and made progress on several provisions. The next scheduled session is December 17-19.

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TA2 Negotiations Begin

Our Negotiating Committee begins TA2 Negotiations today in Seattle, WA. The Committee will present the TA2 Opening Proposal, drafted in collaboration with the MEC and based on your responses in the TA2 Survey. This week we will begin pushing for improvements to TA1. This is the first of two scheduled mediation sessions with management and the mediator assigned by the National Mediation Board.

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Next Week’s Events

No Events Next Week 

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

Scheduling Committee

  • On November 19, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work representing Flight Attendants’ interests in lineholder scheduling.
  • The Committee met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems Flight Attendants face with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
  • Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to assist with any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help!

On Tuesday, November 19, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons/Representatives met 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), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz.

The committee met with Interim Managing Director Inflight Operations & Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Managing Director Ops Staffing & Resource Management Brittany Audette, Managing Director of Crew Staffing Nicholas Giles, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, Senior Manager of Product Management Rick Mitchell, Manager of Inflight Scheduling (Training/ Policy Procedures) Interim Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Planning Jeffery Hunt, Manager of Crew Pay Debbie Bakke, and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

Local Committee Chairperson Discussion

  • Open AFA Alaska Online Support Center Tickets. Three open tickets regarding sit pay with deadhead release were denied by payroll. Further collaboration with MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative Kiara Jenkins is planned for review.
  • Hawaiian Airlines (HA) Route Adjustments. Request for an executive summary on HA flying route adjustments for 2025.
  • Change in Flying Schedules. Inquiry regarding the timeline for changes to flying schedules in PDX and other domiciles.
  • Staffing Adjustment Leaves (SAL). Notification of 250 SALs available for 30 days.
  • 4k Error Inquiry. Flight Attendants are requesting clarification on the 4k error and its implications.
  • Daylight Savings Impact. Issues arose concerning reporting times during the night of daylight savings, leading to an extra hour wait for some flights. An email review with Crew Scheduling is to follow.
  • Complaints About Hawaii Flying. Feedback from Flight Attendants about reduced block hours and seasonal flying; concerns over missing standard flying patterns from previous years.
  • Storm Impacts. Ongoing storms are affecting crews flying to LIR/SJO, leading to diversions and strandings.
  • Sick Leave Miscommunication. Clarification regarding sick leave balances in Rainmaker and discrepancies in the 2011 bulletin is needed.
  • Jetbridge Swap Incident. Report of a late arrival to the plane under 32.C.16.
  • Open Time (OT) Trading. No AFA Alaska Online Support Center tickets reported system issues on Open Time trading for November drops in December.
  • ADR Update. Update required on previous OT tickets.
  • Vacation Direct Trade Testing. Testing in progress for vacation direct trades with OT in cases of incorrect PS number entry.
  • Flight Cancellations. Crew listed as ST (sick transport) instead of deadhead; this is the proper listing and pay will be reconciled. 
  • Pay Flow Chart Proposal. AFA officers expressed interest in developing a pay flow chart to clarify minimum pay rules.

PBS Subcommittee Report

  • Bidding for December. High activity with numerous inquiries on bid preparation for coverage.
  • Bid Awards. Notable coverage increase in California despite improved stack heights.
  • Bid Protests. Increased protests due to complex coverage awards.
  • Upcoming Meetings. Meetings will be held with IT regarding changes and updates to the PBS system.
  • Future Releases. Confirmation of 25.1 as the next release with no additional updates anticipated.

Pairing Construction Subcommittee Report

  • C Solution for December. Chosen pairing solution; issues noted with 4k redeye trips.
  • Crew Planning Participation. Collaboration with AFA at the Jeppesen Connection Conference provided valuable insights.
  • Impact of Network Planning. Discussed how ongoing changes in flights and trips are being adjusted based on passenger demand and route planning.

MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Report

  • New Class Launch. A new class will begin in PDX/LAX on December 1, 2024, with no significant hiring changes for 2025.
  • PPP Concerns. Issues were raised regarding the distribution of the PPP for mid-month hires.

Information Technology Systems (ITS) Report

  • Updates. Testing for the software version 24.5 release is in progress; upcoming releases are scheduled for early 2025.

Crew Planning Report

  • 4k Redeye Issues. Noted problems with illegal ground times; a quality checklist for pairings is being implemented to prevent future occurrences.
  • Staffing Updates. Ongoing discussions about staffing and budget planning for 2025 amidst operational changes.

Crew Scheduling Report

  • Sick Leave Trends. Current trends show decreased sick leave use, with stable rates for lineholders and reserves.
  • Fatigue Monitoring. Low fatigue levels were reported this month; new temp supervisors to enhance scheduling support.

Crew Pay Report

  • Pay Queries Review. A decrease in pay queries was noted, with ongoing efforts to improve efficiency in handling pay-related issues.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. NAVBLUE. The PBS Subcommittee is seeking feedback on how they can improve their assistance to flight crews regarding bid awards and understanding results. They provided both in-person and virtual meetings for this purpose. The PBS Subcommittee is working with management on PBS base sit budgets.  Management has the committee keep track of how money is being spent to assist flight crews with their bidding. We appreciate your participation in virtual and in person base sits. 
  2. Pairings Survey. There is a discussion of reviewing bidding data from NAVBLUE to see what kind of pairings Flight Attendants are interested in flying instead of sending out a survey. We will continue to review options. 
  3. Chime Communications. To reduce phone call volumes, Flight Attendants may soon be able to chat with Crew Scheduling via app/Microsoft Teams. The chat will be for Flight Attendant-initiated contact only. The function is currently in the early stages of development and still needs to be discussed with Labor Relations management and our MEC. Testing and implementation are continuing over the next few weeks. We are working on a letter of agreement for implementation, which is still pending review. 
  4. Crew Scheduling. A monthly review of PowerPoint presentations covered various aspects such as reserve utilization, detailed breakdowns, sick leave (week by week and year over year), premium, personal drops, and other relevant agenda items.
  5. Crew Planning. Like Crew Scheduling, there was a monthly review of PowerPoint presentations that covered subsequent month staffing, trip length distribution, Flight Attendant block hours, special initiatives (e.g., IROPs), commutability, and other relevant agenda items. Statistics around teaming continue to be reviewed. Crew Planning continues to maximize pairing construction and optimizing teaming strategies to minimize costs and ensure that crews (Flight Attendants) can stay together for multiple segments.
  6. ITS. Representatives from ITS joined the scheduling meeting to provide updates on NAVBLUE, Crew Access, internal systems, and Block2Block. These updates include performance reviews, data analysis, and information about future releases. 

We Want to Hear From You!

Whether you have feedback for the Committee, concerns to share, or items you’d like brought up with management – don’t hesitate to let us know. Your Local Scheduling Committee is here to be your voice to management. You can easily open a support ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or directly contact us using the information provided on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Grievance Committee Update – 4th Quarter 2024

Grievance Committee Our Grievance Committee has been very hard at work ensuring disciplinary due process and contractual compliance on your behalf.  The contract requires a minimum of 13 arbitration dates yearly to dispute discipline/termination cases and contractual issues.  Termination cases are usually given first priority in order to return a Flight Attendant back to work […]

Introduction to the Minimum Pay Rules Flow Chart

Scheduling Committee We’re introducing a valuable new resource from our Scheduling Committee! We’ve developed a visually engaging flow chart that breaks down the Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs) outlined in Section 21.D of our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This chart is your go-to tool for understanding the essential elements of your pay provisions, ensuring that every […]

Notice of Election for Officers of Joint Alaska-Hawaiian MEC

AFA International Dear Alaska and Hawaiian AFA Members: As your merger moves forward, so does your representation. Our AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws calls for the merger of the Master Executive Councils in order to address our issues with the power of one voice. That starts with the election of MEC Officers. All of the Local […]

De-Stress Your Holidays

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee The holidays can be fun, but they also can be a source of great stress. Below are some common holiday stressors and suggestions for managing them.   How Can You Deal With Difficult Family Interactions During the Holidays? Being realistic is the first step. Family dynamics typically revert to historic […]

Upcoming Merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils

Master Executive Council (MEC) As part of the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, the Master Executive Councils (MECs) of both airlines will soon be combined into a single MEC. This new MEC will consist of the six Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents from pre-merger Alaska Airlines, the two LEC Presidents from pre-merger Hawaiian […]

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