This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants
- Our JNC met with management this week on January 27 to January 29 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for February 24 to February 26
- Our MEC Air Safety Health and Security Chairperson and Air Quality Representative, along with the AFA-CWA Industrial Hygienist joined the JNC to speak to management about impacts of air quality on Flight Attendants
Negotiations Update
Our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management on January 27 to January 29 in Seattle, WA. At the negotiating table for this session were:
| Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants[1] | Representing Management |
| Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee Chairperson | Allen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska |
| Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Joe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations, Alaska |
| Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Carmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska |
| Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Kalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian |
| Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Mike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska |
| Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff Negotiator | Karen Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska |
| Seth Heiple, MEC Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee Chairperson | |
| Deb Wallstrom, MEC Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee Air Quality Representative | |
| Judith Anderson, AFA-CWA Industrial Hygienist; Air Safety, Health and Security |
During this negotiating session we were joined by the MEC Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairperson, Seth Heiple; MEC ASHSC Air Quality Representative, Deb Wallstrom; and AFA-CWA Industrial Hygienist, Judith Anderson. After an in-depth presentation to the JNC, our subject matter experts educated management on air quality from the Flight Attendant perspective and identified areas of improvement and concrete action-items to address the on-the-job injury process.
After the presentation, we passed our prepared proposal on Section 15 (Leaves of Absence) to management. We continue to advocate for improvements and protections in this Section. The JNC also made our initial proposal on Section 22 (Expenses). On Day 2, management passed their response on Section 15 (Leaves). We are significantly apart in this area as we work to incorporate improvements from the Hawaiian Contract.
Section by Section Progress
The Alaska CBA will be used as the basis of the joint contract for language purposes. Each section and provision from both contracts will be reviewed individually to incorporate and amend the strongest elements from each agreement.
Sections discussed in this session:
- Leaves of Absence (AS CBA Section 15 and HA CBA Section 17)
- Expenses (AS CBA Section 22 and HA CBA Section 4)
Sections in ongoing discussion:
- General and Miscellaneous (AS CBA Section 24 and HA CBA Section 27)
- Commuter Policy (AS CBA Section 26 and HA CBA Section 34-28)
- Training (AS CBA Section 30 and HA CBA Section 26)
Sections listed below are on hold until discussions regarding future sections, which affect specific provisions, take place.
- Seniority (AS CBA Section 6 and HA CBA Section 9)
- Grievance Procedures (AS CBA Section 19 and HA CBA Section 23)
- Charters (AS CBA Section 33 and HA CBA Section 12)
Local Council Meetings
Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) attended the Master Executive Council (MEC) Meeting in Honolulu earlier this month. During the meeting the JNC provided the MEC with a negotiations update and collaborated on some of the more difficult decisions coming up as we work to combine two very different contracts. On January 15, the JNC met with Honolulu-based Members in a meet and greet event hosted by the Council 43 Leadership. The JNC fielded questions, updated Members on the negotiations process, and addressed their concerns.
What’s Upcoming
Our next session with management is scheduled for February 24 to February 26.
