This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants
- Our JNC met with management last week on August 24 to August 27 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for September 8 to September 10
- This session focused on Section 30 (Training) and its association to Section 19 (Grievance)
Negotiations Update
Our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for four days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management from August 24 to August 27 in Seattle, WA. At the negotiating table for this session were:
| Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants | Representing Management |
| Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee Chairperson | Allen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska |
| Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Ryan St. John, Vice President, Finance, Planning and Investor Relations, Alaska |
| Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Joe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations, Alaska |
| Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Carmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska |
| Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Kalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian |
| Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff Negotiator | Mike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska |
| Karen Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska |
Your JNC met last Saturday and Sunday to resume our comprehensive review of the Reserve sections of both contracts as we continue to prepare for upcoming discussions.
On Monday, the company responded to our last Section 30 (Training) proposal. The Negotiating Committee evaluated past proposals that had been tabled to look for ways to settle any remaining issues. Both sides agreed to package Section 30 (Training) and Section 19 (Grievance), which had previously been tabled, in an effort to move negotiations forward. The JNC worked on both sections together in an attempt to resolve these matters.
Your JNC spent a significant amount of time working through those proposals, making changes, and working toward an agreement that would address the remaining concerns. The JNC completed multiple rounds of discussions to reach an agreement. While we made progress on a number of items, we were ultimately unable to reach an agreement with the company to close out these sections. Both Section 30 (Training) and Section 19 (Grievance) are still open for discussion.
Section by Section Progress
The Alaska CBA is being 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:
- Grievance Procedures (AS CBA Section 19 and HA CBA Section 23)
- Training (AS CBA Section 30 and HA CBA Section 26)
Sections in ongoing discussion:
- Vacations (AS CBA Section 14 and HA CBA Section 18)
- Sick Leave (AS CBA Section 16 and HA CBA Section 19)
- Leaves of Absence (AS CBA Section 15 and HA CBA Section 17)
- Insurance Benefits (AS CBA Section 23 and HA CBA Section 32)
- General and Miscellaneous (AS CBA Section 24 and HA CBA Section 27)
- Domiciles (AS CBA Section 28 and HA CBA Section 5, 14, and 27)
- Commuter Policy (AS CBA Section 36 and HA CBA Section 34-28)
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)
- Charters (AS CBA Section 33 and HA CBA Section 12)
JCBA Negotiations
As a reminder, here’s how JCBA bargaining differs from regular negotiations:
- Not Section 6 Negotiations: Because our contracts are not amendable, we fall outside the regular Section 6 process.
- Creating One Contract from Two: Instead of improving a single contract, JCBA talks are about building an entirely new agreement from two existing contracts.
- Different Survey Process: The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) will send targeted “subject matter” surveys on specific contract sections.
For more information about the process please see Understanding JCBA Negotiations
What’s Upcoming
Our next session with management is scheduled for August 24 to August 26.
