This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants
- Our JNC met with management this week on May 20 to May 22 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for June 17 to June 19
- A tentative agreement was reached regarding Buddy Bidding for Training aimed at formalizing a current bidding practice utilized by Hawaiian
- Our JNC is currently developing the next survey where a comments section will be included based on your feedback
Negotiations Update
The AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management on May 20 to May 22 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 | Matt Prainito, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska |
| Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Carmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska |
| Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Tami Becker Gomez, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel Labor and Employment Law, Alaska |
| Virgina Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Mike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska |
| Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee Member | Karen Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska |
| Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff Negotiator | Kalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian |
| Seth Heiple, Alaska MEC Air Safety Health and Security Committee Chairperson | Allen Thieman, Managing Director, Crew Scheduling and Crew Pay, Hawaiian |
As we proceed with the JCBA negotiations, we have continued with focusing on addressing the less contentious and non-economic sections. During this session, section proposals listed below were exchanged back and forth between the JNC and management. As we delve deeper into these sections, the issues become increasingly complex. Provisions that initially appear straightforward have numerous interconnected concerns that require careful consideration as we work through them.
In the intervening weeks since our last in-person session, and to help us to develop our proposals with management, we consulted and collaborated with AFA’s Hawaiian and Alaska subject matter experts and MEC Committee Chairs in the areas of safety, uniforms, hotels and training.
Seth Heiple came to the table to bring his expertise on Section 25 – Air Safety Health and Security, where he spoke to different safety meetings that AFA participates in with management. He also educated the group about various safety concerns including various serious incidents, including crewmember assaults and fume events. Seth was also able to emphasize aspects of the Hawaiian contract, such as the standardization of emergency equipment.
We successfully formalized a buddy bidding practice that Hawaiian currently uses. This allows a Flight Attendant to waive their seniority during the training bidding process. As a result, they can be paired with a junior Flight Attendant and both can attend training together with the same schedule.
Section by Section Progress
Tentative Agreements (TAs) reached in this session:
- Buddy Bidding for Training LOA (HA CBA Section 10.G.6.a)
Sections discussed in this session:
- Section 13 – Uniforms (HA CBA Section 6)Section 18 – Reduction in Force (HA CBA Section 16)
- Section 25 – Air Safety Health and Security (HA CBA Section 28)
- Section 30 – Training (HA CBA Section 26)
- Section 33 – Charters (HA CBA Section 12)
- Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation (HA CBA Section 4)
- Section 36 – Commuter Policy (HA CBA Section 34-28)
Sections also in ongoing discussion:
- Section 6: Seniority (HA CBA Section 9)
- Section 15: Leaves of Absence (HA CBA Section 17)
- Section 19: Grievance Procedure (HA CBA 23)
- Section 27: Association General (HA CBA Section 22)
What’s Upcoming
Our next session with management is scheduled for June 17 to June 19. We are actively working on the next survey and have listened to your feedback regarding the Commuter Survey. The next survey will include a section dedicated to comments.
