As we shared last week, Seniority Verification Letters (SVLs) have been mailed out and have arrived at many Flight Attendants’ mailing addresses on file with the company. To help answer questions about the seniority verification process, the Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) has put together a few questions and answers to help shed more light on how the process works and what you can expect.
Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC)
What is the purpose of the SMIC?
The SMIC is responsible for compiling the necessary employment data for all Flight Attendants from their respective airlines and working as a full committee to compile a single Flight Attendant seniority list.
The SMIC is charged with resolving only two items: 1) determining any necessary adjustment for initial training days in an effort to provide consistent treatment for seniority application during initial Flight Attendant training based on data acquired; and 2) determining a consistent methodology for integrating same day seniority dates.
Who serves on the SMIC?
The Alaska (AS) and Hawaiian (HA) Master Executive Councils (MEC) selected two (2) representatives from their respective seniority lists to serve as merger representatives. The HA representatives are Jackie Chryn-Bean and Mike Correale. The AS representatives are Camile Caldwell and Marie Maxwell.
How were they selected?
The positions were posted for all Members in good standing and multiple candidates applied. The MEC, which consists of the LEC Presidents, interviewed candidates and selected the representatives for each airline.
Updates to the Seniority List
What is a bidding seniority date?
It is the seniority date assigned to you as a Flight Attendant, for example:
- System seniority
- Vacation awards
- Monthly bidding/trips
Will my bidding seniority date change?
The AFA Constitution and By-laws section X.C.3.c.(2) specifically addresses the situation when one seniority list is based upon the beginning of initial training and the other seniority list is based upon the end of initial training. When this occurs, the seniority date of the Flight Attendants who did not receive credit for initial training will receive credit for time spent in training.
For AS, your pre-merger bidding seniority date includes initial training, therefore, your bidding seniority date will not change.
For HA, if your pre-merger bidding seniority date does not include initial training, your bidding date will be adjusted to include credit for initial training.
Will my bidding seniority number change?
Yes, your bidding seniority number will change when we integrate AS and HA together on the seniority list.
Will birthdates be used to create the integrated seniority list?
No, birthdates will not be used for any purpose.
What criteria will be used to create the integrated seniority list?
The SMIC will follow the AFA Constitution and Bylaws to complete this work. The Flight Attendants seniority bidding date, which will include credit for training, will be used to determine the order of Flight Attendants on the integrated seniority list.
What if Flight Attendants from both airlines have the same seniority date?
The SMIC will follow the AFA Constitution and Bylaws to determine a tie-breaker method that is fair and equitable for both AS and HA Flight Attendants.
Do we get to vote on the seniority list?
No, the process does not require a membership vote.
When will we see the updated seniority list?
It will be posted once we have a ratified JCBA.
Contacting the SMIC
Please email questions to smic@afacwa.org
Seniority date challenges must be mailed to and received by August 29, 2025:
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO
501 Third Street NW, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20001
