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As mentioned in the previous merger negotiations update, the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is scheduled to meet in Seattle the entire week this coming week (February 5-9) as a final push towards completing a Tentative Merger Agreement. The JNC is pleased to report that we are confident we will be able to close out the remaining open items this week.

The JNC is planning to present the comprehensive full text agreement to the Master Executive Council (MEC) on Monday, February 12. If the MEC votes to release the tentative agreement (TA) for membership ratification, then the TA will go out for a vote. AFA would not normally publish a contract roadshow schedule at this point in the process, but pre-merger Virgin America (pmVX) Flight Attendants are bidding for March right now and pre-merger Alaska Airlines (pmAS) Flight Attendants will be bidding for March shortly. Consequently, the MEC is supportive of releasing a proposed roadshow schedule prior to the formal presentation of the full text TA by the JNC to the MEC.

To recap, the proposed roadshow schedule is based on these assumptions:

  1. The JNC will finalize all provisions with management and the parties will complete a comprehensive full text TA prior to the JNC’s presentation to the MEC, and
  2. The MEC approves the TA for membership ratification.

*** The following proposed roadshow schedule is subject to change or cancellation if the above conditions are not met. ***

Morning: 9 am – Noon, Afternoon: 1 pm – 4 pm (All times local.)

Tu 3/6 – ANC – Morning & Afternoon

Th 3/8 – SEA 1 – Morning & Afternoon

F 3/9 – PDX – Morning & Afternoon

Sa 3/10 – SEA 2 – Morning & Afternoon

M 3/12 – SFO 1 – Morning & Afternoon

Tu 3/13 – SFO 2 – Morning & Afternoon

W 3/14 – LAX 1 (LAX) – Morning & Afternoon

Th 3/15 – LAX 2 (SNA) – Morning & Afternoon

F 3/16 – SAN – Morning & Afternoon

Any pmAS or pmVX FAs are welcome to attend any and all sessions. Please be aware that only AFA members in good standing may vote on the TA, so it is extremely important that pmAS FAs are current on their dues and pmVX FAs have completed an AFA membership application prior to the vote. We are anticipating that voting would open shortly after the completion of roadshows in mid-March and would end in early April.

More updates to follow pending the outcome of this week’s session!

In Solidarity,

Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

Due to several recent flight diversions and how crew member transportation was handled in those situations, AFA has worked with management to clarify what options Flight Attendants have for transportation in these situations.  A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed with the Company putting this clarification in writing.

If your flight is diverted and passengers and crew members are transported by ground, you have the contractual right to be transported separately from the passengers per §22.B of the Flight Attendant collective bargaining agreement.  The new MOU gives you the additional option to use the transportation provided for passengers in such a situation if you choose to do so.

If you have any questions about the MOU, please contact your Local Council Officers.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

 

On this day in 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 PVR-SFO-SEA crashed off the coast of Southern California after it suffered a catastrophic flight control failure. A sundial memorial was constructed in Port Hueneme, California (pictured above) to remember those lives lost.

We will never forget our fellow crewmembers: Flight Attendant Kristin Mills, Flight Attendant Craig Pulanco, Flight Attendant Allison Shanks, Captain Ted Thompson and First Officer William Tansky. Our thoughts are with their friends and families today and always.

Last week on Wednesday, January 24, Alaska Air Group management issued an Alaska’s World article (AAG sign-on required) indicating that the company would be implementing an “embargo” on non-revenue travel in conjunction with the cutover to a single Passenger Service Computer System (PSS) at the end of April.  AFA subsequently posted a response to this embargo and committed to addressing the issue with management.

Shortly after the original Alaska’s World article was posted, management updated the article to provide additional clarification that the “embargo” is in fact a voluntary request by management for employees not to engage in non-rev travel during the week of the PSS cutover.  Commuters, those traveling for company business, and those who have booked PST tickets are not being asked to avoid travel during this period.  Non-revenue travel pleasure (including employees traveling with companions) will not be restricted during this time period. The only actual travel that will be embargoed will be guest pass travel (referred to as buddy pass travel under the VX travel program) and non-rev travel by employees of other airlines, who will not be permitted to travel from April 24 through April 30.

Management has provided email addresses should you have any questions regarding employee travel during the PSS cutover or need support.  For Alaska and Horizon travel, contact employee.travel@alaskaair.com; for Virgin America travel, contact vx.team.travel@alaskaair.com.  You may also contact your Local Council Officers should you need assistance.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

Last September, AFA published information about management granting our grievance #36-99-2-24-17 (Violation of Section 15.M.1.a & 2.a, Failure to Allow Minimum Coordination While on Maternity Leave) and grievance #36-99-2-25-17 (Failure to Allow Minimum and/or Maximum Coordination While on Maternity Leave).

Grievance #36-99-2-24-17 applies to the time period of 6/8 weeks post-birth to the 120th day post-birth.  It mandates that management follow our contractual provision to allow a Flight Attendant to use minimum coordination with sick leave and/or vacation from 6/8 weeks’ post-birth to 120 days’ post-birth.  Previously management required maximum coordination with at least 70 TFP of sick leave monthly.

Grievance #36-99-2-25-17 encompasses 121st day post-birth up to one to eight months leave post-120th day.  Again, this mandates that management follow our contractual provision to allow a Flight Attendant to coordinate minimum or maximum sick leave and/or vacation from one month up to eight months following the 120th day post-birth.

As part of the resolution process, AFA is collecting information from Flight Attendants who may have been affected by the grievance. If you were on maternity leave any time between December 2014 and now, we ask that you complete the survey below to provide us with additional details regarding your leave.

Click here to access the Maternity Leave Grievance Survey

If you have already completed this survey in paper form, there is no need to complete the survey again.  The survey will be available through Monday, February 12, 2018.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) wrapped up our tenth merger negotiations session last week January 24-25 in Seattle, WA. We are now in our eleventh session this week and are currently meeting with management today (January 29) in Seattle.

Representing management: Vice President of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America Inflight & Call Center/Guest Services Jeff Butler (last week), Managing Director of Labor Relations Elizabeth Ryan, Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel and Virgin America Supervisor of Crew Pay Peter Silberstein.

As mentioned in the prior merger negotiations update, the parties reached tentative agreement on several important comprehensive proposals the week before last. The parties continued to close out the remaining open items last week and our efforts resume this week. Based on progress in recent sessions, the JNC is comfortable reporting that we have made substantial progress towards achieving a comprehensive agreement.

Consistent with AFA’s policy, there is no comprehensive Tentative Agreement (TA) until all provisions have been finalized.  Once all items have been agreed between the union and the company, the JNC would then present a full text TA to the Master Executive Council (MEC) for approval. In turn, MEC approval consists of the MEC voting whether to release the TA for membership ratification.

Now that Alaska Airlines has achieved Single Operating Certificate (SOC), it is not surprising that Virgin America (VX) Flight Attendants are very concerned over not yet being brought up to the Alaska pay rates. AFA completely agrees that VX FAs should have been at the Alaska pay rates long before now. In fact, AFA advocated for full Alaska pay rates for VX FAs when AFA first achieved representation back in April 2017. (See the April 28, 2017 “[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Wage Increase” update for more information.) Be assured that AFA and management have been actively discussing our membership’s expectation that VX FAs receive equal pay.

The JNC is scheduled to meet in Seattle the entire week next week (February 5-9) as a final push towards completing a TA.

In Solidarity,

Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

 

Keep in mind that merger negotiations are a different process than regular negotiations. Discussions are focusing on a limited list of Flight Attendant priorities. All the provisions in the AFA Alaska contract (scheduled pay raises, etc.) will continue in force for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants; all the provisions in the Virgin America work rules will remain in effect for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants unless modified and/or superseded by the AFA Virgin America letters of agreement.

Your Joint PBS Committee is ready to roll out the newly updated NAVBLUE PBS website. The internal functionality of PBS remains the same as far as processing bids. However, there are several updates to logging in, entering bids, searching for pairings, and options for saving or submitting bids.

Training Materials

Training materials are available on the PBS QA/Help page. Access from the FA Webpage under Line Bidding> PBS QA/Help. Links for training materials are also available at the top of the PBS Info Page.

A great start would be to watch the PBS Quick Tour video, produced by ANC Scheduling Chairperson Justin Wetherell. More tutorial videos are available on the PBS QA/Help page, or by clicking here. *It may be difficult to navigate the updated website without using the training materials and videos.
Access the updated PBS website here: https://asa.classbid.com/webapp/#/

Base Sits

Base sits will be scheduled for March and April, supported by members of the Joint Alaska & AFA PBS Committee.

Why the Update?

Updates to the PBS website allow functionality on tablets and smartphones with 5.5”+ screens. Changes also allow creating/editing bids offline, which can be saved and submitted once an internet connection is established. Watch the Bidding Offline tutorial to learn how.

Your AFA PBS Committee was involved in the entire process of bringing the updated PBS website to you from the start of development. Many improvement suggestions were incorporated by NAVBLUE into the updated website. Other airlines have already been using the updated website, some for more than a year. This allowed testing, catching errors, and incorporating fixes prior to implementing at Alaska. AFA Scheduling and Reserve Committee members have been bidding with the updated system for several months, and reached a consensus that it is ready to roll out for all flight attendants.

NAVBLUE plans to end access to the current version of PBS later this year, so we recommend taking time now to learn the updated website. Links to the ‘old’ and ‘new’ websites are found on the FA Website under Schedule & Bidding> Line Bidding. Two months of parallel bidding start Monday, January 29th, during which access will be available to both versions of PBS. The most recently submitted bid, regardless of which website was utilized, will be used during bid awards.

Send questions and feedback to the PBS Committee at pbs.qa@alaskaair.com.

Fly Safe!
Council 15 Scheduling and Reserve Committees and LEC Officers

Your Joint Alaska & AFA PBS Committee
Rebecca Asbell – PDXFA
Sabrina Blevins – Crew Planning
John Bumanglag – Crew Planning
Adam Clarey – SEAFA
Steve Poynter – SEAFA
Kelly Yeager – Crew Planning

New PBS website is now on-line!

Your Joint PBS Committee is ready to roll out the newly updated Navblue PBS website.  The internal functionality of PBS remains the same as far how your bids are processed.  What’s changed is the logging in process, how you enter your bids,  how you search for pairings and options for submitting or saving your bids.

Without consulting the provided training material you will have a difficult time logging on and navigating the new PBS!  The changes to the PBS website were necessary for the program to be fully function-able on tablets and smartphones, including your company-issued IMD.  It allows for use when off-line, unlike the program today that requires an internet connection.  You’re now able to work on your bids when off-line, ‘saving’ your work until you’re back on-line and can then ‘submit’ them.  This feature is only available on the new website.

Your AFA PBS Committee has been involved in the entire process of bringing the updated PBS website to you from the start of its development.  Suggestions made to Navblue by us for improvements have been incorporated into the new website.  We took the time to allow other airlines to ‘go first’ and be the guinea pigs for their new website.  Other airlines have been using their new ‘user interface’ for many months now…some up to a year…and ideas they’ve suggested have been incorporated as well.  Local AFA committee members have been using the new website to bid for some months now and we all felt it was ready for the entire group.

Navblue plans to end access  to the current version of PBS later this year so it’s important that you take the time now to learn the new website. Links to both ‘old’ and ‘new’ websites are found on the Inflight webpage…Schedule and Bidding then Line Bidding.  Monday, January 29th begins two months of ‘parallel bidding’….where access is available on both the new PBS websiteand​the current version.  Whichever bid is submitted last, regardless of which website was utilized, will be the bid that is used during bid awards.

Training materials are posted on the PBS QA Sharepoint site.  You’ll find a link posted on the Inflight webpage at ‘Line Bidding’….look for ‘PBS QA/Help’.  Links to all training material are also found at the top of the PBS Info Page…you will be required to log into Alaska Outlook network if you’re not already logged in via Alaskasworld.

A great start would be to watch the Quick Tour Video…produced by ANCFA Justin Wetherell.  Justin’s assistance was a huge part of helping to make this transition successful and we are forever grateful.  Just below are links to the PBS QA/Help website and the updated Navblue PBS website.

Watch for base sits in March and April conducted by local members of your Scheduling and Reserve Committees.  Members of the Joint Alaska-AFA PBS Committee will be providing support in the bases as well.

PBS QA/Help page—>  https://alaskaair.sharepoint.com/sites/pbsqa

Updated Navblue PBS website—> https://asa.classbid.com/webapp/#/

Questions or feedback should be sent to the PBS Committee at​pbs.qa@alaskaair.com

 

Your Joint Alaska-AFA PBS Committee are:

Rebecca Asbell-PDXFA

Sabrina Blevins-Crew Planning

John Bumanglag-Crew Planning

Adam Clarey-SEAFA

Steve Poynter-SEAFA

Kelly Yeager-Crew Planning

 

 

In Solidarity,

Your Council #19 Officers – Terry, Jake, Adam, Melinda and Megan

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews last week for three positons for the new Inflight Training Committee: one chairperson position and two committee member positions. The MEC would like to thank the candidates who demonstrated willingness to represent our Flight Attendants. After thorough deliberation, the MEC has appointed Megan Brown to the chairperson position and Steven Vincent and Samuel Clifton to the committee member positions.

About The Committee Members

Megan Brown, Inflight Training Committee Chairperson

Megan started her Flight Attendant career in 1991.  After Flight 261, she decided to get involved with the AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  She spent 10 years as the Local EAP Chair/Co-Chair for Council 19 in Seattle.  In 2004, she joined the inflight training department where she was an initial instructor and recurrent instructor, which she enjoyed.  In 2016, Megan stepped out of the classroom, but continued to support training by performing Probationary Observations and IOEs. She has recently stepped back into the classroom and hopes to support Flight Attendants’ training needs and concerns.

Megan’s greatest accomplishment is her son, Zane.  When she’s not flying, she spends her time with her family.  She looks forward to learning and supporting her fellow coworkers in her work with AFA.

Steven Vincent, Inflight Training Committee Member

Steven attended initial training in June 1981.  He initially became involved with AFA just after probation, starting with involvement on the Safety Committee.  He also became the chairperson of the AFA International Aircraft Technical Committee immediately after probation. In this role he worked with Regulatory committees and Aircraft Manufactures. He also provided accident support for the International committee and the member airlines representing AFA Flight Attendants.

In 1983, he joined the training department in preparation for the MD-80 aircraft arrival. He has worked on development and presenting training for the MD-80, 737-400 and Russian extended overwater flying for 727-200, MD-80 and support for ETOPS certification of the 737. He also has conducted Initial training since mid-80s.

Previously, Steve participated in the development and implementation of merger training for pre-merger Jet America Flight Attendants. In Alaska/Virgin America merger, he has supported pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants by participating in the blending of emergency procedures, manuals and training for FAM revision cycle 4 in SFO.

In this new role, Steve hopes to represent the entire membership as we merge to become one Flight Attendant group.

Samuel Clifton, Inflight Training Committee Member

Sam has been with Virgin America since May 2007 as an Inflight Team Leader and Inflight Instructor, mainly teaching recurrent training but has also taught several new hire training classes.

Prior to working at Virgin America, Sam worked at American Trans Air (ATA) from 1989 through 2007.  While at ATA, he was a Flight Attendant and also taught recurrent training throughout the system.  He was an active member of AFA and served on the LEC Informational Committee during contract negotiations.

From 1986-1989 Sam served in the United States Air Force as a C-5 Aircraft Crew Chief.

Sam has always had the aviation bug!  When not working he enjoys being at home in the Bay Area taking his miniature Australian Shepherd for walks on the Bay Trail.  Something interesting about Sam is he has a small collection of vintage Barbies ranging from 1959-1968.

He is extremely excited to be serving on the Inflight Training Committee and hopes to be a strong voice for his fellow instructors.

About The Inflight Training Committee

The Inflight Training Committee is an MEC-level committee responsible for working with management to advocate for Flight Attendant interests in all matters pertaining to Flight Attendant training programs and to represent the unique needs and interests of Flight Attendants who are involved in Flight Attendant Initial and/or Recurrent Training and training-related special projects.  Additional information about the Inflight Training Committee can be found at http://afaalaska.org/inflighttraining.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Earlier today, Alaska Air Group management posted an article on Alaska’s World outlining a non-rev travel embargo that is planned in conjunction with the cutover to a single Passenger Service Computer System (PSS) at the end of April.  AFA disagrees with any company-imposed restrictions surrounding the use of non-revenue travel benefits by our members.  We will be addressing the planned embargo with management and will provide more information once discussions have occurred.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

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Sick Leave Survey Now Open

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