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A message from your AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

You may be struggling to understand how a shooting could occur and why such a terrible thing would happen. There may never be satisfactory answers to these questions.

We do know, though, that most people will experience a variety of emotions following such a traumatic event. These feelings can include shock, sorrow, numbness, fear, anger, disillusionment, grief and others. You may find that you have trouble sleeping, concentrating, eating or remembering even simple tasks. This is common and should pass after a while. Over time, the caring support of family and friends can help to lessen the emotional impact and ultimately make the changes brought about by the tragedy more manageable. You may feel that the world is a more dangerous place today than you did yesterday. It will take some time to recover your sense of equilibrium. Meanwhile, you may wonder how to go on living your daily life. You can strengthen your resilience — the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity — in the days and weeks ahead.

Here are some tips:

Talk about it

Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen to your concerns. Remember, your AFA EAP is available for confidential assistance.  Visit http://afaalaska.org/eap or call (800) 424-2406 for your local committee members.

Strive for balance

When a tragedy occurs, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and have a negative or pessimistic outlook. Balance that viewpoint by reminding yourself of people and events which are meaningful and comforting, even encouraging.

Turn it off and take a break

You may want to keep informed, but try to limit the amount of news you take in whether it’s from the Internet, television, newspapers or magazines. While getting the news informs you, being overexposed to it can actually increase your stress.

Honor your feelings

Remember that it is common to have a range of emotions after a traumatic incident.

Take care of yourself

Engage in healthy behaviors to enhance your ability to cope with excessive stress.

If you have recently lost friends or family in this or other tragedies

Remember that grief is a long process. Give yourself time to experience your feelings. It is important to get professional help if you feel like you are unable to function or perform basic activities of daily living.  Your AFA EAP can help you with a referral.

 

This tip sheet was made possible by the American Psychological Association. 

Commuter Policy Starts Today October 1

Today we begin the trial period of the newly negotiated VX Commuter Policy.  Please read the Letter of Agreement to understand how the policy can help when encountering commuter challenges by air and ground transportation. As a reminder, for the trial period, SHP will be available for use concurrently with the new policy. Stay tuned in November for a request by AFA to participate in another survey to give feedback on the effectiveness of the policy.  For questions, please review the FAQs or contact your Council 35 officers.

Relaxed Hair Standards Starts Today October 1

Council 35 has been advocating for a change to the hair requirements for VX since interim improvement talks began in April.  As of today, management has agreed to allow VX Flight Attendants to follow the AS uniform standard as it relates to hair requirements while on duty. Please see the September 29 VX Uniform Update communication for details on the new standards.

Council 35 Membership Meeting November 2 in SFO

AFA Constitution and Bylaws require that local councils hold a membership meeting twice per calendar year.  Our first meeting was held in June with United Council 11 to discuss the AFA Board of Directors Meeting Agenda.  The next meeting for Council 35 members will be November 2 in the SFO Terminal 2 Conference Room. This meeting will be open to all Council 35 members in good standing who have submitted a membership application.  The purpose will be to provide members the opportunity to ask questions and receive updates on the latest issues that are impacting Council 35 members. For specific topic discussions, please submit an agenda item to Council 35 by October 26.  Light refreshments will be offered, so please complete the online registration form to help with attendance expectations.

AFA Membership Applications Needed

Every VX Flight Attendant must complete and submit a membership application to become an official member of AFA.  Please be aware that this form cannot be completed online.  The hard copy form must be submitted directly to an AFA representative or mailed to the AFA International Office in D.C. You can download and print one by clicking here. Completing an application ensures that you have the right to participate in voting activities and to attend membership meetings.

New AS PED Policy in Effect for VX

Management has recently implemented the new and improved PED policy for Virgin America Flight Attendants. The policy, in relation to PED use, was taken from the AS Flight Attendant Manual.  Please review the Personal Conduct portion of the policy to ensure understanding of the changes as it relates to personal use while on duty.  If you have any questions about PED usage, please contact your Council 35 officers.

Grievances and AFA Representation at Meetings

Council 35 has been in attendance for 75 meetings with VX Flight Attendants since June 1, when the Grievance Letter of Agreement went into effect.  These meetings have been for investigations and issuance of discipline.  To date, we have filed 25 grievances on behalf of Flight Attendants to dispute discipline issued and for contractual violations.  If you want to know more about the grievance process please review the Letter of Agreement and the July 5 Council 35 News for an explanation of the just cause employment relationship.  If you need representation for a meeting with management, please contact your Council 35 officers.

FAQs and Rumor Control

I heard that the AS eligibility requirement for baby bonding is 1250 hours. As a CA employee am I subject to this requirement?

Council 35 officers have been investigating the changes to benefits and leaves that are coming to VX because of the merger.  Leave requirements differ by state and there are a lot of factors involved to determine an individual’s eligibility. This week C35 officers will be meeting with management and leave specialists to review these changes and determine how they will impact VX F/As.  Please stay tuned for an upcoming communication with more details regarding benefit changes.

 

Please let us know if you have any questions or thoughts!  You can reach us at vx@afaalaska.org.

In Solidarity,

Your Council 35 Officers – Melissa & Jamie

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) just wrapped up this week’s session of merger negotiations, our fourth so far; we met with management from Tuesday, September 26th through Thursday, September 28th in Seattle, WA. Representing management: Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays, Vice President of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America Inflight & Call Center/Guest Services Jeff Butler, Managing Director of Labor Relations-Air Elizabeth Ryan and Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel.

Management presented the Joint Negotiating Committee with a comprehensive transitional proposal on the first day, which provided a springboard for discussions the remainder of the week. The parties are starting to reach tentative agreements on transitional items in several sections of the Alaska contract.

The Joint Negotiating Committee is planning on soliciting your feedback regarding your expectations and/or priorities for these negotiations in the very near future. We know that our combined membership of over 5,000 will not ratify a transitional-only contract. Be on the lookout for the merger negotiations survey to be released early next week.

Keep in mind that merger negotiations are a different process than regular negotiations. These talks are not under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board or Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act, and neither AFA nor management believes that the entire contract is open for discussion. Discussions are focusing on a short list of items. 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.

Our next merger negotiations session is scheduled for October 24-26.

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 Flight Attendants

It has come to our attention that management is requiring screenshots of a Flight Attendant’s roster and the pairing in question if a Flight Attendant is requesting pay protection.  Management has not yet put out an official communication stating this.  AFA has several recent examples where management has denied activity claim forms without this information.

Due to the position that management appears to be taking, AFA highly recommends taking a screenshot of all pairings that you pick up or trade into, along with a picture of your roster with the pairing showing.  This will help to resolve any dispute surrounding pay protection should one occur.

If payroll denies your activity claim form, please contact your LEC Officers for assistance.  You can find contact information for your LEC Officers on your Local Council page of the AFA Alaska website.  Alternately, you can file report using the AFA Online Support Center at http://support.afaalaska.org/.

In Solidarity,

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

We know that disasters can change lives forever. While we can’t stop destructive events from happening, we can, as a Union, assist our members with their recovery. AFA established the Disaster Relief Fund after September 11th to assist our members whose lives were placed in harms way. AFA members and retirees, whose primary residence is in the counties listed below and who have suffered damage and/or dislocation, are eligible for $200 from the AFA-CWA Disaster Relief Fund. It is a gift made possible by the generosity of your fellow union sisters and brothers with AFA.

Eligible communities

Texas Counties: Aransas, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Victoria, Waller, Wharton

Florida Counties: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia

Puerto Rico: Municipalities: Canovanas, Culebra, Loiza, Vieques

US Virgin Islands: St. John Island; St. Thomas Island

How to apply for assistance from the AFA Disaster Relief Fund

• Visit www.afacwa.org/drf and download the Disaster Relief Fund Application
• Fax the application to the International AFA EAP Department at 202-434-1411 or mail the application to the AFA-CWA EAP Department, 6th Floor, 501 Third Street NW, Washington D.C. 20001-2797.
• Alternatively, you may e-mail the requested information to lfoster@afanet.org or phone in the information to 1-800-424-2406.

How to contribute to the AFA Disaster Relief Fund

If you wish to make a contribution either by check or electronic payment, please visit www.afacwa.org/drf for more information on donating.

In Solidarity,

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

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) just wrapped up this week’s session of merger negotiations, our third so far; we met with management from Tuesday, September 12th through Thursday, September 14th in Seattle, WA. Representing management: Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays, Incoming Vice President of Alaska Airlines Inflight & Call Center Services Jeff Butler (and current Vice President of Virgin America Guest and Inflight Services), Managing Director of Labor Relations-Air Elizabeth Ryan, Managing Director of Virgin America Inflight Valerie Jenkins and Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel.

The Joint Negotiating Committee continues to discuss transition issues with management The JNC’s goal is to make a smooth and equitable transition for the Virgin America Flight Attendants to the Alaska contract. Meanwhile, the JNC continues to maintain that some improvements to the Alaska contract must be part of the package.

Despite our insistence, management has made it very clear that it does not believe AFA has the contractual standing to seek improvements. Our counterpoint to that argument is that a merger agreement requires membership ratification under the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, and the JNC strongly believes any merger agreement that lacks improvements for our combined membership (pre-merger Virgin America and pre-merger Alaska) is not ratifiable. The parties continue to work through purely transitional items for now, but at some point in the future we will be forced to deal with the proverbial elephant in the room.

During the session, the parties exchanged written proposals on how to transition the Virgin America Flight Attendants into the Alaska Attendance Policy, sick leave, vacation, probation and leaves of absence. The parties also discussed uniform transition. Management committed to giving the JNC a comprehensive proposal on all transition issues at our next session, September 26-28.

The Joint Negotiating Committee is planning on soliciting your feedback regarding your expectations for these negotiations. Be on the lookout for more information about the merger negotiations survey in the next several weeks.

Keep in mind that merger negotiations are a different process than regular negotiations. These talks are not under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board or Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act, and neither side believes that the entire contract is open for discussion. Discussions are focusing on a short list of items. 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.

In Solidarity,

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

PED Policy Finally!

Management has finally released the long-awaited new and improved PED policy for Virgin America Flight Attendants.  The policy was tied to the Inflight Manual (IFM) therefore changes needed to be included in a revision cycle.  The policy, in relation to personal PED use, was taken from the AS Flight Attendant Manual.  Please review the policy to ensure understanding of the changes as it relates to using your personal PEDs while on duty.  If you have any questions about the new policy, please contact your Council 35 officers.

Grievances and AFA Representation at Meetings

Council 35 has been in attendance for 68 meetings with VX Flight Attendants since June 1, when the Grievance Letter of Agreement went into effect.  These meetings have been for investigations and issuance of discipline.  To date, we have filed 21 grievances on behalf of Flight Attendants to dispute discipline issued and for contractual violations.  If you want to know more about the grievance process please review the Letter of Agreement ​and the July 5 Council 35 News for an explanation of the just cause employment relationship.  If you need representation for a meeting with management, please contact your Council 35 officers.

Upcoming Commuter Policy

In just a couple of weeks on October 1, we will begin the trial period of the newly negotiated VX Commuter Policy.  If you have any questions about the policy, please review the FAQs.  In November, we will be sending another survey requesting participation of members to give feedback on the effectiveness of the policy.  If you have any additional questions, please contact your Council 35 officers.

Membership Applications Needed

According to our records, 30% of VX Flight Attendants have not submitted a paper membership application.  Although the National Mediation Board has ruled that AFA is our collective bargaining representative, VX Flight Attendants are not automatically considered an AFA member.  Everyone must complete and submit a membership application to become an official member.  Please be aware that this form cannot be completed online.  The hard copy form must be submitted directly to an AFA representative or mailed to the AFA International Office in D.C. You can download and print one by clicking here. Completing an application ensures that you have the right to participate in voting activities and to attend membership meetings.

Save the date—Council 35 Town Hall Membership Meeting

AFA Constitution and Bylaws require that local councils hold a membership meeting twice per calendar year.  Our first meeting was held in June with United Council 11 to discuss the AFA Board of Directors Meeting Agenda.  We are planning our next meeting for November 2. Stay tuned for updates for location, time and agenda topics.  If you wish to bid the day off, please keep in mind the meeting will be held in SFO.

Inflight Management’s Recent Email about Changes to VX Inflight

VX Flight Attendants have asked Council 35 officers for clarification on a recent email from VX inflight management which stated upcoming changes expected for F/As.  It was mentioned that we are on the AS AFA contract, which is incorrect. VX F/As will not be on a merged contract with Alaska Flight Attendants until we have a ratified merged agreement.  Additionally, some new terms caused confusion, specifically relating to the ITL position.  Alaska’s lead flight attendant position, is called the “A” Flight Attendant.  They do not have a separate lead program, with separate bidding pools.  All are assigned to positions during the single group bidding process.  To differentiate the two programs, instead of using the term ITL, VX management would like to transition to the term Legacy VX “A” Flight Attendant.

FAQs and Rumor Control

Is Alaska sending ghost riders on our flights to audit us?

No. Alaska is not sending ghost riders on VX flights to audit and report back to AS corporate. Jeff Butler, VP of Inflight and Call Centers, has made it clear that this practice has never been a consideration as they receive ample information about flights and customer service issues from guest initiated communications.

Will changing my hire date on the new I9 requirement affect my seniority?

No.  Management has assured AFA that putting today’s date as the hire date will not in any way affect seniority, benefits, retirement or travel privileges.

If I pick up on my day off as a reserve will I get paid for it or will it just help me get to my guarantee sooner?

Management has agreed that reserve Flight Attendants who pick up on their days off will receive a credit above their guarantee.

When we achieve Single Operating Certificate (SOC) in early 2018, will we be covered automatically by the AFA Alaska Flight Attendant Contract?

Single Operating Certificate is the approval granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to two airlines to allow them to operate their aircraft for commercial purposes as one airline going forward. It is a major regulatory step forward toward the eventual merger of the two airlines into a single entity. Achieving SOC does not mean that all work groups will be fully merged and integrated at that time. VX F/As will see some company-wide benefit changes through the process of integration (with SOC being part of that process), however we will not automatically be covered by the AS contract at SOC.  Integration of the VX F/As into the AS contract is currently being negotiated. Although there is no set time for negotiations to be completed, AFA and management have a vested interest in making the process as smooth and expeditious as possible.

When will we see a return of the Flight Locator by Crew feature?

Council 35 officers have had multiple conversations with management about the return of this feature and management has stated that the functionality of Flight Locator by Crew will not be returned. The VX legal department has instructed that the feature be removed, and the company is obliged to follow their instruction.  The company did say that CSS would provide crew information if we call and ask, however your Council 35 officers recognize that the process is a hassle.

Please let us know if you have any questions or thoughts!  You can reach us at vx@afaalaska.org.

In Solidarity,

Your Council 35 Officers – Melissa & Jamie

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

Last month, management granted 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).  Information about the grievance was published on August 7.  The grievance 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.  That was a huge win for all Alaska Flight Attendants.

Recently, management sustained another grievance #36-99-2-25-17 (Failure to Allow Minimum and/or Maximum Coordination While on Maternity Leave) which 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.  This was even a bigger win for all Alaska Flight Attendants.

These sustained grievances mean that a Flight Attendant on maternity leave, may use minimum or maximum sick leave/vacation per section 15.M of the contract.  They will get paid when they are on a longer maternity leave and will be eligible for active employee rates for insurance for as long as 8 months following the 120th day post-birth (up to a year post-birth).  This will allow Flight Attendants to stay off work much longer with their newborns while receiving pay from their sick leave and/or vacation banks and maintaining active rate insurance.  This will also allow the look back calendar to be applied in calculating flight attendants TFP toward the yearly 480 requirements for vacation, insurance and uniform benefits.

If you have any questions about maternity leave, please contact your Local Benefits Committee Chairperson (or Local Benefits Committee Member who specializes in maternity-related issues).  You can find contact information on your Local Council’s Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

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

9.11.2001

Image by Jen Schott Knudsen, some rights reserved.

Every year, AFA-CWA provides an Honor Guard to attend the ceremonies honoring the sacrifices of the Flight Attendants who lost their lives on 9/11. This year, former AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) Legislative Affairs Chair Bev Bullock was selected to serve as an Honor Guard member at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. The MEC thanks Bev for honoring our heroes today.

“We Will Never Forget” >

In Solidarity,

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

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

On Tuesday, September 16, our AFA Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to raise awareness and create positive change within our workplace and community. Your representatives attending the meeting included Nyachan Chuar (ANC), LaLa Davis (LAX-pmAS), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (LAX-pmHA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Erika Daniel (SAN), and Trista Vanta (SFO). […]

AFA News in Review – September 19, 2025

In This Edition Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month Originally posted September 15, 2025 Join us in celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, a time dedicated to honoring the vibrant cultures and significant contributions of Hispanic-Latinx Americans. Discover the history, participate in special events, and grab your commemorative Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month AFA Pin […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the first group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have […]

Election Notice: Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Officer Elections

The term of office for our current Alaska + Hawaiian Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers will conclude on December 31, 2025. The voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will elect new MEC Officers at the November Regular MEC meeting. This communication serves as notice of the election in accordance with the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual. […]

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