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Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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Commuter Policy Update

With the trial period complete, AFA would like to thank all of the members who provided valuable feedback regarding the VX Commuter Policy.  It became apparent during the trial period that it was necessary to clarify one of the provisions. As a result, a minor amendment to the Commuter Policy was made that to specify how a Flight Attendant would be paid in the event they are not given a flying assignment.

AFA and management agreed that the intent of the provision was for Flight Attendants to receive 3.5 hours per day when they are designated LCC and not given a flying assignment pursuant to the Commuter Policy. AFA has also encouraged management to ensure that Crew Scheduling (CSS) is provided with adequate training of the program in order to help facilitate its effective use by VX Flight Attendants with commuting challenges.

As a reminder, the VX Commuter Policy will remain in effect until VX Flight Attendants are covered under a merged agreement with Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants and the VX Commuter Policy has been retired.

Please view and/or download the full text version of the Commuter Policy Clarification Letter of Agreement  and the amended VX Commuter Policy for your reference.

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

In Solidarity,

Your Council 35 Officers – Melissa & Jamie

 

Tentative Agreement Merger Roadshows

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.

*** The following proposed roadshow schedule is subject to change or cancellation. ***

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

PBS Training Base Sits

If you have questions and you are on a layover or have sit time in one of the bases feel free to stop by. You can also email questions to San.scheduling@gmail.com or pbs.qa@alaskaair.com

Base Sit Schedule:  subject to change due to  just announced, upcoming TA roadshows

ANC   Mar 5   @ Alaska Regional HQ   Check with local AFA officer for times

Mar 8  @ Alaska Regional HQ   Check with local AFA officer for times

LAX   Mar 6    6am-2pm

Mar 8    6am-2pm

PDX  Mar 6     6am-2pm

Mar 9   10am-6pm

SAN  Mar 6    5am-11am  (change from Mar 5th)

Mar 8    5am-11am

SEA  Mar 5    5am-6pm   Inflight-Mezzazine

Mar 6   10am-6pm  Inflight-Mezzazine

5am-4pm  C Concourse Break Room-hosted by SEA Reserve Comm.

Mar 7   5am-6pm   Inflight-Mezzazine

Mar 9   5am-1pm   Inflight-Mezzazine

5am-4pm   C Concourse Break Room-hosted by SEA Reserve Comm.

AFA Base Meeting

​

Mar 27 10:00-1:00 Location to be determined

Topics:

Agenda Items for the International AFA Board of Directors meeting being held in April.

Answering questions and concerns regarding the Merger TA

Discussing issues or concerns regarding the SAN Base.

​

Special Guests:

Karen Farrell will discuss Pairing Building and how pairings are chosen (AFA vs Company).

Lisa Pinkston ANC President will be assisting with PBS bidding

Adam Clarey will be assisting with PBS Questions

 

AFA alerted management in early January about a new paid sick leave law in effect January 1, 2018.  The law is encompassed in I-1433, RCW 49.46, and WAC 296-128.  Management did not respond to us with their position until yesterday at which time they advised their lobbying group, Airlines for America (A4A), filed suit against the State of Washington.

Management is planning on issuing a communication regarding their reasons why they believe these laws do not apply to you.  AFA does not agree with their interpretation of these laws, and we wanted to be the first to communicate this information to you.

Attached is the Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief filed February 6, 2018.  AFA strongly believes based on the timing, that we are the national union named on page 11 line 20 as insisting that management comply with the Act.

Be assured that AFA will utilize its full legal resources to fight this, and we will advise in upcoming communications how you can help with this fight.

In Solidarity,

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

A message from your AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Committee

Flight Attendants, both male and female, are not immune from the risks of violence, including sexual assaults. Consider the following statistics on rapes and attempted rapes from the Department of Justice:

  • Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted.
  • Most rapists are not a masked or unknown person. Approximately 70% of female victims and 74% of male victims know their assailant (i.e. friend, acquaintance etc.)
  • Only one out of ten rapes involves the use of a weapon.
  • 60% of rapes take place away from the victim’s home and most take place between the hours of 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM.

Physical force or the threat of physical force is the primary mode of victimization.  This includes the use of drugs that renders the victim physically helpless and usually unable to remember what happened.  These drugs are called “date rape drugs”.  They often have no color, smell or taste and can be easily added to flavored drinks without the victim’s knowledge.  Educate yourself on the use of these drugs and ways in which you can protect yourself, on and off the job.  Below is some information to help you with this.

What are date rape drugs?

These are drugs that are sometimes use in facilitating a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to.  It can include inappropriate touching, sexual intercourse and attempted rape. The effects of these drugs render victims physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and unable to remember what happened. The drugs often have no color smell or taste and are easily added to flavored drinks without the victim’s knowledge. There are at least three common date rape drugs.  (Although we use the term “date rape,” most experts prefer the term drug facilitated sexual assault.”).

  • GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid) is a drug used to treat narcolepsy. The drug can be in many forms including liquid, powder and pill.
  • Rohypnol is a used for sleep disorders and as an anesthetic. It also comes in pill form.
  • Ketamine is a drug used as an anesthetic for humans and mostly for animals. The drug is a white powder.

What effects do these drugs have on the body?

These drugs can affect you quickly.  The length of time that the effects last varies. It depends on how much of the drug is taken and if the drug is mixed with other substances, like alcohol.  Alcohol can expedite and worsen the drug’s effect.  These drugs can cause relaxation, drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, impaired motor function, memory problems, numbness, distorted perception of sight and sound, confusion, vomiting, even coma and death.

How can I protect myself ?

  • Never leave your drink or food unattended, not even with a person whom you think you should be able to trust.
  • Only order beverages that are brought to your table in sealed bottles.
  • If you have a history of black-outs from drinking, you can never predict when one will occur. For your safety, consider ordering only non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Should you find yourself awakening without any memory in a strange environment or situation, proceed immediately to the emergency room to be tested for the presence of a date rape drug and medically evaluated for a sexual assault.
  • If you have a friend who passes out, do not let anyone take the unconscious person to her/his room. Instead, keep the person exactly where they are and insist that medical help be called.

Assistance available to you

Remember, confidential support and assistance is just a phone call away through your AFA EAP.  Call anytime.  AFA Alaska EAP can be reached at (949) 470-0493 or you can find contact information for your Local EAP Committee at http://afaalaska.org/eap.  You can also contact the International AFA EAP Helpline at (800) 424-2406.

Updated PBS Website

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 Flight Attendant 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

March 6, 5am- 4pm (reserve help in the “C” Concourse sit room)

March 6, 10am – 6pm (ready room)

March 7, 5am – 6pm (ready room)

March 9, 5am – 1pm (ready room)

March 9, 5am – 4pm (reserve help in the “C” Concourse sit room)

Base sits will also be scheduled for April, supported by members of our local Scheduling 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.  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 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 Flight Attendant Website under Schedule & Bidding> Line Bidding. Parallel bidding will be available for two months, starting in February for the March 2018 bid.  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.

 

Become A Member and Have the Right to Vote!

Although the National Mediation Board has ruled that AFA is our collective bargaining representative, you are not automatically considered an AFA member.  Every pre-merger VX Flight Attendant 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 paper form must be submitted directly to an AFA representative or mailed to the AFA International Office in D.C. You can download and print an application, or pick one up from the bag/file rooms the next time you pass through either SFO or LAX Villages.

Only AFA members may:

  • Vote on Tentative Agreements (TAs)
  • Attend Membership Meetings and Roadshows
  • Vote for Officers
  • Hold a position as an AFA officer or committee member

AFA will be available in SFO and LAX during the next several weeks to assist with applications and verification of membership.  Please visit our Council 35 Facebook page for times and locations.

If you believe you have already submitted your form and want to verify your status, or you have additional questions, please inquire at vx@afaalaska.org.

In Solidarity,

Your Council 35 Officers – Melissa & Jamie

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

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

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 29, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Rebekah Olds (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

That’s a Wrap on Government Affairs Focus Month!

As Government Affairs Committee Focus Month comes to a close, we want to sincerely thank everyone who tuned in, asked insightful questions, and shared resources throughout September. Whether you watched a quick video on the van or started a conversation about voting in the crew lounge, your engagement made a difference. We started this month […]

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, our AFA Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met for their regular quarterly meeting to advance ongoing activism, promote workplace equity, and champion meaningful policy improvements across our workplace. Your representatives attending the meeting were Nyachan Chuar (ANC), Soon Kim (HNL), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (pmHA LAX/SEA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Erika Daniel […]

MEC Town Hall Video and Q&A Recap – September 23, 2026

Whether you joined us live or are ready to watch on your own schedule, the full recording of our September 23 MEC Town Hall is now available! Catch up on the discussions and hear directly from our MEC Officers and AFA panelists. Watch the video anytime on our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian YouTube channel using the link below. (Note: […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – September 2026

In September, our Hotel Committee participated in two meetings: the standing monthly meeting with Crew Hotels on September 14, and a Quarterly Business Review (QBR) with the company’s hotel procurement vendor, API, on September 23 (pmAS) and September 24 (pmHA) in Seattle.  Representing you at these meetings were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA pmAS), […]

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