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Dear Flight Attendants,

 

 

Cathy Gwynn was re-elected as Council 39 Portland president to the term of office beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2017. Certified Council 39 Election Results here: http://afacwa-elections.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Council-39-Certified-Results-Run-Off-2014.pdf.

 

The Master Executive Council (MEC) congratulates Cathy and we sincerely thank John Cornelius for stepping forward to run in the election.

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

Your Negotiating Committee is hard at work in Tempe, AZ, reviewing the negotiations survey results as we prepare for second round mediation. Joining us is AFA-CWA International Vice President and President-elect Sara Nelson. Thank you to Sara for all the great mobilization advice! We’re looking forward to working with her more in the future.

 

We would like to congratulate Alaska Airlines for receiving the highest ranking in the North American Airline Satisfaction Study amongst Traditional Network Carriers by JD Power and Associates. Further, we want to thank our Flight Attendants for their invaluable contributions resulting in this unprecedented seventh consecutive win.

 

Now, this is what your Negotiating Committee needs from you:

 

  • Join your Mobilization Team on Tuesday, May 20th, at Anchorage, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and San Diego. They will be greeting our Flight Attendants with our newest solidarity swag. (It’s a surprise!)
  • Use your $100 Company Store credit coming in June to purchase at least one logo item such as a bag tag or shirt (preferably cotton or cotton blend). Additional instructions will follow in June.
  • Stay tuned for the countdown…! 🙂

 

In solidarity,

 

Your Negotiating Committee–MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

 

MEC 5BSS Logo

Dear Flight Attendants,

Your Mobilization Committee is hard at work conducting Mobilization Training sessions in our five base cities this week in preparation for support of the Negotiating Committee when mediation begins again.  Sessions were conducted yesterday in Anchorage and additional sessions are scheduled today in Seattle and later in the week in Portland, Los Angeles, and San Diego.  It’s not too late to sign up for training if you haven’t already done so.  Visit alaskamec.org/mobilization/training to register now.

In conjunction with Mobilization Training, a solidarity activity is planned on May 20th in all bases.  Even if you are unable to attend a Mobilization Training session, we invite and encourage as much participation as possible in the May 20th event.  Participation time slots for each base are as follows:

  • Anchorage: 13:30-16:30
  • Seattle: 05:00-07:00, 07:00-09:00, and 12:00-14:00
  • Portland: 06:00-09:00
  • Los Angeles (LAX): 09:00-11:00 and 14:00-16:00
  • San Diego: 08:00-11:00

Click here to access the volunteer signup form for the May 20th solidarity activity

Once you’ve signed up, your Local Mobilization Chairperson will be in contact with you to provide you with a briefing on the event including where to meet up.  If you attended or are planning on attending a Mobilization Training session this week, it is not necessary for you to complete the signup form—you will be signed up automatically at your training session.

If you have any questions about the Mobilization Committee or the May 20th solidarity event, please contact your Local Mobilization Chairperson.  Contact information can be found at alaskamec.org/mobilization.

Let’s send a resounding message on May 20th and demonstrate that we are FIVE BASES, STANDING STRONG!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gywnn, Sandra Morrow and MEC Mobilization Chairperson Adam Clarey

MEC 5BSS Logo

Dear Fellow Flight Attendants:

Polls are currently open and voting is underway in the Council 39 LEC President runoff election.  The two candidates on the runoff ballot for LEC President are John Cornelius and Cathy Gwynn.  If you haven’t already voted, please be sure to do so.  Polls close on Friday, May 16 at 12 PM PDT.  Results will be published after the ballots are certified.

For more information about the runoff election or to view the results after ballots are certified, visit the AFA-CWA elections website at http://afacwa-elections.org/councils/ala-council-39-pdx/.

In Solidarity,

Your LEC Officers – Cathy Gwynn and Brian Palmer

AFA Council 39 Logo

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

Several of you have requested access to the flier handed out at the Alaska Air Group Shareholders Meeting rally. An electronic version of the flier may be found here:

 

ALK Shareholders Mtg 2014 AFA Flier

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

 

MEC 5BSS Logo

Dear Flight Attendants,

Yesterday afternoon Flight Attendants demonstrated their solidarity by rallying at the Alaska Air Group (AAG) Shareholders meeting at the Anchorage Museum in downtown Anchorage. The Master Executive Council (MEC) thanks Council 30 Anchorage for hosting the event.

We estimate approximately 75 Flight Attendants participated in the rally and informational picketing, including those on an Anchorage layover in addition to Anchorage-based Flight Attendants.  The total crowd was well over 100, with friends, family and other union members joining in.  Many thanks for the support of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Working Washington, Jobs with Justice, Nursing Education Alumni Association (NEAA) Teachers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Alaska Public Employees Association / American Federation of Teachers (APEA/AFT), Longshoremen, Teamsters, Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union (HERE), United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and Alaska Laborers.

The rally included an informational picket and the distribution of a flier (see below) to anybody passing by the picket line, including AAG Board of Directors members, Shareholders and management.  The rally was picked up by several media outlets, including KTUU Channel 2 Anchorage and Alaska Dispatch (reprinted on the front page of the Anchorage Daily News local section).  More pictures at KTUU.

Following the rally, some of your AFA leaders and Flight Attendant Shareholders moved inside for the meeting. MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Council 30 President Becky Strachan and Council 30 Vice President and Negotiating Committee member Lisa Pinkston represented AFA.  During the question and answer portion of the Shareholders meeting, MEC President Jeff Peterson was given the opportunity to make a brief statement on behalf of AFA:

AFA Statement

The rally was an extremely successful demonstration of solidarity for AFA.  Feeling energized and want to do more?  Check out alaskamec.org/mobilization for more information.  Mobilization training will take place next week.  Get involved now and help make a difference!

In solidarity,

Your MEC–Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

 MEC 5BSS Logo

Dear Flight Attendants,

 

AFA-CWA Council 30 Anchorage will be hosting a solidarity event tomorrow, May 8, 2014. Flight Attendants will be participating in a rally and informational picketing at the Alaska Air Group Shareholders meeting. Because Alaska Airlines System Regulations prohibit traveling non-revenue in order to picket, we invite Flight Attendant Shareholders, Anchorage-based Flight Attendants and Flight Attendants laying over in Anchorage to join in the event. The festivities will occur on the public sidewalk outside of the Anchorage Museum at Rusmuson Center (625 C St, Anchorage, AK) from 3pm to 4pm ADT.

 

Following the rally, we invite all Flight Attendant Shareholders to join Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson, Council 30 President Becky Strachan, and Council 30 Vice President and Negotiating Committee member Lisa Pinkston as they participate in the Shareholders meeting from 4pm to 6pm. Be advised we anticipate entry will be restricted to Shareholders only.

 

AFA appreciates the support of our probationary Fight Attendants, but we’re going to ask them to sit this one out. Probationaries are technically allowed to participate in informational picketing but AFA believes probationaries can best support their ‘tenured’ brothers and sisters by focusing on staying informed, familiarizing themselves with the Contract and passing probation.

 

Any Flight Attendants participating in informational picketing CANNOT wear the Flight Attendant uniform to the event. Instead, we encourage all Flight Attendants to wear their blue AFA t-shirts as a sign of solidarity. AFA t-shirts will also be provided on site in various sizes while supplies last. A plain royal blue t-shirt will suffice as a backup. Alternatively, you can never go wrong wearing your AFA pin along with a generic blue t-shirt of any shade!

 

If you’re in the Anchorage area tomorrow afternoon, join in the fun!

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC–Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

 

MEC 5BSS Logo

For over two years, our Flight Attendants have worked without seeing an improvement in our collective bargaining agreement.  We spoke in a resounding way and with a unified voice during the vote on our recent tentative agreement (TA). We told management “NO,” the TA does not recognize the contributions Flight Attendants make towards the numerous industry awards and record profits the company continues to achieve.

Becoming a Mobilization Volunteer is how you can directly contribute to the success of our Negotiating Committee.  Read on to find out why being a Mobilization Volunteer is right for you:

1.      You’re Tired of Waiting

Our contract has been amendable for over two years.  After more than two years of negotiating, the parties have failed to reach an acceptable tentative agreement.  This is two years too long!

2.     You’re Not Afraid To Let Management Know How Serious We Are

When our voices are united in support of our Negotiating Committee, we send a loud message to management.  When our actions are united in solidarity, the message is even louder.

3.     You Want Management To Recognize Our Contributions

Flight Attendants have the most direct and longest customer interaction than any other position within the Company.  We have been told time and again by management that it is our people who make the difference and keep these customers coming back.

4.     Quality of Life Is Important To You

Being able to balance work and life is important to us.  Together, we bargain for work rules and provisions that allow us to achieve this.

It’s time to get involved.  Mobilization Training sessions are scheduled for next week in all of our base cities.  In one two-hour session, you’ll learn about how we got to where we are in the negotiating process, where we’re going from here, and how you can make an impact.

Sign up now for a training session at alaskamec.org/mobilization/training.  Want to know more?  Visit alaskamec.org/mobilization or get in contact with your Local Mobilization Chairperson, listed below.

  • ANC – Thresia Raynor (thresiaraynor@gci.net)
  • SEA – Krystle Cook (kcook907@gmail.com)
  • PDX – Shawn Grill (sgrill@alaskamec.org)
  • LAX – Stacy Uebelhor (stacyc.uebelhor@yahoo.com)
  • SAN – Brice McGee (SanSecAFA@gmail.com)

As we prepare to go back to the table, we must show management that we are unified, organized, and prepared—that we are FIVE BASES, STANDING STRONG!

MEC 5BSS Logo

Please join us at the Solidarity Event planned for tomorrow, May 8th!

Many of you have expressed a desire to show your solidarity at the upcoming Alaska Airlines Shareholders’ Meeting on May 8th. If you plan to join us, we will be outside of the Anchorage Museum at the Rasmuson Center, on the public sidewalk. We will have extra blue AFA t-shirts available for you to wear, if you do not already have your own. Remember, if you plan to participate in the informational picketing, you cannot wear your uniform! Because the Shareholders’ meeting is being held in Anchorage this year, our colleagues in Seattle will be showing their solidarity, as well, by participating in a solidarity activity at Sea-Tac.

If you have any questions, please reach out to any of your Council 30 Officers! We are looking forward to seeing you there!

In Solidarity,

Becky, Lisa & Jan

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