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Dear Flight Attendants,

 

Our fellow Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Veda Shook will soon conclude her term as International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. As our International President Veda has made numerous invaluable contributions to our union.

 

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) officers put forward a floor resolution to the AFA Board of Directors (BOD) in recognition of Veda’s service. The resolution, which was adopted unanimously by the BOD, is as follows:

 

 

 

Association of Flight Attendants – CWA, AFL-CIO

Forty Second Board of Directors Meeting

April 28-30, 2014

Orlando, FL

 

Floor Resolution: Appreciation and Recognition for AFA-CWA International President Veda Shook

 

WHEREAS Veda Shook has tirelessly advocated for Flight Attendants at all levels of our union, and

 

WHEREAS we recognize Veda’s many contributions to our union in her many leadership roles, and

 

WHEREAS Veda has served her term as the voice for Flight Attendants on the job, in the workplace and on Capitol Hill, and

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED we stand in unity with Veda at the completion of the Forty Second (42nd) AFA-CWA Board of Directors meeting, and

 

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED we thank Veda for her unwavering dedication as AFA-CWA International President.

 

 

Adopted unanimously by the Board of Directors on April 30, 2014

 

 

 

In solidarity,

 

 

Your MEC — Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Council 18 LAX/SAN Vice President Kelly Johnson (proxy for Sandra Morrow)

 

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In preparation for the upcoming May 20th Mobilization events at each base, AFA Council 18 (LAX) Mobilization trainings are being held at the Westin LAX May 15th. By attending a single two-hour session, you’ll be empowered with knowledge about how you can help the Negotiating Committee send management a unified message—we are Five Bases, Standing Strong!

Read more about the Mobilization Committee at alaskamec.org/mobilization.  Ready to gear up and make a difference?  Sign up to attend a Mobilization Training session at alaskamec.org/mobilization/training.

Details of the first Mobilization event will be provided at the training May 15th. Please plan on attending one of the two sessions (May 15th) and event on May 2oth.

Mobilization Training is at the Westin LAX:  session 1 is from 10am-12pm, session 2 is from 1pm-3pm.Sign up at www.alaskamec.org/mobilization/training. Please contact StacyC.Uebelhor@yahoo.com with any questions.

Five Bases Standing Strong!

Dear Flight Attendants,

Your Negotiating Committee and the Master Executive Council (MEC) have been working with Hart Research Associates to resolve the challenges with the follow up AFA negotiations survey. Access to the online survey via individualized links Is being closed out. However, since there are many Flight Attendants who have yet to complete the survey, AFA and Hart Research Associates have coordinated to provide alternate access to the online survey.
Instructions will be sent In a separate email communication from AFA (not Hart Research Associates) shortly. The survey will remain open until Friday, May 9, 2014, at noon Eastern (0900 PDT). For security reasons, it is important that you do NOT post the instructions on social media.
What went wrong with the email invitations sent by Hart Research Associates? Very likely there is no single root cause. AFA reviewed the updated email addresses with our existing database and there were several discrepancies. In many instances the Flight Attendant provided the same address name but with a different email host (e.g. Gmail vs. Hotmail).
We also observed many issues resulting from certain email hosts rejecting the survey invitations altogether. This is called a “hard bounce.” More specifically, a hard bounce is when the email host filters out bulk emails by not even allowing them through the host’s filter. This results in email not even reaching an individual’s spam folder.
A hard bounce happens when an email host receives a number of emails around the same time from the same sender (FlightAttendantSurvey@hart-research.com in this case). AFA experienced similar issues with the last negotiations survey in 2011. Anecdotally, we can confirm AOL and Comcast appear to generate the largest number of hard bounces. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done about hard bounces except to have Flight Attendants use another email host.
One of the other issues is that Hart Research Associates operates on Eastern Time Monday through Friday during normal business hours. It seemed many Flight Attendants who sent in troubleshooting inquiries outside of this window were getting frustrated when they were not receiving a response right away. Keep in mind that all survey invitations were being sent by Hart Research Associates directly and AFA had no way to expedite the process. We were simply passing along requests to Hart.
Combine all these reasons with the fact that your leadership was fully immersed in the annual AFA Board of Directors meeting during this time and it was a perfect recipe for frustration! Please be assured it is extremely important to AFA that your voice is heard. If you haven’t yet completed the survey, be looking for the instructions immediately following this communication.
Thank you very much for your patience!
In solidarity,
Your MEC–Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow; and
Your Negotiating Committee–MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones and Christina Frees
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Last week, Alaska Air Group posted another record quarterly profit for the first quarter of 2014. Quarter after quarter, the Company has been making money hand over fist.  Meanwhile, our Flight Attendants have been in contract negotiations for over 2 years. We have yet to be presented with a contract that recognizes our contributions to the award-winning customer service and record profits that Alaska Airlines continues to receive and the record profits that the company continues to earn.

The time has come to show management that we stand together in our desire to achieve a contract that acknowledges our contributions to a wildly successful company.  Our Mobilization Committee needs you to help demonstrate our solidarity to management by becoming a Mobilization Volunteer.  Mobilization Volunteers will show management that we’re serious about negotiating an industry-leading contract by participating in solidarity activities. The Mobilization Committee will also be facilitating active communication between Flight Attendants and the Negotiating Committee.

Mobilization Training events are being held in all bases the week of May 12.  By attending a single two-hour session, you’ll be empowered with knowledge about how you can help the Negotiating Committee send management a unified message—we are Five Bases, Standing Strong!

Read more about the Mobilization Committee at alaskamec.org/mobilization.  Ready to gear up and make a difference?  Sign up to attend a Mobilization Training session at alaskamec.org/mobilization/training.

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Dear Flight Attendants,

A short time ago, the National Mediation Board (NMB) officially notified the AFA and management negotiating teams that it has delayed our return to mediation until July by canceling the negotiations session scheduled for the week of May 12th.

Once in mediation, the NMB has control over our meeting schedule and they have the authority to decide that a mediation session should be canceled.

Do we agree with this decision?  No!  We would always be ready to meet and make progress in our quest for a new contract.  We have expressed our frustration that there is no available meeting date in June. Despite our protests, mediation will resume in late July.

Even if we wanted to meet earlier than July, AFA and management do not believe it is in the best interest of either party to proceed without the sanction of the NMB.  However, as a show of good faith management has agreed to absorb AFA’s costs resulting from the relatively last-minute cancellation.

Given that we have no choice, AFA will make good use of the downtime.  We have already established meeting dates for our own internal review of the negotiations survey.  Additionally, we will hold a joint AFA negotiations training with the Negotiating Committee and the Master Executive Council (MEC) leadership.  AFA International trainers, legal staff and department heads will also participate in the training.

While this is an unfortunate delay, we are determined to take advantage of the situation and use it to prepare for the next session and demonstrate to the NMB–and management–just how serious we are about getting back to the table and fighting for the contract that we all deserve.

Our sincere thanks to management for covering the cancellation fees.  The parties are looking forward to getting back to the table the week of July 21st.

In solidarity,

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

Your Negotiating Committee–MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones and Christina Frees

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Please join us in welcoming Lisa Curry, Tracy Speck, and David Jelinek to the Alaska AFA PDX Uniform Committee.

Lisa Curry

Lisa started her flying career with Alaska Air Group in August 1989 with Horizon Air. She left Horizon in April 1996 to continue her flying career with Alaska Airlines. Although she doesn’t have any previous AFA involvement at Alaska Airlines, she has been involved in several special projects and committees at Horizon Airlines including aircraft standardization, recycling, food and beverage committee, Big Brother/Big Sister mentorship program, and interviewing potential new hire flight attendant candidates.

Lisa brings prior experience of an eight-year career in men’s and women’s fashion to the committee.  She has worked both in sales roles at Nordstrom, Contempo and Foxmoor Casuals and in both sales and management positions at Meier & Frank.  Her heartfelt passion for design and fashion in general will help to bring her ideas to the workplace and apply them specifically to our own company’s uniforms.

Lisa is extremely grateful for this opportunity to be a voice for our workgroup and she very much looks forward to working with such a talented to team.

Tracy Speck

Tracy started with Alaska Air Group in 1996 as a Customer Service Agent in Portland.  In April 1999, she joined inflight and has served proudly as a Flight Attendant since.  Her previous AFA experience includes serving as a VOICE Committee Member.

Being an active voice for our Flight Attendant group is important to Tracy.  This motivated her desire to join the Uniform Committee.  She looks forward to providing expertise and input as to the concerns, likes and wants of a leading airline uniform while helping to make decisions of a quality yet professional and classy look.  Tracy is eager to be an integral part of the process and bringing a look to our Flight Attendant group that sets us a part from other carriers.  “We are number ONE in the industry and should look number ONE,” says Tracy.

David Jelinek

David joined Alaska Airlines as a Flight Attendant in March 2013.  Prior to Alaska, he flew for 8 years with Frontier Airlines.  During that time he served for 4 years on the Uniform Committee and helped implement a new uniform as well as update uniform standards and wear guides.

David has a degree in costume design from the University of Northern Colorado. When not flying, he enjoys making costumes and doing other sewing projects.

David wanted to get involved with the AFA Alaska Uniform Committee because he wants to help in the creation process of the new Land’s End custom uniform. He looks forward to working with the committee to design a uniform that is not only stylish and professional, but is comfortable and easy to wear. Most importantly, he looks forward to helping to design something that showcases the updated Alaska Airlines brand and that Flight Attendants will be proud to wear.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Contesa Diaz-Nicolaidis and Deanna Hill for their work on the Uniform Committee over the past several years.  Their contributions to the committee during both the TwinHill and interim Land’s End uniform periods have been sincerely appreciated.

The Uniform Committee is responsible for ensuring contract language compliance for Flight Attendants in the area of uniforms. The Committee is also charged with representing Flight Attendant interests to management regarding design, fabric selection, and other details of the Flight Attendant uniform.

In Solidarity,

Your LEC Officers – Cathy Gwynn, Brian Palmer and Local Uniform Committee Chairperson Bob Moore

Dear Flight Attendants,

The online portion to the follow up AFA negotiations survey by Hart Research Associates will remain open through Sunday, May 4, 2014.  As a reminder, your AFA leadership is currently at the 42nd Annual AFA-CWA Board of Directors meeting in Orlando.  We are responding to all inquiries during breaks between meetings and thank you for your patience.

A second round of email invitations containing individualized links to the online survey were sent a short time ago by Hart Research Associates.  Check your spam/junk folder in case the invitation is there.

Important: Do not share your link with anybody or else others could take the survey on your behalf.  The email address used by Hart Research Associates for the invitations is FlightAttendantSurvey@hart-research.com.

If you have NOT received a survey or if you completed the phone survey AND received an email invitation, contact FlightAttendantSurvey@hart-research.com and request an email invitation. Provide your first and last name and your PeopleSoft number. 

(We are using PeopleSoft numbers as identifiers and did not provide Arctic numbers due to privacy and security concerns.  Your PeopleSoft number can be found on the Inflight webpage on the upper left hand corner.)

It is extremely important that your voice be heard. Make sure to complete the survey!

In solidarity,

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

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

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Dear Flight Attendants,

Your AFA leadership is continuing to represent you today and conduct the business of the union at the AFA Board of Directors Meeting in Orlando, Florida.  Yesterday, elections for the three AFA International Officer positions were conducted as part of the meeting.  Below you’ll find a press release from AFA International regarding the results of the election.  The Master Executive Council (MEC) would like to congratulate new International President Sara Nelson, International Vice President Deb Sutor, and International Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Creighan.

In Solidarity,

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

 

For Immediate Release

Contact: Corey Caldwell 202-550-5520

FLIGHT ATTENDANT UNION ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP

Orlando, FL – The highest governing body of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the Board of Directors, today elected new officers to lead the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. The Board of Directors voted for Sara Nelson as AFA International President, Debora Sutor as International Vice President and re-elected Kevin Creighan for his third term as International Secretary-Treasurer.

President-elect Sara Nelson is an 18-year United Airlines Flight Attendant and has served as International Vice President since 2011. Nelson vowed to continue to unite Flight Attendants to fight for equality for all and build power at the negotiating table in order to advance the Flight Attendant career.

Vice President-elect Debora Sutor is a 25-year Envoy Air Flight Attendant who has extensive experience and has served on numerous AFA committees and held various leadership positions throughout her career. Committed to furthering AFA’s mission for economic and social justice for all Flight Attendants, Sutor will help maintain AFA as a strong voice for the profession.

International Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Creighan has served in that office since 2005. Creighan is uniquely qualified to best meet members needs based on his extensive experience as a United Flight Attendant, Local Council President and International Officer.

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 68 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 60,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.

April 29, 2014

Hello Fellow Flight Attendants,

The highest governing body of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the Board of Directors, today elected new officers to lead the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. The Board of Directors voted for Sara Nelson as AFA International President, Debora Sutor as International Vice President and re-elected Kevin Creighan for his third term as International Secretary-Treasurer.

President-elect Sara Nelson is an 18-year United Airlines Flight Attendant and has served as International Vice President since 2011. Nelson vowed to continue to unite Flight Attendants to fight for equality for all and build power at the negotiating table in order to advance the Flight Attendant career.

Vice President-elect Debora Sutor is a 25-year Envoy Air (former American Eagle) Flight Attendant who has extensive experience and has served on numerous AFA committees and held various leadership positions throughout her career. Committed to furthering AFA’s mission for economic and social justice for all Flight Attendants, Sutor will help maintain AFA as a strong voice for the profession.

International Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Creighan has served in that office since 2005. Creighan is uniquely qualified to best meet members needs based on his extensive experience as a United Flight Attendant, Local Council President and International Officer.

We are excited to be working with Sara, Debora and Kevin, and congratulate them on their role and commitment. Together, we will strive to meet each of the challenges that face our profession, every day!

In Solidarity,
Anchorage Local Council 30

Dear Flight Attendants,

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) along with many of you are extremely frustrated with the challenges we’re experiencing regarding the email survey invitations from Hart Research Associates.  The good news is, for most who have taken the survey, we have received feedback that it is comprehensive and worthwhile.  It is extremely important to the MEC that all Flight Attendants have a reasonable opportunity to take the survey.  We have been in contact with Hart Research Associates and have jointly agreed to extend the survey.  The survey will not close until the MEC is satisfied that all Flight Attendants who wish to take the survey have had the opportunity to do so.

As a reminder, your AFA leadership is currently participating in the AFA Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting in Orlando, FL.  As part of our representational duties, the BOD meetings are scheduled from 9 AM to 9:30 PM each day through Wednesday evening.  We are working through the survey challenges as quickly as possible given the time constraints and the necessary coordination with our survey vendor Hart Research Associates.

We wish we had the answers as to why some Flight Attendants have not received their survey invitation.  Emails are being sent directly by Hart Research Associates and although an address list was provided by the MEC to Hart, the AFA email system is not being used to send the invitations.  At this time, we do not know why some people have received the invitations while others have not.

If you have not received the survey invitation and have not yet provided your contact information to survey@alaskamec.org, please do so as soon as possible.  If you have already reached out to survey@alaskamec.org, please be patient as your contact information has been forwarded to Hart Research Associates and they will be following up.  We know some of you have been waiting several days for contact.

It is important that you wait to receive your own personalized invitation to the survey as it contains a link that is unique to you.  If you use the link that is associated with another Flight Attendant’s email invitation, your response will overwrite any previous responses tied to that link.

More information will be communicated as it becomes known.  Rest assured that the survey will remain open for responses until the MEC directs Hart Research Associates is directed otherwise.

In Solidarity,

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

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Council 30 (ANC) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 12 PM PT today for the election of Council 30 LEC Officers, representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in Anchorage. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: LeiLauni ScheidemanLEC Vice President: Heather ReierLEC Secretary: Anne Madsen View the certified election results here >> These newly elected officers […]

Apps To Help You Save Money On Food

Our AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee recognizes that Flight Attendants may be facing increasing challenges when it comes to accessing affordable food, whether on the road or at home. We want you to know that you are not alone. In response to these difficulties, we have compiled a list of apps to help […]

What You Need To Know About The FAA Capacity Cuts

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans for a 10% reduction in flight capacity across 40 markets, starting this Friday. According to news reports, these schedule reductions will begin on Friday and will gradually increase throughout the weekend until they reach the full 10% by the following week. Reports also suggest that all Alaska […]

Council 47 (LAX pmHA) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 12 PM PT today for the election of Council 47 LEC Officers, representing Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants based in Los Angeles. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: Joshua AokiLEC Vice President: Paul IkiokaLEC Secretary: Beth Hayes View the certified election results here >> These newly elected […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants In accordance with Article VI.C of the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, the terms of office for the MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions align with those of the MEC Officers. Since the current term for the MEC Officers will conclude on December 31, […]

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