Dear Flight Attendants,

The MEC Discussion Board is up and going and we encourage you to post your questions on this password protected site versus posting on other “Open” sites.

 We realize that the change to the website may be a little confusing, so we have prepared a step by step instruction list for you!

 First, the MEC website is an open site.

This means that no log in or password is required to view 99% of the site.

You will see that there is a rotating picture function on the main page that illustrates a picture for each base; it starts with Council 18- LAX and moves through the bases.

 Registering for the Discussion Forum:

On the main page you will find Discussion Forum tab along the top of the page. Click on this tab to go to the discussion forum area. If you have signed up for a login and password you will be asked to sign in to view the forum. If you are a new user you will need to register for the discussion forum.

To register simply click on the word register: You will be asked to provide an email address and a username. Once you register with this information an email will be sent to you with a generic password. Log into the discussion forum with your created user name and generic password- After you log into the discussion forum you can change your password and edit your preferences.

 You are now in the discussion forum and can continue to the discussion area.

 Viewing the discussion topics:

 In the middle of the page is the General Discussion box. To see the list of topics click on “Post Here” and the list of topics will appear. Simply click “Topic Title” to see the discussion and add your post.

If you want to go back to the Topics List simply hit the arrow back button on your page.

 If you have any problems logging into the discussion forum please do not hesitate to let us know by filling out the “Contact Us” form on the main page.

 Other helpful hints for the new site:

•  In the middle of the home page you will find the latest updates from the MEC under the heading “Latest News.” Along the right side of the main page are important links- just one click away from your eMaestro page and the latest information from Negotiations.

•  At the bottom of the page is the MEC Office address and location, along with a search function for the site and more helpful navigation links.

•  Most of you will want to focus on the top of the main/home page. Here you will see tabs, starting with HOME, which will whisk you away to the different pages in the site. If you hold your mouse on the MEC Committee tab the list of MEC Committees will appear.

•  Do you need information on getting out of the Twin Hill uniform and into the M and H? Click on the MEC Uniform Committee tab and on this page you will find “Your Uniform Your Health.” Simply click on this and you have the information you need to start the process.

•  Moving back to the main page- locate the Local Councils tab. Hover your mouse over this tab and the local councils will appear. Are you PDX based? Simply click on Council 39 PDX to view officers and committee members in this base.

 Take some time click through the site! As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to let your LEC President know by filling out the Contact Us form on the main page!

June 7, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

Another win for AFA and all Washington-based Flight Attendants! 

On Friday, May 31, 2013, Judge Robart of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, ruled that the Railway Labor Act (RLA) did not preempt the Washington Family Care Act (WFCA) in Alaska Airlines v. Schurke, Case No. C11-0616JLR, Document 101. This is a very big deal with national ramifications. So how did we get here?

Let’s start at the beginning.  Around the time that the former vice president of Inflight Services implemented her Sick Leave Improvement Plan, management also began cracking down on perceived abuses of our right to use our paid leave to care for sick family members.  They were assessing Emergency Drops (EDs)  if a Flight Attendant didn’t have enough sick leave to cover the absence. A number of Flight Attendants then filed charges with the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), alleging that Alaska had violated their rights under the Washington Family Care Act.  These cases were all settled.

Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines management filed a federal lawsuit asserting that the RLA preempted the WFCA and therefore L&I could not enforce the Washington Family Care Act against the Company.  The court dismissed the case because there was no Flight Attendant who had actually been harmed by Alaska’s failure to follow the WFCA. Shortly thereafter Flight Attendant (and AFA Council 19 SEA President) Laura Masserant called in sick child for a trip.  She did not have enough sick leave to cover the sequence, so she asked to use her accrued vacation time.  Management refused, saying that bid vacation could not be used.  Laura filed with L&I, who ruled in her favor.

Alaska Airlines management then did two things—it appealed the L&I order, and it re-filed the federal suit.  Management and L&I agreed to dismiss the appeal and concentrate on the lawsuit.  It was understood that the appeal would be reinstated if Alaska Airlines lost the case.

This all happened late last fall.  AFA grew increasingly concerned that our voice wasn’t being heard in the lawsuit.  L&I was on our side, but as a government agency has its own interests which might not always be identical to ours.  We were also concerned about the parties settling, which would stick us with whatever outcome they reached.

AFA International allocated significant financial resources to this case, allowing us to hire a legal expert in these matters: Seattle attorney Kathy Barnard.  She filed a motion to intervene (meaning to enter into a suit as a third party for one’s own interests) in the federal court case, which the judge granted.  Consequently, AFA officially became a party to the lawsuit with the right to file any necessary motions and be involved in any settlement talks.

Earlier this year, the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment.  The court granted AFA and L&I’s motions and denied Alaska’s motion.  That is, we won the case without having to go to trial!

Two things can happen now:  Alaska Airlines management can appeal the judge’s ruling to the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals or it can forego that option and reinstate the appeal before L&I.  AFA is hoping that management gives up the fight against our rights under Washington law.  However, AFA would retain our intervenor status in a federal appeal and we would ask for such status in an appeal before L&I.

So what does this all mean?  It means that Washington-based Flight Attendants continue to have the right to file charges with L&I if Alaska Airlines management violates their rights under the WFCA. Additionally, the federal court agreed with AFA and L&I that our WFCA rights exist separate from the collective bargaining agreement. It means that Alaska Airlines management must adhere to state law. Finally, it means that all of us stood up to Alaska Airlines management and its contracted legal help and kept our rights.

Many thanks to AFA International and to Kathy Barnard and her team for their support. Congratulations to us all!

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

MEC Grievance Chair Jennifer Wise MacColl and AFA Senior Staff Attorney Kimberley Chaput

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

References:

Alaska Airlines v. Schurke, Case No. C11-0616JLR, Document 101

Dear Flight Attendants,

 Approximately 1 year ago, your MEC posted an informational guideline for those flight attendants experiencing health related issues due to the TwinHill uniform titled, “Your Uniform, Your Health”.  Since then many of the policies and procedures have changed and so we are providing you with an updated version. (Please see below). 

Approximately 6 weeks ago we posted the most current statistics obtained from responses to the multiple surveys and questionnaires that we sent out to those of you with reported adverse reactions to the TwinHill uniform.  At that time the total number of reported cases was 597.  Just 6 weeks later the number has risen to 652.  That’s 55 new cases in 6 weeks!  (Please see below for updated statistics). 

 AFA leadership and members of the Uniform and Safety, Health and Security Committees are working with management to procure a new uniform as quickly as possible.  However, the projected rollout date is not until Fall 2014.

 If you believe you are experiencing an adverse reaction to the TwinHill uniform, please follow the guidelines provided in “Your Uniform, Your Health”.

 Additionally, if you would like more detailed information and references you can click on:

http://ashsd.afacwa.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=160011&page=HealthIssues

This will take you to AFA International’s Air Safety, Health and Security Department website.  

YOUR UNIFORM_YOUR HEALTH -1

 AFA UNIFORM STATS FOR MEMBERSHIP MAY 2013

May 27, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

Early this morning, a male passenger was arrested in Portland for interfering with flight crew after he allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit row window during descent on flight 132 from Anchorage to Portland. The attempt was unsuccessful as the locking pins for the next generation aircraft window exits were still engaged, and the passenger was ultimately restrained by passengers and crew. The Association praises our Portland- and Seattle-based Flight Attendants for their professionalism under pressure. This incident has made national headlines so we expect there to be increased media attention for the next few days. Please remember that Flight Attendants should not make statements to the media and should refer all inquiries to Alaska Airlines Corporate Communications.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant and Sandra Morrow

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

References

Alaska’s World May 27, 2013 “Passenger arrest: FBI detains man after he tries to open emergency exit inflight” (login required): http://splash.alaskasworld.com/NEWS/2013/05/27_passenger_arrest.asp

May 23, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

Alaska Airlines management advised AFA that two “No Knives On Planes” stickers were found on the sides of two different inbound beverage carts yesterday. Management reports that the stickers cannot be removed so the affected side panel must be replaced at a cost of $100. Although the Master Executive Council (MEC) appreciates the enthusiasm our members have shown for ensuring that no knives are ever brought back into the cabin, we must insist that the stickers are not affixed to Alaska Airlines property. Thank you very much!

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

‘No Knives’ sticker on a cart:

May 22, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

Many of our brothers and sisters participated in informational leafleting and picketing at the Alaska Air Group Shareholders meeting yesterday afternoon at the Bell Harbor Conference Center on Pier 66 in downtown Seattle. The event was a very successful solidarity action and the Flight Attendants delivered a professional, respectful message to management and our shareholders. Several AFA representatives entered the actual proceedings and Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson was the first to address the group during the Q&A portion of the meeting. AFA is appreciative of management’s efforts to ensure AFA was heard.

The Shareholders meeting was reported in an Alaska’s World article today (May 22, 2013) “Striving for success: Taking a long-term view on finances, growth and serving all stakeholders” (login required): http://splash.alaskasworld.com/NEWS/2013/05/22_annual_meeting.asp.

Private recording devices were prohibited during the proceedings, so we have to paraphrase the full text of Jeff’s question:

“The Flight Attendants have been negotiating with Alaska Airlines management for the past 18 months and talks have recently stalled, largely over compensation. We have since applied for mediation with the National Mediation Board. There are Flight Attendants engaging in informational picketing out front, which the Association believes is an unfortunate but necessary distraction. We had hoped to be announcing a tentative agreement at this meeting.

Back in 2009 AFA signed a contract extension that provided only very moderate increases to our base wage in order to ensure Alaska Airlines would be in a position to prosper in an uncertain economy and a turbulent industry. In the presentation we just saw, there was discussion about aligning shareholder and employee interests. It was mentioned that in the past several years there has been more than a 500% increase to share value. In approximately that same period, the Flight Attendant wage scale his slipped nearly 8% when adjusted for inflation.

Knowing all this, how are we going to move things forward to get the Flight Attendants a contract we deserve so that we can focus our efforts back on closing the gap with our competitors?”

The meeting broke at 3:30 pm, at which point the entire coalition reconvened outside for a brief recap of the activities. An unofficial social mixer followed at Anthony’s for several hours. Check out pictures of the event below!

The next negotiations session is scheduled for July 8-11, 2013, in Valencia, California.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

References:

Alaska’s World May 22, 2013 “Striving for success: Taking a long-term view on finances, growth and serving all stakeholders” (login required): http://splash.alaskasworld.com/NEWS/2013/05/22_annual_meeting.asp