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In This Edition

Tell Management: We Deserve Better!

Originally posted July 10, 2023

It’s time to let management know we won’t accept a contract that doesn’t respect and value our contributions to the company’s success. Take action now and send a letter to executive management telling them to deliver a proposal that puts Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants at the top of the industry. Keep track of our progress on the campaign page and encourage your flying partners to join in!

Read More >

Protect Our Contract – Don’t Perform Duties Belonging to Other Work Groups

Originally posted July 12, 2023

In order to protect our contract and show respect for other employee groups’ scope of work, Flight Attendants must not perform work belonging to other work groups. Support other work groups by reporting staffing issues through a Flight Attendant Irregularity Report (FAIR) so management knows changes need to be made. Similarly, only Flight Attendants may perform Flight Attendant duties; report any instances of supervisors or other employees performing Flight Attendant work to AFA.

Read More >

Pop-Up Pickets Start Next Week!

Originally posted July 14, 2023

As our Red Hot Summer continues, we’re putting pressure on management to return to the negotiating table with a deal recognizing our contributions to Alaska Airlines’ success. Our next activity will do just that! Starting next week, our Mobilization Committee will launch a series of pop-up picketing events!

Read More >

“Summer of CARE” Employee Events

Originally posted July 14, 2023

Management has a long tradition of hosting summer events for company employees, family members, and friends. This year is no different; management sent an all-employee email earlier this week with information about this year’s “Summer of CARE” events. Many people have asked our Negotiating Committee about participating in these events. 

Read More >

Shared on Social

Almost 6000 Letters Sent!

Originally posted July 11, 2023

Almost 6000 letters sent in a little over one day?!? 🤯

Let’s keep this momentum going and hit 7000 today! Check in with your crew to see if everyone has sent their letter!

Over 7000 Letters Sent!

Originally posted July 12, 2023

Our solidarity is strong! Over 7000 letters have been sent in just a little over two days. Check with your flying partners and other Flight Attendant friends to see if they’ve sent their letter. If not, now is the time!

#AFAAlaska #RedHotSummer

Next Week’s Events

Monday, July 17Pop-Up Pickets Begin
Thursday, July 20Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

Grievance Committee

  • In order to protect our contract and show respect for other employee groups’ scope of work, Flight Attendants must not perform work belonging to other work groups.
  • Support other work groups by reporting staffing issues through a Flight Attendant Irregularity Report (FAIR) so management knows changes need to be made.
  • Only Flight Attendants may perform Flight Attendant duties; report any instances of supervisors or other employees performing Flight Attendant work to AFA.

Note: this is an updated version of a post previously published in an AFA Alaska Update on July 30, 2021.

Over many decades, we have all worked hard to improve our working conditions and strengthen our collective bargaining agreement (CBA). These improvements have been achieved through several avenues, including demonstrating solidarity during contract negotiations, lobbying management to make changes that benefit our profession, and rigorously enforcing the contractual language we have already achieved. We must continue to protect and defend our contract and hold management accountable for what has been agreed upon between our Flight Attendants and the company.

Over the past few years, management has made it known they’ve had challenges recruiting and retaining frontline employees in various locations throughout the route network. This includes staff who the company directly employs, those employed by company subsidiaries (e.g., McGee Air Services), and contract vendors who provide above- and/or below-the-wing services at various stations. The situation has caused a noticeable impact on the company’s operations and resulted in some on-the-ground functions being adjusted or modified due to staffing in some cases. 

We all know Alaska Airlines focuses on hiring Flight Attendants who exhibit kindness and are willing to help. Because these traits are such a pervasive part of our culture, it may be tempting to want to jump in and assist our coworkers from other work groups when we see that they are short-staffed. Unfortunately, this causes more harm than good for several reasons. 

As previously mentioned, it’s up to each of us to protect the provisions of our collective bargaining agreement. Section 24.D of the CBA says in part, “A Flight Attendant will not be required to perform work normally assigned to a cleaner, provisioner, ramp or operations agent.” Just as we expect other work groups to honor our contractual language by not performing Flight Attendant duties and responsibilities, it’s similarly important that we respect other work groups and their typically assigned scope of work. Doing so protects the security of both Flight Attendant jobs and the jobs of our coworkers in other departments.

Customer service, ramp, mechanics, pilots, fleet service, catering, and other work groups receive specific training to perform their duties that Flight Attendants don’t have. We must allow our colleagues to do the work they’ve been trained to do to ensure it complies with applicable regulations and company standards. If there are concerns with staffing in a particular department, management needs to receive the corresponding reports of flight delays, complaints from passengers, and performance audit results. These are all indicators management uses to make adjustments and ensure our colleagues in other departments have the support they need. If this data is skewed to show no problems exist, management will make no changes to ensure proper staffing and service levels.

The best way Flight Attendants can show support for other work groups who may be experiencing short or inadequate staffing is by reporting the issue to ensure it gets attention from the proper levels of management. This can be accomplished by submitting a Flight Attendant Irregularity Report (FAIR) detailing the date, flight number, and specifics of the situation (e.g., areas that were skipped/missed, etc.).

Only Flight Attendants May Perform Flight Attendant Duties

Closing the overhead bins, confirming luggage is stowed correctly, and making passenger announcements during boarding are all duties that traditionally define our work but are only a fraction of what we are ultimately responsible for. When supervisors* or other employees perform this undisputed Flight Attendant work, it violates our contract.

If someone who isn’t a Flight Attendant assigned to pre-board or work the flight begins to perform Flight Attendant duties, calmly advise them the work will be completed before the aircraft door is closed, consistent with all applicable policies and regulations. Reassure them that the crew is aware of their duties and responsibilities that need to be accomplished. If this approach is ineffective, advise them they’re violating our contract and respectfully ask them to stop.

If you encounter a supervisor or another employee performing Flight Attendant work onboard the aircraft, please report the situation by opening a ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center. The purpose of this isn’t to get anyone in trouble but to ensure that any misunderstanding is promptly corrected. Quickly addressing the issue helps protect our jobs and prevent management from assigning our work to other work groups or vendors simply because it’s easier or less expensive for them to do so.

*Inflight management who hold an FAA Flight Attendant certificate may perform Flight Attendant duties only during a check-ride or IOE, when assigned to pre-board a flight if minimum crew is not available, or if assigned to work the flight as a Flight Attendant consistent with the limits of our contract.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact your Local Grievance Committee.

First, thank you for your patience and understanding as we maneuver through these times. We realize everything is somewhat ‘fluid and vague’, but we are working to get more concrete plans in place, and as soon as we do, you will know! Keep in mind, when we set up events, there are processes that have to take place (permits, etc). 

Thank you for showing solidarity with your fellow Flight Attendants by wearing your RED AFA pin. Continue to monitor social media to see the hours of distribution. If you are at Seatac Airport, swing by the area across from gate D2 and you may see someone handing them out! We are working on ways to make distribution more streamlined. 

Did you know we have a new Seattle Council #19 Facebook Group? You can request to join it by CLICKING HERE. Please note that all councils have their own pages, this is the Seattle page.  We will post updates here and also send emails.

Try to attend the following events. We are hyper linking the events to our Facebook events page, but also including the information for those of you who are not on social media.

  • July 19, 2023: Informational Picketing at the Seattle Tacoma Airport flag pavilion. We will meet at 12:30 and the event will last until 2:00pm. There is limited parking at the AFA Office. We suggest parking at the SeaTac Light Rail station and take the train to the airport. Try to carpool if you will be parking. We also ask that you wear your uniform. 
  • August 15, 2023: Systemwide Day of Solidarity. We are still working out the details on where we will be staging and where we will send people, so keep your eyes out for future communications.

Where is the Flag Pavilion? The Flag Pavilion is located right at the entrance to the airport, across the street from the Radisson Hotel. 

SIGN UP HERE for JULY 19 EVENT: We have our permit for the event, however, the Port of Seattle limits the number of people who can attend. If you know you can attend, SIGN UP HERE. 

Stay tuned for more information on our RED hot summer! We will post on our Facebook page and also send updates via email, so make sure to check your email regularly for our communications!

In This Edition

Bidding Reminder: Day of Solidarity – August 15

Originally posted July 6, 2023

Remember to bid Tuesday, August 15 off for our Day of Solidarity informational picketing! If you can’t bid the day off, you can also bid around the picketing time for your base. Our Negotiating Committee is counting on your support to demonstrate our solidarity during the first negotiation session since the expiration of management’s promise of industry-leading pay. More information, including meet-up locations for each base, will be coming soon!

Read More >

Shared on Social

Red AFA Pins Are Red HOT!

Red AFA pins are spreading like fire throughout the system! Once you receive your red AFA pin, wear it whenever you fly, attend training, or participate in a company event. Tag #SelfiesForSolidarity when you post pictures of you or your crew with red AFA pins on so we can feature you!

Do you need a red AFA pin? Mobilization Volunteers are working hard to get pins into everyone’s hands ASAP. Want to know when Mobilization Volunteers will be out at your base? Check your Local Council’s Facebook page for information, or contact your Local Mobilization Committee Chairperson.

#AFAAlaska #RedHotSummer

Next Week’s Events

Monday, July 10 – Wednesday, July 12CWA Convention
Thursday, July 13Quarterly Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Meeting
Thursday, July 13Scheduling Review Board (SRB)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

​

Red AFA Pins! 

​We have heard you loud and clear! Council 15 – SAN members are eager to start wearing our red-hot AFA pins!​Mobilization volunteers will begin distributing red AFA pins beginning next week. Please begin wearing them immediately!  We appreciate your patience; it may be several days before all local volunteers receive the pins.

you can also reach out to our mobilization chair Samantha Wolff sam.wolff@afaalaska.org

Mobilization Events – Coming Soon!  

​Management’s insulting compensation offer has members hot and ready to stand up against corporate greed! It’s time for us to demand our fair share! Our Mobilization Committee is busy planning events designed to harness that energy!  

​Save The Dates:

  • July 17th SAN
  • July 18th LAX
  • August 15 ALL BASES Bid the date off! Additional information will be provided soon. 

Reach out to SAN@AFAAlaska.org for more info on the events

Show Your Solidarity!

Wear your red AFA pin proudly while flying and at all company events, including training and special events.

Get Involved!

​Become a Mobilization Volunteer!  

Share reliable information and help promote solidarity and mobilization events!
Learn more here.  

Stay informed!​

Bookmark the official AFA Alaska Negotiations website https://contract2022.afaalaska.org/

​​Update your newsletter subscription at afanewsletters.org.

​

In Red-Hot Solidarity,

Brice, Melanie, Stephen, Sam

In This Edition

Harvard Flight Attendant Health Study – Fourth Wave

Originally posted June 26, 2023

The Flight Attendant Health Study, launched in 2007, aims to advance knowledge that can improve working conditions for flight crew in the U.S. and internationally.

Flight Attendants are some of the most understudied workers, yet flight crew are exposed to many physical and psychosocial stressors, such as cosmic ionizing radiation, higher ozone levels, stressful interactions with passengers, hypoxia/reduced oxygenation, potentially severe circadian rhythm disruption, and other exposures.

Read More >

It’s Going To Be A Red Hot Summer!

Originally posted June 27, 2023

It’s time to turn the heat up on management. The official AFA pin at Alaska Airlines is now red. Mark your calendar for August 15 and plan to bid the day off for solidarity events in all bases.

Read More >

June 2023 MEC Meeting Recap

Originally posted June 28, 2023

Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Monday, June 26, and Tuesday, June 27, to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants. The MEC also met with executive management and a group of union leaders from other company workgroups to receive updates and discuss concerns affecting employees company-wide. The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 8, and Wednesday, August 9.

Read More >

Setting the Record Straight

Originally posted June 29, 2023

Our Negotiating Committee was asked to provide an official response to the statements management made last week about negotiations. We are committed to negotiating an industry-leading contract with many significant improvements. Our value does not diminish on June 30th – or any other arbitrary date!

Read More >

Shared on Social

Share The News!

As part of our mobilization efforts, use this statement for your social media profile picture and status:

Nearly 7,000 Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, the largest labor group at the company, are currently negotiating our first full contract since 2014. There are many essential changes needed to address how far behind the industry our contract has fallen in the past 9 years. Management initially agreed to place us at the top of the industry in pay, but they indicated their commitment has expired. 

We were instrumental in Alaska Airlines and the entire airline industry surviving the Covid-19 pandemic, and our airline is back to making record profits. Other labor groups have recently ratified contracts with vast improvements. Now is the right time for Alaska Airlines to Do the Right Thing and negotiate a Flight Attendant contract we deserve.

Based on their recent negotiations proposals, it’s clear Alaska Airlines management doesn’t value me or my fellow Flight Attendants. We are mobilizing for a “Red Hot Summer” to support our Negotiating Committee’s efforts to negotiate a contract equal to our value. Alaska Airlines – show us you CARE!

Next Week’s Events

Thursday, July 6Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Monday, June 26, and Tuesday, June 27, to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.
  • The MEC also met with executive management and a group of union leaders from other company workgroups to receive updates and discuss concerns affecting employees company-wide.
  • The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 8, and Wednesday, August 9.

The June 2023 Regular MEC Meeting was held this week on Monday, June 26, and Tuesday, June 27. The meeting consisted of updates from our MEC Officers, LEC Presidents, Grievance Committee, and Scheduling Committee. Our MEC also reviewed written reports submitted by other AFA MEC Committee Chairpersons about their current programs of work. Council 19 (SEA) LEC President-elect Paula Isla-McGill joined the MEC for the meeting in preparation for the upcoming officer transition.

It’s Going To Be A Red Hot Summer!

On Monday afternoon, our MEC met with our Negotiating Committee and MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson to discuss the next steps after last week’s negotiation session with management. Following the discussion, the first part of our Red Hot Summer campaign was put into motion. The distribution of red AFA pins will soon be underway, and more activities are planned to let management know that we stand behind our Negotiating Committee as they go back to the table to negotiate the industry-leading contract we deserve! 

More information about the Red Hot Summer campaign can be found on the Contract 2022 website.

Meeting with Management

As part of this meeting, the MEC met with company executive management and a group of union leaders from the other union-represented workgroups within the company. The intent of these meetings, usually held once per quarter, is to receive updates from management and allow for a broader discussion of issues and concerns facing all company employees.

Our MEC came to the meeting with a full display of solidarity, dressed in red with red AFA pins on. MEC President Jeffrey Peterson offered a statement on behalf of our MEC that management must do better and provide our Negotiating Committee with an industry-leading contractual proposal that recognizes the contributions of our Flight Attendants to the company’s success. Flight Attendants will accept nothing less!

System Board of Adjustment Interviews

Our MEC spent part of Tuesday interviewing candidates for the System Board of Adjustment position that was previously posted in April. Members of the System Board of Adjustment are responsible for arbitrating any disputes or grievances that may arise under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Alaska Airlines and its Flight Attendants. Our MEC would like to thank all of the candidates who expressed a willingness to serve and interviewed for the positions.

After extensive discussion and thorough consideration, the voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) have re-appointed Rene Celestin to the position. Rene’s term of appointment will begin on July 1, 2023 and conclude on June 30, 2025.

Action on Agenda Items

The MEC took action on two agenda items that were submitted in advance of the meeting.

  • A proposed update to the Line Observation Safety Audit (LOSA) letter of agreement was approved. The letter of agreement will now be sent out for signing by representatives from AFA and management.
  • A resolution in support of negotiations was unanimously adopted. The resolution changed the color of the official AFA pin at Alaska Airlines to red.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this month’s Regular MEC Meeting, please get in touch with your LEC President.

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

This message is from researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in regard to the Harvard Flight Attendant Health Study. If you have any questions about the study, please contact the researchers directly at fahealth@hsph.harvard.edu.

The Flight Attendant Health Study, launched in 2007, aims to advance knowledge that can improve working conditions for flight crew in the U.S. and internationally.

Flight Attendants are some of the most understudied workers, yet flight crew are exposed to many physical and psychosocial stressors, such as cosmic ionizing radiation, higher ozone levels, stressful interactions with passengers, hypoxia/reduced oxygenation, potentially severe circadian rhythm disruption, and other exposures.

We Need Your Help!

On June 26, the fourth wave of the study launches and we need as many Flight Attendants as possible to participate in order to accurately represent the characteristics and experiences of flight crews.

Our goal is to understand the prevalence of health conditions in current and retired U.S. and international flight crew and the relationship with working conditions – especially in light of the pandemic and its aftermath – in order to solve some of the stressors in Flight Attendant work that lead to early-onset illness and disease.

Please take the survey via this QR code or at bit.ly/fahs and share widely with your colleagues.

Thank you for helping to advance Flight Attendant health by contributing to this important research.

In This Edition

AFA Council 19 (SEA) LEC Vice President Runoff Election Results

Originally posted June 21, 2023

The following AFA Flight Attendant was elected to the office of LEC Vice President representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in Seattle:

LEC Vice President: Melinda Jorge Henderson

This officer will serve a term of office starting July 1, 2023 and concluding on June 30, 2026.

Read More >

Negotiation Session 17

Originally posted June 22, 2023

Negotiations on an aggressive timeline were unsuccessful. Management shared their response to our economic proposal. Both parties are significantly apart from agreeing on economic provisions. We are planning next steps. Expect negotiations to continue for quite some time, along with mobilization activities to pressure management to provide a contract we all deserve.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Monday, June 26 – Tuesday, June 27Regular MEC Meeting
Tuesday, June 27Monthly Scheduling Committee Meeting

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

Master Executive Council (MEC)

The following AFA Flight Attendant was elected to the office of LEC Vice President representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in Seattle:

LEC Vice President: Melinda Jorge Henderson

View the certified election results here >>

This officer will serve a term of office starting July 1, 2023 and concluding on June 30, 2026.

Our Master Executive Council (MEC) congratulates the newly elected officer and we sincerely thank all those who stepped forward to run in the election.

Protect Yourself From Potential Discipline on Social Media

Our Grievance Committee would like to provide background on social media, protected classes, and discipline. Federal protected classes include race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or transgender status), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.  Alaska’s People Policy says: Personal Conduct22. Threatening, intimidating, or discourteous behavior, including abusive, profane, or obscene language, acts, […]

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

On Wednesday, March 25, 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 Louise Borras (LAX-pmAS), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (LAX-pmHA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Nyachan Chuar (ANC), and Yan Yan Teague (SEA). MEC Human […]

Pre-Merger Hawaiian Inflight Service Committee Update – March 2026

Editor’s Note: Our MEC Inflight Service Committee now represents both pre-merger airlines, but management still makes service decisions that affect each group of Flight Attendants differently. This update covers changes for both Hawaiian- and Alaska-branded flying, but is specific to aircraft flown by pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines crews. As the work of the merger progresses, we […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 13 – March 2026

Our JNC met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC focused on clarifying questions about moving expenses and presented a proposal for Sick Leave, using feedback from Flight Attendants to guide improvements. The Committee is working to incorporate the strongest elements from both contracts to ensure better support for all members.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – March 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, March 24, 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), […]

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