Latest News

May 11, 2022 11:00

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Due to hundreds of errors identified in the June bid packet, our MEC has insisted that management conduct a systemwide rebid.
Management sent a communication by company email to all Flight Attendants earlier today with details on the new bidding timeline, which opened today at 9 AM PDT and will now close at 9 AM PDT on Monday, May 16.
It is well past time for management to take ownership of their repeated errors, actually fix the problems, and honor our contract!

June 2022 Bid awards will be delayed.

Errors affecting over 500 positions throughout the system have been identified in the June bid packet, resulting in our MEC demanding a system-wide rebid. The errors include: flights that no longer exist, miscoded DHD Flights, inaccurate TFP, and inaccurate report times. When our AFA PBS Subcommittee discovered these errors and brought them to our MEC’s attention, the MEC called an emergency meeting and met with management to discuss our options.

After carefully considering the feedback following last month’s bidding errors, our MEC unanimously voted for a system-wide rebid to rectify these errors’ impact during bidding. Realizing the value we place on our schedules and the expectation of them being awarded accurately, we felt it necessary to correct these errors before proceeding with bid awards. A rebid will delay awards, trading, and planning for the month of June. While this may be frustrating to some, a rebid allows us all to evaluate the corrected pairings and honor seniority.

While management continues to tell us they will do better, it is apparent we have very different definitions of “doing better.” Our MEC made that point abundantly clear to management and explained how angry and frustrated Flight Attendants are with the many failures and the level of incompetence experienced lately. Management has no problem holding Flight Attendants responsible for the most minute concerns, yet they are unwilling to hold themselves accountable for their repeated errors and violating their contractual obligations. Management doesn’t appear phased by the high attrition rate or rock-bottom morale – it’s almost as if they don’t CARE how their decisions impact us. But they are now on notice and fully aware that this latest “screw up” has further eroded confidence (if there is any left) in their ability to manage this workgroup.

Flight Attendants do not need another apology from management. Instead, management should look in the mirror and see the mess staring back at them and begin to make things right. They need to show that they’re willing to walk their talk…and “do the right thing.”

May 9, 2022 17:00

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Members of our Master Executive Council (MEC) and other AFA Representatives will be attending the AFA Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting later this week. The BOD meeting is where business affecting all AFA airlines is conducted.
Your LEC President is your representative at the BOD meeting and will be voting on your behalf regarding approval of the AFA International budget, proposed amendments to the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, and the election of AFA International Officers.
If you have any questions about the BOD meeting, submitted agenda items, or international officer elections, please contact your LEC President.

Later this week, our Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers, Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents, and many other LEC Officers and Committee Chairs will be attending the 49^th Annual AFA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. They will join representatives from the other airlines that make up AFA to conduct the business of our Union at the international level. It’s worth noting that this is the first in-person meeting of the BOD since 2019.

Schedule of Events

Thursday, May 12	Executive Board Meeting (MEC President from each airline)
Friday, May 13	Board of Directors Meeting
Saturday, May 14	Board of Directors Meeting continues AFA International Officer elections
Sunday, May 15	Board of Directors Meeting continues

BOD Meeting Agenda Items

Your LEC President represents you and the other members of your Local Council on the Board of Directors and will be casting votes on your behalf at the BOD meeting. Your MEC Officers serve in an ex-officio capacity on the BOD but do not have voting privileges.

A total of nine advance agenda items were submitted for consideration by the Board at this meeting. Each Local Council has held or will hold a Local Council meeting prior to the BOD meeting to discuss these agenda items and gain your feedback. You can find a list of these agenda items and complete language on the AFA BOD Meeting website.

International Officer Elections

In addition to the consideration of agenda items, AFA International Officers elections will also take place at this year’s BOD meeting. As your directly elected representative, your LEC President will be voting on your behalf for the offices of International President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer.

Questions?

If you have any questions or thoughts about the BOD meeting or any of the submitted agenda items, please contact your LEC President.

May 9, 2022 15:52

Topics

Important Dates

April 30: CWA Scholarship Application Due
May 10: CA Membership Meeting
May 26: C35 Officer Election Polls Close

CA Membership Meeting

Hosted by Councils 35, 18, and 15

The next membership meeting for Council 35 members will be Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 1100 via Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss the upcoming AFA-CWA Annual Board of Directors Meeting. This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 35 (SFO), 18 (LAX) and 15 (SAN) members in good standing (up-to-date on dues). Agenda can be found here. Deadline to submit advanced agenda items is 5/6/22. To attend, please register here.

Officer Election Coming Soon!

It’s election time for SFO and members will have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote for Council 35 officers. All Council 35 voting instructions and guidelines can be found on the AFA Elections Page. The AFA-CWA Membership Services Department handles all voter questions and issues new activation codes if ballots are misplaced or never received. The Ballot Help Line is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern time. If you have a question or need a new 16-digit activation code, you may contact the Ballot Help Line at 800-424-2401, then press 1 and dial extension 706.

Council 35 Election Dates

Ballots Mailed:  4/27/22
Polls Open:  5/5/22
Polls Close/Results:  5/26/22, 1200 PST
Term Date Start: 7/1/22
Term Date End:  6/30/25

New Council 35 Committee Openings

Government Affairs Committee Chair

The Government Affairs (GA) committee promotes the AFA-CWA agenda by supporting legislative efforts that benefit our members or lobbying to discourage laws that will negatively impact members. What can be achieved in legislation takes away the need for negotiation. If you have an interest in government issues, please visit the GA webpage on the AFA Alaska website. Submit your letter of interest to SFO@afaalaska.org for consideration.

Government Affairs Committee Chair

Council 35 is looking to fill the chair position for upcoming Section 6 negotiations. The chairs from each base will compose the committee with the goal to help motivate and provide assistance to members during the negotiations process. If you are passionate about improvements to our contract and understand the power of solidarity, please apply! Submit your letter of interest to SFO@afaalaska.org for consideration. For more information, please see the recent MEC communication announcing the role.

Interested in another committee position? Please review the duties and responsibilities on the AFA Alaska Committee website. Please submit your letter of interest to SFO@afaalaska.org for consideration.

Spring Incentive: Love it or Hate it?

Section 6 negotiations are getting ready to launch, but did you know the MEC is regularly “negotiating” with management? A great example of this is the Spring Incentive. Management couldn’t just compel us to participate, as we already have a defined incentive program (PPP) outlined in JCBA§21.R. They approached us with the idea to help alleviate the staffing issue and the “negotiations” began. This particular program, developed exclusively by management, was not received well by the MEC at first glance. Right away we rejected some of the most contentious issues: threshold way too high, not enough people will benefit, won’t motivate regular flyers, not including enough pay codes (i.e. vacation). Pretty much everything that members have expressed after launch as the unsavory aspects of the program. In response we offered several suggestions to improve the program’s benefit and effectiveness to which the company declined and only agreed to a few of our suggestions. We weren’t given much time to work out the details and within a couple of days the MEC had to make a decision to either support the program, or reject it altogether. Some may disagree with the choice we made, but I can share with you why I was a reluctant yes.

When considering SFO specifically (the members that elected me), I came to the conclusion that the Spring Incentive would potentially benefit the SFO F/As more than not. The program rewards high-time flyers (always been an SFO trend) and brings a little extra pay to overworked reserves. With this in mind, I decided that it was better to say yes to the program than say no. I made my decision based on my understanding of the base and what my members want. The best way for me to know what members want is to hear from you! If this program is good for you, let me know! If you hate it, let me know! I can make better decisions in the future if my members share with me how they feel about issues that affect their work environment. If members are curious about how I voted on a particular issue, please reach out and ask! I am happy to share my decisions and receive feedback to better support SFO FAs.

TSA Crew Member Self Defense Training Program – Reinstated

The TSA Crew Member Self Defense Training Program has been reinstated and is available for all US-based flight attendants free of charge. There are 2 classes scheduled for their South San Francisco location on May 19th and June 16th, from 0800-1200. If you cannot attend these dates, additional classes for 2022 may be offered at a later date. Use this link for more information and to sign up for one of their classes.

Scholarship Opportunities

Provided by AFA International

The Joe Beirne Scholarship offered by CWA is available to AFA Members and dependents. The deadline for applications is April 30. For more information please visit the CWA website.

Member Questions: Negotiations

Why Do We Call Contract Negotiations “Section 6?”

The term “Section 6” refers to the part of the Railway Labor Act (RLA) that defines the negotiations process. In many industries, collective bargaining agreements (CBA) have an expiration date, and until a new one is negotiated, the benefits of the old contract are no longer available. The industries that fall under the RLA have contracts that become amendable, meaning they open up for changes but don’t officially expire (unless specifically defined), and it stays in effect until a new one is ratified (voted in by members). This was to prevent a transportation shutdown in the early days of the RLA’s existence, as it would have had (and still does have) a devastating effect on the infrastructure of the nation. What can F/As do now to help? Get educated and follow the progress of the Negotiating Committee! Many SFO members haven’t experienced full Section 6 negotiations and understanding the process is crucial to our success. For more information about negotiations please visit the AFA Alaska Negotiations website.

Solidarity and Why We Need It

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines solidarity as: unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards. Many members are frustrated with management’s decisions and policies that have rolled out recently. It’s been rough and your Council 35 officers and committee members are united in the frustration! Going to social media to vent is a great way to chat with other members and share experiences and frustrations, however it can also hinder our progress at the negotiations table. Please see the recent MEC communication on this topic. Social media campaigns as well as individual emails to management expressing displeasure only show that we are a divided work group. As your elected leaders, that is literally our job-to confront management on your behalf. If we don’t hear from you, we can’t stand up to ask for change. Tell us! The best way to let them know we mean business is to stand together in solidarity.

Alaska Pilot Strike Vote

Council 35 has received several emails from members concerned about the pilot strike vote and how it will impact F/As lives. One of the issues that has raised the most concern is the strike vote planned for May. Although the vote is scheduled soon, it does not mean the actual strike, if it happens, will follow immediately. ALPA (pilot Union for AS pilots) and the company have just recently entered the mediation phase of negotiations, which could last an indefinite amount of time: weeks, months, maybe even years. If mediation is unsuccessful, there will be an appeal to the National Mediation Board (NMB) to release the parties from mediation, which is followed by a cooling off period of 30 days. The pilots follow the same process for negotiations under the RLA as we do at AFA-CWA. To see a breakdown of steps, please visit our Negotiations website where you will find a helpful chart and breakdown of the different phases of the process. Flight Attendants can also follow ALPA’s progress by visiting the ALPA website.

Got a question?

Contact information for Council 35 committee members can be found on our website. You can also open an online support ticket and the appropriate rep will respond.

In solidarity,

Melissa, James and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President • Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary • James.ikehara@afaalaska.org • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

May 6, 2022 17:00

In This Edition

Celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Understanding Our Union: How AFA Works at Our Airline
Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 2^nd Quarter 2022
Next Week’s Events

Celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

Originally posted May 1, 2022

May 1^st marks the first day of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in the United States. This tradition dates back to 1978 when Congress passed a resolution to commemorate the first Asian/Pacific American Heritage week the following year. Read more about Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, learn about the accomplishments of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below. Join the celebration by wearing an Asian/Pacific American Month AFA Pin during the month of May. If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

Read More >

Understanding Our Union: How AFA Works at Our Airline

Originally posted May 4, 2022

Representation within our Union starts at the domicile level with your Local Council. Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers are directly elected from among your fellow Flight Attendants who are members of the same Local Council. LEC Officers work to resolve concerns specific to Flight Attendants from your base with local management. Your LEC President also represents your base at the airline level as a member of the Master Executive Council (MEC). The LEC Presidents from all six bases together form our MEC, which works to coordinate the activities of our Union at the airline level. They make decisions on our behalf and give direction to the MEC Officers, who represent the MEC to management.

Read More >

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 2^nd Quarter 2022

Originally posted May 5, 2022

Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, May 3 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are reporting related to uniform quality, wearability, and availability. If you are experiencing any issues with uniform quality or construction, please report the issues to Unisync as soon as possible. Please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so they can help track any issues or trends that might be developing.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Monday, May 9	AFA Presentation to Initial Training Class 2022-07
Tuesday, May 10	Council 15 (SAN)/18 (LAX)/35 (SFO) Local Council Meeting
Thursday, May 12	AFA Executive Board Meeting
Thursday, May 12	Scheduling Review Board (SRB)
Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15	AFA Board of Directors Meeting

See the MEC Event Calendar >

May 5, 2022 17:00

Uniform Committee

Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, May 3 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.
The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are reporting related to uniform quality, wearability, and availability.
If you are experiencing any issues with uniform quality or construction, please report the issues to Unisync as soon as possible. Please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so they can help track any issues or trends that might be developing.

On Tuesday, May 3, our AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Milner (LAX), and Denise Sheldon (SAN). Also present were MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Todd Scarlett; MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Uniform Safety Representative Deb Wallstrom; and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer. The committee met with Director of Procurement Eric Phillipson, Uniform Programs Manager Ashlyn Pham, Senior Marketing Product Delivery Manager Kelly Cuthill, and PDX Base Manager Kristie Stafford from management.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

Confirmation of the 90-day return period for unused uniform items. This return period is contractual for Flight Attendants (CBA addendum to section 13, #2), but there has been some confusion as the return period for other company employees is shorter.
Recent changes to uniform policies and upcoming gender-neutral uniform pieces.
Introduction to new management employees responsible for overseeing uniform procurement, the fit center, and the company’s relationship with Unisync.
Ongoing requests to streamline uniform boot policies.
Requests for improvements to the transition jacket, specifically increased warmth and wind resistance.
Introduction of a new, smaller pronoun pin than what was introduced last year and is available at the Company Store. The smaller pin will be available soon in all bases and will be available free of charge to anyone who would like one.
Request to remove the policy requirement that uniform shoes have a defined heel.
Concerns that the policy requiring that hosiery be worn with the uniform skirt and dresses is outdated.
Request to review the current process for Flight Attendants to provide feedback related to uniform pieces. The requirement to compose an email to Unisync is not consistent with how Flight Attendants report issues in other areas and is unnecessarily cumbersome.
Ongoing uniform quality issues. Management indicates that improvements have been made with double stitching and reinforced seams, but Flight Attendants are still experiencing problems.
Concerns with product shortages and items that are backordered for extended periods of time. Management states that the shortages are due to supply chain issues as well as greater than expected hiring of new employees that they did not project for.
Issues with a shortage of standard issue crew luggage pieces for new hire Flight Attendants. Management has temporarily issued alternate pieces of luggage to several of the new classes due to the shortage. This shortage has also affected the availability of loaner bags at each base.

What The Committee Is Working On

Improving the Uniform Boot Policy. Working with management and the AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) to allow for a broader range of Arctic boots, to allow Arctic boots in Alaska any time there is snow or ice on the ground, and to allow boots outside of terminals and the aircraft anytime there is inclement weather (policy not yet in effect).
Simplification of Uniform Policies. Advocating for an overall simplification of company uniform policies through clearer guidelines, removal of excessive or unrealistic restrictions, and other common sense changes.
Streamlining the Uniform Feedback Process. Working to develop an easy-to-use, online form that Flight Attendants can use to provide feedback about uniform issues and concerns that automatically routes to management, Unisync, and our AFA Uniform Committee.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please help our Uniform Committee by taking the time to email Unisync at alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com with any quality issues you are experiencing. When sending an email, please describe the issue with as much detail as possible and include photos if you can. Please CC your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so that the Uniform Committee can track the issues as well.

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

May 4, 2022 17:00

Communications Committee

Representation within our Union starts at the domicile level with your Local Council. Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers are directly elected from among your fellow Flight Attendants who are members of the same Local Council.
LEC Officers work to resolve concerns specific to Flight Attendants from your base with local management. Your LEC President also represents your base at the airline level as a member of the Master Executive Council (MEC).
The LEC Presidents from all six bases together form our MEC, which works to coordinate the activities of our Union at the airline level. They make decisions on our behalf and give direction to the MEC Officers, who represent the MEC to management.

AFA is first and foremost a union organized by Flight Attendants for Flight Attendants. The structure of AFA, as laid out in the constitution and bylaws, is designed to be democratic and driven by Members. A single Member has the power to bring forward ideas to change the course of our Union, to elect the officers who directly represent us, and to serve in any elected or appointed position within our Union.

At Your Base—Your Local Council

Each Local Council is made up of the AFA Member Flight Attendants within a given domicile. In the case of a new or smaller domiciles where the number of active Members does not meet the constitutional threshold, multiple domiciles may be grouped together into one Local Council for purposes of representation. At Alaska Airlines, each base is represented by its own AFA Local Council.

At Your Base—Your Local Executive Council (LEC)

AFA Member Flight Attendants in each Local Council directly elect Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers to represent them. These Local Executive Council Officers consist of a President, Vice President, and Secretary. In some Local Councils, additional officer positions called Council Representatives may also be elected to the LEC.

The LEC Officers are responsible for representing Flight Attendants directly. They are who a Flight Attendant goes to when there is a question, when assistance is needed, or when they want to make a suggestion for change. The LEC Officers primarily work with local management and other immediate supervisors to address and resolve Flight Attendant issues that are specific to the domicile they represent.

LEC Decision Making

When a decision needs to be made at the LEC level, the LEC Officers work together to come to consensus. If consensus can’t be reached, the LEC President makes the final decision.

At Our Airline—the Master Executive Council (MEC)

The LEC Presidents from each of our Local Councils come together to form the Master Executive Council (MEC). The MEC is responsible for coordinating the activities of AFA across our entire airline and administering the collective bargaining agreement. Each LEC President serves as a voting member of the MEC, directly representing the members of the Local Council that elected them.

The voting members of the MEC (the LEC Presidents) elect three MEC Officers: a President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer. These MEC Officers administer the day-to-day business of AFA at our airline and represent the MEC in interactions with company management. They do not have a vote on the MEC with the exception of the MEC President, who votes only to break a tie.

MEC Decision Making

The MEC frequently makes decisions ranging from granting contractual exceptions, approving letters of agreement (LOAs), determining MEC priorities, and providing direction to the MEC Officers. Often times, the MEC is able to come to consensus and decisions are agreed upon by all. If there is not consensus on an issue, the voting members of the MEC (the LEC Presidents) will vote to determine the outcome. If there is a tie, the MEC President is responsible for casting the deciding vote.