Earlier this morning the Transport Workers Union Virgin America (TWU VX) Negotiating Committee announced they reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) with Virgin America management on an historic first contract. At this point their TA must be voted on and ratified in order to become effective, a process that AFA estimates would take around a month.
As a reminder, AFA will be the surviving union representing the unified group if the merger is finalized. There will be no representational election. Management will need to negotiate with AFA to address the merger of the work force, and this can be an opportunity for Flight Attendants to achieve improvements.
It is important that AFA Alaska does not speculate on TWU VX’s ratification process and how it may affect the merger of our groups. Virgin America Inflight Team Mates (ITMs) should have the space to take part in their democratic vote without influence or interference from anyone. We obviously support their right to vote without outside interference. The Master Executive Council (MEC) believes the next merger update will be sometime in September after the TWU VX TA ratification vote has concluded.
Congratulations to TWU Virgin America for achieving their TA!
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee
Your AFA Alaska Joint Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo
