Several Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants and Virgin America Inflight Teammates (ITMs) have contacted the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA to inquire why AFA—specifically the Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC)—has not made any statements about the current Tentative Agreement (TA) between Virgin America and the ITMs over and above “TWU Virgin America Announced a Tentative Agreement” posted on afaalaska.org on August 17, 2016. Since Virgin America ITMs are represented by the Transport Workers of America (“TWU”), neither would it be appropriate for AFA to contact Virgin America ITMs directly to discuss the TA; nor would it be appropriate for AFA to engage in detailed discussions with our own members about the TWU VX TA. AFA cannot be seen as influencing the TA vote, even if such influence is in a roundabout way, e.g., providing information to our members who then post such information on social media, which is subsequently read and discussed by VX ITMs and ultimately affects decision-making.
AFA looks forward to representing Virgin America ITMs once the merger is complete, and AFA is recognized by the NMB as the exclusive bargaining representative for all the post-merger Flight Attendants. Until that occurs, however, the Virgin America ITMs should continue to direct questions about their TA and/or the merger to their TWU representatives. The MEC plans another merger update for our members shortly after the holiday weekend.
If VX ITMs wish to voluntarily sign up for AFA Alaska communications, or AFA Interactive (communications to all AFA members), please visit http://afanewsletters.org/subscribe/. (This is also the same link for Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants to subscribe.)
We understand this merger has raised many issues and concerns. Rest assured that AFA is committed to representing all Flight Attendants and ITMs once it is appropriate to do so. AFA’s primary goal is to ensure that the post-merger Alaska/Virgin America Flight Attendants will work together under one of the best Flight Attendant contracts in the industry.
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee
Erik Kruse says
Hello AFA!
As future members of your union, all we really want to know BEFORE we vote for or against this tentative agreement which TWU has produced for us (Virgin America Flight Attendants) is this:
What is the QUICKEST and most direct way for us to become part of the AFA?
Will signing this Tentative Agreement in any way slow down the process of our becoming part of AFA?
The answer to these two questions will determine how the majority of us likely will vote.
So far, all we’ve gotten are letters back and forth in “legalese” – but no clear answer to the two questions above. I understand the unions not wanting to step on each others’ toes, but this is ridiculous. We need CLEAR ANSWERS to just these two simple questions.
Thank you for listening. Hope someone is able to talk straight to us!
Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President) says
Erik~ Thanks for writing in. I can definitely understand wanting to know “the” answer to your important questions. I can certainly speak on behalf of AFA as to why we have not been more communicative about some of the specifics of the merger and the TWU VX TA: the unions are not avoiding stepping on each others’ toes, but rather we are being cautious to avoid any appearance of impropriety from the perspective of the Department of Labor. In other words, as a steward of AFA I need to ensure our communications are not going to result in regulatory and/or legal action unfavorable to the Association. I hope that makes sense.
I am going out on a bit of limb by answering another union’s member (you as represented by TWU), but I feel comfortable enough doing so because of the unique circumstances of the situation. After all, if the merger proceeds as planned then you will be a member of AFA soon enough. Alright…enough of the introduction and on to the inquiry!
What is the QUICKEST and most direct way for us to become part of the AFA?
Nothing you do will greatly influence the timeline to become a member of AFA. Once the merger is approved by the regulatory agencies in early October and the merger is officially consummated very shortly thereafter, AFA and/or TWU will file for single carrier status with the National Mediation Board (NMB) once certain indices for the merger are met. There are so many of these indices it’s not practical to list them, but at the end of the day it is up to Alaska Airlines management to get the minimum requirements in place and then to the union(s) to file. The NMB usually takes 3-6 months to rule on single carrier status. Once that occurs, AFA will be the representing body for Alaska and Virgin regardless of the status of a ratified or rejected agreement.
Will signing this Tentative Agreement in any way slow down the process of our becoming part of AFA?
AFA does not anticipate a ratified agreement to slow down the process of VX ITMs becoming a part of AFA.
Keep in mind these answers are based on circumstances as I know them as of this posting. I hope that helps!
–Jeff Peterson, AFA Alaska MEC president