AFA Alaska

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

Click here to report an issue to AFA
Menu
  • Local Councils
    • Anchorage (Council 30)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Honolulu (Council 43)
    • Los Angeles (Council 18/pmAS)
      • Officers
      • Committees
      • Los Angeles (Council 47/pmHA)
        • Officers
      • Portland (Council 39)
        • Officers
        • Committees
      • San Diego (Council 15)
        • Officers
        • Committees
        • Seattle (Council 19)
          • Officers
          • Committees
        • San Francisco (Council 35)
          • Officers
          • Committees

        • More About Local Councils >>
        Close
      • Master Executive Council
        • Officers
        • Close
      • Committees
          • Air Safety, Health, & Security (ASHSC)
            • Air Quality
          • Benefits
          • Communications
          • Employee Assistance Program & Professional Standards
          • Government Affairs
          • Grievance
          • Hotel
          • Human Rights & Equity
          • Inflight Service
          • Inflight Training
          • Membership
          • Membership Engagement
          • Reserve
          • Retirement
          • Scheduling
            • Pairing Construction
            • Preferential Bidding System (PBS)
          • Uniform

        • More About Committees >>
        Close
      • Contract
          • Contract Home
            • 2025 Alaska TA2 (Ratified)
            • 2018 Alaska JCBA
            • 2020 Hawaiian Contract
            • Ask Contract Questions
          • Contract Resources
          • Alaska Contract Negotiations (2022-2025)
        • Close
      • Resources
          • What To Do If You Encounter Contaminated Cabin Air
          • Issues & Campaigns
          • Newsroom
            • AFA News Now
          • Event Calendar
          • Membership Services
          • New Members
          • About
          • Links
          Close
        • Merger
          • Joint Negotiating Committee
          • Close
        • Contact Us
        You are here: Home / AS/VX Merger / TWU Virgin America Tentative Agreement and the Merger

        TWU Virgin America Tentative Agreement and the Merger

        September 2, 2016 21:00

        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

        Print Friendly, PDF & Email

        Filed Under: AS/VX Merger, Latest News Tagged With: 2016, merger, TWU, Virgin America, VX

        Comments

        1. Erik Kruse says

          September 3, 2016 at 16:24

          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

            September 3, 2016 at 20:35

            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

        Need Help?

        Have an issue or concern to report to AFA?  Click here to access the AFA Alaska online support center.

        Latest News

        • Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives
        • Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025
        • AFA News in Review – October 17, 2025
        • Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results
        • Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results
        • U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement
        • Hawaiian Brand Inflight Service Committee Update – 3rd Quarter 2025
        • AFA News in Review – October 10, 2025
        • SEA Domicile Negotiations – October 2025
        • Protecting Yourself From Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

        Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

        October 22, 2025

        We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]

        Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

        October 20, 2025

        On Monday, October 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

        Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

        October 17, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

        Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

        October 17, 2025

        During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]

        U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement

        October 15, 2025

        Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes to the rules surrounding how airlines report information about passengers and crew before flights. This system is called the Advance Passenger Information System, or APIS. These changes are in response to a Presidential Executive Order. What is APIS? APIS is a system that airlines are legally […]

        Recent Posts

        • Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives
        • Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025
        • AFA News in Review – October 17, 2025
        • Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results
        • Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results
        • U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement
        • Hawaiian Brand Inflight Service Committee Update – 3rd Quarter 2025
        • AFA News in Review – October 10, 2025
        • SEA Domicile Negotiations – October 2025
        • Protecting Yourself From Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault
        • Government Affairs Committee Update – 4th Quarter 2025
        • Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2025
        • AFA News in Review – October 3, 2025
        • Joint Contract Negotiations Session 7 – September 2025
        • Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

        Local Councils

        • Anchorage
        • Honolulu
        • Los Angeles (pre-merger Alaska)
        • Los Angeles (pre-merger Hawaiian)
        • Portland
        • San Diego
        • San Francisco
        • Seattle

        Master Executive Council

        • MEC

        Negotiations

        • Contract 2022 Home
        • Negotiations News
        • TA2 Information

        Contract

        • Contract Home

        Committees

        • Air Safety, Health, & Security
        • Benefits
        • Communications
        • EAP/Professional Standards
        • Government Affairs
        • Grievance
        • Hotel
        • Human Rights
        • Inflight Service
        • Mobilization
        • Reserve
        • Retirement
        • Scheduling
        • Uniform

        News By Month

        News By Category

        AFA News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) AS/HA Merger AS/VX Merger Benefits Committee Committees Communications Committee Contract Contract 2014 Negotiations Blog Council 15 SAN Council 18 LAX Council 19 SEA Council 30 ANC Council 35 SFO Council 39 PDX EAP/Professional Standards Committee Extension 2021 Blog Featured Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee Hotel Committee Human Rights & Equity Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) Membership Committee Membership Engagement Committee Message from the MEC President Mobilization Committee Negotiations Pairing Construction Preferential Bidding System (PBS) Press Releases Reserve Committee Retirement Committee Scheduling Committee Uniform Committee
        • Email
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • YouTube

        Want To Stay In The Loop?

        Stay up-to-date on AFA Alaska news and information by signing up for our email and text message updates. Click a button below to get started or update your preferences if you're already a subscriber.
        Sign Up for Emails
        Sign Up for Text Updates

        Connect With AFA

        • Contact Us
        • Online Support Center
        • AFA International
        • CWA
        • AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines
        • AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy

        Copyright © 2013-2025 Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO