Master Executive Council (MEC)
- Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, October 10, and Wednesday, October 11, to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.
- As part of the meeting, the MEC met with members of inflight, crew planning, and labor relations management to discuss issues and concerns facing our work group and needing to be addressed.
- The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 14.
Our MEC held its regular meeting for October 2023 on Tuesday, October 10, and Wednesday, October 11. The MEC Officers, LEC Presidents, Grievance Committee, and Scheduling Committee provided updates during the meeting. The MEC also reviewed written reports from other AFA MEC Committee Chairpersons regarding their ongoing work.
Meeting with Management
As part of most Regular MEC Meetings, our MEC meets with management to review the current issues and challenges that Flight Attendants face. Attendees from management this month included Vice President of Inflight Matt Prainito, Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Managing Director of Inflight Operations Allen Thieman, Managing Director of Inflight Services Gloria Chow, Director of Inflight Training & Standards Thomas Kaminski, Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Vice President of Labor Relations Jenny Wetzel, Managing Director of Labor Relations Carmen Williams, Senior Labor Relations Program Manager Mike Link, Director of Payroll Leah Ables, Vice President of Finance Ryan St. John, and Managing Director of Operation Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette.
Some of the topics discussed include:
- Payroll training resources for Flight Attendants. Crew pay will be working to develop additional materials to help Flight Attendants understand how we’re paid. This will include a short training video geared toward new hire Flight Attendants.
- Crew Scheduling chat functionality. Management is working toward implementing the ability for Flight Attendants to have a text chat with a Crew Scheduler for help performing certain scheduling-related functions. Conversations will only be able to be initiated by Flight Attendants. Hopefully, this functionality will improve response times during irregular operations or weather events. Programming is ongoing, and the system should be ready for testing soon.
- Inflight irregular operations hotline. Management has devised a process to help alleviate long hold times for Crew Scheduling during weather events or severe irregular operations. Some management employees are being trained to assist with calls not specifically related to scheduling so that Crew Schedulers can focus on scheduling-related matters.
- Distribution of iPhone 13 Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs). Management continues distributing iPhone 13 IMDs to Flight Attendants with iPhone 7 or 8 Plus IMDs. Currently, over 600 Flight Attendants still need to be issued new devices. (Note: to view the iPhone 13 IMD distribution LOA, click here).
- Recurrent training (RT). Management is currently conducting practice run-throughs of the 2024 RT curriculum with a group of Flight Attendant Instructors. The 2024 RT program will include differences training on the MAX10 aircraft and a half-day service training review.
- Flight Attendant staffing. Management shared information about staffing plans for the remainder of this year and hiring predictions for next year. The projections are constantly shifting based on anticipated aircraft deliveries and market conditions.
- Pairing construction and keeping Flight Attendant and pilot pairings together. Management is exploring ways to keep Flight Attendant and pilot pairings together as much as possible (called “teaming”). The intent is to help improve operational efficiency as entire crews follow the aircraft instead of being split up frequently. Not all pairings will be teamed due to different contractual and regulatory rest and duty limitations for each work group.
- LOSA observations. LOSA observations resumed this week and will continue at a rate of one week per month on an ongoing basis (note: the Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee shared information about the continuation of LOSA observations in this article published last week).
Contract Negotiations, Mediation, and Mobilization
Our MEC held a productive discussion about our ongoing contract negotiations, upcoming mediation, and mobilization strategy. Our Negotiating Committee is fully prepared to return to the bargaining table with management next week and continue their fight for the improvements in pay and work rules we have rightfully earned. Additional solidarity activities are currently in the planning phase and will be announced before the start of December bidding.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this month’s regular MEC Meeting, please get in touch with your LEC President.
