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AFA Alaska Contract Extension 2021 Tentative Agreement Update – April 14, 2021

AFA Alaska Contract Extension 2021 Tentative Agreement Update – April 14, 2021

Master Executive Council (MEC)

In This Edition

  • Last Chance to Register for Tonight’s Virtual Roadshow!
  • 2nd Virtual Roadshow Recording Posted (w/ Special Guest Panelists)
  • Video Message from AFA International President Sara Nelson Posted
  • Voting Eligibility While on Extended Leave

Last Chance to Register for Tonight’s Virtual Roadshow!

This is your last chance to register for tonight’s virtual roadshow at 7 to 8 PM PT, which is the third of four currently scheduled. The fourth virtual roadshow is scheduled for Saturday, April 17th at 3 to 4 PM PT. Register by visiting the Contract Extension 2021 webpage –> Virtual Roadshows –> Schedule & Registration. Advanced registration is required in order to participate.

Join us!

2nd Virtual Roadshow Recording Posted (w/ Special Guest Panelists)

The second virtual roadshow session recording from Monday, April 12th at 10am PT is now posted. This session included special guest panelists AFA Direction of Collective Bargaining Joe Burns and Aviation Economist Dan Akins of FlightPath Economics. Recordings of the Zoom sessions and their respective transcripts (when available) may be accessed from the Contract Extension 2021 webpage –> Virtual Roadshows –> Session Recordings.

Video Message from AFA International President Sara Nelson Posted

AFA International President Sara Nelson recorded a video message regarding the Alaska Contract Extension 2021-2022 Tentative Agreement. View her message from the Contract Extension 2021 webpage –> Documents & Resources –> Video Message from AFA International President Sara Nelson.

Voting Eligibility While on Extended Leave

Several members have asked the MEC to address voting eligibility while on extended leave. Extended leave in this context would be consecutive months of any type of unpaid leave, including but not limited to COVID leave, Staffing Adjustment Leave (SAL), Enhanced Voluntary Furlough (EVF), Extended Leave of Absence (ELOA). The AFA Constitution & Bylaws Article II.C.1 [Membership – Description of Class – Active Members] states that “An active member in good standing shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Union, including the right to vote and hold elected and appointed office.”

While on extended unpaid leave, you are required to pay dues the first 90 days of such leave. You may elect to not pay dues for the remainder of the time on unpaid leave, but you are no longer considered “active” if you choose to not pay dues during that period. You may be current (i.e., paid up) and therefore in good standing by paying the three months of required dues, but you are not necessarily an active member in good standing by doing so. In order to be considered an active member in good standing and to be eligible to vote, you must pay dues for the entire duration of the unpaid extended leave up through the count date of the ballot.

AFA leadership is so appreciative of Flight Attendants who took unpaid leaves in order to prevent other Flight Attendants from being involuntarily furloughed (prior to the second round of the Payroll Support Program being enacted). However, the C&B is very clear regarding voting eligibility while on extended unpaid leaves. After multiple discussions with AFA International, we are also confident the practice has been consistently applied over the years. The MEC understands this will be frustrating to at least some on extended unpaid leaves.

If you are on an extended unpaid leave and would like to pay dues for the entire leave in order to vote, contact AFA Membership Services at (800) 424-2401 and choose option 7. AFA Membership Services is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM ET. Keep in mind that the AFA International office is currently closed due to the pandemic, so everyone is working from home. Please leave a message and someone will call you back as soon as possible during regular business hours.

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026

On Thursday, August 27, our Seattle Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) representatives met with management to discuss ongoing safety concerns, operational challenges, policy updates, and workplace improvements impacting Flight Attendants across the operation. Representing you at the meeting were Deb Walstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA pmAS), Kahea Alvarez (LAX/SEA pmHA), Carin Merritt (LAX […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 19 – September 2026

Last week, the JNC received management’s responses on several contract sections and submitted counterproposals, including important updates for retiree benefits. As negotiations continue, both parties are preparing to use Interest-based Bargaining (IBB), a collaborative approach that aims to find mutually beneficial solutions to complex issues. IBB training is scheduled for October in Seattle and will be led by a mediator from the National Mediation Board.

Understanding The Legislative Process

As we continue our Government Affairs Committee Focus Month, this week we’re exploring how the legislative process works, why enacting laws strengthens our collective bargaining power, and how to engage effectively with our elected representatives. The legislative process may sometimes feel complex or far removed, but it directly shapes our day-to-day lives—from cabin safety regulations […]

Go In-Depth with Our AFA Government Affairs Committee Chairperson

As Government Affairs Committee Focus Month continues, we’re excited to bring you a direct, face-to-face conversation that goes to the core of our Union’s legislative work. You’ll see how our experiences in the cabin translate into meaningful advocacy that drives real change. MEC Communications Committee Chairperson Brian Palmer recently sat down with MEC Government Affairs […]

Honoring the 25th Anniversary of September 11: Never Forget

A quarter of a century has passed since September 11, 2001—a day that fundamentally transformed our world and redefined aviation safety forever. Today, as members of the Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendant family, we stand together to reflect on that pivotal morning, honor the memory of those we lost, and reaffirm our solemn promise: We Will […]

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