Dear Flight Attendants,
You have spoken with a clear and unified vote: The Tentative Agreement (TA) was not sufficient and must be improved. An overwhelming majority of you voted to send a strong message to management that the offer did not measure up. The results from each base were nearly identical, so once again we prove that we are “Five Bases, One Voice.”
The Master Executive Council (MEC) and Negotiating Committee thank each and every one of you for your vote. Additional kudos to those who were able to make one of the 17 morning and afternoon roadshows around the system—34 sessions in all! You answered the call for a substantial turnout and your participation was commendable. Nearly 90% of you took part in determining our future! The result was unambiguous with approximately 30% “for” and 70% “against” the TA.
Voting Results by base below:
ALASKA 2014 TA Vote Count
Response Count Voted % Participated Eligible Participation %
SEA FOR 448 28.32% 1582 1777 89.03%
AGAINST 1134 71.68%
ANC FOR 87 34.66% 251 288 87.15%
AGAINST 164 65.34%
PDX FOR 101 29.62% 341 374 91.18%
AGAINST 240 70.38%
LAX/SAN FOR 188 34.18% 550 661 90.02%
AGAINST 362 65.82%
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ALL FAs
FOR 824 30%
AGAINST1900 70%
TOTAL VOTES 2724
We should not dwell on who voted “no,” and who voted “yes,” but rather we must advance unified. Now that the decision has been made, we all have a lot of hard work ahead of us. In the coming months, AFA will prepare to return to mediation under the direction of the National Mediation Board (NMB). In the near future you will be called upon to participate in activities which will demonstrate our resolve. When we go back to the table and management looks across the table, they must see all 3,200 of us sitting there in solidarity!
In the coming weeks, your AFA leadership and negotiators will take time to review the process, reassess bargaining objectives and communication strategy. We have already started that work with a MEC meeting that wrapped up yesterday. Your Local Executive Council (LEC) presidents have very much appreciated the emails and phone calls offering feedback and suggestions as we move forward through this process. The MEC will be meeting with the Negotiating Committee on March 3 to continue discussions and cement plans.
A new negotiations survey will be put out to the group in a few weeks. We are also exploring the use of professional pollsters in conjunction with the regular survey to ensure the most accurate result possible. It is critical that everybody take the time to complete the negotiations survey because this will be used as our guide for representing the objectives of the entire membership. In the meantime, we are asking Flight Attendants to not engage in discussions with management regarding individual bargaining objectives.
Through your vote you have spoken loud and clear, and AFA is committed to taking your message to the bargaining table! Together, we can show management we are “Five Bases Standing Strong!”
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow
“Five Bases Standing Strong”
