May 15, 2013
Dear Flight Attendants,
This is the third installment in a series of negotiations updates this week. We are going to take the opportunity at the Alaska Air Group (AAG) Shareholders meeting next week to participate in informational leafleting. What exactly does this entail?
First of all, we know there are Flight Attendants around the system who are interested in participating in the event. We are extremely thankful for the show of support but please be advised that System Regulations 6.100, General Provisions prohibits an employee from the “use [of] on-line or offline non-revenue and reduced rate tickets for…travel that is contrary to the best interests of Alaska Airlines. This includes, but is not limited to…travel in connection with picketing against the company…” That means if you are previously scheduled to be in Seattle or if you are on a layover, please join us. If you are planning non-revenue travel solely for the purpose of leafleting please make other arrangements (such as carpooling for Portland-based Flight Attendants). Jumpseating, positive space tickets (V class), reciprocal cabin seat, reciprocal jumpseat (Horizon) and non-revenue travel on other carriers are all included under the regulation.
Except as outlined above regarding non-revenue travel, please be assured that you cannot be disciplined by Alaska Airlines for participating in informational leafleting and picketing as you are completely within your rights as a union member to engage in such activities. Of course there are legal limits to these activities in the sense that our actions must be peaceful and non-disruptive. Therefore, nobody will be lying down in front of traffic on Alaskan Way! We will be handing out informational leaflets highlighting our bargaining history and alerting the Shareholders as to why we are moving forward with mediation. The goal is to demonstrate the professionalism of our award-winning Flight Attendant and communicate why we deserve to achieve our bargaining objectives. AFA will supply all the leafleting materials for the event. There will be some media presence expected, which will be handled exclusively by the officers and/or their designees.
From 1pm to 2pm, the entire group will participate just outside the venue, along the pier, on the Alaska Way sidewalk and possibly over the skybridge leading to the parking structure across the street. You can check out a map and interactive view of the site on Google: http://goo.gl/maps/lF7DE. At 2pm, several members of the contingent with shares or proxies will enter the conference center and designated spokespersons will possibly make statements inside as appropriate. Those who do not have proxies may remain outside and continue to participate. Flight Attendants do not need to own shares or have a proxy in order to join us for leafleting as there is plenty to do outside the venue! It is extremely important that we show our solidarity at this event so we need anybody who is not working but previously scheduled to be in Seattle or who is on a layover to come on down and join us for a few hours.
If you are coming from a layover in Seattle, you can be at the venue in about an hour and ten minutes. Directions for taking the light rail from SeaTac Aiport station to Westlake Center downtown (approximately 50 minutes) are here: http://goo.gl/maps/dTdhe, and then walking directions from Westlake Center to the Bell Harbor Conference Center (approximately 20 minutes) here: http://goo.gl/maps/lbwdj. Driving directions from all points: http://www.bellharbor.com/directions.php; a printable driving map of the area: http://www.bellharbor.com/pdf/BH_Driving_Directions.pdf.
AFA will be supplying complimentary AFA Alaska t-shirts to all who attend the event, supplies permitting. We ordered a fairly significant quantity of t-shirts in a variety of sizes so we anticipate having enough for everybody. The t-shirts are a royal blue with the AFA logo and identify us as Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants; there are no other slogan so these may be used for a wide variety of purposes. Again, a free AFA Alaska t-shirt to all those who can make it, supplies permitting. Please do not wear your uniform to the event!
The next negotiations session is scheduled for July 8-11, location TBD but either in Los Angeles or Seattle. Informational leafleting and picketing at the Alaska Air Group (AAG) Shareholders meeting will begin at 1pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at the Bell Harbor Conference Center, Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle, WA 98121 (http://www.bellharbor.com/). More information about negotiations and the upcoming event will be out in the coming days. Also, check out the new AFA Alaska MEC website at www.alaskamec.org.
In solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow
Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Tracy, Karina Cameron-Fetters, Jake Jones and AFA Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo
“Five Bases, One Voice”
References:
Bell Harbor Conference Center: http://www.bellharbor.com/
Interactive view of the Bell Harbor Conference Center: http://goo.gl/maps/lF7DE
Link light rail directions from SeaTac Airport Station to Westlake Center downtown: http://goo.gl/maps/dTdhe
Walking directions from Westlake Center to Bell Harbor Conference Center: http://goo.gl/maps/lbwdj
Driving direction: http://www.bellharbor.com/directions.php
Printable driving map: http://www.bellharbor.com/pdf/BH_Driving_Directions.pdf
