Contract negotiations resume this week in Chicago
Contract negotiations resume this coming Monday through Wednesday in Chicago. Victoria Gray, with the National Mediation Board (NMB), will mediate the session. AFA anticipates very significant developments this week.
Your Negotiating Committee and management have been working to finalize language in preparation for this session
Since the August session in La Jolla, your Negotiating Committee and management have been hard at work seeking to finalize language in various open sections. As a result, the parties are very close to reaching tentative agreements (TAs) in many non-economic sections of our Contract. Reaching TAs in those sections early this week will pave the way to passing comprehensive economic proposals including compensation.
Management has signaled positive expectations for this week
Over the past few weeks, management—including executive management—has made several very positive statements directly to AFA leadership as well as individual line Flight Attendants regarding expectations and goals for this session. Management had said they are coming prepared with a serious comprehensive proposal and are aiming to reach a TA on the entire contract this session.
This is great news to AFA and we are cautiously optimistic, but…
AFA considers this a positive development and we are cautiously optimistic. However, keep in mind that AFA’s objective is clear: the TA must meet the requirements determined by the Flight Attendants in the negotiations survey and in comments to the Negotiating Committee. Even if those criteria are met, AFA will not rush to publish a TA until we are reasonably satisfied that we have secured the absolute best deal possible and all the “i’s” are dotted and the “t’s” are crossed.
What does this all mean?
Think positive thoughts and stand by for potentially big developments this session!
Don’t forget the Solidarity Event November 12th…
Mark your calendar and plan to bid Wednesday, November 12th off for our next RED Hot informational picketing event! If we don’t get a deal this session, come demonstrate our solidarity to management on the opening day of the scheduled November mediation session. More information including a sign-up link and picketing times for each base will be coming. Your Negotiating Committee is counting on your support!
In solidarity,
Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo
Tracey steele says
Why didn’t we plan any picketing for Oct. We should keep it going. We need language on scope extra duties and protection our flying .
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Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President) says
Picketing was not planned in October because the mediation session date was still a moving target by the time PBS opened for bidding.
Kitsie Sperling says
I expect a contract that protects all FAs from being abused by managment like we are all on reserve. I most adamantly expect ALL protections from past contracts as well as newer protections that apply in recent contracts. In other words, DO NOT BACK TRACK Protect us in our work rules AND get us a raise!