AFA Alaska

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

Click here to report an issue to AFA
Menu
  • Local Councils
    • Anchorage (Council 30)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Honolulu (Council 43)
    • Los Angeles (Council 18/pmAS)
      • Officers
      • Committees
      • Los Angeles (Council 47/pmHA)
        • Officers
      • Portland (Council 39)
        • Officers
        • Committees
      • San Diego (Council 15)
        • Officers
        • Committees
        • Seattle (Council 19)
          • Officers
          • Committees
        • San Francisco (Council 35)
          • Officers
          • Committees

        • More About Local Councils >>
        Close
      • Master Executive Council
        • Officers
        • Close
      • Committees
          • Air Safety, Health, & Security (ASHSC)
            • Air Quality
          • Benefits
          • Communications
          • Employee Assistance Program & Professional Standards
          • Government Affairs
          • Grievance
          • Hotel
          • Human Rights & Equity
          • Inflight Service
          • Inflight Training
          • Membership
          • Reserve
          • Retirement
          • Scheduling
            • Pairing Construction
            • Preferential Bidding System (PBS)
          • Uniform

        • More About Committees >>
        Close
      • Contract
          • Contract Home
            • 2025 Alaska TA2 (Ratified)
            • 2018 Alaska JCBA
            • 2020 Hawaiian Contract
            • Ask Contract Questions
          • Contract Resources
          • Alaska Contract Negotiations (2022-2025)
        • Close
      • Resources
          • What To Do If You Encounter Contaminated Cabin Air
          • Issues & Campaigns
          • Newsroom
            • AFA News Now
          • Event Calendar
          • Membership Services
          • New Members
          • About
          • Links
          Close
        • Merger
          • Joint Negotiating Committee
          • Close
        • Contact Us
        You are here: Home / Council 19 SEA / March 20 Seattle Town Hall Meeting Notes

        March 20 Seattle Town Hall Meeting Notes

        March 25, 2014 09:43

        Thank you everyone who came out to the Town Hall meeting last week! It was a great success and I look forward to planning more of these sessions.

        There is an AFA-CWA Base Meeting April 16th from 1-5pm. This is a formal AFA meeting that will devote most of the time to discussing the upcoming agenda items for the International Board of Directors Meeting next month. However, I will provide time on the agenda for Q and A.

        March 20 Town Hall Meeting

        The AFA-CWA Town Hall Forum was a great success! Many Flight Attendants joined in the conversations that ranged from LEC duties, grievance procedures, negotiation processes, TA clarification, and many more topics.

        The intent behind the Town Hall Forum is to provide your LEC Officers and LEC Committee members a chance to sit down and talk with you- in an informal setting.

        The entire 4 hours was devoted to doing just that and it was very successful.

        I will be planning more Town Hall forums over the next few months!

        Here is a recap of the items discussed:

        1. The new survey

        It was made very clear that FAs want a chance to share their thoughts on a survey. The MEC and current Negotiating Committee members have been in discussions to prep for the survey and this is great feedback. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on why it is important for all FAs to have a chance to share their thoughts. The MEC is looking into the Hart Corporation and Survey Monkey for survey possibilities.

        2. Why hasn’t the survey come out already?

        The vote was just over a month ago. Since this time the MEC met with Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Staff Negotiator, to discuss the next steps. Also, the MEC was in discussions over the new Mobilization Committee (just announced), creating the new AFA Alaska Facebook page (launched this week), plus brainstorming for upcoming mobilization trainings.

        The MEC met last week for the monthly MEC meeting. During this meeting the MEC met with members of management; Ben, Andy, and Ron, to discuss potential dates for mediation and to share why we believe the TA failed.

        The survey will be coming out in the next few weeks.

        3. Are there any “activities” planned for the upcoming shareholder’s meeting?

        The shareholder’s meeting is on May 8th in Anchorage. The MEC has not made formal plans for events on this day due in part to the fact that we are not allowed to use non-rev travel for “action” events. However, several ideas were discussed on what we could do and I will be looking into these ideas next week. Stay tuned!

        4. What happened in December to get us to a TA so quickly?

        Several factors may have come into play in the December session – 1. The action planned for December 19 had the company very nervous. A big marketing campaign was due to launch on this day and having hundreds of blue AFA t-shirts in all our stations was proving to dash a happy announcement. Also, the remaining items on the table were fairly close and management came in ready to work.

        Delta is a huge concern for the company right now. The attack on our home turf and our route system is a financial detriment that is only going to get worse, in their eyes. So, it is in their best interest to get a deal with the FA group and turn all their efforts to the fight with Delta.

        5. Are the LEC Presidents involved in the process?

        Yes, we are. During negotiations the MEC sets a conf call at the end of each session to discuss what transpired at the table. On occasion, the NC may ask for a conf call during the process to brain storm ideas and seek clarification on ideas. Also, each member of the team is assigned an LEC P to call and communication with during the process to keep everyone informed.

        6. How could the LEC Ps not understand how bad this TA was?

                    The LEC Ps are bound to represent the members and the desires of the members. From the survey the members ranked money, flexibility, and language clarification as high priorities. Paid for sit times, scope protection, etc. all ranked higher than sick leave or attendance. The LEC Ps discussed, at length, their positions on the TA. We voted to support the TA to go out for your consideration because it met the goals of the survey.

        The results of the vote illustrate a totally different view and we will go back in and address the issues brought forward from the new survey.

        7. Who chooses the new NC team?

        The voting members of the MEC are the LEC Presidents. The entire MEC will interview the candidates, but the ultimate decision lies with the LEC Presidents: One vote per president. In the event of a tie vote the MEC President breaks the tie vote.

        In the event of a change in LEC Presidents (LEC P) as a result of the current election cycles in PDX and SEA, the newly elected LEC P will have an opportunity to sit in the interview process, but this person will not have a vote. The intent of this is to allow the current LEC P and the LEC P-elect an opportunity to discuss the candidates- allowing the LEC P-elect to have input. Also, this will ensure that the new team members get to work immediately and attend training if they have not already done so- not delaying the process any longer.

        Questions from the TA:

        “The summary confused us. Why do a summary and not focus on the actual language?”

        The purpose of the summary is to offer a highlight of the changes in each section.  The team did realize that a comparison chart is another great way to highlight changes and this format will be available for the next TA.

        What is the process at the table?

        Both sides decide on the sections to discuss. A general discussion takes place to see how close, or far apart, each side is. If AFA has an idea on a section and the Company is willing to review the proposal, AFA will break away from the table and draft a proposal. The proposal looks like a section of the contract that includes new language, excludes language that is not relevant, and show changes to language if need be. This proposal is given to the company and they review. During any session several sections could be passed back and forth.

        When all sections have been completed the work of pulling the sections together begins. This happens with members of both sides who go through the entire TA to ensure that the language is captured and correct.

        Both AFA and the company agree that it will be important to take a little more time during this process to prepare the language. But, as with any agreement, clarifications in the form of LOAs and arbitration decisions will occur, and do occur, during the length of the agreement.

        The discussion touched on topics for concern, 480 thresholds, sick leave, vacation, JA-no ja on a day traded away, period (!), and insurance caps. Jake did provided insight from the table on each of these sections and managements unwillingness to budge in many areas.

        The main goal of the company was to increase productivity. This will be a focus in the next round of negotiations. It will be important to understand where the members are willing to go in certain sections in response to the company’s desires.

        Many in the room explained that flexibility is key and a top priority. Others enjoyed the pay increase, but were concerned about the impact of the attendance policy.

        The most important point reflected in the meeting is the fact that the company does not appear to value the group. The 6 JD Power Awards, other awards, support from our customers all fall on deaf ears. The group feels strongly that they helped the company achieve the financial success we enjoy today by passing the extension and now it is time for the company to show their appreciation by providing healthy raises and flexibility.

        Also, based on discussion I will be drafting information on the differences between AFA meetings: MEC, LEC, Base Meetings, etc, and how decisions are made at the MEC level and who directs the discussion at the negotiation table. Look for this communication next week.

        The duties of each LEC Office (President, Vice President, Sec-Treasurer, and Council Representative) is clearly defined the in AFA Constitution and By-Laws. You can find the link on the AFA website or by visiting afacwa.org

        We look forward to seeing you at the next meeting-

        Jake, Linda, Toni, and Laura

        March 2014 Pairings Report

        Print Friendly, PDF & Email

        Filed Under: Council 19 SEA

        Need Help?

        Have an issue or concern to report to AFA?  Click here to access the AFA Alaska online support center.

        Latest News

        • AFA News in Review – July 11, 2025
        • Grievance Win For Flight Attendants: Reinforcing Our Contractual Rights Under Sections 8.M and 8.D
        • Navigating Uncertainty During Terrorism Alerts
        • AFA News in Review – July 4, 2025
        • Management’s Planned Hawaiian Airlines Seattle Flight Attendant Domicile
        • AFA News in Review – June 27, 2025
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2025
        • Take Action Now: Stop Cuts and Giveaway to Billionaires
        • When Screen Time Becomes Too Much
        • Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

        Grievance Win For Flight Attendants: Reinforcing Our Contractual Rights Under Sections 8.M and 8.D

        July 11, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants A recent arbitration ruling has brought a significant victory that strengthens our rights under Sections 8.M and 8.D of our Collective Bargaining Agreement. This decision flows from Grievance 36-99-2-38-24 (Violation of §8.M) and Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-458-22 (Violation of §8.D Check In and Release). What does this mean […]

        Navigating Uncertainty During Terrorism Alerts

        July 11, 2025

        As Flight Attendants, we are trained to stay calm in emergencies and act swiftly to protect our passengers and crew. But when terrorism alerts are raised—whether at home or abroad—the anxiety that comes with being away from your loved ones can feel overwhelming. It’s completely natural to feel unsettled or vulnerable in times like these. […]

        Management’s Planned Hawaiian Airlines Seattle Flight Attendant Domicile

        June 30, 2025

        Today, management announced plans to establish Hawaiian Airlines’ 787 Pilot and Flight Attendant bases in Seattle by early 2026. This move aims to enhance operational efficiencies for Alaska Airlines as it expands its international presence in the Seattle area. According to the terms of the Merger Transition Protocol Letter of Agreement, the Company is allowed to […]

        Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2025

        June 26, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, June 24, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons/Representatives met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Virginia Fritz (SFO), Kanako Yamado […]

        Take Action Now: Stop Cuts and Giveaway to Billionaires

        June 26, 2025

        It’s time to take action! The Senate is currently reviewing its version of the federal budget already passed in the House. There are seriously harmful cuts to benefits and rights we count on as workers. Below is a brief summary of their plans to cut from programs we count on to fund and supercharge a massive […]

        Recent Posts

        • AFA News in Review – July 11, 2025
        • Grievance Win For Flight Attendants: Reinforcing Our Contractual Rights Under Sections 8.M and 8.D
        • Navigating Uncertainty During Terrorism Alerts
        • AFA News in Review – July 4, 2025
        • Management’s Planned Hawaiian Airlines Seattle Flight Attendant Domicile
        • AFA News in Review – June 27, 2025
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2025
        • Take Action Now: Stop Cuts and Giveaway to Billionaires
        • When Screen Time Becomes Too Much
        • Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025
        • AFA News in Review – June 20, 2025
        • Joint Contract Negotiations Session 4 – June 2025
        • Mahalo From Your AFA Hawaiian Communications Committee
        • Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025
        • AFA News in Review – June 13, 2025

        Local Councils

        • Anchorage
        • Honolulu
        • Los Angeles (pre-merger Alaska)
        • Los Angeles (pre-merger Hawaiian)
        • Portland
        • San Diego
        • San Francisco
        • Seattle

        Master Executive Council

        • MEC

        Negotiations

        • Contract 2022 Home
        • Negotiations News
        • TA2 Information

        Contract

        • Contract Home

        Committees

        • Air Safety, Health, & Security
        • Benefits
        • Communications
        • EAP/Professional Standards
        • Government Affairs
        • Grievance
        • Hotel
        • Human Rights
        • Inflight Service
        • Mobilization
        • Reserve
        • Retirement
        • Scheduling
        • Uniform

        News By Month

        News By Category

        AFA News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) AS/HA Merger AS/VX Merger Benefits Committee Committees Communications Committee Contract Contract 2014 Negotiations Blog Council 15 SAN Council 18 LAX Council 19 SEA Council 30 ANC Council 35 SFO Council 39 PDX EAP/Professional Standards Committee Extension 2021 Blog Featured Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee Hotel Committee Human Rights & Equity Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) Membership Committee Message from the MEC President Mobilization Committee Negotiations Pairing Construction Preferential Bidding System (PBS) Press Releases Reserve Committee Retirement Committee Scheduling Committee Uniform Committee
        • Email
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • YouTube

        Want To Stay In The Loop?

        Stay up-to-date on AFA Alaska news and information by signing up for our email and text message updates. Click a button below to get started or update your preferences if you're already a subscriber.
        Sign Up for Emails
        Sign Up for Text Updates

        Connect With AFA

        • Contact Us
        • Online Support Center
        • AFA International
        • CWA
        • AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines
        • AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy

        Copyright © 2013-2025 Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO