AFA Alaska

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

Click here to report an issue to AFA
Menu
  • Local Councils
    • Anchorage (Council 30)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Los Angeles (Council 18)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • 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
      • Inflight Service
      • Inflight Training
      • Membership
      • Mobilization
      • Reserve
      • Retirement
      • Scheduling
        • Pairing Construction
        • Preferential Bidding System (PBS)
      • Uniform

    • More About Committees >>
    Close
  • Contract
      • Contract Home
        • Current Contract
        • Ask Contract Questions
      • Contract Resources
        • Read Contract Q&A
        • Explanatory Videos
      • Contract Negotiations
    • Close
  • Resources
      • Issues & Campaigns
      • Newsroom
        • AFA Alaska News Now
        • Message from the MEC President
      • Event Calendar
      • Membership Services
      • New Members
      • About
      • Links
      Close
    • Negotiations
    • 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.

    Connect with Us on Facebook

    Connect with Us on Facebook

    Follow Us on Twitter

    Tweets by AFAAlaska

    Instagram

    The Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling today that denied an appeal from Alaska Airlines to reconsider a lower court’s ruling in the case of Bernstein v. Virgin America. The lawsuit claimed that various California labor laws had been violated related to wages, hours worked, pay, and meal and rest breaks. The suit was originally filed against Virgin America and became the responsibility of Alaska Airlines after the merger between the two companies. Management has distributed multiple employee communications complaining that they will now have to obey the law but has not shown that they are focused on practical solutions. AFA stands ready to work out a solution with management that is compliant with the law and is a mutually agreeable path forward for all stakeholders.
    Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, June 28 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding. Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
    Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15 to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants. As part of the meeting, the MEC met with members of inflight, labor relations, and executive management to discuss issues and concerns that are facing our work group and need to be addressed. The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 12 and Wednesday, July 13. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your LEC President if you have any questions.
    AFA Alaska leadership and Alaska Airlines management have reached agreement on a remedy for the delayed May & June bid awards. All Flight Attendants who were active at any point during the May or June 2022 bid months will receive 4.0 TFP on their respective July 20th paychecks. Thank you to the more than 4400 who participated in the “It’s Time to Make It Right!” letter writing campaign, and AFA appreciates management's commitment to doing the right thing in these circumstances.
    Our AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, June 9 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent and advocate for our Reserve Flight Attendants. The Committee also met with management to review a number of specific concerns that were brought forward by Flight Attendants. Your Local Reserve Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any reserve related issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
    Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, May 31 to discuss their ongoing program of work to advance human rights within our workplace and community. The Committee also met with management to receive updates on what progress has been made on concerns that had been previously brought forward and address new concerns that have come to light. If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

    Latest News

    • Council 35 News – June 2022
    • AFA Alaska News in Review – July 1, 2022
    • Supreme Court Ruling on Bernstein v. Virgin America
    • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2022
    • AFA Alaska News in Review – June 17, 2022
    • June 2022 MEC Meeting Recap
    • AFA Alaska News in Review – June 10, 2022
    • AFA and Management Agree on a Remedy for the Delayed May & June 2022 Bid Awards
    • Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022
    • Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022

    Supreme Court Ruling on Bernstein v. Virgin America

    June 30, 2022 Leave a Comment

    The Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling today that denied an appeal from Alaska Airlines to reconsider a lower court’s ruling in the case of Bernstein v. Virgin America. The lawsuit claimed that various California labor laws had been violated related to wages, hours worked, pay, and meal and rest breaks.  The suit was originally filed against Virgin America and became the responsibility of Alaska Airlines after the merger between the two companies. Management has distributed multiple employee communications complaining that they will now have to obey the law but has not shown that they are focused on practical solutions.  AFA stands ready to work out a solution with management that is compliant with the law and is a mutually agreeable path forward for all stakeholders.

    Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2022

    June 29, 2022 2 Comments

    Scheduling Committee Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, June 28 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding. Your Local Scheduling […]

    June 2022 MEC Meeting Recap

    June 16, 2022

    Master Executive Council (MEC) Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15 to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants. As part of the meeting, the MEC met with members of inflight, labor relations, and executive management to discuss issues and concerns that […]

    AFA and Management Agree on a Remedy for the Delayed May & June 2022 Bid Awards

    June 10, 2022

    AFA Alaska leadership and Alaska Airlines management have reached agreement on a remedy for the delayed May & June bid awards. All Flight Attendants who were active at any point during the May or June 2022 bid months will receive 4.0 TFP on their respective July 20th paychecks. Thank you to the more than 4400 who participated in the “It’s Time to Make It Right!” letter writing campaign, and AFA appreciates management’s commitment to doing the right thing in these circumstances.

    Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022

    June 10, 2022

    Reserve Committee Our AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, June 9 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent and advocate for our Reserve Flight Attendants. The Committee also met with management to review a number of specific concerns that were brought forward by Flight Attendants. Your Local Reserve Committee is available to […]

    Masks Are No Longer Required in Airports or Onboard

    April 18, 2022 By Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President)

    The CDC and TSA report the federal mask mandate is no longer in effect after today’s court ruling. Additionally, Alaska Airlines management just announced via multiple channels that the mask mandate is lifted effective immediately on all aircraft.

    December 2021 MEC Meeting Recap

    December 8, 2021 By Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President)

    December 2021 MEC Meeting Recap Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson Just wrapped up chairing our monthly MEC meeting yesterday and today. As usual, your AFA committee chairs and reps provided written reports to the MEC about the latest developments in their areas, and we received live briefings regarding dispute resolution & grievances, scheduling, […]

    Inflight Leadership Change and the Path Forward

    December 6, 2021 By Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President)

    Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson Now that is has been officially announced that Travis will be stepping away as leader of the Inflight division, I thought Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants might want to hear from their MEC president. I may not always be at liberty to communicate the details of every conversation advocating […]

    RSS Negotiations News

    • Introducing Our Negotiations Administrative Support Representative
    • Get Ready for Our Negotiations Survey—Update Your Contact Information Now!
    • Negotiating Committee Listening Sessions Conclude
    • Boarding Pay
    • Get Involved: Seeking Local Mobilization Committee Chairpersons
    • Three Things That You Can Do to Keep Management From Getting the Upper Hand in Contract Negotiations
    • Introducing Our AFA Staff Negotiator and Staff Attorney
    • Introducing our MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson
    • Negotiating Committee Listening Sessions – Sign Up Now!
    • Introducing Our Negotiating Committee

    Recent Posts

    • Council 35 News – June 2022
    • AFA Alaska News in Review – July 1, 2022
    • Supreme Court Ruling on Bernstein v. Virgin America
    • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2022
    • AFA Alaska News in Review – June 17, 2022
    • June 2022 MEC Meeting Recap
    • AFA Alaska News in Review – June 10, 2022
    • AFA and Management Agree on a Remedy for the Delayed May & June 2022 Bid Awards
    • Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022
    • Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022

    Local Councils

    • Anchorage
    • Los Angeles
    • Portland
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
    • Seattle

    Master Executive Council

    • MEC

    Negotiations

    • Contract 2022 Home
    • Negotiating Committee
    • Negotiations Feedback
    • Negotiations News
    • Negotiations Process

    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 Alaska News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) 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 Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) 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
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Want To Stay In The Loop?

    The best way to stay connected with up-to-date AFA Alaska news and information is through a subscription to AFA Alaska emails!  Click the button below to sign up.  Already a subscriber?  You can make changes to your email by clicking below!
    Sign Up

    Connect With AFA

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

    Copyright © 2013-2022 Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO