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Never Forget | Alaska Airlines Flight 261 | January 31, 2000

 

On this day in 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 PVR-SFO-SEA crashed off the coast of Southern California after it suffered a catastrophic flight control failure. A sundial memorial was constructed in Port Hueneme, California (pictured above) to remember those lives lost.

We will never forget our fellow crewmembers: Flight Attendant Kristin Mills, Flight Attendant Craig Pulanco, Flight Attendant Allison Shanks, Captain Ted Thompson and First Officer William Tansky. Our thoughts are with their friends and families today and always.

Follow Up To AAG Non-Revenue Travel “Embargo”

Last week on Wednesday, January 24, Alaska Air Group management issued an Alaska’s World article (AAG sign-on required) indicating that the company would be implementing an “embargo” on non-revenue travel in conjunction with the cutover to a single Passenger Service Computer System (PSS) at the end of April.  AFA subsequently posted a response to this embargo and committed to addressing the issue with management.

Shortly after the original Alaska’s World article was posted, management updated the article to provide additional clarification that the “embargo” is in fact a voluntary request by management for employees not to engage in non-rev travel during the week of the PSS cutover.  Commuters, those traveling for company business, and those who have booked PST tickets are not being asked to avoid travel during this period.  Non-revenue travel pleasure (including employees traveling with companions) will not be restricted during this time period. The only actual travel that will be embargoed will be guest pass travel (referred to as buddy pass travel under the VX travel program) and non-rev travel by employees of other airlines, who will not be permitted to travel from April 24 through April 30.

Management has provided email addresses should you have any questions regarding employee travel during the PSS cutover or need support.  For Alaska and Horizon travel, contact employee.travel@alaskaair.com; for Virgin America travel, contact vx.team.travel@alaskaair.com.  You may also contact your Local Council Officers should you need assistance.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

[pmAS] Maternity Leave Grievance Survey

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

Last September, AFA published information about management granting our grievance #36-99-2-24-17 (Violation of Section 15.M.1.a & 2.a, Failure to Allow Minimum Coordination While on Maternity Leave) and grievance #36-99-2-25-17 (Failure to Allow Minimum and/or Maximum Coordination While on Maternity Leave).

Grievance #36-99-2-24-17 applies to the time period of 6/8 weeks post-birth to the 120th day post-birth.  It mandates that management follow our contractual provision to allow a Flight Attendant to use minimum coordination with sick leave and/or vacation from 6/8 weeks’ post-birth to 120 days’ post-birth.  Previously management required maximum coordination with at least 70 TFP of sick leave monthly.

Grievance #36-99-2-25-17 encompasses 121st day post-birth up to one to eight months leave post-120th day.  Again, this mandates that management follow our contractual provision to allow a Flight Attendant to coordinate minimum or maximum sick leave and/or vacation from one month up to eight months following the 120th day post-birth.

As part of the resolution process, AFA is collecting information from Flight Attendants who may have been affected by the grievance. If you were on maternity leave any time between December 2014 and now, we ask that you complete the survey below to provide us with additional details regarding your leave.

Click here to access the Maternity Leave Grievance Survey

If you have already completed this survey in paper form, there is no need to complete the survey again.  The survey will be available through Monday, February 12, 2018.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

Merger Negotiations Session #10 and #11 Update – January 2018 Part 2

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) wrapped up our tenth merger negotiations session last week January 24-25 in Seattle, WA. We are now in our eleventh session this week and are currently meeting with management today (January 29) in Seattle.

Representing management: Vice President of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America Inflight & Call Center/Guest Services Jeff Butler (last week), Managing Director of Labor Relations Elizabeth Ryan, Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel and Virgin America Supervisor of Crew Pay Peter Silberstein.

As mentioned in the prior merger negotiations update, the parties reached tentative agreement on several important comprehensive proposals the week before last. The parties continued to close out the remaining open items last week and our efforts resume this week. Based on progress in recent sessions, the JNC is comfortable reporting that we have made substantial progress towards achieving a comprehensive agreement.

Consistent with AFA’s policy, there is no comprehensive Tentative Agreement (TA) until all provisions have been finalized.  Once all items have been agreed between the union and the company, the JNC would then present a full text TA to the Master Executive Council (MEC) for approval. In turn, MEC approval consists of the MEC voting whether to release the TA for membership ratification.

Now that Alaska Airlines has achieved Single Operating Certificate (SOC), it is not surprising that Virgin America (VX) Flight Attendants are very concerned over not yet being brought up to the Alaska pay rates. AFA completely agrees that VX FAs should have been at the Alaska pay rates long before now. In fact, AFA advocated for full Alaska pay rates for VX FAs when AFA first achieved representation back in April 2017. (See the April 28, 2017 “[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Wage Increase” update for more information.) Be assured that AFA and management have been actively discussing our membership’s expectation that VX FAs receive equal pay.

The JNC is scheduled to meet in Seattle the entire week next week (February 5-9) as a final push towards completing a TA.

In Solidarity,

Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

 

Keep in mind that merger negotiations are a different process than regular negotiations. Discussions are focusing on a limited list of Flight Attendant priorities. All the provisions in the AFA Alaska contract (scheduled pay raises, etc.) will continue in force for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants; all the provisions in the Virgin America work rules will remain in effect for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants unless modified and/or superseded by the AFA Virgin America letters of agreement.

Introducing Your Inflight Training Committee

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews last week for three positons for the new Inflight Training Committee: one chairperson position and two committee member positions. The MEC would like to thank the candidates who demonstrated willingness to represent our Flight Attendants. After thorough deliberation, the MEC has appointed Megan Brown to the chairperson position and Steven Vincent and Samuel Clifton to the committee member positions.

About The Committee Members

Megan Brown, Inflight Training Committee Chairperson

Megan started her Flight Attendant career in 1991.  After Flight 261, she decided to get involved with the AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  She spent 10 years as the Local EAP Chair/Co-Chair for Council 19 in Seattle.  In 2004, she joined the inflight training department where she was an initial instructor and recurrent instructor, which she enjoyed.  In 2016, Megan stepped out of the classroom, but continued to support training by performing Probationary Observations and IOEs. She has recently stepped back into the classroom and hopes to support Flight Attendants’ training needs and concerns.

Megan’s greatest accomplishment is her son, Zane.  When she’s not flying, she spends her time with her family.  She looks forward to learning and supporting her fellow coworkers in her work with AFA.

Steven Vincent, Inflight Training Committee Member

Steven attended initial training in June 1981.  He initially became involved with AFA just after probation, starting with involvement on the Safety Committee.  He also became the chairperson of the AFA International Aircraft Technical Committee immediately after probation. In this role he worked with Regulatory committees and Aircraft Manufactures. He also provided accident support for the International committee and the member airlines representing AFA Flight Attendants.

In 1983, he joined the training department in preparation for the MD-80 aircraft arrival. He has worked on development and presenting training for the MD-80, 737-400 and Russian extended overwater flying for 727-200, MD-80 and support for ETOPS certification of the 737. He also has conducted Initial training since mid-80s.

Previously, Steve participated in the development and implementation of merger training for pre-merger Jet America Flight Attendants. In Alaska/Virgin America merger, he has supported pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants by participating in the blending of emergency procedures, manuals and training for FAM revision cycle 4 in SFO.

In this new role, Steve hopes to represent the entire membership as we merge to become one Flight Attendant group.

Samuel Clifton, Inflight Training Committee Member

Sam has been with Virgin America since May 2007 as an Inflight Team Leader and Inflight Instructor, mainly teaching recurrent training but has also taught several new hire training classes.

Prior to working at Virgin America, Sam worked at American Trans Air (ATA) from 1989 through 2007.  While at ATA, he was a Flight Attendant and also taught recurrent training throughout the system.  He was an active member of AFA and served on the LEC Informational Committee during contract negotiations.

From 1986-1989 Sam served in the United States Air Force as a C-5 Aircraft Crew Chief.

Sam has always had the aviation bug!  When not working he enjoys being at home in the Bay Area taking his miniature Australian Shepherd for walks on the Bay Trail.  Something interesting about Sam is he has a small collection of vintage Barbies ranging from 1959-1968.

He is extremely excited to be serving on the Inflight Training Committee and hopes to be a strong voice for his fellow instructors.

About The Inflight Training Committee

The Inflight Training Committee is an MEC-level committee responsible for working with management to advocate for Flight Attendant interests in all matters pertaining to Flight Attendant training programs and to represent the unique needs and interests of Flight Attendants who are involved in Flight Attendant Initial and/or Recurrent Training and training-related special projects.  Additional information about the Inflight Training Committee can be found at http://afaalaska.org/inflighttraining.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

November 1 marks the beginning of Native American Heritage Month in the United States. Also known as National Native American Heritage Month, this celebration originated from efforts to recognize an American Indian Day in the early 20th century. In 1916, New York became the first state to officially proclaim American Indian Day following a declaration […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, October 28, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at Alaska Airlines Corporate Headquarters 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), […]

Sick Leave Survey Now Open

Your Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) prioritizes your health and well-being and seeks to understand which aspects of our paid sick leave policy matter most to you. We encourage you to participate in the survey, which is open until Tuesday, November 11 at Noon PT, to ensure your voice is heard in shaping our support for your healthcare needs.

SEA Domicile Negotiations – October 2025 Update #2

This session was marked by the Negotiating Committee’s strong advocacy for protections and enhancements that would support the Seattle base as a viable option for transferring Flight Attendants. With insights from Ryan St. John, the Vice President of Finance, Planning, and Investor Relations for Alaska Airlines, the Negotiating Committee highlighted the necessity of combining data-driven strategies with hands-on experience and sufficient resources for long-term success.

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 8 – October 2025

During our recent negotiations, the Joint Negotiation Committee focused on key sections, particularly reaching a Tentative Agreement on Lodging and Transportation, which improves food availability and transportation safety. We also engaged with Council 19 to clarify negotiation processes and differences between contracts. Stay tuned for our upcoming session with management from November 18 to 20.

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