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        You are here: Home / Archives for 2021

        AFA Alaska Contract Extension 2021 Tentative Agreement Update – April 9, 2021

        April 9, 2021 15:00

        AFA Alaska Contract Extension 2021 Tentative Agreement Update – April 9, 2021

        Master Executive Council

        In This Edition

        • First Virtual Roadshow Recording and Transcript Posted
        • Second Virtual Roadshow and Special Guest Panelists

        First Virtual Roadshow Recording and Transcript Posted

        The first virtual roadshow session took place earlier today, Friday, April 9th at 10am PT via Zoom. A recording of the session and its transcript may be accessed from the Contract Extension 2021 webpage –> Virtual Roadshows –> Session Recordings.


        Second Virtual Roadshow and Special Guest Panelists

        Register for the second virtual roadshow on Monday, April 12th at 10am PT by visiting the Contract Extension 2021 webpage –> Virtual Roadshows –> Schedule & Registration. Advanced registration is required in order to participate.

        Two special guest panelists are currently confirmed for this session:

        • AFA-CWA Director of Collective Bargaining Joe Burns
        • Aviation Economist Dan Akins of FlightPath Economics

        Join us!


        Questions?

        Do you have questions about the proposed contract extension?  Is there something you would like clarified or need more information about?  Email extension@afaalaska.org to get your answers from the source!  You can also view the Contract Extension 2021 blog to review questions asked by other Flight Attendants and the answers from AFA.

        Filed Under: Latest News, Negotiations Tagged With: 2021, contract, Extension, roadshow, TA, tentative agreement

        AFA Alaska Special Negotiations Update – Potential One-Year Contract Extension

        April 8, 2021 11:00

        In This Edition

        • Tentative Agreement for a One-Year Contract Extension
        • Contract Extension 2021 Webpage

        Tentative Agreement for a One-Year Contract Extension

        Master Executive Council

        Earlier this week, AFA and Alaska Airlines management reached an agreement in concept on a one-year extension to the contract. Your Local Executive Council (LEC) presidents, who are the directly elected representatives and voting members of the Master Executive Council (MEC), subsequently reviewed the agreement in concept and unanimously approved it to be released as a tentative agreement (TA) for membership ratification. Although there are encouraging signs of developing economic recovery within the airline industry, the MEC and management recognize that entering into negotiations during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic would potentially—if not likely—be unproductive for AFA and for the Company. The MEC strongly believes this proposed contract extension is worthy of your consideration.


        Contract Extension 2021 Webpage

        Visit the Contract Extension 2021 webpage at https://afaalaska.org/extension2021 as your “one-stop shop” for information about the Contract Extension TA:

        • Full Text TA
        • Highlights (e.g., revised “early opener” and amendable dates; 1.5% full-scale step rates of pay increases effective December 17, 2021; PPO healthcare contributions frozen at 2019 rates; etc.)
        • Timeline
        • Virtual Roadshows (via Zoom)
          • Schedule and required registration for “live” sessions:
            • Fri 4/9 10 AM – 11 AM PT
            • Mon 4/12 10 AM – 11 AM PT
            • Wed 4/14 7 PM – 8 PM PT
            • Sat 4/17 3 PM – 4 PM PT
          • Archive for all sessions, which will be recorded and posted
        • Link to the Contract Extension 2021 blog
        • Voting information

        Questions?

        Do you have questions about the proposed contract extension?  Is there something you would like clarified or need more information about?  Email extension@afaalaska.org to get your answers from the source!  You can also view the Contract Extension 2021 blog to review questions asked by other Flight Attendants and the answers from AFA.

        Filed Under: Latest News, Negotiations Tagged With: 2021, Extension, negotiations, TA, tentative agreement

        AFA Update – March 19, 2021

        March 19, 2021 17:00

        In This Edition

        • How the First Amendment Applies in the Workplace
        • Benefits Enrollment Upon Returning from a Leave of Absence (including EVF or ELOA)
        • What’s the Difference Between a Fear and a Phobia?
        • REMINDER: Scholarship Opportunities

        How the First Amendment Applies in the Workplace

        Grievance Committee

        The Grievance Committee is hearing a lot of chatter from Flight Attendants believing they are exempt from discipline from harassment or discrimination due to their First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religion.  We’d like to give a brief overview of how the Amendment actually affects one who works for a private employer such as Alaska Airlines.

        The First Amendment of the United States Constitution prevents the government from making laws which regulate an establishment of religion, or that would prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, or the right to petition the government for redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.

        The key word in the Amendment is government.  Alaska Airlines is a private rather than governmental employer.  It can legally establish system regulations or people policies enforcing its behavioral and disciplinary standards providing these policies do not violate state and/or federal law.  

        Present federal law protections from discrimination regarding employment decisions are based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender (including pregnancy), disability, age (if the employee is at least 40 years old), and citizenship status.  The Equality Act is also adding protections based on one’s sexual orientation and gender identity.  These protections safeguard people who fit those categories from being discriminated against regarding employment decisions based on that status.  For example, Alaska Airlines couldn’t refuse to hire an otherwise qualified candidate only because s/he is 41 years of age.  

        What the law doesn’t allow for is using your protected status as a defense to harass or discriminate against others.  For example, someone over 40 years of age may not harass another person based on their race because they believe themselves to be an “old school thinker” and are basing their actions on beliefs/feelings from when they were younger or when things “were different.”  This becomes an issue of harassment and/or discrimination and the harasser is not protected from discipline because they fall into the protected class of age.  This applies to all protected classes. 

        The Alaska Airlines People Policy clarifies what constitutes harassment and discrimination, and the Grievance Committee has seen the Company discipline based upon those policies and the law.  While one may not intend to harass or discriminate, Alaska Airlines typically looks at the impact on the person being harassed and not the intent of the harasser.  So, while everyone is entitled to their private opinion or to share their opinion with their government, one can be disciplined for sharing an opinion deemed harassing, discriminatory or intolerant in the workplace or via social media if such nexus can be made to your private employer.  We share this information in the attempt to educate our fellow members and prevent any further discipline or terminations.

        Questions?

        Please contact your Local Grievance Committee if you have any questions.


        Benefits Enrollment Upon Returning from a Leave of Absence (including EVF or ELOA)

        Benefits Committee

        As a reminder, Flight Attendants returning from a leave of absence, including EVF or ELOA, must complete the enrollment process again in order to maintain or reinstate company health benefits.  Optional coverages which were not in place during the leave such as FSA contributions or Supplemental Short-Term Disability must be re-added to your coverage.  Previously elected benefits do not resume automatically.  It is essential to contact Alaska Airlines Benefits at (844) 231-3476 or visit www.myalaskabenefits.com within 31 days from the date of returning to work to verify, enroll or make changes to benefits.  If enrollment is not completed during this window, no changes are able to be made until the next open enrollment period and your current health benefits may terminate, even if you maintained coverage during your EVF or other leave. 

        Questions?

        If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your Local Benefits Committee.


        What’s the Difference Between a Fear and a Phobia?

        Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

        Phobias come in many different forms. Acrophobia is the fear of heights. Trypanophobia is the fear of needles. Hodophobia is the fear of traveling.  Phobias are one of the most common mental health disorders with 11% of people experiencing at least one phobia over her/his lifespan.  So, what is the difference between a fear and a phobia? 

        Fears have a protective purpose.  They make us alert to danger and prepare us to deal with it.  Phobias involve the experience of persistent fear that is excessive and unreasonable. A fear of being hit by lightning during a thunderstorm will result in most of us leaving the beach when a thunderstorm pops up. Most would call this a reasonable, if not healthy fear.  Once the thunderstorm clears, we go back onto the beach.  Those with a phobia about being struck by lightning, which is called astraphobia, may find it difficult to even venture outside with a concern that a thunderstorm could pop up anytime.   The key to distinguishing a fear from a phobia is whether the person is physically and/or psychologically impaired by her/his worry.  In short, a phobia is a fear of being afraid. It results in a person limiting or eliminating normal life activities just to avoid the triggering objector event.  

        Most people generally don’t seek treatment for phobias. Only 6% of people with a phobia ever go in for treatment.  This low treatment rate is due in part because those with a phobia are not totally disabled by it. Many are able to successfully create routines to avoid their trigger(s).  Not before a person’s phobia is extremely severe or life limiting does one typically seek help.

        Even though phobias can be very disabling and downright exhausting, the great news is that phobias in children, adolescents and adults are also very treatable. If you’d like confidential assistance with a phobia or other anxiety disorders, call one of your Local EAP Committee Members. You can find contact information on the EAP Committee page of afaalaska.org.


        REMINDER: Scholarship Opportunities

        AFA International

        In a previous AFA Update sent out on January 22, information was shared about scholarship opportunities available to AFA and CWA Members as well as certain eligible dependents.  Details about both scholarships, as well as information on how to apply, can be found by following the links below. 

        AFA Scholarship Fund

        The Association of Flight Attendants Scholarship Fund is intended to provide financial assistance to dependents of our active members who will be attending a college or university.  The deadline for applications is April 10.  Details are available on the AFA International website at http://www.afacwa.org/scholarships.

        CWA Joe Beirne Scholarship

        The Joe Beirne Scholarship is offered by CWA. The deadline for applications is April 30.   Details on this scholarship are on the CWA website at http://www.cwa-union.org/pages/beirne.

        Filed Under: Benefits Committee, EAP/Professional Standards Committee, Grievance Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: 2021, Benefits, ELOA, EVF, First Amendment, LOA, scholarship

        Presidents’ Day Weekend 2021 Pacific Northwest Snowstorm

        February 16, 2021 19:00

        Presidents’ Day Weekend 2021 Pacific Northwest Snowstorm


        A Storm for the Record Books

        What a weekend! The recent Pacific Northwest (PNW) snowstorm was one for the record books, so the systemwide severe irregular operations were not terribly surprising. That being said, it’s clear the operation became profoundly broken at various points: Crew Scheduling “perma hold” for up to two hours (assuming one could get through) and/or dropped calls, hotel rooms extremely delayed or unavailable, no ground transportation, significant delays and cancellations, et cetera, et cetera.


        Operational Debrief with Management Next Week

        Your AFA Alaska leadership knows you want answers as to what went wrong and what can be done to prevent this from happening again. We are currently working on scheduling an operational debrief with management for next week. Stay tuned for an update following the debrief.


        AFA Alaska Online Support Center

        In the meantime, we encourage Flight Attendants to open a new ticket at the AFA Alaska Online Support Center if you need a union representative to review an issue or concern. Some examples related to the recent snowstorm:

        • Requests for Management Drop denied (or initially approved and subsequently denied) and No Show assessed
        • Day rooms unavailable (for transit time through an outstation exceeding four hours)
        • Delayed layover hotel rooms – AFA will need FAs to provide their release time into the applicable layover and the time when they received a room key
        • Flight Attendants paid for their own rooms either due to snow rooms being unavailable or layover hotel rooms being unavailable

        Please provide as many details as possible to help your AFA representatives research your ticket. Thank you!

        Filed Under: Latest News, Scheduling Committee Tagged With: 2021, irregular operations, irregular ops, snowstorm

        AFA Special Update – February 1, 2021

        February 1, 2021 17:00

        In This Edition

        • Celebrating Black History Month

        Celebrating Black History Month

        Human Rights Committee

        Carter G. Woodson

        February 1st marks the first day of Black History Month in the United States.  The celebration has a long tradition that can be traced back to 1925 when Harvard trained-historian Carter G. Woodson introduced “Negro History Week”, which sought to raise awareness of the contributions made by Black individuals to society and the world.  It was expanded to its current form in 1976 by President Gerald R. Ford when it became Black History Month.

        Learn More About Black History

        You can learn more about the accomplishments of Black Americans through some of the dedicated websites and resources below.

        • National Archives – African American History Month Resources
        • National Endowment for the Humanities – African American History and Culture in the United States
        • National Park Service – Black History Month
        • Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of African American History & Culture
        • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Black History Month
        • Alaska Air Group Black Employees, Allies and Advocates (ABEA) – Black History Month Virtual Discussions (AAG sign-on required)

        Celebrate with a Black History Month AFA Pin

        In 2019, the AFA Executive Board unanimously passed a resolution in recognition of February as Black History Month.   The resolution established a special commemorative pin for AFA Members to wear throughout the month of February.

        For more information about the pin, contact your Local Human Rights Committee.  Also be on the lookout for a communication from your Local Council or contact your LEC Officers to determine pin availability.

        Filed Under: Human Rights & Equity Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: 2021, Black History Month

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

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        October 22, 2025

        We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]

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        On Monday, October 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

        Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

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        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

        Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

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        During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]

        U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement

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        Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes to the rules surrounding how airlines report information about passengers and crew before flights. This system is called the Advance Passenger Information System, or APIS. These changes are in response to a Presidential Executive Order. What is APIS? APIS is a system that airlines are legally […]

        Recent Posts

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