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

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 for you? The ruling clarifies that if you’ve waived your domicile rest, and your trip is operationally impacted such that your domicile rest is reduced to under 10 hours, Crew Scheduling cannot simply change your report time for the first leg/duty period of your second trip to meet CFR requirements before your duty period of your first trip has ended. 

Thanks to this ruling, Flight Attendants impacted by these circumstances can confidently exercise their rights under Section 8.M, including:

  • The ability to drop the second trip without pay protection.
  • The option to pick up the sequence at a SIP point or via deadhead (with duty limitations applying) if there is a nonstop flight with a legal ground connection and an available seat before the next flight in the sequence.
  • The option to work a mutually agreed-upon substitute assignment, though pay protection and premium per section 10.R.h.1 won’t apply.

This grievance was initially filed after management denied a Flight Attendant’s request to use these provisions back in September 2023. Following that, the Company wrongfully adjusted the check-in time for the Flight Attendant’s next assignment, violating our Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The arbitrator was clear: Alaska Airlines overstepped by altering the report time for the Flight Attendant’s second trip while their duty period on the first trip was still ongoing. Moving forward, such unilateral changes by the Company are off the table when a Flight Attendant has waived their contractual domicile rest.

Our Grievance Committee is thrilled with this outcome. We encourage you to reach out to your Local Grievance Committee with any questions. This ruling is not just a victory; it’s a crucial step in safeguarding our rights and ensuring compliance with our collective bargaining agreement. 

Commuter Boarding Priority Arbitration

On October 25, 2018, the Company and AFA arbitrated Grievance 36-99-2-29-15 (Section 28.G.6 Commuter Boarding Priority). This grievance alleged the Company’s violation of the collective bargaining agreement when management allowed Company employees (and their dependents) on pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants. AFA is very pleased to inform you that a neutral arbitrator has found in favor of AFA’s position. 

Background

In 2015, AFA became aware that management had made changes to the employee travel program giving management employees at the director level and certain IT employees a boarding priority of D2 for space-available pleasure travel. D2 is above the boarding priority of D8 for space-available registered commuter travel and well above the boarding priority of E1 that most employees receive for space-available pleasure travel. Contract 2014-2019 Section 28.G [Commuter Policy] states that registered commuters will be given boarding priority over Company employees (and dependents) on pleasure travel and over all employees of other airlines on Alaska Airlines mainline flights. 

The Award

The parties recently received the final award, which specifies:

  1. The grievance was timely filed.
  2. The Company violated Section 28.G.6 of the 2014-2019 Agreement when it allowed Company employees and their dependents on non-revenue pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants.
  3. The Company is prohibited from granting Company employees and their dependents on non-revenue pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants.

The Remedy

Management estimates it will take approximately eight weeks to implement the required changes to Fly in order to become contractually compliant. When the changes are complete, the D2 boarding priority will be deactivated for Directors (and their dependents), and they will use the E1Y space-available pleasure travel boarding priority instead. This award decision is a very satisfying resolution for AFA. This award decision is a very satisfying resolution for AFA. The award restores the proper boarding priority for space-available registered commuter travel relative to all other employees on space-available pleasure travel. It also sends a clear message to management that proper notice must be given to the union for changes to Company Policy and that unilateral changes to policy in conflict with contract language doesn’t fly!  

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

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

On Wednesday, March 25, our AFA Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to raise awareness and create positive change within our workplace and community. Your representatives attending the meeting included Louise Borras (LAX-pmAS), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (LAX-pmHA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Nyachan Chuar (ANC), and Yan Yan Teague (SEA). MEC Human […]

Pre-Merger Hawaiian Inflight Service Committee Update – March 2026

Editor’s Note: Our MEC Inflight Service Committee now represents both pre-merger airlines, but management still makes service decisions that affect each group of Flight Attendants differently. This update covers changes for both Hawaiian- and Alaska-branded flying, but is specific to aircraft flown by pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines crews. As the work of the merger progresses, we […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 13 – March 2026

Our JNC met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC focused on clarifying questions about moving expenses and presented a proposal for Sick Leave, using feedback from Flight Attendants to guide improvements. The Committee is working to incorporate the strongest elements from both contracts to ensure better support for all members.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – March 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, March 24, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Rebekah Olds (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – March 2026

On Thursday, March 19, our AFA Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Bradley Young (SFO), Carin Merritt (LAX pmAS), David Lake (SEA pmAS), Deb Wallstrom (ANC), Eva Gatus […]

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