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Merger Negotiations Session #9 Update – January 2018

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) wrapped up our ninth merger negotiations session. We met with management on Wednesday, January 17th in Seattle, WA.

Representing management: Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays, Vice President of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America Inflight & Call Center/Guest Services Jeff Butler, Managing Director of Labor Relations Elizabeth Ryan, and Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel

AFA Director of Collective Bargaining Joe Burns joined the JNC again this week to support our efforts.

The parties made substantial progress this week building upon the work from last week.  We reached tentative agreement on several important comprehensive proposals.

Although we have reached several important tentative agreements, 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, a full text TA will be presented to the Master Executive Council (MEC) for approval.

The parties will be meeting again next week to continue closing out the remaining open items. More information will be forthcoming after next week’s session concludes.

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Virgin America work rules will remain in effect for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants unless modified and/or superseded by the AFA Virgin America letters of agreement.

Merger Negotiations Session #7 Update – December 2017

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) just wrapped up this week’s session of merger negotiations, our seventh so far. We met with management from Tuesday, December 12th through Thursday, December 14th in Seattle, WA. Representing management: Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays, Vice President of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America Inflight & Call Center/Guest Services Jeff Butler, Managing Director of Labor Relations-Air Elizabeth Ryan, Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel and Alaska Airlines Financial Planning & Analysis Manager Brittany Schaub. Alaska Airlines Director of Retirement Services Chrystie Dickens and Retirement Benefits Analyst Jaime Smalley also joined to discuss 401(k).

The parties are down to the point in negotiations where we are exchanging comprehensive proposals and discussing primarily economic issues. AFA and management exchanged several proposals this session. However, management’s last pass to the JNC did not go far enough to address important concerns for our members, and it is not a deal that we believe our members would ratify.

The JNC’s message to management is that reaching a ratifiable merger agreement is our chance to unify the Flight Attendant groups and move forward together. We hope management takes our message to heart. Our next merger negotiations session is scheduled for January 9-11, 2018.

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.

Merger Negotiations Session #6 Update – November 2017

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) just wrapped up this week’s session of merger negotiations, our sixth so far. We met with management from Tuesday, November 7th through Thursday, November 9th in Seattle, WA. Representing management: Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays, Vice President of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America Inflight & Call Center/Guest Services Jeff Butler, Managing Director of Labor Relations-Air Elizabeth Ryan and Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel.

This was a mixed session that saw us reaching agreement on three provisions relating to the transition, and we presented management with our proposed improvements to the Alaska Agreement. Earlier in the week, we reached agreement on the transition uniform program for VX and transitioning the VX Flight Attendants to the Alaska Sick Leave policy.

Using your survey responses, the JNC crafted a targeted list of priorities. AFA presented a strong case for why the changes were appropriate and needed. Initially, management’s team asked a lot of questions and for clarification. However, upon returning to the table after their discussions with upper management, their informal response did not leave us overly optimistic about getting a quick deal.

Management requested more time to cost out our proposals and committed to responding with a counterproposal at our next session in December. In the interim, AFA’s finance analyst and the Company’s financial planner will be in communication to ensure that we have vetted management’s costing model and agree on the numbers.

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.

Our next merger negotiations session is scheduled for December 12th-14th.

In Solidarity,

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

Merger Negotiations Session #5 Update – October 2017

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) just wrapped up this week’s session of merger negotiations, our fifth so far. We met with management from Tuesday, October 24th through Thursday, October 26th in Seattle, WA. Representing management: Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays, Vice President of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America Inflight & Call Center/Guest Services Jeff Butler, Managing Director of Labor Relations-Air Elizabeth Ryan and Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel. Managing Director of Virgin America Inflight Val Jenkins also attended on the first day.

Merger negotiations survey

The JNC thanks everyone who completed the merger negotiations survey. The survey received a healthy response, and the majority of the feedback was very targeted and consistent. Although the JNC realizes everyone is interested in knowing the objectives of the group as a whole, AFA generally does not publish results from negotiations surveys for strategic reasons. We can tell you, however, that there were no surprises. If it makes strategic sense for the JNC to divulge more in the future, be assured that we will be as transparent as possible with you.

The JNC used the survey responses as a springboard in our talks with management regarding your expectations for these negotiations and for improvements to the AFA Alaska contract. Remember that any improvements to the contract will accrue to all pre-merger Virgin America and pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants. The JNC felt encouraged by our initial discussions with management regarding the general themes outlined in your survey responses. These issues will remain hot topics in our continued sessions.

Very busy session…

Otherwise, It was a very busy session and a considerable number of complex provisions were discussed. Because policies and procedures are so unequal and different between the employee groups, crafting provisions that allow for a smooth and equitable transition takes time. Additionally, we are challenged by the constraints of the various Alaska Airlines information technology systems.

The JNC is pleased to report that we put the finishing touches on a letter of agreement (LOA) that separates reliability and performance discipline into two independent tracks for Virgin America (VX) Flight Attendants. Council 35 VX President Melissa Osborne has been advocating for separation of the tracks since AFA was certified as the collective bargaining representative at VX earlier this year, so executing the LOA is the culmination of her continued advocacy. Beginning November 1, 2017, the administration of attendance and performance discipline at VX will essentially mirror that at Alaska. Council 35 is planning an update to VX Flight Attendants in the near future regarding the details.

In partnership with the Master Executive Council (MEC), the JNC is very close to cementing a letter of agreement regarding bidding, trading and pay for the Airbus transition training that will occur in the second half of 2018 for Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants. Boeing transition training for Virgin America Flight Attendants is covered under existing work rules by default, but the JNC is intending to discuss the provisions with management at our next session.

The parties spent considerable time developing a process for the VX Flight Attendants to transition over to Alaska sick leave accrual. The two sick leave programs are currently very different, and the VX Flight Attendants would be significantly disadvantaged if there were a simple ‘turn-key’ cutover to the Alaska sick leave contract provisions. Work on this will continue next session.

Keep in mind that merger negotiations are a different process than regular negotiations. These talks are not under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board or Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act, and neither AFA nor management believes that the entire contract is open for discussion. Discussions are focusing on a short list of items. 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.

Our next merger negotiations session is scheduled for November 7-9.

In Solidarity,

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

AFA Merger Negotiations Survey *Reminder*

*Reminder*

Your AFA Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) has developed this survey to solicit feedback regarding your expectations for merger negotiations. Your participation is extremely important. Providing your union leaders with your input and support will better help us to represent you at the bargaining table.

Keep in mind that merger negotiations are a different process than regular negotiations. These talks are not under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board or Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act, and neither management nor AFA believes the entire contract is open for discussion. Therefore, discussions are focusing on transitioning the Virgin America Flight Attendants to the Alaska contract and on a very short list of potential improvements to the Alaska contract that will benefit Flight Attendants from both groups.

The survey is now open to all Alaska Airlines and Virgin America Flight Attendants and will close on Friday, October 13, 2017, at 9am Pacific Time.

(Survey link is located here in the emailed version of this communication.)

For security reasons, the survey link will be included only in the emailed version of this communication and distributed to personal email addresses on file in the AFA Newsletter Sending System. The survey link will not be available on the afaalaska.org website nor on social media, and AFA requests that you do not repost the link.

If you have any questions or if you need the survey link sent to you, email the Joint Negotiating Committee from a personal email address. If you have a requesting a survey link, please provide the following for verification purposes: your name, employee number and current domicile.

In Solidarity,

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

Election Notice: Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Officer Elections

The term of office for our current Alaska + Hawaiian Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers will conclude on December 31, 2025. The voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will elect new MEC Officers at the November Regular MEC meeting. This communication serves as notice of the election in accordance with the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual. […]

SEA Domicile Negotiations – September 2025 Update #2

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants Negotiations Update Our SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee met with the company on September 11 to review their response to our September 5 proposal.  We feel that it is important to acknowledge the challenges within our company as Alaska management is struggling to understand our Collective Bargaining Agreement […]

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, September 11, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Conner Gallager (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Rebecca Garcia (SAN). Also present […]

Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month

September 15 marks the start of Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month in the United States, a vibrant celebration dedicated to honoring the rich contributions and diverse cultures of Hispanic-Latinx Americans. Spanning a full month, this observance—also known as National Hispanic Heritage Month—has its roots in Hispanic Heritage Week, which was established by legislation signed into law by […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Monday, September 8, 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), Ila Christy (PDX), Hilary […]

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