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Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2022

Reserve Committee

  • Our AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, September 8 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!

On Thursday, September 8, 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 Haley Hirsch (ANC), Conner Gallagher (SEA), Megan Zablan (PDX), Camile Caldwell (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Rebecca Garcia (SAN).  Also present were MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Jarod McNeill and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee also met with Inflight Crew Scheduling Duty Manager Kiana Shaw from management.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Plans for Initial Training classes for the remainder of the year and next year.  Management has indicated intent to hire more Flight Attendants but specific numbers will be dependent on other company growth factors.
  • Anticipated return of service flights to Initial Training.  Management is still working out details.
  • Top causes of occurrences for probationary Flight Attendants.  Recent increase in issues with forgetting to check in for trips and APSB on Block2Block and requirement to physically be in base while on call during Reserve Availability Periods (RAP).
  • Support for probationary Flight Attendants through the Reserve Buddy Program.
  • Increase in requests for assistance with PBS and bidding.  The committee is seeking ways to provide additional training and support in this area.
  • Reminder to new hire F/As about AFA Alaska Online Support Center to report issues, raise concerns, or ask questions.
  • Increase in lineholders picking up reserve days which has resulted in some increased flexibility for Reserve Flight Attendants.
  • Review of the Master Executive Council (MEC) letter to management regarding proportional domicile staffing. 
  • Management staffing within Crew Scheduling.  Four new Crew Scheduling Supervisors will be hired to help support operations. 
  • Review of reserve utilization statistics.  Reserve coverage is anticipated to be at approximately 21-22% for the remainder of the year.
  • Request that management provide additional flexibility for reserve day shifting by decreasing the ARC maximum.  Management agreed to review possible changes.
  • Ongoing concerns with hotel information not being loaded into Crew Access by the time a Flight Attendant arrive in a layover city, despite management having several hours to arrange for the hotel.  Please report these issues through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center so that AFA representatives can follow up with management. 
  • Review of reserve-related scheduling issues that have occurred recently.

The committee is next scheduled to meet on Thursday, December 1.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Assisting Probationary Flight Attendants Through the Reserve Buddy Program.   Answering questions from and providing support to probationary Flight Attendants through an expanded AFA Reserve Buddy program.
  2. Addressing Reserve Contractual Concerns.  Researching and investigating reports from Reserve Flight Attendants and actively ensuring that management is compliant with our contract. 
  3. Developing Additional Tools & Resources for New Flight Attendants.  Working to create a plan to provide more user friendly, easy-to-access resources about the CBA and other job-related information for new Flight Attendants.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Reserve Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Reserve Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – August 2022

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, August 23 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!

On Tuesday, August 23, our AFA Scheduling Committee 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 Heather Reier (ANC), Martin Vance (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Natalie Codd (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Adam Clarey. The committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling & Strategy Denia Pisia, Managing Director of Ops Staffing & Resource Management Brittany Audette, and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • AFA Online Support Center system issues and working with vendors to restore access. 
  • Night Rule Section 8.I – pay, duty, premiums.
  • FAs sick online – stranded due to subsequent cancellation.
  • Crew Access login issues – working on issues, expect a new update in fall 2022.
  • NavBlue login issues – Vendor monitoring and added more servers.
  • Reassignments/Pre-cancellations – rare, shouldn’t be daily occurrence.
  • Crew Scheduling updated phone system – ability for call back and prompts.
  • Personal Drops/TSN increases/sick leave – increase TSN for September.
  • Pairing feedback and construction.
  • November/December Vacancies – expect communication in September.
  • 2023 Vacation Bidding instructions and dates.
  • Care Retreat – expecting 1000 a month to attend.
  • 2023 Staffing for pilots/FAs.
  • Company social events and planning, such as baseball games and aviator sunglasses.
  • Staffing Adjustment leaves – 150 offered system wide.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Reassignment Flow Chart.  Scheduling Committee Members reviewed a draft of the reassignment flow chart and it has been moved forward to the final stages of review and approval.  Refer to sections 10.R and 10.R.5 of our CBA.
  2. Scheduling Quality of Life Improvements.  Reviewing ways to improve Trip Length Distribution (TLD) and other quality of life options.  Working with management to develop a quality of life survey to determine Flight Attendant scheduling priorities. 
  3. Review of user guides and links of Flight Attendant website.  Ensuring information is still accurate in existing resource materials, links are still active and working, etc.
  4. Updating Crew Access videos.  Working with management and ITS to update the Crew Access instructional videos to reflect updates and changes to the user interface.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Scheduling Committee is your voice to management.  You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2022

Hotel Committee

  • Our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, August 12 to discuss their ongoing program of work to protect and improve the quality of Flight Attendant hotel accommodations and ground transportation providers.
  • The Committee met with representatives from management and the Company’s crew accommodations vendor to review current trends and concerns related to layover hotels and transportation.
  • More than ever, the Committee needs your help in reporting hotel and transportation concerns through CrewCare.  Issues that are reported through CrewCare provide the Committee with important data to drive change with management.

On Thursday, August 12, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met 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), Cassie Dole (SFO), Majo Tanco (LAX), and Kanani Vallot (SAN).  Also present were MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson Laura Hinojosa and MEC Hotel Committee Vice Chairperson Jodi Snow.  The committee met with Crew Hotel Support Specialist Alyssa Umagat, Crew Hotels & Administration Manager Nichole Turner, and Managing Director of Operations Staffing & Resource Management Brittany Audette from management.  Representatives from the Company’s crew accommodations vendor Accommodations Plus International (API) and ALPA participated in the meeting as well.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during the meeting with management and API.  Some items discussed include:

  • Review of the overall condition of the hotel industry and how the industry is recovering from the pandemic.  Similar to the airline business, the hotel industry has mostly rebounded at this point to business levels that are on par or exceed 2019.  This has driven hotel rates up and availability down (supply and demand).
  • Overview of new technology options being offered by API that may improve the flow of information about hotels and ground transportation to crewmembers.  Management will be working with API to evaluate how the options could be used at Alaska.
  • Review of the Company’s utilization of hotels by city
  • Review of CrewCare reports filed (both complaints and compliments). 
  • Ongoing issue with rooms not being available when crew members arrive at a hotel and having to wait.  It is important that Flight Attendants call Crew Scheduling upon arrival if rooms are not ready and then again when provided with a room.  Management has been providing additional compensation for documented wait times of one hour or longer.  Please follow up by documenting with a CrewCare report.
  • Concerns about upcoming major events in LAS, PHX, and ANC that may impact hotel availability and quality of crew layovers.  Working to ensure that crew members have rooms and minimal disruptions.
  • Ensuring room availability in cities that experience major seasonal fluctuations in hotel demand (primarily ANC during summer).  The Committee had previously asked that management take a more proactive approach to guarantee room availability for crews in these locations and is continuing to do so.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Conducting hotel site visits.  Visiting hotels under consideration by management and advocating for management to select the hotel that will provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants.
  2. Investigating CrewCare reports.  Reviewing CrewCare reports and working to hold hotel and transportation providers accountable through management and API.
  3. Working to ensure hotel availability in cities with seasonal demand.  Advocating for improved processes to ensure that enough contractually compliant hotel rooms will be available for crews in cities that experience strong seasonal fluctuations in demand for hotels.  

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve had an unacceptable or substandard experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation provider, please report the issue!  Our AFA Hotel Committee receives a copy of every CrewCare report filed and each one is read and reviewed.  You can file a CrewCare report using the web app on your IMD home screen or by clicking here. 

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Hotel Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Hotel Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2022 

Human Rights Committee

  • Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, August 4 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!

On Thursday, August 4, our AFA Local Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to build awareness and effect change within our workplace and community.  Representing you at the meeting were Matt Cook (ANC), Yan Yan Teague (SEA), Sylvia Newbill (PDX), Melissa Osborne (SFO), and Louise Borras (LAX).  Also present were MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou.  The committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman and Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert from management. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Ongoing efforts to increase diversity and representation within the Flight Attendant Special Projects Pool.  
  • Upcoming celebrations of Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15) and Native American Heritage Month (November)
  • Management has added a link on the inflight website directly to the AFA Human Rights Committee website.  The link can be found under Administration > AFA > Human Rights Committee.
  • Management will soon be launching a new email introducing diversity champions.
  • Management’s proposal to conduct DEI listening sessions with Flight Attendants in each base; discussion about involvement of the AFA Human Rights Committee.
  • Upcoming plans by management to introduce gender neutral uniform pieces.
  • Participation by Human Rights Committee Members in the upcoming CWA Human Rights Conference and Pride at Work Convention.
  • Plans to conduct a Human Rights Committee survey to help determine priorities for the committee based on Flight Attendant feedback.
  • Review of management’s current diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) metrics.
  • Update on current program of work from the company’s Business Resource Groups (BRG).  The BRGs are working to encourage more participation from front-line employees.
  • Ongoing concerns about employees using gendered language in announcements.  Request that management issue a reminder.
  • Concerns about availability of emergency healthcare for pregnant employees in locations where regulations may impose limitations on healthcare providers given the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Friday, November 18, 2022.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Developing a Framework for Diversity & Inclusion Listening Sessions.  Discussing proposed plans with management to have our AFA Human Rights Committee facilitate sessions in each base that would allow Flight Attendants to discuss diversity and inclusion topics and concerns with management.
  2. Promoting Increased Diversity Within the Flight Attendant Special Projects Pool.  Advocating for management to create a Special Projects Pool that is reflective of our overall work group, starting with a focus on those who are selected to participate in Flight Attendant recruiting and hiring. 
  3. Building Relationships with the Company’s Business Resources Groups (BRGs).  Continuing to work to establish relationships with leaders of the Company’s BRGs to find areas where we can join together to advance human rights within the scope of each group.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Human Rights Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Human Rights Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2022

Uniform Committee

  • Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, August 2 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are reporting related to uniform quality, wearability, and availability.
  • If you are experiencing any issues with uniform quality or construction, please report the issues to Unisync as soon as possible.  Please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so they can help track any issues or trends that might be developing.   

On Tuesday, August 2, our AFA Local Uniform Committee 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 Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), and Heather Milner (LAX).  Also present were MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Todd Scarlett; MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Uniform Safety Representative Deb Wallstrom; and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Uniform Programs Manager Ashlyn Pham, Uniform Fit Center Lead Ashley Sentner, Senior Marketing Product Delivery Manager Kelly Cuthill, and PDX Base Manager Kristie Stafford from management. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Feedback from the recent wear test of a new prototype warm weather shirt.  Some Uniform and Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Members tested the new prototype recently.  The Committee also put forward a request that any new warm weather shirt be permitted to be worn with either pants or the skirt.
  • Expanded timeframe of when the patriotic tie and scarf can be worn.  Management recently announced allowing the neckwear pieces to be worn on additional dates surrounding Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day rather than just the holidays themselves.
  • Request to remove the policy requirement that uniform shoes have a defined heel.  Management agreed to further review the request but would like examples of shoes that would meet appearance standards with no defined heel.
  • Review of the accommodation process for Flight Attendants who are medically unable to wear shoes that meet uniform policy guidelines.  Current process is to initiate a request for exemption through a base supervisor.
  • Concerns with availability of navy colored shoes in the marketplace (due to seasonality and supply chain issues) and request to expand color options to be worn with feminine uniform pieces.  Management says that they have recently updated the Zappos shoe portal with additional style options and will be working with Zappos to request that more items be made available year round.
  • Discussion about plans for upcoming gender neutral uniform pieces.  Management has held some employee focus groups and will continue to hold additional focus groups as the pieces progress through the design process.
  • Request to designate certain existing pieces as gender neutral until specific gender neutral uniform pieces are available.
  • Concerns that the policy requiring that hosiery be worn with the uniform skirt and dresses is outdated.  The Committee brought forward a recent policy change at American Airlines that removed the requirement to wear hosiery and requested that management make changes to match.
  • Request for a packable, insulated jacket that provides more substantial warmth than the transition jacket in a similar form factor.
  • Request for clarification about the winter hat policy.
  • Ongoing uniform quality issues.  Management indicates that they are not receiving much feedback about quality issues and concerns.  The Committee brought forward issues with the current process of submitting feedback, how it is not user friendly for Flight Attendants, and that many problems are likely not being reported.
  • Ongoing request to review the current process for Flight Attendants to provide feedback related to uniform pieces.  The requirement to compose an email to Unisync is not consistent with how Flight Attendants report issues in other areas and is unnecessarily cumbersome.  The Committee suggested that management develop an online form that could be easily accessed using a dedicated link on the IMD.
  • Concerns with product shortages and items that are backordered for extended periods of time.  Management states that the shortages are due to supply chain issues as well as greater than expected hiring of new employees that they did not project for.
  • Concerns with new hire Flight Attendants not be provided with effective training and support regarding uniform policies and guidelines during Initial Training.
  • Ongoing concerns with product shortages and items that are backordered for extended periods of time.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Tuesday, November 1, 2022.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Cold Weather Improvements.  Working to expand policies and improve uniform pieces in anticipation of upcoming cold weather months.  This includes advocating for improvements to the uniform boot policy, a warmer packable jacket, and clarification of the winter hat policy.
  2. Simplification of Uniform Policies.  Advocating for an overall simplification of company uniform policies through clearer guidelines, removal of excessive or unrealistic restrictions, and other common sense changes.
  3. Streamlining the Uniform Feedback Process.  Working to develop an easy-to-use, online form that Flight Attendants can use to provide feedback about uniform issues and concerns that automatically routes to management, Unisync, and our AFA Uniform Committee.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please help our Uniform Committee by taking the time to email Unisync at alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com with any quality issues you are experiencing.  When sending an email, please describe the issue with as much detail as possible and include photos if you can.  Please CC your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so that the Uniform Committee can track the issues as well.

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Management has recently informed our Master Executive Council (MEC) that they are distributing new Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) to Flight Attendants with devices nearing the end of their lifecycle. The specific schedule for this distribution will be communicated by management separately. Flight Attendants with the oldest devices […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 23, 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), […]

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the first group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that […]

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

On Thursday, September 18, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing efforts to represent our Flight Attendants and advocate for improvements in our workplace. Although our Inflight Service Committee has now merged, meetings with management continue to focus primarily on the Alaska or Hawaiian brands individually. This particular meeting was centered […]

Vacation Survey Closing Soon

There’s just 1 DAY LEFT to complete the crucial vacation survey that will help shape future provisions—your insights are essential for advocating the best outcomes for all Flight Attendants. The survey is currently open and will remain available until Wednesday, September 24 at 12 PM PT.

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