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Get Involved: AFA Committees Forming Soon

AFA Council 35, which has represented pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants based at SFO and LAX, will soon be realigned as part of the merger process. The election process is currently underway in both SFO and LAX for Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers who will represent the Flight Attendants of their respective domiciles.  Once the election results are certified on July 31, pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants based at LAX will become part of Council 18 (which currently represents pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants also based at LAX) and Council 35 will solely represent Flight Attendants based at SFO going forward.

About AFA Committees

AFA has established a series of committees in order to represent Flight Attendant interests in different areas that are important to our profession and the quality of our working conditions. The volunteer Flight Attendants who serve on these committees provide an important level of representation to their flying partners and help to support the LEC Officers within the Local Council.

Each Local Committee is led by a Local Committee Chairperson and may also have Local Committee Members based on the workload and need of the committee.  All of these positions are appointed by the LEC Officers.  The Local Committee Chairperson works with the Master Executive Council (MEC) Chairperson of the committee, who is responsible for coordinating the activities of the committee across the entire airline.

Local AFA committee positions include:

In addition, Local Committee Chairpersons have additional duties and responsibilities that can be viewed by clicking here.

Interested in Getting Involved?

Further AFA email communications about how to express interest and get involved as a Local Committee volunteer will be coming out over the next month.  In the meantime, you can review the volunteers page of the AFA Alaska website for additional information.

If you are interested in serving as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee Member, this particular position involves an application process.  You may review the informational page on the AFA International website for more information and complete the online EAP representative application if interested.

More About ASAP

As previously mentioned in a communication from the AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC), pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants will soon be participating in the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP).  ASAP is an FAA program that allows Flight Attendants to self-disclose unintentional violations of CFRs or company safety policy without fear of disciplinary action from management or enforcement action from the FAA.  The intent of the program is to improve procedure, processes, and training through increased reporting of safety-related incidents that might otherwise go unreported.

Management will soon be putting out more information about ASAP, including a required computer based training (CBT) and information about the start date of the program for pre-merger VX Flight Attendants

Your AFA ASAP Representative

As part of the program, all ASAP reports received are de-identified (names and identifying information removed) and then reviewed by an Event Review Committee (ERC) made up of one representative each from AFA, the Company, and the FAA. Brad Young has been appointed as the AFA ASAP ERC Representative for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants.

About Brad

Brad has been a San Francisco-based Flight Attendant with Virgin America for 8 years.

In 2012 and again in July of 2013, Brad assisted with a handful of fellow Flight Attendants in approaching, educating, signing and achieving enough cards for a successful vote to help bring representation to the Virgin America Flight Attendants.

“The Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) is a critical component in the success of the Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants and there is no better time to be involved in this unique and successful program to involve the Virgin America Flight Attendants.   With the assistance of AFA, my role in the ASAP will take us all to the next level of airline safety and security out on the line for our workgroup,” says Brad.

Brad graduated from Sierra College with a degree in Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement and Psychology.  Prior to joining Virgin America, Brad worked for the State outside Sacramento, California.  Brad is currently studying several degree courses at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Aviation Security and Safety Management.

Brad currently resides in San Jose, California where he enjoys being outdoors, being an aviation history nerd, landscape photography, cooking and studying to get his Private Pilots License (PPL) for recreation.

Learn More About ASAP

In addition to the company’s CBT that will be released soon, you can find more information about the program on the ASAP page of the AFA Alaska website.  ASAP resources are also available on the FAA website.

Questions?

ASAP-related questions can be directed to pmVX ASAP ERC Representative Brad Young at bradley.young@afaalaska.org

In Solidarity,

Melissa, Jamie, and Brad

AFA Council 35 (Pre-Merger VX JFK/LAX/SFO) Election Results

The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Local Council officer positions:

Local Council President: Melissa Osborne
Local Council Secretary: Jamie Cogen

View the certified election results here

These officers will serve a term of office starting immediately and concluding on June 30, 2019.  Should a joint collective bargaining agreement be ratified before that date, the election process to form a full Local Executive Council (LEC) would be triggered with 30 days of ratification (AFA Constitution & Bylaws Article III.A.2.d).

The Master Executive Council (MEC) congratulates the newly elected officers and we sincerely thank all those who stepped forward to run in the election.  The MEC would also like to offer a special thanks to outgoing Local Council Secretary James Ikehara for stepping up and helping to provide immediate representation upon the formation of Council 35.

In Solidarity,

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

Upcoming Nomination Ballot for Local Council Officers

In accordance with the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, your new Local Council will soon nominate and elect Flight Attendants as your AFA Leaders.  The two (2) positions being elected for Council 35 (Virgin America–JFK/LAX/SFO) are Local Council President and Local Council Secretary.  The current Local Council Officers who were appointed when the Local Council was created will transition responsibilities to the Flight Attendants who are elected to these two positons.

The Council 35 Election page can be found at http://afacwa-elections.org/councils/ala-council-35-sfo-lax-jfk/.

Within AFA, Local Council Officer elections are a two-part process.  The first step is to nominate candidates for office from amongst the Flight Attendants at your Local Council and the second step is to elect officers from the nominated candidates.  This communication will focus on the first step, the upcoming nomination process.

Nomination Schedule

Mail Date 06/19/2017 Voting packets are mailed to each Flight Attendant. This contains your personal 16-digit activation code.
Polls Open 06/22/2017
12:00 PM EDT		 The polls are open and voting begins.
Polls Close 07/12/2017
12:00 PM EDT		 The polls close and the count takes place.

Electronic Balloting Information

Both the nomination process and election ballots are conducted through Votenet Solutions, a third-party vendor. The direct web address is https://eballotuv.votenet.com/afa/.  The AFA Election site at http://www.afacwa-elections.org/ will address additional questions and provide information regarding the ballot.

For the nomination ballot, the process is conducted completely online.  You will be nominating your elected leaders from a list of all Flight Attendants in your Local Council.  For the election process where you will be selecting leaders from those nominated, ballots may be cast either online or by telephone.

Voting Instructions for Nomination Ballots

All Council 35 Flight Attendants will receive a voting packet by mail. This packet contains the instructions for casting your ballot along with a 16-digit activation code which allows you to access the ballot. If you have already completed an AFA membership application, you will be able to log into the ballot, select your choices for the two positions and cast your vote.

If you have not completed an AFA membership application, you will not be able to cast your vote right away.  You will need to contact AFA Membership Services in order to complete your application and have your ballot activated.

The 16-Digit Authorization Code

The voting packet includes a 16-digit authorization code. This code allows you to obtain a username and password which is your voting credentials for that ballot only.  This ensures that no one at Votenet or AFA has access to your voting credentials. New activation codes are sent for each and every ballot.

To Activate

  1. Enter the 16-digit code you received on the front page of the Votenet website
  2. The site will generate a username and ask you to create a password.
  3. Write the username and password down

Once a Flight Attendant obtains their username and password they may proceed to vote.

Ballot Help Line

The AFA-CWA Membership Services Department handles all voter questions and issues new activation codes should you misplace yours.  The Ballot Help Line is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern time.  If you have a question or need a new 16-digit activation code, you may contact the Ballot Help Line at 800-424-2401, then press 1 and dial extension 706.

If your call goes to voicemail, please leave a message and someone will call you back.

Count Day

The ballot will end and no additional votes may be cast after the end date and time listed on the Voting Instructions.  The time will always be listed as Eastern time, NOT your local time.  The opening and closing dates of the ballot are set in accordance with the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws.

The counting of the electronic ballots is conducted in accordance with the AFA Constitution & Bylaws by the Ballot Certification Committee.

Each person who has completed a Commitment to Serve and received at least 2 nominations will appear on the election ballot.

Commitment to Serve

Each Flight Attendant who wishes to run for office must complete a Commitment to Serve (http://afacwa-elections.org/commitment-to-serve-form/) in order to be eligible to appear on the election ballot.  If a Flight Attendant receives two nominations and has not completed a Commitment to Serve, AFA Membership Services will contact those people on the count day and allow them to complete the form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who receives the Voting Notice and Instructions (Ballot Packet)?

A: All Flight Attendants in your Local Council will receive the voting packet including Flight Attendants who have not completed a membership application.

Q: If I change my mind after I cast my ballot, can I revote?

A: No, once you cast your ballot your credentials are separated from your vote. This way no one can see how anyone casts a ballot.

Q: Can a person who has not completed a membership application vote?

A: No. They will receive a voting packet but if their membership application is not on file then they will be stopped from casting a ballot.  However, you may contact AFA-CWA Membership Service to complete a membership application and once completed you will be eligible to vote.

Q: Who do Flight Attendants call if they did not receive the Voting Notice with the 16-digit authorization code?

A: The AFA Ballot Help Line at 800-424-2401, press 1 and dial extension 706.  The Ballot Help Line is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern time.

 

Joint Local Council Meeting – June 15

In accordance with the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, each Local Council must hold at least two Local Council Meetings each year that are open to all members in good standing.  At least one of those meetings must be held prior to the annual AFA Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting to give all members the opportunity to discuss the items on the agenda at the BOD meeting.

The annual AFA BOD Meeting will be held later this month in Phoenix, AZ.  Local Council President Melissa Osborne is our representative on the BOD who will represent all Council 35 Members and vote on our behalf at the BOD meeting.  The Local Council Meeting is your opportunity to give input as to how you would like Melissa to vote on the BOD agenda items.  You can find more information about the BOD Meeting on the AFA International website at http://afa-bod.org/.

The AFA Constitution & Bylaws also encourages AFA Local Councils located in the same city to hold their Local Council Meetings jointly.  As such, we will be holding a joint Local Council Meeting with United Airlines Council 11.  Information about the Joint Local Council Meeting can be found below.

Joint Local Council Meeting Information

Date: Thursday, June 15, 2017
Time: 10:30 AM to 12 PM
Location: San Francisco International Airport
Terminal 2 Conference Room 2
Agenda: Discussion of AFA Board of Directors Meeting agenda items

If you have any questions about the Joint Local Council Meeting, please email us at vx@afaalska.org

In solidarity,

Your Council 35 Officers – Melissa & James

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the first 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

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons. 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 […]

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 […]

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