AFA Alaska

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

Click here to report an issue to AFA
You are here: Home / Archives for furlough

Reduction in Force Part 3

This is the third in a series of “Reduction in Force” communications from the Master Executive Council (MEC). See “Reduction in Force Part 1” and “Reduction in Force Part 2” for the previous editions.

In This Edition

  • Avoiding Involuntary Furloughs: Extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program
  • Staffing Projections From the All-Employee Webcast Explained

Avoiding Involuntary Furloughs: Extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program

The single most impactful thing that you can do to completely avoid involuntary furloughs (IVFs) in October would be for you, your family members and your friends to contact Congress and demand our legislators extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program.

We need urgent action on this now and every day in July:

  1. Call your Representative and Senators. Flight Attendants, family and friends should make three calls every day: two to the Senate line and one to the House line.
  2. Sign this letter to your Representative and Senators >
  3. Tell five flying partners and your friends and family to do the same!

House: 888-907-9365 | Senate: 888-848-4824

Sample Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling to ask [Representative] /[Senator] to help save my job as an essential worker. Take legislative action in July to extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program for aviation workers in order to avoid massive job loss in October. Keep us connected to our jobs, our paychecks, and our healthcare. Thank you for your urgent attention to this.

Staffing Projections From the All-Employee Webcast Explained

WARN Act Notices

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act helps ensure advance notice in cases of qualified mass layoffs. Management is required by law to provide “WARN notices” to employees who may be laid off (i.e. involuntarily furloughed). In all the states in which there are Flight Attendant domiciles (AK, WA, OR and CA), those notices must be sent no less than 60 days prior to the date of the involuntary furlough, or no later than August 1st for involuntary furloughs effective on October 1st.

WARN notices provided to the union on behalf of affected employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement satisfies the WARN Act requirements except for in California, which also requires notices to be sent directly to the employee. As of today, AFA has not been provided with WARN notices, but we will advise membership as soon as the notice has been served.

Management’s Projections and “Excess Employees” Explained

On today’s all-employee webcast, management shared there would be 2500 “excess employees” in Inflight in October and that there are 1200 “volunteers to date” in Inflight. The Master Executive Council (MEC) understands that 2500 is the number of Flight Attendants who will receive WARN notices. That number of 2500 is inclusive of a buffer above the actual number of potential involuntary furloughs (IVFs) in order to assure the Company is in compliance with the WARN Act; it is not the actual number.

AFA’s Interpretation of Management’s Projections

The MEC is currently estimating approximately 1900 to 2200 Flight Attendants are in the potential involuntary furlough range without any furlough mitigations. At the time of the webcast, 1200 Flight Attendants had bid for some form of furlough mitigation (e.g. Early Out, Extended Leave of Absence or Enhanced Voluntary Furlough); that number has climbed to approximately 1300 since then. It would seem logical to estimate that we are somewhere between 600 and 900 Flight Attendants short of avoiding IVFs as of this writing, but that is not entirely accurate.

Keep in mind that many relatively junior Flight Attendants have applied for various furlough mitigations. They would be converted to IVF if they are in the seniority range impacted by involuntary furlough. Therefore, one cannot assume that every application for furlough mitigation will actually reduce the number of involuntary furloughs in a one to one (1:1) ratio.

Coming Soon

  • Order of Recall for IVF, EVF and ELOA
  • Dues Obligation During a Reduction in Force

These are extremely difficult and stressful times. Please remember that your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Committee is always available as a support resource. As your direct representative on the MEC, your LEC president is available to answer questions or concerns that you may have about all the information presented here. Contact information for your respective LEC president can be found by clicking here.

Reduction in Force Part 2

This is the second in a series of “Reduction in Force” communications from the Master Executive Council (MEC). See “Reduction in Force Part 1” for the previous edition.

In This Edition

  • Avoiding Involuntary Furloughs: Extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program
  • Status of Primary Travelers and Registered Domestic Partners
  • Order of Awards for EOs, ELOAs and EVFs
  • Seniority Accrual, Pay Rates and Retention of Longevity

Avoiding Involuntary Furloughs: Extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program

The single most impactful thing that you can do to completely avoid involuntary furloughs (IVFs) in October would be for you, your family members and your friends to contact Congress and demand our legislators extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program.

We need urgent action on this now and every day in July:

  1. Call your Representative and Senators. Flight Attendants, family and friends should make three calls every day: two to the Senate line and one to the House line.

House: 888-907-9365
Senate: 888-848-4824

Sample Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling to ask [Representative] /[Senator] to help save my job as an essential worker. Take legislative action in July to extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program for aviation workers in order to avoid massive job loss in October. Keep us connected to our jobs, our paychecks, and our healthcare. Thank you for your urgent attention to this.

Status of Primary Travelers and Registered Domestic Partners

On ELOA, EVF and IVF

AFA has confirmed with Employee Travel that Primary Travelers and Registered Domestic Partners retain online pass benefits (Alaska Airlines [AS], Horizon Air [QX] and SkyWest operated as Alaska Airlines [OO]) while on an Extended Leave of Absence, Enhanced Voluntary Furlough or during the contractual eligibility period (of varying durations pursuant to §18.M [Online Pass Privileges During Involuntary Furlough]) if involuntarily furloughed.

On Retiree Travel

For Flight Attendants considering the Early Out packages, Registered Domestic Partners but not Primary Travelers retain online pass benefits under the Early Out packages (and Retiree Travel if eligible).

Order of Awards for EOs, ELOAs and EVFs

Early Outs (EOs), Extended Leaves of Absence (ELOAs) and Enhanced Voluntary Furloughs (EVFs) will be awarded in the following order:

  • EOs (EOP-1 and EOP-2) in Occupational Seniority (system seniority) order
  • ELOAs (ELOA-12) and EVFs (EVF-6, EVF-9, EVF-12, EVF-15) in Occupational Seniority (system seniority) order

Seniority Accrual, Pay Rates and Retention of Longevity

Seniority accrual

Pursuant to the Reduction in Force 2020 Sideletter of Agreement (7/8/2020), Occupational Seniority (e.g. for schedule and vacation bidding, Longevity Paid Time Off eligibility) and Company Seniority (e.g. for vacation accrual and non-revenue travel boarding priority) will continue to accrue while on an Extended Leave of Absence, a Voluntary Furlough or if involuntarily furloughed.

Pay rates

Flight Attendants will continue to move through the step rates of pay if eligible while on ELOA, EVF or IVF.

Longevity

Longevity, which is “vesting service” for 401(k) vesting and retirement eligibility, is frozen (retained but not accrued) while on ELOA, EVF or IVF.

Coming Soon

  • Dues Obligation
  • Order of Recall for IVF, EVF and ELOA

These are extremely difficult and stressful times. Please remember that your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Committee is always available as a support resource. As your direct representative on the MEC, your LEC president is available to answer questions or concerns that you may have about all the information presented here. Contact information for your respective LEC president can be found by clicking here.

We hope to see you at the remaining “Early Out & Leave Options” informational session tomorrow (7/21)!

Early Out and Other Furlough Mitigation Options

Furlough mitigation resources

AFA has compiled the following furlough mitigation resources for easy reference.

Company resources (AAG SSO required)

AFA resources

Combined resources – “Early Out and Leave Options” informational sessions

Management is hosting and AFA will also be co-participating in upcoming “Early Out and Leave Options” informational sessions in which all furlough mitigations will be addressed: Early Outs, Extended Leaves of Absence and Enhanced Voluntary Furloughs.

Available Sessions – An individual calendar invite has been sent by management for each event. Please join us if you have questions!

Tue 7/14 @ 12pm – 1pm PT    

Thu 7/16 @ 4pm – 5pm PT

Tue 7/21 @ 2pm – 3pm PT

“The Numbers”

Everyone wants to know the target numbers for the Early Out program, Extended Leaves of Absence and Enhanced Voluntary Furloughs. The MEC shared that feedback with management prior to publication of yesterday’s email announcing the EOs and other furlough mitigation options. According to the Company’s Early out Q&A (AAG SSO required), management estimates needing approximately 600 Flight Attendants to take the Early Out.

In our June 5th “A Message About Current Events, and Planning for the Future” communication, the MEC projected that Alaska Airlines will possibly need 35%-50% less Flight Attendants systemwide—at least temporarily—beginning on October 1. We now project the impact to be fairly significantly less, but the MEC cannot say more due to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). However, the MEC will continue to press management to be more forthcoming with projections as soon as possible.

Company Early Out

Management has now released the details of the Company Early Out program (AAG SSO required). As mentioned in the June 30th edition of the AFA Update, AFA did not negotiate this Early Out package. AFA approached management back in March regarding our interest in negotiating an Early Out, but management declined our offer. 

AFA’s assessment is that the Company’s EO package will not attain even close to the desired number of takers. Candidly, the Master Executive Council (MEC) is disappointed in the Company’s EO; we had hoped the Company’s EO would be more in line with industry leading Flight Attendant EOs like at Southwest Airlines. However, the EO will interest some Flight Attendants who were already considering retirement or who are interested in early retirement.

Involuntary Furlough (IVF) Mitigations

No lower line averages

Pursuant to §18.A [Involuntary Furlough Mitigation], AFA and management have been working on furlough mitigations over the past two weeks. After careful consideration and in consultation with industry experts, AFA has declined to lower the line averages or adjust the line value range. AFA already lowered the minimum domicile average line value from 78 TFP to 75 TFP in the 2014-2019 CBA, which allows individual lines to be built up to 10 TFP lower at 65 TFP. Our analysis is that the scale of anticipated reduced staffing is so great and the duration of lower lines so uncertain that these mitigations would be unacceptable to the majority and seen as a concession.

October 2020 Furlough Mitigations Letter of Agreement

Click here for the October 2020 Furlough Mitigations Letter of Agreement >

Furlough mitigation enhancements and clarifications that are in addition to Extended Leaves of Absence and Voluntary Furlough provision in Section 18.A [Involuntary Furlough Mitigations]:

  • Extended Leaves of Absence of 12-month duration (ELOA-12) -> No change to contract
    • COBRA-eligible for healthcare
    • Regular 480 unpaid credit of 1.333 TFP per day
    • Base guarantee
    • See contract for additional details
  • “Enhanced” Voluntary Furloughs of 6-, 9-, 12- and 15-month durations (EVF-6, EVF-9, EVF-12 and EVF-15)
    • Company-paid healthcare premiums
    • Double 480 credit
    • Base guarantee on EVF-6 & EVF-9 (contractual voluntary furloughs have no base guarantee)
    • No base guarantee on EVF-12 or EVF-15 unless recalled June 2021 or earlier
  • Productivity Premium Program eligibility on ELOA & EVFs (and on IVF via separate email acknowledgement from management)
  • Recall procedures
    • Order of recall clarified: IVF followed by EVF (followed by ELOAs requested but not required)
    • “Live” recall or bypass form
    • Full-time student bypass for the remainder of the term while on ELOA, EVF or IVF (proof of enrollment in accredited college or university required)
  • Staffing Adjustment Leaves (SALs) -> Enhancement to §15.B [Staffing Adjustment…]
    • Offered one month at a time (in order to avoid the perception of seniority violations) but may be awarded consecutively
    • Double 480 credit
    • Company-paid healthcare premiums
  • FAs on involuntary furlough may choose to remain current by attending regulatory training (RT/RQ)
    • Company-paid healthcare premiums during the month of training
    • Out of domicile provisions if FA is required to take training out of domicile (e.g. SANFAs)
    • Positive space Company Business travel provided to and from domicile if required
  • Unemployment insurance (UI)
    • Company will not contest UI
    • Company will provide support letter to the FA
  • “Reconvene clause” in case legislation (e.g. potential extension to the CARES Act) is subsequently passed that prevents IVFs

Reduction in Force 2020 Sideletter of Agreement

Click here for the Reduction in Force 2020 Sideletter of Agreement >

AFA and management recognized that references to “seniority” in §18.A [Involuntary Furlough Mitigations] and §18.K [Involuntary Furlough Seniority Retention] required clarification to reflect intent and established practice: 

  • Occupational Seniority always accrues: FAs always receive scheduled pay increases and are not negatively impacted in bidding seniority or relative seniority while on any type of leave or furlough.
  • Company Seniority always accrues: FAs always receive scheduled vacation accrual increases and are not negatively impacted for non-rev seniority while on any type of leave or furlough.
  • Longevity: 401(k) vesting and retirement eligibility are ‘frozen’ (i.e. retained but not accrued) while on certain types of leave or while on furlough.

The parties clarified the procedures for returning from an Extended Leave of Absence under §18.A:

  • Domicile protection while on ELOA and recall in Occupational Seniority order

The parties will allow Flight Attendants to conduct Union Business (UB) or Company Business (CB) while on a voluntary furlough under §27.AA [Union Business and/or Company Business…]:

  • Flight Attendants who routinely conduct UB and/or CB work may be potentially willing to take voluntary furloughs, and this provision would allow them to do so while continuing to provide necessary services to the Company and/or to the Association.
  • Examples: Inflight Training Instructors, Special Project work Flight Attendants and union reps

Tell Congress: Extend the CARES Act

If not enough Flight Attendants voluntarily take the Early Out, Extended Leave of Absence or Enhanced Voluntary Furlough, then at least some of our sisters and brothers will be involuntarily furloughed starting in October. Consequently, it is vitally important that each and every one of you help AFA-CWA, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556 achieve a six-month extension to the CARES Act in order to protect Flight Attendant jobs. Tell Congress to keep our industry intact by extending the CARES Act!

These are extremely difficult and stressful times. Please remember that your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Committee is always available as a support resource. As your direct representative on the MEC, your LEC president is available to answer questions or concerns that you may have about all the information presented here. Contact information for your respective LEC president can be found by clicking here. We hope to see you at one of the upcoming “Early Out and Leave Options” informational sessions on 7/14, 7/16 or 7/21!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Matt Cook, Terry Taylor, Steve Maller, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

AFA Update – June 30, 2020

In This Edition

  • Tell Congress: Extend the Payroll Support Program
  • Pandemic Response
  • Fraudulent Face Mask Exemption Card
  • Management Provides Contractual Furlough Notice
  • Company “Early Out”
  • CARES Act Additional $600 Ends Soon

Tell Congress: Extend the Payroll Support Program

AFA International

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556 are calling for a six-month aviation Payroll Support Program (PSP) extension through March 31, 2021, to protect our jobs, extend the restrictions on stock buybacks, dividends, and executive compensation, and maintain service to all of our communities. Tell Congress to keep our industry intact to ensure aviation can help fight the virus and contribute to economic recovery as opposed to adding to an economic depression.

Amplify Your Voice With a Call

In addition to sending a letter, you can amplify your voice by following up with a phone call to your Members of Congress.  Call your Representative and Senators and say:

Hello, I am a constituent calling to ask [Representative]/[Senator] to help save my job as an essential worker. Take legislative action in July to extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program for aviation workers in order to avoid massive job loss in October. Keep us connected to our jobs, our paychecks, and our healthcare. Thank you for your urgent attention to this.

AFA COVID Relief House – (888) 907-9365
AFA COVID Relief Senate – (888) 848-4824

You may also receive a phone call over the next several days from AFA Government Affairs Committee Members or other AFA volunteers to ask for your support in making these calls.

Pandemic Response

Master Executive Council (MEC)

AFA remains dedicated to our mission to protect the safety and health of our members, and we continue to do so on multiple fronts during this pandemic. Representatives from the Master Executive Council (MEC); the Air Safety, Health and Security Committee; and the Inflight Service Committee meet multiple times per week with management to advocate on your behalf. AFA recently met with an infectious disease expert from the University of Washington on more than one occasion to discuss our questions and concerns. 

We echo your concerns about diminishing social distancing onboard, mask compliance, personal protective equipment (PPE) and increasing service levels. Be assured we will continue to work with management to maximize the safety of our Flight Attendants. See the Company’s Listening & Acting: Actions we are taking in partnership with AFA  resource page (AAG sign-on required) for the latest updates.

Fraudulent Face Mask Exemption Card

Master Executive Council (MEC)

AFA Interactive (June 26, 2020) reported that a Facebook group dubbed the Freedom to Breathe Agency, or FTBA, is promoting fake face mask exemption cards featuring an eagle image reminiscent of the Department of Justice (DOJ) seal. Images of the laminated cards have been circulating on social media and were recently deemed fraudulent by the DOJ. Read more >

The MEC has requested that management take the following actions:

  • Alert Flight Attendants and CSAs that the card is fake and what to do about it and similar exemption cards if presented.
  • Communicate what documentation is required by passengers to substantiate medical or religious exemptions for wearing a face mask while travelling.

Management Provides Contractual Furlough Notice 

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Pursuant to Section 18.G of the JCBA, management provided notice to the MEC President last Thursday (June 25) that the Company intends to use a Reduction of Force of Flight Attendants effective October 1, 2020. The contract requires that the parties meet for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days from the date of notice “to consider… programs to help mitigate a reduction in force.” We are meeting every day this week to negotiate on the terms of additional and/or enhanced furlough mitigations.

Company “Early Out”

Retirement Committee

Management recently indicated that “Early Out” program details and application processes will be communicated over the next few weeks “depending on union agreements and company timelines.” Management has stated, “[W]e are still finalizing details with union and operational leaders,” and that “options may be different depending on union representation, current CBA language and operational needs.” However, AFA did not negotiate this Early Out package.

AFA approached management back in March regarding our interest in negotiating an Early Out, but management declined our offer. Although management has provided AFA with the opportunity for limited feedback, the Company developed its own version of an Early Out for all represented work groups rather than engaging each union—including AFA—in direct negotiations. The MEC would like to level-set the expectations of our members by being clear this is a management-developed Early Out package. More information to come once management has publicly released the details.

CARES Act Additional $600 Ends Soon

The additional $600 in weekly unemployment insurance benefits provided by the federal government is officially set to end July 31, but all states except New York will pay it only through the week ending Saturday, July 25.  Read more >

AFA News in Review – September 19, 2025

In This Edition Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month Originally posted September 15, 2025 Join us in celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, a time dedicated to honoring the vibrant cultures and significant contributions of Hispanic-Latinx Americans. Discover the history, participate in special events, and grab your commemorative Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month AFA Pin […]

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 […]

Recent Posts

News By Month

News By Category

AFA News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) AS/HA Merger AS/VX Merger Benefits Committee Committees Communications Committee Contract Contract 2014 Negotiations Blog Council 15 SAN Council 18 LAX Council 19 SEA Council 30 ANC Council 35 SFO Council 39 PDX EAP/Professional Standards Committee Extension 2021 Blog Featured Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee Hotel Committee Human Rights & Equity Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) Membership Committee Membership Engagement Committee Message from the MEC President Mobilization Committee Negotiations Pairing Construction Preferential Bidding System (PBS) Press Releases Reserve Committee Retirement Committee Scheduling Committee Uniform Committee

Want To Stay In The Loop?

Stay up-to-date on AFA Alaska news and information by signing up for our email and text message updates. Click a button below to get started or update your preferences if you're already a subscriber.
Sign Up for Emails
Sign Up for Text Updates