This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants
- Our SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee met virtually with management on September 11 to receive their response to our last proposal
- Our union has a longstanding history of negotiation with management to establish new domiciles as supported by Section 27.D.2 of our CBA
- Our priorities during these negotiations aim to support Flight Attendants during the transition to the SEA domicile while addressing operational and contractual concerns
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 (CBA) and integrity of our working relationships. At the negotiating table for this virtual meeting were:
| Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants | Representing Management |
| Tim Green, Committee Chairperson | Joe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations |
| Martin Gusman, Committee Member | Allen Thieman, Vice President, Inflight |
| Joshua Aoki, Committee Member | Carmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations |
| Jeffrey Fuke, Committee Member | Kalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations |
| Lea Franzoi, Committee Support Representative | Adriene Tom, Specialist, Labor Relations |
| Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff Negotiator |
Hawaiian’s Negotiating History
For decades, the Association has negotiated with management to establish new domiciles. There is a long history of precedent and collaboration with management to ensure fair and just protections for Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants. The Hawaiian Flight Attendant Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) establishes just that in Section 27.D.2:
Section 27.D.2
2. International
All domiciles other than Honolulu which are established for the international operation shall be geographically located within the fifty (50) United States. Prior to creating and opening any other domiciles, a supplement to this Agreement shall be negotiated in accordance with Section 6, Title I of the Railway Labor Act, as amended.
This language is longstanding and requires the company to negotiate in good faith prior to opening a new domicile. In the latest proposal it has become clear that Alaska management is unwilling to negotiate a fair agreement by rejecting many of our proposals that are beneficial to the Flight Attendants and that would support the long term viability of the company’s goals for International expansion.
Our Vision for the SEA Domicile
The company has expressed a brand promise to both the Flight Attendants and the Hawai’i community at large. In that promise is the expectation to uphold our brand integrity and culture which would entail capturing and honoring the Hawaiian Spirit of Aloha and hospitality, a culture that we are proud to share around the globe.
Our vision for the SEA domicile is fostering an experienced and knowledgeable foundation for long term growth. This means including protections that would encourage experienced Flight Attendants to volunteer for the SEA domicile. These Flight Attendants would bring the highest Hawaiian standards for hospitality to Alaska’s highest profile and flagship global flying onboard the Boeing 787-9, and in the process mentor new hire Flight Attendants who may be assigned there.
Looking back at when we were first hired, it was comforting to know that there was someone to help guide and support us as we embarked on this new journey of being a Flight Attendant. To be able to support and bring our work culture to our new SEA domicile would bring comfort to those who bravely volunteer to conquer this journey. By rejecting our current proposals, Alaska management is promoting a new base serving global destinations, which would leave them staffed with crews who have little to no experience on key routes (ICN and NRT) that we have preserved and cultivated for years.
Key Priorities
In our first SEA Domicile Update on September 6, we summarized the key areas we’re focused on. Please find the information below for your reference.
- Transfer Processes – strengthening protective elements of the transfer process for those who may be interested in moving to the new domicile
- Return to HNL or LAX Domicile – addressing the concern of Flight Attendants transferring to SEA and potentially wishing to return to their Hawaiian domicile before the merging of the Hawaiian and Alaska SEA domiciles
- Staffing – ensuring that staffing is sufficient to meet operational demands
- Moving Expenses – advocating for fair and comprehensive compensation related to any necessary relocations
- Operational Concerns – defining the type of flying and pairings that will be constructed in the domicile
- Safeguarding Existing Bases – protecting our HNL and LAX domiciles during this transition
Next Steps
Your SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee will meet with management from October 6 to 8 in Honolulu for our second round of SEA Domicile Negotiations.
Let us remind everyone, our contract applies to this new management the same as it did to our previous management. Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines along with our fairly-negotiated contract, which remains in full force until ratification of a joint contract between Alaska’s and Hawaiian’s Flight Attendants. Being the acquired carrier does not release Alaska from following the contract, nor does it subject us to being second-class members of the Alaska ‘family.’ To that end, we will in good faith continue demanding further dates in order to negotiate in accordance with our contract.
We are sharing this with you so that you are aware of the uphill battle we are currently facing. As we have expressed previously, only we can uphold the spirit of our culture and retain the Hawaiian spirit and experience that our community has come to know. We ask for your support to make us successful by keeping informed, so we can come together as one voice and achieve fair and just protections for the SEA domicile.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local leadership or email the SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee at sea@afahawaiian.org.
