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Sick Leave Survey Now Open

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Your Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) believes that your health and well-being comes first. We want to understand which components of our paid sick leave policy is most important to you.  Our paid sick leave policy is here to support you in taking the necessary time off while ensuring that you don’t lose pay.

The Alaska Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has made significant strides with the introduction of the State Sick Leave Bank. This provision aligns with the state laws of Alaska, Oregon and Washington, offering you the flexibility to manage your health effectively. This means when using State Sick Leave you can take time off for personal health needs, including doctor appointments and circumstances surrounding domestic abuse.

Please keep in mind that this survey focuses specifically on our Sick Leave Policy and does not address attendance points or the Hawaiian Sick Leave Monitor Program. We value your feedback and will address these topics in the future.

Our JNC understands that every health journey is unique and we would like to ensure the our contract is there to support your healthcare needs. The survey is currently open and will close on Tuesday, November 11 at Noon PT. Please take the time to participate in this short survey.

Please see below to review the Sick Leave Survey Quick Reference Guide. The guide highlights key differences between Alaska and Hawaiian’s Sick Leave Programs.

To Access the Survey

  • For pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants, enter your PeopleSoft Number
  • For pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants, enter your Employee Number (without leading zeros)

Some important notes:

  • Once the survey is submitted, your responses cannot be edited. Please ensure your selections are final before hitting ‘Submit’. 
  • For ranking questions, all choices must be ranked. You may skip these questions, but remember to rank all options if you choose to respond.

We encourage you to participate, as engaged members are our greatest strength during negotiations. Thank you for your commitment to our shared success. If you have any questions about the survey, please reach out to the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 8 – October 2025

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Our JNC met with management this week on October 20 to October 24 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for November 18 to November 20
  • A Tentative Agreement (TA) was reached regarding Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation

Negotiations Update

The AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for four days of collective bargaining with management.  The JNC met with management on October 20 to October 24 in Seattle, WA.  At the negotiating table for this session were:

Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants  Representing Management
Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee ChairpersonAllen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberRyan St. John, Vice President, Finance, Planning and Investor Relations, Alaska
Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberJoe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations, Alaska
Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
 Karen Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska

During this session of negotiations our JNC had focused discussion on Section 25 – Air Safety, Health and Security, Section 27 – Association General, and Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation.

We continue to advocate for improvements in safety and reporting, as well as for additional resources to ensure we can effectively represent our combined Flight Attendant group. Reaching a Tentative Agreement (TA) on Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation locks in enhancements to food availability, transportation safety, and clarifications on day room eligibility requirements, and compensation when one is not provided.

Section by Section Progress

Tentative Agreements reached in this session:

  • Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation (HA CBA Section 4.C and Section 4.E)

Sections discussed in this session:

  • Section 25 – Air Safety Health and Security (HA CBA Section 28)
  • Section 27 – Association General (HA CBA Section 22)

Sections in ongoing discussion:

  • Section 30 – Training (HA CBA Section 26)
  • Section 36 – Commuter Policy (HA CBA Section 34-28)

Sections listed below are on hold until discussions regarding future sections, which affect specific provisions, take place.

  • Section 6 – Seniority (HA CBA Section 9)
  • Section 15 – Leaves of Absence (HA CBA Section 17)
  • Section 19 – Grievance Procedures (HA CBA Section 23)
  • Section 33 – Charters (HA CBA Section 12)

Local Council Meetings

Our Joint Negotiation Committee (JNC) participated in the Local Council Meeting with Council 19 on Friday, October 24, in Seattle. During the meeting, we clarified the differences between Section 6 Negotiations and Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) Negotiations. We also addressed questions regarding the negotiating process and highlighted some key distinctions between the Alaska and Hawaiian contracts. In November, our JNC will travel to Portland to meet with Council 39. Please stay updated through your Local Council communications for information about upcoming meetings.

What’s Upcoming

Our next session with management is scheduled for November 18 to November 20.

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 7 – September 2025

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Our JNC met with management this week on September 30 to October 2 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for October 21 to October 23
  • A tentative agreement was reached regarding Section 13 – Uniforms
  • 2,207 Flight Attendants participated in the Vacation Survey, our JNC will review all responses submitted

Negotiations Update

The AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management.  The JNC met with management on September 30 to October 2 in Seattle, WA.  At the negotiating table for this session were:

Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants  Representing Management
Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee ChairpersonAllen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberRyan St. John, Vice President, Finance, Planning and Investor Relations, Alaska
Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberJoe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations, Alaska
Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
Brian Palmer, MEC Communications ChairpersonKaren Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska

Throughout this week’s negotiations, our JNC made meaningful strides in developing several sections of our agreement. Both parties demonstrated a willingness to collaborate, and while there are still some areas that need addressing, we are optimistic about the progress we are making together. As we continue this important dialogue, our goal is to advance further toward finalizing each section we’ve discussed.

Brian Palmer joined the committee to share his expertise on connectivity in Section 27 – Association General. Our JNC aims to enhance communication with you, our Members, in crew rooms across all bases.

Our JNC has reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) on Section 13 – Uniforms. We are working through various provisions, including the basic uniform, dry cleaning, uniform costs, footwear, jacket requirements, and gloves, which will be resolved once the final uniform design is determined. We successfully negotiated valuable items from the Hawaiian Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), including protective measures ensuring that surnames do not appear on name tags. We’ve enhanced the uniform replacement provisions and broadened the guidelines for Arctic boot wear, reflecting our commitment to improving the overall uniform standards.

Section by Section Progress

Tentative Agreements reached in this session:

  • Section 13 – Uniforms (HA CBA Section 6)

Sections discussed in this session:

  • Section 25 – Air Safety Health and Security (HA CBA Section 28)

We continue to advocate for safety improvements and reporting

  • Section 27 – Association General (HA CBA Section 22)

As our Flight Attendant population continues to grow, we are actively seeking resources to ensure proper representation for our Flight Attendants.

  • Section 30 – Training (HA CBA Section 26)

We are in discussions around recurrent training as we work through travel protections and compensation for the the requalification process.

  • Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation (HA CBA Section 4.C and Section 4.E)

We are seeking enhancements to food accessibility on layovers.

  • Section 36 – Commuter Policy (HA CBA Section 34-28)

We continue to advocate for ground and air commuter policy enhancements.

Sections listed below are on hold until discussions regarding future sections, which affect specific provisions, take place.

  • Section 6 – Seniority (HA CBA Section 9)
  • Section 15 – Leaves of Absence (HA CBA Section 17)
  • Section 19 – Grievance Procedures (HA CBA Section 23)

Vacation Survey

Thank you for participating in the Vacation Survey. We had a total of 2,207 Flight Attendants take part, with 64% of the responses coming from pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants and 37% from pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants. All responses will be reviewed and taken into consideration during the evaluation process.

Additionally, please look out for the link to the upcoming Sick Leave Survey, which will be available in the coming weeks.

Local Council Meetings

On September 22, our JNC participated in the Local Council 35 meeting in San Francisco. It was a great opportunity to connect with members and LEC officers, addressing questions about the joint negotiating process and gathering valuable feedback. We’ll be attending Local Council meetings until the end of the year, including Local Council 30 today, October 3 in Anchorage. Be sure to stay connected with your Local Council for the latest updates and information.

What’s Upcoming

Our next session with management is scheduled for October 21 to October 23.

Vacation Survey Closing Soon

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Vacation Survey Closing on Wednesday, September 24 at Noon PT

Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is conducting a vacation survey to gather insights from Flight Attendants at Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines regarding their vacation benefits.

Our committee aims to understand the varying ways these benefits are utilized and how to enhance them especially as there are significant differences between the Alaska and Hawaiian vacation systems. The JNC committee remains committed to advocating for the quality of work life for all Flight Attendants to ensure that both Alaska and Hawaiian employees retain their long-standing benefits.

The survey will be available until Wednesday, September 24 at Noon PT. We strongly encourage you to take a moment to complete the survey. Your input will help the JNC advocate effectively for your needs.

Thank you for being an essential part of this process!

If you have any questions regarding the survey feel free to contact the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

Vacation Survey Now Open

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Your Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is working diligently to understand and improve the vacation benefits for our Flight Attendants at Alaska and Hawaiian. Your input is essential in ensuring that the vacation provisions we adopt reflect your needs and preferences.

To gather your perspectives, we invite you to participate in our Vacation Survey. This survey will help us assess which vacation benefits matter most to you, given the significant differences between the Alaska and Hawaiian vacation systems. The survey is currently open and will close on Tuesday, September 24 at Noon PT. We encourage you to take a moment to click the survey link and share your thoughts, so the JNC can accurately represent your interests.

Our goal is to combine the best aspects of both contracts to enhance your quality of work life. However, we recognize that management may prioritize productivity over flexibility, and it is our responsibility to advocate for your interests.

Please take a moment to review the Vacation Quick Reference Guide, for more detailed information there is a comparison chart included in the survey to help you evaluate the potential improvements for your vacation benefits.

To Access the Survey

  • For pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants, enter your PeopleSoft Number
  • For pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants, enter your Employee Number (without leading zeros)

Some important notes:

  • Once the survey is submitted, your responses cannot be edited. Please ensure your selections are final before hitting ‘Submit’. 
  • For ranking questions, all choices must be ranked. You may skip these questions, but remember to rank all options if you choose to respond.

We encourage you to take the time to participate, as an informed and engaged membership is our strongest asset during these negotiations. Thank you for your continued commitment to our collective success. If you have any questions about the survey, please reach out to the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

Boeing 787 Seattle International Service Observation Period Update – May 2026

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants Over the past few weeks, Alaska-branded 787 International Service launched with flights on April 25 (SEA-ICN), April 28 (SEA-FCO), and, coming soon, May 21 (SEA-LHR). As many of you know, the Seattle international service has not yet been formally agreed upon. Per the Hawaiian Contract [Section 29.I.4.], […]

Council 19 (SEA pmAS) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 12 PM PT today for the election of Council 19 LEC Officers, representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in Seattle. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: Paula Isla-McGillLEC Vice President: Melinda JorgeLEC Secretary: Adam ClareyCouncil Representatives: Kiersten Larson and Andrew Stinson These newly elected officers will begin […]

Government Affairs Committee Update – 2nd Quarter 2026

Voting Primaries/ Important Dates Alaska Primary: July 19Registration Deadline: Aug 18 California Primary: June 2Registration Deadline:  May 18 Florida Primary: August 18Registration Deadline: July 20  Hawaii Primary: August 8Registration Deadline: July 29Deadline to request absentee ballot: August 1 Oregon Primary: May 19Registration Deadline: PASSEDBallots began being mailed to registered voters on April 29, check your mailboxes! […]

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, May 5, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), Bob Moore (PDX), Slater Areno (SFO), Heather […]

Crew Meal Survey Now Open

Crew meals are an important aspect of supporting the health and effectiveness of Flight Attendants. As part of ongoing efforts to enhance these provisions, the JNC is collecting feedback from Flight Attendants. Your participation in the Crew Meal Survey will directly influence future meal standards and help ensure that your needs and preferences are represented.

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