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        You are here: Home / Archives for pmAS

        Meet Our Local Chairpersons

        August 1, 2026 12:15

        We’re excited to introduce our first group of SEA Local Committee Chairpersons for the current LEC Officer term. They will be transitioning into their roles over the next few weeks and officially start their terms on September 1, 2026. Below you’ll find brief biographies that highlight their backgrounds and experiences as they prepare to support our Members at Council 19.

        Kiersten Larson | Local Communications Chairperson

        Kiersten began her career as a Flight Attendant with Alaska Airlines in 2008. Over the last few years, she’s been involved with Government Affairs, Mobilization, and Communications. In addition to Union work, Kiersten is an active children’s rights advocate, reflecting her ongoing commitment to standing up for those who need a voice.

        Kiersten was motivated to step into the role of Council 19 Seattle Council Representative because of her passion for advocating for her fellow Flight Attendants and ensuring their voices are heard at every level. She aims to build on her advocacy background by keeping Members informed, engaged, and empowered. Outside of work, Kiersten loves spending time with her husband, two cats, and lovingly harassing her adult children.

        Jerry Sinclair | Local Communications Vice-Chairperson

        Jerry was born and raised in the Burien-Tukwila area and began his airline career with Air Cal Airlines, later American Airlines, in 1984. He joined Horizon Air in 1995, transferred to Alaska Airlines in 2001, and became a Flight Attendant in 2003. Since 2012, he has served in various Union roles, including committee work and two terms as Local Executive Council Representative for Council 19. 

        In his free time, Jerry enjoys the outdoors, caring for his dogs and rescue cats, and working in the yard.

        Andrew Stinson | Local Government Affairs/Human Rights & Equity Chairperson

        Andrew has been a Flight Attendant with Alaska Airlines since 2015. Before coming to Alaska, Andrew graduated with a bachelor’s degree in restaurant and hotel management and worked as a chef at Snoqualmie Casino in the banquets and catering department. Andrew’s goals in his new role as Council Representative are to engage with our Members by continuing to fly and to continue to build solidarity with other labor organizations.

        Andrew is heavily involved in many local labor organizations, such as the Pierce County Central Labor Council, the Washington State Labor Council, and Pride at Work Pierce County. When Andrew isn’t advocating for Flight Attendants, he keeps busy by spending time with his and his partners’ families. 

        Tracy Pettit | Local Membership Engagement Chairperson

        Tracy started flying for a different airline that was shut down because of Covid (and probably other industry-related issues). Along with other AFA Government Affairs volunteers, she fought to get the Payroll Protection Program into law. That bill allowed folks to keep their jobs, and those who became unemployed, like Tracy, to stay above water. This experience cemented for her the importance of Union power and solidarity.

        In 2022, Tracy started flying for Alaska and started doing Union work as soon as she could. Her goal for Membership Engagement and our local council is to participate more frequently in the larger labor movement, to hold management accountable to their promises, and to ensure every Flight Attendant has the resources to be informed, supported and empowered to advocate for themselves.

        Outside of Union work, Tracy has a dog who just turned 10! She spends a lot of time in Juneau, Alaska with her partner and his cat. Tracy likes to read, play games, and make art.

        Filed Under: Council 19 SEA (pmAS) Tagged With: communications, Council 19, Government Affairs, Human Rights Committee, Membership Engagement, pmAS, SEA

        Joint Contract Negotiations Session 17 – July 2026

        July 24, 2026 13:00

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

        • Our JNC met with management this week on July 21 to July 23 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for August 24 to August 26
        • Our JNC presented our response to the company’s initial proposal on Section 23 (Insurance Benefits), aiming to secure Flight Attendant specific provisions

        Negotiations Update

        Our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management from July 21 to July 23 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

        This week the JNC started off by meeting with our pre-merger Alaska MEC Reserve Chairperson, Julie Thornton, to continue to review Alaska Reserve concerns. Julie also weighed in on formulating the Reserve survey to ensure all relevant pre-merger Alaska questions were addressed. The JNC will be meeting with the pre-merger Hawaiian MEC Reserve Chairperson, Kela Chong, prior to the next negotiating session.

        The JNC passed our initial proposal on Section 23 (Insurance Benefits) this week, incorporating many of the protections found in the Hawaiian agreement and cementing those already in the Alaska agreement. One of our goals is to secure Flight Attendant specific insurance plan provisions in our JCBA, examples being Flexible Spending Accounts, coverage of dependent children up to age 26 and company provided life insurance.

        We continued to discuss the remaining outstanding issues in Section 30 (Training) and have made much progress in this section. We have already secured Buddy Bidding for Recurrent Training and are working to secure other improvements in this section. This proposal is currently in the company’s court and we are hopeful to receive a response from management at the next session.

        Section by Section Progress

        The Alaska CBA is being used as the basis of the joint contract for language purposes. Each section and provision from both contracts will be reviewed individually to incorporate and amend the strongest elements from each agreement.

        Sections discussed in this session:

        • Insurance Benefits (AS CBA Section 23 and HA CBA Section 32)
        • Training (AS CBA Section 30 and HA CBA Section 26)

        Sections in ongoing discussion:

        • Vacations (AS CBA Section 14 and HA CBA Section 18)
        • Sick Leave (AS CBA Section 16 and HA CBA Section 19)
        • Leaves of Absence (AS CBA Section 15 and HA CBA Section 17)
        • General and Miscellaneous (AS CBA Section 24 and HA CBA Section 27)
        • Domiciles (AS CBA Section 28 and HA CBA Section 5, 14, and 27)
        • Commuter Policy (AS CBA Section 36 and HA CBA Section 34-28)

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

        • Seniority (AS CBA Section 6 and HA CBA Section 9)
        • Grievance Procedures (AS CBA Section 19 and HA CBA Section 23)
        • Charters (AS CBA Section 33 and HA CBA Section 12)

        JCBA Negotiations

        As a reminder, here’s how JCBA bargaining differs from regular negotiations:

        • Not Section 6 Negotiations: Because our contracts are not amendable, we fall outside the regular Section 6 process.
        • Creating One Contract from Two: Instead of improving a single contract, JCBA talks are about building an entirely new agreement from two existing contracts.
        • Different Survey Process: The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) will send targeted “subject matter” surveys on specific contract sections.

        For more information about the process please see Understanding JCBA Negotiations

        What’s Upcoming

        Our next session with management is scheduled for August 24 to August 26.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Tagged With: Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), pmAS, pmHA

        Register Now: Reserve Webinar – Thursday, August 6

        July 6, 2026 17:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        As a follow-up to our June 23 save-the-date announcement, we’re excited to share full details and open registration for our August pre-merger Alaska Reserve Webinar! If you’ve ever wondered, “Can they do that?” when Crew Scheduling calls with a reserve assignment or schedule change—whether you’re a Reserve Flight Attendant or a lineholder flying with a Reserve—this series is designed for you. Our Reserve Committee will host a limited-run series of webinars starting in August, focusing on your most pressing questions and providing clear, actionable guidance on the topics that matter most.

        Mark your calendar for our kickoff session: Thursday, August 6, at 1 PM PT. Our first Reserve Webinar, “Can they do that?”, will offer practical, contractual insights for both everyday scheduling scenarios and those unexpected curveballs. This session is open to all—Reserve Flight Attendants and lineholders alike. Come ready to engage, learn, and ask anything on your mind.

        Register Now!

        The webinar will be hosted on Zoom, making it easy to join from home or while on a layover. Advance registration is required to receive your unique Zoom link and event reminders. As always, the AFA mutual respect policy will be in effect throughout the session.

        Click here to register >

        To secure your spot, please use your personal email address—registrations using an alaskaair.com email address will be canceled. Attendance is limited to Members in good standing, and membership status will be verified prior to the event. If you’re unsure about your status, visit the AFA Membership Hub to confirm.

        Once registered, you’ll receive a unique Zoom link by email. This link is exclusive to you and can only be used on one device, so keep it handy. Each attendee must register individually, as links are not shareable. If you’re unsure whether you’ll be able to join the session, register anyway—this guarantees you’ll have access should your schedule allow. Keep in mind that registration closes one hour before the webinar begins.

        Need help with Zoom? Visit the Zoom support website for details on system requirements and joining instructions.

        Submit Your Questions in Advance!

        If you have a “can they do that?” question, we want to hear from you! Use the link below to submit your questions ahead of time. While you’ll have the chance to ask live during the session, advance submissions help us tailor the webinar to your needs and ensure we address the topics that matter most.

        Click here to submit your question now >

        Questions or Need More Info?

        Don’t hesitate to reach out to your Local Reserve Committee.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Reserve Committee Tagged With: pmAS

        Joint Contract Negotiations Session 16 – July 2026

        July 3, 2026 13:00

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

        • Our JNC met with management this week on July 1 to July 3 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for July 21 to July 23
        • A Tentative Agreement has been reached for Section 35 (Flight Attendant Jumpseat and Pass Privileges) and LOA 9 (Flight Attendant Jumpseat)

        Negotiations Update

        Our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management from July 1 to July 3 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

        This week, the JNC has reached a tentative agreement on Section 35 (Flight Attendant Jumpseat and Pass Privileges) and Letter of Agreement (LOA) 9 (Flight Attendant Jumpseat). These provisions cement protections governing Flight Attendant Jumpseat usage and establish the priority order for Flight Attendant assignment to the jumpseat. The LOA further secures jumpseat assignment order and availability ensuring access and guidelines for Flight Attendant pass travel. The JNC also received the first proposal from management on Section 23 (Insurance Benefits) and spent a considerable amount of time analyzing and consulting with our subject matter experts to prepare a comprehensive counter proposal. The JNC also passed a proposal on Section 30 (Training) and is continuing to make progress forward.

        Section by Section Progress

        The Alaska CBA is being used as the basis of the joint contract for language purposes. Each section and provision from both contracts will be reviewed individually to incorporate and amend the strongest elements from each agreement.

        Sections discussed in this session:

        • Insurance Benefits (AS CBA Section 23 and HA CBA Section 32)
        • Training (AS CBA Section 30 and HA CBA Section 26)
        • Flight Attendant Jumpseat and Pass Privileges (AS CBA Section 35 and HA CBA Section 30)
        • Commuter Policy (AS CBA Section 36 and HA CBA Section 34-28)

        Sections in ongoing discussion:

        • Vacations (AS CBA Section 14 and HA CBA Section 18)
        • Sick Leave (AS CBA Section 16 and HA CBA Section 19)
        • Leaves of Absence (AS CBA Section 15 and HA CBA Section 17)
        • General and Miscellaneous (AS CBA Section 24 and HA CBA Section 27)
        • Domiciles (AS CBA Section 28 and HA CBA Section 5, 14, and 27)

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

        • Seniority (AS CBA Section 6 and HA CBA Section 9)
        • Grievance Procedures (AS CBA Section 19 and HA CBA Section 23)
        • Charters (AS CBA Section 33 and HA CBA Section 12)

        What’s Upcoming

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

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Tagged With: Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), pmAS, pmHA

        Save the Date: Reserve Webinar – Thursday, August 6

        June 23, 2026 15:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        Pre-merger Alaska Reserve Flight Attendants: Have you ever had Crew Scheduling call you with a change to your assignment and wondered, “Can they do that?” Lineholders, have you flown with a Reserve Flight Attendant and found yourself asking the same question? You’re not alone! Our Reserve Committee is excited to launch a brand-new, limited-run series of Reserve Webinars in August to answer your most pressing reserve questions and bring clarity to the topics that matter most to you.

        Mark your calendar for Thursday, August 6, at 1 PM PT for our first Reserve Webinar, titled “Can they do that?” Join us as we answer your questions and share practical, contractual insight into both everyday scheduling situations and those rare curveballs that come your way. This webinar is for everyone: Reserve Flight Attendants and lineholders alike. We encourage you to come ready to learn, connect, and ask anything on your mind. Registration details and a Zoom link will be shared as soon as August bidding opens.

        Have a “can they do that?” question of your own? We want to hear from you! Use the link below to submit your questions in advance. While you’ll also have the opportunity to ask live during the webinar, the more questions we receive ahead of time, the better we can tailor the session to what matters most to you.

        Click here to submit your question now ➔

        Stay tuned—more details coming soon!

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Reserve Committee Tagged With: pmAS

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        Latest News

        • AFA News in Review – August 21, 2026
        • Council 47 Officer Update – August 2026
        • Reserve Committee Update – August 2026
        • Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026
        • Meet Our Local Chairpersons – August 2026
        • Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026
        • August Bidding Extension and Reserve Webinar
        • Council 47 SEA Base Update – Membership Meeting Recap
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        Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026

        August 19, 2026

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, August 13, 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), Diana Berni (PDX),  Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather […]

        Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026

        August 19, 2026

        On Monday, August 10, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met remotely 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 pmAS), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), Kanani Vallot (SAN), and Matt […]

        787-9 Inflight Service Grievance: Protecting Our Contract and Standards

        August 14, 2026

        This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants For decades, Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants have defined the Spirit of Aloha. We take pride in delivering world-class service, but management’s current Boeing 787-9 service model is threatening that legacy. It isn’t just inefficient—it’s an unsustainable pace that undermines the quality our passengers expect and the professional […]

        Pre-Merger Alaska Reserve Webinar Video and Q&A Recap – August 6, 2026

        August 12, 2026

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Thank you to everyone who joined our first pre-merger Alaska Reserve Webinar! We created this interactive session to share practical contract tips and help you feel more confident about reserve life. You can now watch the recording on our YouTube channel using the link below. Please note that […]

        Wrapping Up Membership Engagement Focus Month: Stronger Together

        August 4, 2026

        July was a remarkable month for our Membership Engagement Committee. We set out with a clear purpose: to bring our Flight Attendant community closer together, share valuable resources, and build authentic connections throughout our system. Over the past four weeks, we explored what it means to be engaged in our AFA family. We kicked things […]

        Recent Posts

        • AFA News in Review – August 21, 2026
        • Council 47 Officer Update – August 2026
        • Reserve Committee Update – August 2026
        • Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026
        • Meet Our Local Chairpersons – August 2026
        • Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026
        • August Bidding Extension and Reserve Webinar
        • Council 47 SEA Base Update – Membership Meeting Recap
        • Hawaiian Inflight Service Committee Update – LHR Test Flights in September
        • AFA News in Review – August 14, 2026
        • 787-9 Inflight Service Grievance: Protecting Our Contract and Standards
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        • Pre-Merger Alaska Reserve Webinar Video and Q&A Recap – August 6, 2026
        • Council 47 SEA Base Update – SEA Membership Meeting Final Reminder
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