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        You are here: Home / Archives for pmAS

        Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

        May 30, 2025 13:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        On Thursday, May 15, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Naomi Parcell (ANC), Ross DeJong (SEA), Todd Horn (PDX), Raymond Ramirez (SFO), and Chase Vandergrift (SAN). MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairperson Stephanie Garnett was also present.

        The committee met with Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, Principal Cabin Product and Experience Manager Chris Dela Rosa, Director of Cabin Experience David Scotland, Director of Food and Beverage Products Mita Padhi, Manager of Food and Beverage Planning and Programs David Rodriguez, Senior Food and Beverage Product Manager Jessica Johnston, Food and Beverage Planning Systems Manager Gayatri Watwe, Principal Food and Beverage Programs Gracie Truex, Director of Catering Operations Andrew Moyer, Catering Safety Compliance Manager Raena Alonzo, Regional Catering Performance Manager Jayson Yang, and Regional Catering Performance Manager Katie Thompson. We also met with Service Strategy Product Manager and Marketing/Sales Jesse Starmer, IT Contractors Chris Pettigrew and Chris Daniels, and the new Managing Director of Products & Experience Mark Krolick.

        The next committee meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 18.

        Topics of Discussion

        The Committee discussed several topics during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some of the items included:

        Aircraft Interiors

        • New Overhead Bin Signage and Lavatory Placards: New reserved overhead bin signage and lavatory trash placards are currently being installed. The lavatory placards are intended to mitigate the misuse of the amenity cabinet, which contains toilet seat covers, as a trash compartment by passengers, especially on the 737 MAX. Please inform your Local Inflight Service Committee if these placards are effective.
        • Concerns Regarding Aircraft Cleanliness: There have been recent concerns regarding aircraft cleanliness, particularly the galley 1 trash compartment on the MAX 9. The area surrounding the trash container should be cleaned daily according to the RON cleaning schedule. Additionally, the cleanliness of the new hard plastic material used for the forward bulkheads in newer cabin interiors has been noted. These bulkheads tend to show dirt and grime, including footprints. Management acknowledged that this material is not meeting expectations, and alternatives are being evaluated. In the meantime, Fleet Service should clean and wipe down the bulkheads regularly. If you notice any cleanliness issues on the aircraft, please report them.
        • Reporting Broken Lavatory Furnishings: If you encounter broken lavatory furnishings, such as toilet paper or soap dispenser holders, please document these issues as a cabin discrepancy. It has been noted that Fleet Service has increased the frequency of deep cleanings for some aircraft and expanded the number of locations where these cleanings occur.

        Catering Operations

        • Ice Quality Issues: Ice quality has been a significant issue due to a vendor change in Seattle. Management is working with LSG to switch vendors immediately, and a quality improvement is expected. Please be diligent in reporting any ice issues using catering feedback tool in Block2Block as we head into the warm summer months.
        • Old Carts on SEA-ANC Flights: Concerns were raised regarding old carts not being removed from the aircraft on SEA-ANC flights, and follow-up is requested from the SEA and ANC kitchens.
        • Missing Meals and Meal Components: Issues with missing meals or meal components, shortages of gold chocolate bars, and an influx of new catering staff have been prevalent. While these issues are frustrating, please continue to report them using the catering feedback tool in Block2Block.
        • Trash Cart Replacement Procedures: When an aircraft is re-catered, the empty trash cart in the aft galley (G4) should be replaced, not just emptied. Seattle has been experiencing ongoing issues with a shortage of carts due to handling by catering personnel. The catering operations team has assured us that new carts have been integrated into the system, and this issue should be resolved soon.
        • Use of Onboard Supplies by Fleet Service: Fleet Service Agents using onboard supplies, such as gloves and trash bags, for cabin cleaning was brought up. They should be using their station-provided supplies.
        • Procedure for Pre-Ordered Meals on Last-Minute Aircraft Swaps: The Committee expressed the need for a procedure to transfer pre-ordered meals to a new aircraft in the event of a last-minute aircraft swap. The catering operations team will work on establishing this procedure to mitigate issues during such events.

        Inflight Mobile

        • Updates to Block2Block App: The inflight mobile team is rolling out an update to Block2Block, which will require Flight Attendants to certify their pre-flight readiness in three categories. Early adopters have already received this update. The Committee has noted that some certifications are pre-trip and not pre-flight, which should be removed from subsequent legs of multi-leg trips.
        • Contactability Rollout: Contactability in Block2Block will be rolled out in mid-June. This feature will allow Crew Scheduling to contact Flight Attendants in the event of a schedule change via the Block2Block team messaging function.
        • Development of Block2Block 3.0: Block2Block 3.0 is still in development, and the Committee previewed the various functions the team is working on. The update will include different views for pre-flight, boarding, and service processes. The Committee believes this enhancement will introduce valuable features to the app.

        Cabin Product Team Updates

        • Sustainable Product Testing: Management is interested in testing more sustainable products, such as bamboo cutlery and fiber-based food containers. The Committee will monitor this testing to ensure these products are safe and easy for Flight Attendants to use onboard.
        • Clarification on Snack Loading: Management acknowledged the confusion caused by loading two types of snacks in the beverage cart on LH and PLH flights, especially now that only one type of snack is served on all flights. The second snack is not intended for premium class. The team will work on ensuring that only the type of snacks designated for a specific flight are loaded into the food cart.
        • Premium Class Snack Basket Update: The premium class snack basket is currently on hold but is still expected to launch in the future. The Committee will ensure that sufficient testing is conducted and that an adequate amount of product is loaded to deliver this service without disappointing passengers.
        • Blanket Availability Issues: Management noted ongoing challenges in receiving enough blankets for PLH flights due to a shortage caused by a held shipping container. Consequently, crews will continue to experience inconsistent blanket availability for the time being.
        • Potential Upcoming Service Changes In The Future: The marketing department would like to explore and possibly start preliminary testing for additional crew support for the First Class Cabin. They are very early in this exploration, but our Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons emphasized the need to evaluate the balance of duties and establish very clear procedures if this moves forward. Management is also evaluating a full bar pre-departure selection and would like to begin testing that service. The Committee expressed concerns, including wanting to make sure our Flight Attendants are set up for success. This includes providing proper tools, individual water at seats, and clear procedures and training materials.

        What The Committee Is Working On

        1. More Inflight Service Committee Involvement in Onboard Testing: Our MEC and management recently signed a letter of agreement (LOA) to allow Committee Members to participate in onboard product testing. For future testing, we want to use Committee Members whenever possible as part of the working crew or as a cabin observer. The Committee will continue to push for extensive onboard testing before any sweeping service changes are rolled out. 
        2. Optimize Cart and Galley Loading: We all know space is at a premium onboard. The Committee wants to look at how we can make cart setup and galley packing even easier for crews and help minimize the steps necessary to begin service. We’ll take a thoughtful approach and look at creative solutions to help make our jobs easier.
        3. Updated Reporting Tools: We want to work with management to streamline the catering feedback tool in Block2Block so that reporting is easier for Flight Attendants and requires fewer steps. The Committee would also like management to explore adding a Fleet Service reporting tool that’s as easy to use as the catering feedback tool. This new tool should facilitate the easy reporting of missing supplies, such as alcohol wipes, lavatory supplies, and issues with dirty airplanes, all of which can affect inflight service.

        We Want to Hear from You!

        Please continue to report any catering issues or problems with onboard service using the catering feedback function in Block2Block. If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please submit a report through ReportIt! Your reports provide the Committee with the data needed to continue pushing management for meaningful improvements in our workplace.

        Do you have other feedback for the Committee or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Inflight Service Committee is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the Inflight Service Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Inflight Service Committee Tagged With: committee meeting, pmAS

        Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – May 2025

        May 26, 2025 17:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        Our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons held two meetings recently. The first meeting occurred on Monday, May 12, when they had their monthly video call with management. The agenda included updates on current layover hotels and transportation providers and discussions about ongoing concerns.

        The second meeting occurred on Wednesday, May 21, in PDX. This meeting was the API Quarterly Business Review (QBR) and involved a broader discussion with management, representatives from the crew accommodations management vendor API, and representatives from ALPA. Dori Marron (ANC), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), Kanani Vallot (SAN), and MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich represented you at this meeting. AFA Hawaiian MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson Matt Michell was also present.

        The Committee met with Senior Crew Hotels Support Specialist Nichole Turner, Crew Hotels Support Specialist LaFay Williams, Hawaiian Airlines Crew Hotel Support Specialist Tamotsu “Tomo” Hirai, Manager of Crew Hotels Diane Szubert, Director of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and Managing Director of Operations Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette from management.   

        The next scheduled Hotel Committee meeting is Monday, June 9.

        Topics of Discussion

        The committee reviewed several items during the meeting with management, most of which focused on hotel decisions and challenges in our layover markets. Some items discussed include:

        • Transportation Time Adjustments: To fully abide by the CBA requirements for ground transportation for both AFA and ALPA, Crew Hotels has compiled and reviewed data in all of our layover cities to determine where changes need to be made. They will set different ground transportation times for time of day and day of week/holidays to ensure the crews are not arriving at the airport more than 15 minutes before report time (CBA §34.B.3). Nineteen of our layover cities will have these changes made starting June 1, and Crew Hotels will continue with this cadence every month until all cities have updated ground transportation times. Crew Hotels will also closely monitor the delays to ensure they have these times set correctly.   The hotel hotline will be updated accordingly. Please ensure you are writing a CrewCare report when you have a van time discrepancy so that changes can be made if necessary.  
        • Internal Processes: Much of the meeting focused on internal processes for administering the ad hoc list, processes for pre-site visit work, process changes for site visit flow, a central hosting platform for all city-specific hotel information, and MyCrewCare updates. The Crew Hotel and API team are also growing due to the AS+HA merger. We discussed the roles and responsibilities of the new team members.  
        • MyCrewCare Enhancements: One exciting enhancement to the MyCrewCare app launching in Q3 is the “Track My Ride” link. This link connects to our ground transportation provider, DART, to give real-time GPS information regarding your van, similar to how Uber displays information about your ride. You will be able to see the van location and driver and van information. This will enhance the safety of your ride, so there is no mistaking which transportation is yours. DART provides 60% of our ground transportation needs network-wide, so this will be a significant enhancement for our crew members. API is also reaching out to Allied Transport and Desert Coach about incorporating their location services into the MyCrewCare app. Another app feature discussed was the “Are You Safe” communication tool that crews can use to let Crew Scheduling know they are safe if a safety or security event happens in a layover city. This has not yet been activated for Alaska crew.   
        • Relocations:  Relocations will be necessary in PVR (due to renovations, July through October) and LIR (due to bridge asphalt resurfacing, time frame TBD). The Hotel Committee discussed options for these relocations. Crews will also experience temporary layovers in OKC from mid-July to mid-August, and a suitable hotel was discussed for these layovers. As a reminder, we cannot disclose hotel information on a public forum. Hotel changes will be communicated through an Informational Bulletin or the Hotel Hotline.   

        Important Information from the Hotel Committee

        • When Something Isn’t Right: We cannot express the importance of filing a CrewCare report and, for more significant issues, an AFA Alaska Online Support Center ticket when something is not right. With a recent relocation in MCO, crews were involuntarily moved by the hotel (“walked”) from the relocated property to a non-contractually compliant property. This is a CBA violation, and the Grievance and Scheduling Committee will need an AFA Alaska Online Support Center ticket filed to aid them in bringing this forward for resolution. Other examples are ground transportation providers using one shuttle but stopping at multiple hotels, extended hotel wait times, etc. If you are ever in doubt about your situation, please contact your Local Hotel Committee for guidance on what reporting route to take.  
        • Transportation Safety: Crews should never be required to be transported in company-provided transportation when the shuttle cannot safely accommodate all crew members and luggage. We have seen reports of Suburbans/large SUVs being sent for a complement of six crew members, which requires luggage to be stored on laps or at the feet. This is not safe. We have also seen transportation scheduled for extended surface deadheads that is inadequate for crew comfort. If there is any doubt about your ride, please contact Crew Scheduling immediately and inform them of the problem so that alternate or additional transportation can be arranged.  

        What The Committee Is Working On

        1. Conducting Hotel Site Visits: The Hotel Committee conducts visits to hotels that are considered by management to ensure that the selected options provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants. Scheduled site visits include RSW (June), SEA (June), and FAT (July). We do not anticipate many site visits will be scheduled for the second half of 2025. Market reviews are triggered by factors such as contract expirations, crew complaints, and opportunities for cost savings. Depending on the outcome of these reviews, additional site visits may be arranged in those cities.
        2. Hotel Gainshare Program: MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson James Bozanich, MEC President Tim Green, and MEC Vice President Brice McGee met with Labor Relations led by Carmen William and Mike Link on May 12 for the first Hotel Gainshare investigatory meeting. Company subject matter experts (SMEs) Brittany Audette, Trisha Bennet, Diane Szubert, and Sara Cook also attended. The purpose of the meeting was to begin discussions on the program’s feasibility at Alaska. Hotel data was presented, and each side identified research items needed to further the conversation. The group will meet again on June 12 to review these items and discuss the next steps.      

        We Want to Hear From You!

        Don’t let any unacceptable experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation provider go unnoticed! Please report the issue via CrewCare so that it can be addressed. CrewCare is the only official way to report issues, as the Hotel Committee does not monitor social media channels.

        Each CrewCare submission is forwarded to your AFA Hotel Committee, Crew Hotels (Alaska management), API and the hotel or ground transportation provider. This ensures quick action can be taken to correct the issue or fix it for the next crewmember. It also allows us to monitor hotel and transportation trends. You can quickly file a CrewCare report using the web app on your IMD home screen or by clicking here.

        Do you have any other feedback you would like to share with the committee or any specific items you want us to bring up with management? Please let us know! The Local Hotel Committee is here to represent you and ensure management hears your voice. You can find our contact information on the Hotel Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Hotel Committee Tagged With: committee meeting, pmAS

        Joint Contract Negotiations Session 3 – May 2025

        May 23, 2025 13:00

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

        • Our JNC met with management this week on May 20 to May 22 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for June 17 to June 19
        • A tentative agreement was reached regarding Buddy Bidding for Training aimed at formalizing a current bidding practice utilized by Hawaiian
        • Our JNC is currently developing the next survey where a comments section will be included based on your feedback

        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 May 20 to May 22 in Seattle, WA.  At the negotiating table for this session were:

        Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants  Representing Management
        Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee ChairpersonMatt Prainito, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
        Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
        Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberTami Becker Gomez, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel Labor and Employment Law, Alaska
        Virgina Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
        Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKaren Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska
        Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
        Seth Heiple, Alaska MEC Air Safety Health and Security Committee ChairpersonAllen Thieman, Managing Director, Crew Scheduling and Crew Pay, Hawaiian

        As we proceed with the JCBA negotiations, we have continued with focusing on addressing the less contentious and non-economic sections. During this session, section proposals listed below were exchanged back and forth between the JNC and management. As we delve deeper into these sections, the issues become increasingly complex. Provisions that initially appear straightforward have numerous interconnected concerns that require careful consideration as we work through them.

        In the intervening weeks since our last in-person session, and to help us to develop our proposals with management, we consulted and collaborated with AFA’s Hawaiian and Alaska subject matter experts and MEC Committee Chairs in the areas of safety, uniforms, hotels and training.

        Seth Heiple came to the table to bring his expertise on Section 25 – Air Safety Health and Security, where he spoke to different safety meetings that AFA participates in with management.  He also educated the group about various safety concerns including various serious incidents, including crewmember assaults and fume events. Seth was also able to emphasize aspects of the Hawaiian contract, such as the standardization of emergency equipment.

        We successfully formalized a buddy bidding practice that Hawaiian currently uses. This allows a Flight Attendant to waive their seniority during the training bidding process. As a result, they can be paired with a junior Flight Attendant and both can attend training together with the same schedule.

        Section by Section Progress

        Tentative Agreements (TAs) reached in this session:

        • Buddy Bidding for Training LOA (HA CBA Section 10.G.6.a)

        Sections discussed in this session:

        • Section 13 – Uniforms (HA CBA Section 6)
        • Section 18 – Reduction in Force (HA CBA Section 16)
        • Section 25 – Air Safety Health and Security (HA CBA Section 28)
        • Section 30 – Training (HA CBA Section 26)
        • Section 33 – Charters (HA CBA Section 12)
        • Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation (HA CBA Section 4)
        • Section 36 – Commuter Policy (HA CBA Section 34-28)

        Sections also in ongoing discussion:

        • Section 6: Seniority (HA CBA Section 9)
        • Section 15: Leaves of Absence (HA CBA Section 17)
        • Section 19: Grievance Procedure (HA CBA 23)
        • Section 27: Association General (HA CBA Section 22)

        What’s Upcoming

        Our next session with management is scheduled for June 17 to June 19. We are actively working on the next survey and have listened to your feedback regarding the Commuter Survey. The next survey will include a section dedicated to comments.

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

        Grievance Committee Update – 1st Quarter 2025

        May 7, 2025 09:00

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

        Our Grievance Committee has been busy working to ensure that your rights are protected when it comes to discipline and following the rules set in our contract. According to our contract, there are a minimum of 13 arbitration dates each year to dispute discipline/termination cases and contractual issues. When it comes to termination cases, we prioritize those situations to help get Flight Attendants back to work quickly, but we also try to balance that with other types of cases. Together, representatives from AFA and management decide which cases to arbitrate next based on a variety of factors. 

        Discipline usually happens in several steps: starting with a confirmation of oral warning (COW), then a written warning, potential suspension, and finally termination. COWs, written warnings, and suspensions stay in a Flight Attendant’s record for 18 months before being removed. If someone receives another violation while already facing discipline, that new issue will add to the existing one. However, management doesn’t always follow the usual path of progressively increasing discipline. For serious issues like theft or abuse of sick leave, if there is enough evidence, management may choose to terminate a Flight Attendant immediately. If the evidence isn’t strong, the Flight Attendant might receive a record of discussion (ROD), which isn’t considered formal discipline.

        Many Flight Attendants believe that if they generally do a good job, have no or very few attendance points, and receive positive passenger feedback, they won’t face discipline. Unfortunately, that’s not true. If management thinks someone has done something wrong, they may still face consequences, regardless of their past performance.

        If a supervisor or manager calls you to discuss a flight, work-related matter, or a disciplinary issue, and there is no AFA representative present, it’s important to pause the conversation and request that one be included. Having an AFA representative ensures that your interests are effectively protected and represented. 

        What Have Flight Attendants Been Disciplined For Recently?

        • Sick Leave and FMLA Abuse: Terminations are increasing due to travel audits and other factors. Any comments made on posted trip trades and personal drop requests can be viewed by management, even if deleted. If management determines there is abuse, it may lead to termination. If you cannot make it to work and are not genuinely sick, it may be best to no-show for the trip instead of calling in sick. Calling in sick for a non-medical reason, such as for a pet, is considered a terminable offense.
        • Theft: Removing anything from the aircraft, except for an opened or used bottle or box of water, an unused pilot crew meal, or purchased food, will result in termination.
        • Timecard Fraud: Intentionally delaying the closure of the boarding door to obtain sit pay is a violation that can result in termination.
        • Reserve “Roulette”: This refers to failing to be within two hours of base during your Reserve Availability Period (RAP) and calling in sick only after being given an assignment. This is considered a terminable violation by management.
        • Calling In Sick for a Trip You Tried to Give Away: Management regularly reviews trip trade postings and sick call history, including any monetary incentives added to trips that were subsequently called in sick. Deleted trade history or postings can still be accessed by management.
        • Dishonesty in Investigations: Lying during an investigation can lead to serious consequences.
        • Drug and Alcohol Violations: Any breaches of policies regarding drug and alcohol use are treated very seriously.
        • Improper Passenger Compensation: Giving away miles in exchange for positive feedback or completed Visa applications is not permitted.
        • Harassment: Any form of harassment is considered unacceptable, and management has disciplined accordingly.
        • Refusal to Comply with Scheduling Changes: Ignoring requests to call Crew Scheduling when required to be contactable or refusing scheduling revisions.
        • Reserve Commuting Violations: Reserves commuting during the RAP, even if they self-assign trips, or not being present at base throughout the entire RAP (unless otherwise released by Crew Scheduling for purposes of contactability). Depending on the situation, management has issued a two-week suspension or termination for these cases.
        • Social Media Violations: Sending friend or follow requests or direct messages to passengers on social media based on information obtained from Block2Block.
        • Commuter Violations: Issues include using commuter boarding priority (D8) home after being released from DHD, using D8 for trips picked up out of base, using D8 to/from cities other than the designated commuter city and domicile, or using D8Y for pleasure travel. Monthly commuter audits also often reveal reserve Flight Attendants who were not at their base while on call during a RAP.
        • Lost or Forgotten Required Items: Misplacing your IMD or other required items can result in disciplinary action.
        • Failure to Complete CBT: Not completing Computer-Based Training (CBT), even if it’s something as small as forgetting to close out of a window to switch the module from “in process” to “complete.”
        • Uniform Compliance: Flight Attendants can and have been removed from flights without pay by management for non-compliance with uniform standards.
        • Late To Gate/Flight Delay: Being late to the gate or causing flight delays can result in disciplinary action.   

        Hot Topic: Social Media Discipline

        There has been an increase in disciplinary actions related to social media, including terminations. Please keep in mind that social media groups and pages are not truly private, even if they claim to be. This applies to your personal pages or accounts and any groups you may be part of, including group chats.

        While the First Amendment protects your right to free speech in relation to the government, it does not provide the same protections within private companies like Alaska Airlines. The company has a social media policy, and arbitrators have ruled that posts or comments made on private pages or groups can still result in disciplinary action by your employer.

        Reminder: Short Sick Calls

        Section 32.C.5 of the contract defines a Short Sick Call as follows: “Short Sick Call: When a Flight Attendant calls in sick due to their own illness, a sick child, or a sick family member less than two hours (2:00) before the scheduled check-in.”

        If you plan to call in for a Short Sick Call but want to avoid receiving the 2.5 points associated with it, make sure that your call to Crew Scheduling is initiated after your SCHEDULED check-in time, not just after you’ve checked in, as outlined in section 32.C.6.

        Recent Arbitration/Mediation

        September 2024Disciplinary Grievance
        October 2024Contractual Grievance
        November 2024Disciplinary Grievance
        January 2025Disciplinary Grievance
        February 2025Disciplinary Grievance
        March 2025Disciplinary Grievance

        Recent Contractual Arbitrations

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-340-23-Violation of §11.E.1.c & §11.H.8.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §11.E.1.c [Reserve:  Order of Assignment/Reserve Self-Assignment] and §11.H.8 [Reserve:  Reserve Exchange of Days, Pick-Ups and Trades], and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it prohibited Reserve Flight Attendants who had been assigned sequences with the an Ineligible for Self-Assignment (ISA) code from giving such sequences away to another Reserve Flight Attendant or trading such sequences in open time or with another Reserve Flight Attendant.    

        Arbitrator’s Decision: The Company did not violate the JCBA when it restricted trades with assignments with ISA designation with Open time under Section 11.H.8. However, to the extent that the Company limits trades between Reserve Flight Attendants it would violate the JCBA.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-38-24-Violation of §8.M and Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-458-22 Violation of §8.D Check In and Debrief.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §8.M [Hours of Service: Domicile Rest] and Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-458-22 [Violation of §8.D Check In and Debrief], and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or around September 23, 2023, the Company refused to allow a Flight Attendant who had operationally-impacted reduced domicile rest (§8.M.2) to utilize the applicable contractual provisions of §8.M, which would have allowed the Flight Attendant to be removed from their subsequent sequence beginning September 24, 2023, without pay pursuant to §8.M.3, due to the domicile rest time between sequences projecting to fall below CFR-required rest. Instead, on the evening of September 23, 2024, Crew Scheduling altered the Flight Attendant’s check-in time for the subsequent sequence (on September 24, 2023) to a later check-in time in violation of §8.M.2, thereby denying them access to their contractual right to be released from the subsequent sequence without pay pursuant to §8.M.3. 

        We are currently waiting for the decision from this arbitration.

        Grievances Recently Filed and Awaiting Management Response

        Grievance No:  36-99-2-73-25-Violation of §8.I Night Rule & 10.DD Long

        Stage Length Duty Period (“4k”). This grievance alleges t The Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §8.I [Hours of Service: Night Rule] and §10.DD [Scheduling: Long Stage Length Duty Period (“4k”)] and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it refused to pay double time (2.0x) for the full duty period on a 4k sequence in which the Flight Attendant is on duty at 4:29 AM*, 8:30 AM†, and the duty day is ultimately over twelve hours and thirty minutes (12:30), although they currently pay double time (2.0x) on non-4k sequences when the Flight Attendant is on duty at 4:29 AM*, 8:30 AM†, and the duty day ultimately goes over ten hours and thirty minutes (10:30).

        * Local time
        † Initial departure station time of the duty period

        Grievances Recently Filed and Denied

        Grievance No:  36-99-2-37-24- Violation of §10.Z Personal Drops. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10.Z [Scheduling: Personal Drop(s)] and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement occurred when, on or about October 10, 2024, it was discovered that Crew Scheduling was processing personal drops incorrectly. Instead of processing the personal drops in seniority order the day prior, as required by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Crew Scheduling would process them in random time periods throughout the day of operation, skipping over the contractual requirement to process them in seniority order the day prior. This resulted in Crew Scheduling randomly executing first-come, first-served requests based on their staffing needs, thereby circumventing the seniority order provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

        Grievances Previously Filed, Denied by Management and Currently Awaiting Arbitration Dates

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-22-14-Violation of Required Maternity Leave.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Section 15.D. and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it failed to require Flight Attendants to begin Maternity Leave after the 28th week of pregnancy.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-55-17-Violation of §21.V Winds Aloft Adjustment of Sit Pay in JCTE.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §21.V [Compensation: “Scheduled” or “Actual” For Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs) and/or Sit Pay], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when its Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) trading system displayed each posted trip as a static ‘snapshot’ taken at the time of posting rather than a ‘live’ view, thus denying the Flight Attendant the ability to determine whether a trip is eligible for 1.0 TFP of Sit Pay due to an automated scheduling adjustment (e.g. by the Winds Aloft program).

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-41-19-Violation of §25.D.2 Failing to Notify MEC President and ASHSC of Reconfiguration or Re-design Prior to Final Decision. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §25.D.2 [Air Safety, Health and Security: Safety Information], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it failed to notify the MEC President of a decision to reconfigure or re-design the interior of the Airbus aircraft and when it failed to discuss with the ASHSC the parties’ interests and concerns for inflight safety prior to making a final decision on the reconfiguration/re-design. 

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-36-20-Violation of §25.B ANC Training Facility.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §25.B [Air Safety, Health and Security: Safe and Healthy Workplace], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it conducted Recurrent Training (RT) drills in Anchorage, Alaska in the Ross Aviation Hanger, and on or about February 16-19, 2020, the external temperature ranged from 18 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit and when the hanger door opened, frequently without notice, the internal hanger temperature dropped to as low as 46 degrees.  After the external hanger door opened it took approximately two hours with a loud heater to get the internal temperature back up to the low to mid 60s.  

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-207-20-Violation of §10, §11.D & §24.L Bundled Scheduling Notifications.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10 [Scheduling], §11.D [Reserve:  Scheduling/Notice of Time to Report] and §24.L [General and Miscellaneous: Company-Provided Inflight Mobile Device (IMD)], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when its Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) scheduling system sent bundled scheduling notifications to Flight Attendants on their Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) or directly in Crew Access, requiring Flight Attendants to batch acknowledge or ignore such notifications and thereby resulting in Flight Attendants potentially waiving multiple contractual protections via an extra-contractual point of contact (i.e. Crew Access scheduling notifications).  

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-384-20-Violation of §10.S Scheduling Notifications.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10.S [Scheduling :  Pre-Cancellations], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it used non-contractual scheduling notifications sent to Flight Attendants via the Crew Scheduling system in order to communicate and assign alternate flying or an obligation to call Crew Scheduling within a specific window of time.  If a Flight Attendant accepts such non-contractual scheduling notification(s), which is neither contact by Crew Scheduling via Company email nor via primary phone contact as defined in §10.S.1.a, the scheduling notification(s) violates the contract by abrogating the Flight Attendant’s ability to: (1) decline the alternate assignment and waive pay protection (§10.S.2.b), (2) decline the “out of original footprint by more than two hours” alternate assignment and call Crew Scheduling between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM (local domicile time) the night prior to the start of the original sequence (§10.S.2.c), or (3) waive pay protection and be relieved of any further scheduling obligation (§10.S.3). 

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-386-20-Violation of §8.Q & §8.R Contactability and Notification of Delay or Cancellation.This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §8.Q [Hours of Service: Contactability] and §8.R [Hours of Service: Notification of Delay or Cancellation], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it used non-contractual scheduling notifications sent via the Crew Scheduling system in order to communicate and assign revised flying to Flight Attendants who were off-duty on a remain overnight (RON). Such scheduling notifications are in violation of the contractually defined means of contact and/or the Flight Attendant’s obligation to respond pursuant to these provisions.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-84-22-Violation of §21.J Ground Delay Pay.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §21.J [Compensation:  Block and Ground Delays], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it did not pay ground delay pay accumulatively, requiring each delay to go over 11 minutes to be eligible for pay, when a flight (same flight number/same routing) returns to gate one or more times.   

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-176-22-California Family School Partnership Act Violation of Past Practice and Roberts Award.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of past practice, the Roberts Award 36-99-2-49-03, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it unilaterally disallowed the California Family School Partnership Act for those Flight Attendants based in Los Angeles (LAX); then reinstated, with no notice, the state law for LAX based Flight Attendants only, but not for the other California based Flight Attendants in San Diego (SAN) or San Francisco (SFO), and not for the rest of the Flight Attendants based in our system, Seattle (SEA), Portland (PDX) or Anchorage (ANC), in violation of Roberts.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-215-23-Violation of §10.J.4 Bidding Packet and Bidding Times and Violation of Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-116-18.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §10.J.4 [Scheduling:  Bid Packets and Bidding Timelines], Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-116-18, past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about July 10, 2023, it and/or the NAVBLUE Preferential Bidding System (PBS) vendor did not provide an administrative lock-out function or a mutually agreeable alternate solution to allow for the correction of a technical issue when processing bid awards without opening up the system to all users.   

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-248-23- Violation of §32 and Roberts Decision.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §32 [Attendance], past practice, the Roberts Award 36-99-2-49-03, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it unilaterally rolled out state leave laws on a state-by-state basis rather than applying the most liberal of state leave laws to all Flight Attendants regardless of domicile, thereby disparately treating Flight Attendants within the Collective Bargaining unit, in violation of Roberts. 

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-41-24- Violation of §25.B Safe and Healthy Workplace-B/E Aerospace Coffee Makers.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §25.B [Air Safety, Heath and Security:  Safe and Healthy Workplace] and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about February 15, 2024, it refused AFA’s request to discontinue the use of older style B/E Aerospace coffee makers until adequate physical mitigations are put into place to prevent the coffee makers, when coupled with the Company’s new onboard coffee product, from spewing hot coffee and grounds during the brew process, which has previously resulted in the injury of at least ten Flight Attendants.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-170-24-Violation of §15.G Leaves Related to Serious Aircraft/Crewmember/Passenger Incidents (AQ).  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §15.G [Leaves of Absence: Leaves Related to Serious Aircraft/Crewmember/Passenger Incidents] and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about August 30, 2024, it refused to allow Flight Attendants the ability to use the above provisions when they had a documented air quality event, as they are requiring the Flight Attendants to file workers’ compensation claims, which are frequently denied.  

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Grievance Committee Tagged With: committee update, pmAS

        Commuter Survey Closing Soon

        May 4, 2025 13:00

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

        • Commuter Survey Closing on Monday, May 5 at 12 PM PT

        We understand that commuting—whether by air or ground—plays a vital role in your daily lives. As part of our commitment to supporting you, the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is focused on making sure our commuter policy provides the necessary protections for all Flight Attendants.

        As we gear up for negotiations on this key aspect, your feedback is invaluable. To gather your insights, we’ve developed a Commuter Policy Survey.  In the survey, we’ve also highlighted the differences between the Hawaiian and Alaska contracts.

        The survey will be available until May 5 at 12 PM 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!

        Click this link to access the survey >

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

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

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        Latest News

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        Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

        October 2, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Management has recently informed our Master Executive Council (MEC) that they are distributing new Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) to Flight Attendants with devices nearing the end of their lifecycle. The specific schedule for this distribution will be communicated by management separately. Flight Attendants with the oldest devices […]

        Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

        September 25, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 23, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at Alaska Airlines Corporate Headquarters to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), […]

        Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

        September 24, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the first group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that […]

        Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

        September 24, 2025

        On Thursday, September 18, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing efforts to represent our Flight Attendants and advocate for improvements in our workplace. Although our Inflight Service Committee has now merged, meetings with management continue to focus primarily on the Alaska or Hawaiian brands individually. This particular meeting was centered […]

        Vacation Survey Closing Soon

        September 23, 2025

        There’s just 1 DAY LEFT to complete the crucial vacation survey that will help shape future provisions—your insights are essential for advocating the best outcomes for all Flight Attendants. The survey is currently open and will remain available until Wednesday, September 24 at 12 PM PT.

        Recent Posts

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        • AFA News in Review – September 26, 2025
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025
        • Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives
        • Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025
        • Vacation Survey Closing Soon
        • Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons
        • Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025
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        • Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results
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