Several Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants and Virgin America Inflight Teammates (ITMs) have contacted the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA to inquire why AFA—specifically the Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC)—has not made any statements about the current Tentative Agreement (TA) between Virgin America and the ITMs over and above “TWU Virgin America Announced a Tentative Agreement” posted on afaalaska.org on August 17, 2016.   Since Virgin America ITMs are represented by the Transport Workers of America (“TWU”), neither would it be appropriate for AFA to contact Virgin America ITMs directly to discuss the TA; nor would it be appropriate for AFA to engage in detailed discussions with our own members about the TWU VX TA.  AFA cannot be seen as influencing the TA vote, even if such influence is in a roundabout way, e.g., providing information to our members who then post such information on social media, which is subsequently read and discussed by VX ITMs and ultimately affects decision-making.

AFA looks forward to representing Virgin America ITMs once the merger is complete, and AFA is recognized by the NMB as the exclusive bargaining representative for all the post-merger Flight Attendants.  Until that occurs, however, the Virgin America ITMs should continue to direct questions about their TA and/or the merger to their TWU representatives. The MEC plans another merger update for our members shortly after the holiday weekend.

If VX ITMs wish to voluntarily sign up for AFA Alaska communications, or AFA Interactive (communications to all AFA members), please visit http://afanewsletters.org/subscribe/. (This is also the same link for Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants to subscribe.)

We understand this merger has raised many issues and concerns. Rest assured that AFA is committed to representing all Flight Attendants and ITMs once it is appropriate to do so. AFA’s primary goal is to ensure that the post-merger Alaska/Virgin America Flight Attendants will work together under one of the best Flight Attendant contracts in the industry.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Earlier this morning the Transport Workers Union Virgin America (TWU VX) Negotiating Committee announced they reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) with Virgin America management on an historic first contract. At this point their TA must be voted on and ratified in order to become effective, a process that AFA estimates would take around a month.

As a reminder, AFA will be the surviving union representing the unified group if the merger is finalized. There will be no representational election. Management will need to negotiate with AFA to address the merger of the work force, and this can be an opportunity for Flight Attendants to achieve improvements.

It is important that AFA Alaska does not speculate on TWU VX’s ratification process and how it may affect the merger of our groups. Virgin America Inflight Team Mates (ITMs) should have the space to take part in their democratic vote without influence or interference from anyone. We obviously support their right to vote without outside interference. The Master Executive Council (MEC) believes the next merger update will be sometime in September after the TWU VX TA ratification vote has concluded.

Congratulations to TWU Virgin America for achieving their TA!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Your AFA Alaska Joint Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo