Air Wisconsin (updated 3/28/2012)
The Negotiating Committee met with management February 20-24 in Kansas City, MO. The assigned mediator, Jack Kane, was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. This session was held under the supervision of Mediator Andrew Nordgren. We continue to negotiate over the remaining open issues that, with the exception of two items, are cost-related. We agreed on Ready Reserve Pay, segment maximum for CDOs, maximum trip hours scheduled or in a bid line per month, and Duration with a 180 day early reopener. The negotiations session scheduled for the week of March 12, 2012 was canceled as the assigned mediator had a schedule conflict. An additional session has been requested. The next session is scheduled for the week of April 23, 2012.

AirTran (updated 3/28/2012)
With over 81% participation and 91 percent voting in favor, AirTran Flight Attendants approved their transition agreement with job security provisions as well as a seniority integration process on January 31, 2012. On March 1, the FAA granted Southwest and AirTran a single operating certificate. AirTran Flight Attendants will gradually be integrated with pre-merger Southwest Flight Attendants and represented by TWU Local 556.

Alaska (updated 3/28/2012)
Section 6 negotiations continue with progress being made. Talks continued the weeks of January 31, February 28 and March 26. The VOICE Committee, AFA Alaska’s mobilization arm, is up and running. Coordinators are in place in each base and a close relationship has been established with the Negotiating Committee. The VOICE chairperson sits in on the final caucus of the session with the Negotiating Committee to debrief and assist in filming the video update.

American Eagle (updated 3/28/2012)
American Airlines bankruptcy is affecting the American Eagle Flight Attendants and their negotiations. The MEC and Negotiating Committee and AFA General Counsel Ed Gilmartin met with the American Eagle president and senior vice president in charge of all 1113(c) proceedings on February 1 to review the situation and share information. AFA has retained bankruptcy counsel to assist when needed and monitor the situation from New York City. The Negotiating Committee culled the tentatively agreed sections to determine non-economic improvements that will be retained in any new agreement reached in bankruptcy talks.

AFA is prepared to push back on overreaching, outrageous contract cuts presented to the American Eagle Flight Attendants on March 12 by management. Read the press release.

Compass (updated 3/28/2012)
The Compass Flight Attendants turned down the proposed first contract on 2/3/2012. The Compass Flight Attendants were sent a survey in order to identify the top issues that need to be resolved in order to reach an acceptable first contract. AFA requested the NMB to resume talks as soon as possible. We are waiting for the NMB to respond to AFA’s request. The Negotiating Committee reviewed the membership survey, has written proposals, and is ready to move forward.

Continental (updated 3/28/2012)
On December 20, 2011 AFA served a Section 6 notice pursuant to the Continental contract. The MEC met the week of February 13 to review membership suggestions for contract proposals and subsequently drafted opening proposals. Negotiations began on March 5 in Chicago, IL.

Continental Micronesia (updated 3/28/2012)
Contract in effect and being enforced. The MEC Officers have been discussing negotiations options with the AFA Director of Collective Bargaining and the International Officers. The Negotiating Committee met with company management on March 28 to present a limited opening proposal. The contract was amendable in 2010, but negotiations were suspended upon news of the merger.

Frontier (updated 3/30/2012)
AFA and the IBT met in mediation on March 5-7 under the auspices of Mediator Ira Jaffe in an effort to negotiate a settlement of the outstanding seniority integration of the former Midwest Flight Attendants. This mediation was a direct result of the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ordering the IBT to follow the McCaskill-Bond seniority integration process. After three days, the parties received a tentative settlement of the seniority issue that is waiting final approval from the former Midwest Flight Attendants. The IBT will not finalize the Joint Representation Agreement with AFA until the seniority issue is resolved. The court will hold a status conference on April 27 at which time the parties will update the court on the status of the seniority settlement.

Hawaiian (updated 3/28/2012)
On March 12, the AFA Hawaiian Negotiating Committee reached a tentative agreement with management with the assistance of the NMB utilizing a “Facilitated Problem Solving” approach to negotiations. While the NMB’s facilitation ended prior to an agreement being reached, its services enabled the parties to close out the remaining issues without direct involvement by the NMB. The parties had been working to try to reach agreement on a new contract on an “expedited” basis. The goal had been to reach an agreement in a shorter-than-normal amount of time in order to allow the company to take advantage of some strategic business opportunities that would be beneficial to both parties. Ballots will be counted on April 18.

Horizon (updated 3/28/2012)
In the January 24-27 session of the AFA Horizon Negotiating Committee, three PBS vendors made presentations and a fourth presentation occurred at the next session, February 14-16. The parties are close to discussing a "package proposal" governing the entire contract. Negotiations will recommence the week of April 1.

Mesa (updated 3/28/2012)
The Mesa Negotiating Committee exchanged proposals with management on February 21st in Phoenix. The initial exchange included multiple sections that had already been agreed upon based on Letters of Agreement and practices that are already in place but had not been codified into writing. Compensation (Section 3) and Scheduling (Section 7) will be negotiated in four months, after a shadow bid period for PBS has completed. Negotiations will continue in late April.

Mesaba (updated 3/30/2012)
As we await a ruling from the NMB on single carrier status in the Mesaba-Colgan-Pinnacle merger, we continue mobilizing AFA members in preparation for a union representation election. Mesaba updates may be followed at yourafa.org.

Miami Air
The contract is in effect and being enforced.

Omni (updated 3/28/2012)
Negotiations for the first AFA contract began took place in Tulsa, OK. Three sections were tentatively agreed upon and the Negotiating Committee is pleased with the progress.

Piedmont (updated 3/28/2012)
Mediated talks between AFA and Piedmont management continued in Salisbury, MD, the week of March 5. Little progress was made.

PSA (updated 3/27/2012)
PSA Flight Attendants ratified a five-year agreement on March 27 that includes pay increases and quality of life enhancements for the over 300 Flight Attendants.

Ryan International (updated 3/30/2012)
Ryan negotiations in December were suspended due to the unavailability of the management bargaining committee and reconvened January 11-13.

Spirit (updated 3/28/2012)
AFA requested a proffer of arbitration from the National Mediation Board.

United (updated 2/28/2012)
On February 28, United Flight Attendants ratified their first post-bankruptcy contract. An overwhelming majority, 88.5 percent, participated in the vote and 70.4 percent solidly cast their ballots in favor of the agreement. The agreement was reached on January 7, 2012, utilizing an innovative process modeled on the National Mediation Board’s Expedited Mediation Program.

US Airways Joint Negotiating Committee (updated 3/30/2012)
Flight Attendants from each of the pre-merger airlines, US Airways and former America West, voted against a tentative agreement offered by US Airways management. Ninety percent of the over 6,700 combined Flight Attendants participated in the voting process.