Council News

Council 16 April Newsletter

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA

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Council 16 April Newsletter

2026 AFA Board of Directors Convention Recap

Our 2026 AFA Board of Directors Convention concluded on March 11 after a productive three-day event. Centered on the theme of SOLIDARITY, guest speakers—from elected officials to union leaders—emphasized the necessity of working together nationwide to fight corporate greed.

International Officer Election Results

Elections were held for the term beginning June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2030. Congratulations to our newly elected officers:

PositionElected Officer
International PresidentSara Nelson (United Airlines)
International Vice PresidentKeturah Johnson (Piedmont Airlines)
International Sec.-TreasurerDante Harris (United Airlines)

Other nominees included Tim Kipka (Endeavor Air) for President and Judy McParland (Endeavor Air) for Vice President.

Mobilization & Negotiations

PDX AFA Mobilization Success

The turnout for the March 9th picketing campaign in Portland was astounding! We received phenomenal support from:

  • Delta & Skywest crewmembers
  • Oregon AFL-CIO, CWA, and Teamsters
  • National Air Traffic Controllers Association
  • Congresswoman Maxine Dexter

Get Involved: Contact your LEC 16 Mobilization Chairs, Nina Litvin ([email protected]) or Zoie Brewer ([email protected]), for info on upcoming events.

Contract Negotiations

Negotiations are HEATING UP.

Understanding the Strike Process (RLA)

A strike is a last-resort tool designed to achieve a fair contract. Under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), specific legal steps must be followed:

  1. Mediation: The National Mediation Board (NMB) assists both sides in reaching an agreement.
  2. Cooling-Off Period: If mediation fails, the NMB may impose a 30-day period where no strikes or lockouts are permitted.
  3. Presidential Emergency Board (PEB): The President may appoint a PEB to investigate and recommend a solution.
  4. Strike Authorization Vote: Members vote only after government processes (NMB/PEB) are complete.
  5. Strike Notice: Formal notice is given only after a majority vote and the exhaustion of all RLA steps.

In short: We cannot just walk out. The RLA requires mediation and federal involvement before any strike is lawful.

Operational Updates & Reminders

🅿️ PAE Base Parking

If the employee lot is full, management advises parking in the Economy Lot and submitting for reimbursement. We are working to resolve the space shortage and reimbursement delays. Always display your parking tags.

🏗️ SEA Terminal Construction

Construction across concourses A, B, C, N, and S has no set end date.

  • Pro Tip: Document gate delays with screenshots of B2B to help us address these issues with management.

🧳 Bags Out of Cabin

Management is using camera footage to investigate delays. To help us resolve this:

  • Identify specific stations, flights, and dates.
  • Note if bags were oversized or if ROC requirements were met.
  • Action: File irregularity reports and attach screenshots!

🔄 Returning from Leave

  • Paperwork: Ensure submission to The Hartford or Sedgwick.
  • Credentials: Check your badge expiration; contact management if a new one is needed.
  • Training: Contact Susanne and Andrew to schedule Recurrent Training.
  • IMD: Sync, Comply, and Sync before duty.
  • Bidding: Contact the PBS Committee if your eligibility changes.

Stay Connected

In Unity We Prevail,