Strike Vote

Why are we taking a strike vote?

We must demonstrate that Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants stand in solidarity and support our Negotiating Committee. A strike vote is by far the most effective way to increase our leverage at the bargaining table. We will keep fighting.

• For over a year, our negotiators have fought at the bargaining table for a contract that recognizes our value as Flight Attendants at Alaska Airlines. We are the company’s largest workgroup, and our value is consistently unrecognized. 
• Our Negotiating Committee agreed in early 2022 to an unusually aggressive bargaining schedule because management assured us they would uphold their promise of top-of-industry pay within that timeline. Instead, they continued to come to the bargaining table unprepared and with wage proposals astronomically below that of the leaders in the industry.
• The proposed merger with Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion will not distract or delay our fight for our contract. Management’s actions in this merger announcement have made it abundantly clear that they have the money to pay us our fair share.

Can we strike right away if Members vote for it?

No. Taking a strike vote does not mean we are able to strike right away. Legally, we cannot do that. Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs negotiations in the airline industry, airline employees are only free to strike once released by the National Mediation Board. We have not been released, nor have we yet requested a release to strike.

When will the voting start?

Voting credentials and informational material will be mailed to each Flight Attendant on January 3.  If you do not receive a voting packet, you can request credentials from AFA International Membership Services after polls open in January.

Polls will open on January 8 at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET and close on February 13 at 12 PM PT/3 PM ET.

Will the NMB release us to a 30-day cooling off period and give us the right to strike if management fails to reach an agreement with us?

We cannot answer this question with a simple yes or no. The National Mediation Board (NMB) could release us if it determined that we were at impasse. It could also “recess“ our negotiations, meaning that the mediator schedules no further sessions until one or both parties agree to make significant movement. We don’t want that to happen. To get to a release (or better yet, to get management to make a fair offer), we need to show the NMB that we are unified and will do what it takes to reach an agreement we can ratify.

Assuming we vote for a strike, what would have to happen before we could strike?

The following steps would have to be exhausted before a strike could occur:

• The NMB would continue to schedule mediation dates. We’re still in mediation.
• Either the Union or management could request a Proffer of Arbitration.
• The NMB would decide whether to issue a Proffer of Arbitration, continue mediation sessions, or recess the parties.  
• If the NMB issues a Proffer of Arbitration and one or both parties reject a Proffer of Arbitration, then the NMB would release the parties into a 30-day cooling off period. At the end of the 30 days, the parties are released to “Self-Help,” and the Union can call a strike.

A Proffer of Arbitration means an outside arbitrator would decide all outstanding issues. AFA has never accepted a proffer of arbitration because of the loss of control.

By voting yes, does this mean I will be going on strike? 

Voting yes for a strike does not mean we will go on strike, but we are willing to go on strike if necessary. As we have stated above, there are many hurdles before we actually strike, and the vast majority of strike votes result in a successful agreement prior to striking. Additionally, by utilizing the CHAOS™ strike method, we limit the number of Flight Attendants actually striking while still putting maximum pressure on the company. Furthermore, we attempt to implement CHAOS™ on flights staffed by Flight Attendants who have indicated their willingness to strike.

However, to be clear, by voting for a strike, Flight Attendants are indicating they, we, are willing to strike if necessary.

Can I change my vote after I have cast it?  

Once your vote is submitted, you cannot change your vote. AFA uses EBallot, a vendor that ensures your vote is secure and private. Each Flight Attendant will have individual credentials for voting. Only eligible Flight Attendants can vote, and EBallot uses an electronic secret ballot technology that de-identifies the voter from the vote immediately after the vote is cast. Once you vote, how you vote is no longer connected to your identity, so there is no ability to change a vote cast. It would be the same as dropping a paper ballot without identification into a box. Once your vote is in the box, there is no way to identify, recover, or change it.

What if I have additional questions?

Our Negotiating Committee will hold virtual roadshows during January, during which the process will be explained, and Flight Attendants can ask questions. An information booklet will be mailed to each Flight Attendant’s address along with their voting credentials. Information will be posted on contract2022.afaalaska.org, and your LEC Officers and our Negotiating Committee will be available to answer your questions. 

What if I didn’t receive my activation code in the mail?

If you did not receive your activation code in the mail and need a new one, you can request one by filling out this online form. Replacement activation codes will be available starting Wednesday, January 10.

Who do I contact for technical assistance?

For technical assistance, you can call the Ballot Help Line at (844) 232-2228, extension 2. The Ballot Help Line is open weekdays (Monday-Friday) from 9:30 AM to 5 PM ET.

What protections do Flight Attendants have in case of a CHAOS™ strike? Can striking workers be permanently replaced? 

Courts have ruled that CHAOS^TM is a protected form of strike activity, meaning that the employer cannot legally fire or discipline workers who engage in a CHAOS^TM strike. But another advantage of a CHAOS^TM strike is that a CHAOS^TM strike makes it difficult for an employer to permanently replace striking workers. 

Under U.S. labor law, an employer is allowed to permanently replace striking workers. Permanent replacement happens when the employer hires replacement workers (scabs) during a strike and offers them permanent positions. At the end of the strike, the employer is not required to displace these permanent replacements in order to allow striking workers to return to work. The employer, however, is required to offer striking workers positions as they become available. An employer cannot grant superseniority to replacement workers. 

During strikes in the 1980s, when all members of the work group would strike for a potentially long duration, employers had a huge advantage. AFA developed CHAOS^TM for exactly this reason: it counteracts the ability of employers to utilize permanent replacements. For one, given the short duration of the strike, the employer does not have time to permanently replace the striking worker as we typically would inform the employer of the return to work on or soon after the struck flight or flights. Second, because a few numbers of workers are striking, even if permanently replaced they must be reinstated with the next hiring class. 

What would happen to health care for permanently replaced striking workers in the event of a CHAOS™ strike? 

In the event a CHAOS™ striker was permanently replaced, they would be able to continue their benefits under COBRA and, depending on the scenario, could challenge any cessation of benefits. The Union would typically help support any striking workers as non-striking workers could help support striking workers.