March 4, 2024
Participants for AMFA
Earl Clark – Region I Director
Will Abbott – Region II Director
Bret Oestreich – National President
Chuck Clum – Horizon Air Airline Representative
James Lambert – Negotiating Committee Member
Peter Manikowski – Legal Counsel
Participants for Alaska Airlines
Cheri Ruger – MD, People & Labor Relations
Audrey Kahawai-Kekipi – Sr. Labor Relations BP
Baron Converse – MD, Maintenance Operations
Joe Wonderly – Outside Counsel
Kyle Moline – Director, Financial Planning & Analysis
The AMFA-Horizon Negotiating Committee (the “Committee”) is providing this update to the membership at Horizon Air. This is the only officially authorized source of negotiating communications by your Committee.
AMFA and Horizon Air met in Seattle, WA on February 27-29, 2024, to continue bargaining towards a successor CBA. The parties had a productive week of bargaining.
The first day started with AMFA responding to Article 21 – Health and Safety Standards and agreeing to the remaining issue in that Article, which was that employees have the right to stop working and report safety concerns to their supervisor and that the Company will take appropriate action to address those concerns before work continues. Following this exchange, the parties were able to reach a tentative agreement (TA) on Article 21. AMFA then presented its first proposal on Article 20 – Grievance Procedure and System Board of Adjustment. Horizon quickly returned a counterproposal, and the parties engaged in a productive dialogue on the remaining issues. Thereafter, the parties exchanged a few proposals and were able to reach a TA on Article 20. The TA includes a simplified arbitrator selection process, a record cleansing provision whereby disciplinary letters will be removed from an employee’s file after 18 months, and language whereby the Company will notify an employee of their right to a union representative in a meeting that could lead to their discipline. Following the TA on Article 20, AMFA presented its first proposal on Article 11 – Furlough and Recall.
On Day 2, the parties were able to reach a TA on Article 11. The TA included non-substantive cleanups as well as clarified language regarding union involvement in future early out packages and severance pay for employees unable to exercise their seniority in a reduction in force scenario.
On Day 3, the Union presented its first proposals on Article 18 – Union Security and Representation and Article 15 – Leave of Absence. The parties exchanged proposals and were able to reach a TA on both articles. The Article 15 TA included general non-substantive cleanups as well as alignment of bereavement leave with what other employees currently receive. In addition, AMFA reserved its right to bargain changes to the PTO and Extended Leave programs when the parties begin discussions on economics. The Article 18 TA included cleanups to the Union Security provisions to align with other AMFA CBAs and cleanups to language regarding AMFA representatives and their time spent representing the membership.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for March 11-13 in Seattle. We continue to extend an invitation to all Horizon members to attend and watch the process of negotiation. Space will be limited to room capacity, please contact AMFA-Horizon Air Airline Representative (ALR) Chuck Clum if you are interested in attending.
Fraternally,
Your AMFA Negotiating Committee
