Mesa Update | June 15, 2017
AFA and management met again on Tuesday and Wednesday in PHX. The big news going into the session was the pilots’ tentative agreement with management. We were not sure what effect that would have on our negotiations, but your AFA bargaining team came to the table prepared to bargain and reach a deal if possible. However, it soon became apparent the Company was not prepared to reach a deal and saw no point in bargaining until after they knew the outcome of the pilots’ vote which will be counted on July 12.
The Pilot TA was not publicly released at the time of our bargaining so we were not able to review it in detail beyond published articles and the email they sent out announcing that they had achieved pay increases, better vacation and an improved 401(k). Between now and then, we will of course learn all the details, which will help us determine our next steps.
The Federal Mediator set the next bargaining session on August 14. Flight Attendants are long overdue for a new contract and it is apparent we are going to have to significantly turn up the pressure on Mesa management to get the contract we deserve. Mesa Flight Attendants overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike earlier this year and we will do what it takes to get a fair contract.
Between now and our August bargaining session, we will be turning up the heat to pressure management to agree to a fair contract We will be announcing major mobilization events and activities to pressure Mesa management soon.
It’s essential that management knows that each and every Flight Attendant stands fully behind our negotiating committee and that we are all willing to do whatever it takes to achieve the contract we deserve. Let’s keep the pressure on—wear your red AFA pin and be sure to display your AFA bag tags prominently.
The time is now!
*** The AFA Negotiating Committee consists of MEC President Heather Stevenson (IAH); Cathy Lindig (IAD); Sandra Vandenberg Mills (PHX); AFA professional negotiator, Kimberley Chaput; Theresa O’Donnell, our financial analyst; and AFA Director of Collective Bargaining, Joe Burns. The Company’s committee is Mike Lotz, President of Mesa Ailines; Jameson Ano, Vice President of Inflight; Tina Thayer, Inflight Manager; Andrew Granger, in-house counsel; Alex Leach, financial analyst; and Douglas Hall, an attorney with the firm Jones, Day. Federal mediator Patricia Sims facilitates our negotiations.