This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants
Maternity Grievance
AFA is pleased to announce that the Company recently sustained Grievance 36-99-2-24-17 (Violation of Section 15.M.1.a & 2.a Failure to Allow Minimum Coordination While on Maternity Leave).
What does this mean for Flight Attendants? Flight Attendants may coordinate the minimum amount of sick leave or vacation with their Maternity Leave, beginning either 6 weeks (vaginal birth) or 8 weeks (Caesarian birth) post-delivery through 120 days post-delivery per sections 15.M.1.a and 2.a of the Flight Attendant CBA. The application of this contractual provision has been inconsistent at best. This sustained grievance provides that the Company agrees to comply with the contractual language.
If you initially requested minimum coordination from 6/8 weeks post-delivery to 120 post-delivery and were denied, it may be possible to retroactively switch from maximum coordination to minimum coordination if you repay the difference between your requested minimum sick leave or vacation and the amount you were required to use (including taxes). If it occurred in a prior year, you may need to file an amended tax return. If you coordinated with either minimum or maximum sick leave or vacation during this specific time period, you were eligible for insurance at the active employee rate. If you paid for COBRA coverage, you may be eligible for a refund.
If you are affected by the outcome of this grievance and need assistance on how to proceed, please contact the MEC Grievance Committee at grievance@afaalaska.org.
Social Media
AFA has noticed an increase in discipline derived from social media postings. Please be responsible with your postings to protect yourself. Even if you think your settings are private, posts are still making their way to supervisors—sometimes from other Flight Attendants. Familiarize yourself with the Company’s social media policy so as not to put yourself at risk of possible discipline. You can find a summary of this policy at http://splash.alaskasworld.com/documents/social_media_policy.asp (Alaska sign-on required).
Co-Worker Concerns
If you experience a concern or conflict with a co-worker, please contact your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee rather than management. EAP/Professional Standards Committee Members are fellow Flight Attendants who receive special training on resolving these issues. If the concern goes directly to management, it will almost always lead to discipline/termination for your fellow Flight Attendant.
You can always find Professional Standards contact information on the EAP/Professional Standards Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.
Union Representation
You are entitled to AFA representation when you have a discussion or meeting with management and the possibility of discipline exists for you, another Flight Attendant or another employee. If a supervisor contacts you, you have a right to ask, “Could this conversation result in discipline?” If so, we recommend that you tell the supervisor that you would like an AFA representative before having any further discussion. The supervisor should provide you with the name and phone number for your Local Executive Council (LEC) President. Regardless of whether there is a possibility of discipline, you can always contact your Local Grievance Committee for AFA representation. You can find contact information for your Local Grievance Committee on the AFA Alaska website.
Representation While on Probation
Probationary Flight Attendants may also ask for an AFA representative to be present in a supportive (non-representational) role. Again, if you are asked to provide a written statement or account of events, you are always entitled to confer with an AFA representative prior to doing so; this is also true for probationary Flight Attendants.
Requests by Supervisors for Supporting Documentation
Recently, AFA has noticed an uptick in management requesting additional information to help support statements provided by Flight Attendants during investigatory meetings. These requests by supervisors have included credit card or bank statements, phone or messaging records, and names/contact information of non-employees (babysitters, roommates, or others).
If at any time a supervisor or manager asks a Flight Attendant for additional documentation such as the items mentioned above, you should decline the request and contact a Grievance Committee Member or LEC Officer immediately.
DOT Drug Testing
Testing on Layovers
The Company has recently increased the amount of drug testing that is being conducted after completing a duty period mid-sequence/on layovers. They are required to provide transportation to/from the hotel on a layover. Drug abatement should be pre-arranging additional transportation for the Flight Attendant as they know they are going to be conducting the test in advance.
Proposed Changes to Drug Testing
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a notice that it is proposing to add four commonly prescribed medications to its testing program. These 4 medications fall under a category of drugs known as opioids. They include Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone , Oxycodone, and Oxymorphone. The new DOT rule is projected to take effect sometime after October 1, 2017. You can find more information about the proposed changes in a July 13 AFA communication entitled IMPORTANT: Changes To Airline Drug Testing.
Trip Trading
The Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) trading system continues to experience programming challenges. One ongoing issue with the system is the inability for Flight Attendants to see their own trip trade/grab post in the trip pool. Because Flight Attendants cannot see their posted grabs or trades, sometimes the trips are unintentionally posted in the wrong trade classification (trade v. grab) with no way to verify that the post is incorrect.
Please note if a trip is posted for trade with no comments, common sense would dictate that it was likely intended to be posted as a grab. If there is a question, please be considerate of your fellow Flight Attendants and reach out via phone or email before making a trade.
Questions?
For further questions, contact one of your LEC Officers. Contact information for your LEC Officers can be found on your Local Council page of the AFA Alaska website.
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams
