MEC Inflight Training Committee Interviews – Call for Expressions of Interest

[UPDATED 12/04/2017] Clarification was added to indicate that only members of the inflight training department or special projects pool assigned to inflight training-related projects are eligible for Inflight Training Committee membership.

Background

The Inflight Training Committee is an MEC-level committee responsible for working with management to advocate for Flight Attendant interests in all matters pertaining to Flight Attendant training programs and to represent the unique needs and interests of Flight Attendants who are involved in Flight Attendant Initial and/or Recurrent Training, the special projects pool, and other non-flying assignments.

The MEC is seeking to fill the committee with an MEC Committee Chairperson and two Committee Members.  Both pre-merger Alaska and pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants who meet the qualifications of the position are eligible to express interest.

Additional Information from the MEC Policy Manual

I. INFLIGHT TRAINING COMMITTEE

1.  SCOPE

a.  The MEC Inflight Training Committee will be responsible for representing the unique needs and interests of Flight Attendants who are involved in Flight Attendant Initial and/or Recurrent Training, the special projects pool, and other non-flying assignments (hereafter referred to as the “Inflight Training Department”).

b.  The Committee will advocate for Flight Attendant interests in all matters pertaining to Flight Attendant training programs, curriculum, materials, and activities.

2.  POLICY/REPSONSIBILITIES

a.  The MEC Inflight Training Committee shall consist of the MEC Inflight Training Committee Chairperson and two additional members-at-large selected by the MEC.

b.  The MEC Chairperson shall:

(i)  Be an active member in good standing who is currently and regularly assigned to Inflight Training Department responsibilities.

(ii)  Meet regularly, but no less than monthly, with the MEC Vice President to discuss the needs, interests, challenges, and other matters of interests to members assigned to Inflight Training Department responsibilities.

(iii)  Represent the Flight Attendant point of view to the Company in all matters pertaining to Flight Attendant Initial and Recurrent Training programs, curriculum, and other materials as well as supplemental required and optional training activities.

(iv)  Work with the Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) to review all Flight Attendant training activities and materials

(v)  Work with other AFA Committees as needed to accomplish assigned tasks and responsibilities

(vi)  Participate in AFA presentations to Flight Attendant Initial Training (IT) classes

(vii)  Keep the membership informed of items of interest pertaining to members assigned to Inflight Training Department responsibilities.  He/she will compose informational and educational articles of interest to the membership and provide them to the MEC Communications Chairperson to be included in MEC communications and posted to the MEC website

Qualifications

• Current member of the inflight training department and/or inflight special projects pool assigned to inflight training-related projects (includes Virgin America ATS Flight Attendants)
• Working knowledge of inflight training department policies and procedures
• Strong computer skills. Working knowledge of Google email and Microsoft Office.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external e-mail, prepare reports, and plan meeting agendas and take minutes.
• Ability to meet deadlines, delegate responsibilities, and follow up on assigned tasks.

Duties

• Review and provide input on Flight Attendant Initial and Recurrent Training programs, curriculum, and other materials
• Review and provide input on supplemental training activities
• Act in an advisory role to the MEC on inflight training-related matters
• Review material, handle correspondence, and keep the members well informed of current inflight training developments. Provide information to the Communications Committee for inclusion in MEC communications.
• Attend meetings with management and represent the AFA position on inflight training-related matters.
• Correspond with the MEC regularly to provide status updates. Prepare and send a monthly committee report to the MEC.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

• It is estimated that most of the work of these positions will be conducted in conjunction with performing regular inflight training or special projects responsibilities. Some additional remote work may be required.
• These positions do not have an allocated budget for flight pay loss reimbursement.

Working Relationships

With Other MEC Committee Chairpersons

Regular interaction with other MEC Committee Chairpersons; particularly the Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), Grievance Committee, and Reserve Committee Chairpersons.

With The Master Executive Council

This position reports to the Master Executive Council. The MEC executive sponsor for the committee is the MEC Vice President.

With Alaska Airlines Management

Constant interaction with inflight management, particularly the Managing Director of Inflight Strategy and Support (Carmen Williams), Manager of Inflight Training Delivery (Amanda Westendorf), Manager of Inflight Policy and Procedure (position currently vacant), and the Inflight Training Supervisors.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

• The MEC will hold interviews during the January MEC meeting on Thursday, January 18 and Friday, January 19, 2018.
• Interviews will be at the AFA Alaska MEC office in Seattle.
• Submit an expression of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou at linda.christou@afaalaska.org no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on Monday, January 8, 2018. In your expression of interest, please indicate the position you are interested in: Chairperson, Committee Member, or both.
• Linda will be able to provide additional information regarding transportation and booking of flights if necessary.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee