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Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

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On October 25, 2018, the Company and AFA arbitrated Grievance 36-99-2-29-15 (Section 28.G.6 Commuter Boarding Priority). This grievance alleged the Company’s violation of the collective bargaining agreement when management allowed Company employees (and their dependents) on pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants. AFA is very pleased to inform you that a neutral arbitrator has found in favor of AFA’s position. 

Background

In 2015, AFA became aware that management had made changes to the employee travel program giving management employees at the director level and certain IT employees a boarding priority of D2 for space-available pleasure travel. D2 is above the boarding priority of D8 for space-available registered commuter travel and well above the boarding priority of E1 that most employees receive for space-available pleasure travel. Contract 2014-2019 Section 28.G [Commuter Policy] states that registered commuters will be given boarding priority over Company employees (and dependents) on pleasure travel and over all employees of other airlines on Alaska Airlines mainline flights. 

The Award

The parties recently received the final award, which specifies:

  1. The grievance was timely filed.
  2. The Company violated Section 28.G.6 of the 2014-2019 Agreement when it allowed Company employees and their dependents on non-revenue pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants.
  3. The Company is prohibited from granting Company employees and their dependents on non-revenue pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants.

The Remedy

Management estimates it will take approximately eight weeks to implement the required changes to Fly in order to become contractually compliant. When the changes are complete, the D2 boarding priority will be deactivated for Directors (and their dependents), and they will use the E1Y space-available pleasure travel boarding priority instead. This award decision is a very satisfying resolution for AFA. This award decision is a very satisfying resolution for AFA. The award restores the proper boarding priority for space-available registered commuter travel relative to all other employees on space-available pleasure travel. It also sends a clear message to management that proper notice must be given to the union for changes to Company Policy and that unilateral changes to policy in conflict with contract language doesn’t fly!  

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

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Your Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews last week for three Special Negotiating Committee (SNC) Member positions related to negotiation of a possible San Francisco co-terminal agreement. The MEC thanks the candidates for demonstrating their willingness to represent our Flight Attendants.

After thorough deliberation, the voting members of your MEC, consisting of the six directly-elected LEC presidents, have appointed Virginia Fritz, Justin Wetherell and Ashley Toles to the positions.

About the SNC Members

Virginia Fritz

Virginia became a Flight Attendant with Virgin America in 2015, and she has been the Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson for AFA Council 35 in San Francisco since August 2018.  She has supported Legacy Virgin America Flight Attendants during the transition to the JCBA by training Flight Attendants on NAVBLUE and Crew Access. Virginia is a former resident of the Bay Area and currently commutes to SFO.

Justin Wetherell

Justin Wetherell currently serves as Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson for AFA Council 30 in Anchorage, a role he began in January 2017.  He has also been an inflight instructor since April 2017.  Previously, Justin served as Local Communications Committee Chairperson in Anchorage and a member of the Inflight Service Committee. Justin has been Anchorage-based since he was hired in July 2015. Prior to being hired at Alaska, he was an Anchorage-based Flight Attendant for Horizon Air. In his spare time, Justin volunteers at local schools to share his joy for aviation.

Ashley Toles

Ashley became a Flight Attendant with Virgin America in 2015 and has been at the SFO base ever since then. Ashley completed her undergraduate education at University of California, Santa Barbara and earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Early Modern British Literature. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Ashley is a licensed attorney and enjoys doing pro bono work for those who would not otherwise be able to afford legal representation.

About the SNC Chief Negotiator

AFA Senior Staff Attorney Kimberley Chaput

Kimberley Chaput has been an AFA attorney and negotiator since 2000.  She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana and her law degree from the University of Oregon.  Kimberley has negotiated contracts at several carriers including Horizon, Mesa, American Eagle (now Envoy) and Alaska, along with sideletters at several other airlines.  She lives on the Oregon coast with her daughter, Josie.

About the SNC Chairperson

MEC President Jeffrey Peterson

Jeffrey Peterson grew up in Anchorage, AK, and graduated from A.J. Dimond High in south Anchorage.  Jeff achieved a Presidential Scholar Award in 1991 and went on to attain a BA in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego.  Prior to becoming a Flight Attendant, he spent several years in hotel management working in San Diego and San Francisco for Marriott International and a Marriott hotels franchise company.  He started out his Flight Attendant career in 1999 in the Los Angeles domicile.  Jeff has also been based in Seattle and now San Diego.  He has served as AFA-CWA Alaska MEC President since July 1, 2011.  Jeff currently splits his time between his family’s condo in Puerto Vallarta and the AFA office in Seattle.

About the SNC

The Special Negotiating Committee will be responsible for entering into discussions with Alaska Airlines management to negotiate a possible co-terminal agreement for the SFO domicile.  Currently, a co-terminal agreement is in place for the LAX domicile, where Flight Attendants can, in addition to LAX, start and end trips at Burbank (BUR), Ontario (ONT), Orange County (SNA) and theoretically Long Beach (LGB) if Alaska Airlines ever resumes service to that airport. Section 28.F.7 of the collective bargaining agreement requires that the parties will negotiate provisions similar to those in 28.F (to cover the new co-terminals) if the Company were to open co-terminals at any other domicile.

In Solidarity,

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

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Rally at SeaTac Airport – February 16, 2019

NO MORE SHUTDOWNS!!!!

We will be holding a rally at the Flag Pavilion off of International Blvd, just in front of the terminal parking entrance (across the street from the Radisson Hotel) on Saturday February 16th, from 2PM – 4PM. 

We will be joined by representatives from the Martin Luther King Labor Council, AFGE and other Labor Groups. Alaska Airlines management supports our push to end government shutdowns, and has approved wearing uniforms to picket. Red t-shirts or street clothes are also acceptable, but uniforms are preferred. 

Hope to see you there!!!

In Solidarity, 

Your Council #19 Officers and Government Affairs Committee

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Management did not allow Flight Attendants to use the Ground Commuting Policy for the recent snowstorms

AFA filed Grievance 36-99-2-30-19 Violation of Section (§) 28.G.2 [Ground Commuting Policy] prior to close of regular business hours yesterday. This contractual grievance alleges the Company violated Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement §28.G.2 when management did not allow Flight Attendants to use the Ground Commuting Policy during the February 2019 Pacific Northwest snowstorms. Management’s stated reasoning for the denials is because apparently management does not consider snowstorm-related ground commuting failures to be unanticipated. 

AFA disagrees with management’s interpretation

AFA disagrees with management’s interpretation for all the reasons obvious to Flight Attendants. After AFA filed the grievance, AFA leadership requested that management provide notice to Flight Attendants by publicly disclosing its position on the issue. Management subsequently posted an alert on the World of Inflight homepage in response to that request.

The Master Executive Council (MEC) believes it was very short-sighted of management to deny Flight Attendant access to the ground commuting failure provisions for this weather event. A Flight Attendant who has experienced a ground commuting failure is contractually required to be utilized for other flying pursuant to the Commuter Policy recovery provisions in §28.G.3. How was it more beneficial to the operation to have Flight Attendants be granted Management Drops (§32.C.14) or charged with No Shows (§32.C.1)? Neither carries a subsequent scheduling obligation and Flight Attendants are assessed points for both under the Attendance Policy in Section 32. It’s a “lose, lose” for everyone.

Open a new ticket at the AFA Alaska Online Support Center for snowstorm-related concerns

AFA will be meeting with management in the near future to discuss various concerns related to the snowstorm operations. If you have any concerns related to the severe weather (e.g. transportation, hotels, irregular ops scheduling or pay inquiries, Attendance Policy points assessed as a result of ground commuting failures, et cetera), please open a new ticket at the AFA Alaska Online Support Center. Fill out the appropriate information, select “Feb 2019 Pacific NW Snowstorm” under the “Help Topic” dropdown menu and provide as much documentation as possible (including screenshots, pictures, etc.). We kindly request that tickets be submitted by 9am PT on Tuesday, February 19, so that AFA can present your concerns to management in a timely manner.

Be assured that AFA will continue advocating on behalf of our members and defending our contract!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee; MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

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Quarterly Point Reduction Form (PRF)

Although the Stuff Happens Pass provision has fully retired with the transition to the AS F/A Attendance Policy ( §32 of the JCBA ), L-VX F/As now have the option to use the quarterly Point Reduction Form (PRF).  Flight Attendants may opt to use the PRF on an absence for themselves to eliminate the associated points.  This form can only be used once a quarter to avoid points from a sick call.

Important Note: This form must be completed prior to the end of your next flown sequence

To submit a PRF on Alaskasworld, please use the following steps:
Flight Attendant Webpage>>Administration>>Performance>>Point Reduction Form>>complete form>>submit
 

References:
§32.C.3 – Reported Illness Using Quarterly Point Reduction
§32.C.13 – Chargeable Occurrence
§32.D – Time Limit for Quarterly Point Reduction Designation

In solidarity,

Your Council 35 Officers-
Melissa, Aladrian and James

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Council #19 Leafleting

February 13 & 14 at SeaTac

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!

We will be leafleting from 11AM – 4PM on February 13th and 6AM – 9AM/1PM – 4PM on February 14th. 

Alaska AirGroup supports our actions to stop the shutdown. You may wear your uniform, red t-shirts or street clothes (however uniforms are preferred!). 

We need to make certain that the public and our co-workers understand the serious effects of a government shutdown on aviation safety. 

There is a real threat of continuing the shutdown to day 36. Federal workers were already stretched  to a breaking point and may have not received the pay the are due from the 35 day shutdown and programs have not started again. The system will be in crisis if we go to day 36 and it may not be able to recover quickly. 

White House Chief of Staff Mulvaney said on Meet the Press that we “absolutely cannot” rule out another shutdown. The Washington Post and others report talks are stalled, and Reuters reports that Congressional negotiators don’t even have meetings scheduled for the coming week. 

It is critical that we take action. This is about our safety, our security, and our jobs. To get the full briefing, there is a webcast tomorrow at 2PM PST. Click Here to register for the webcast. 

We all need to understand two things:

  1. Our lives are on the line
  2. Our jobs are on the line

If we show how fiercely we are willing to stand up for our lives and our jobs, that translates to real power for fixing all the other issues plaguing us in our individual airlines. 

Please reach out to Bev Bullock at blk.bullock@gmail.com if you can participate, even for a short time. 

By

Council #19 – Seattle

February Update

AFA Council #19 will be joining industry-wide work groups in calling for an end to using government workers, upon whom we and the traveling public depend for our safety, as pawns in political debates. We will be conducting leafleting during the week of February 11th – 15th at SeaTac. 

If you can spare a bit of time next week, please contact Bev Bullock at blkbullock@gmail.com. We would prefer that you leaflet in uniform, if possible. 

AFA-CWA is scheduling a webcast for members on Monday, February 11th at 5PM EST to explain the dangers of a continued government shutdown. Further information will be sent out soon!!

Why are we doing this? 

The longest running government shutdown in history has ended, at least temporarily. Workers who were deemed ‘essential’ by their agencies were forced to come back to work without pay for 35 days. The end of that shutdown was only temporary, however. It is important to note that not all furloughed employees have been paid yet!

AFA has been crucial in calling for an end to this dangerous gambit. Industry leaders, including our Alaska Air Group management and leaders from other airlines have called for an end to the practice. 

TSA agents were working without pay, and at one point, KCM in Seattle was closed. Air Traffic Control nation-wide is currently 30% below optimum staffing levels. Nationwide, 20% of the Controllers are approaching mandatory retirement age at 56. In New York, 40% are nearing retirement. It takes 3-5 years to fully train these workers, upon whom we rely for our safety. 

Runway incursion mitigation studies and remediation have stopped, as has the Next Gen upgrading of our nationwide systems, which is designed to improve our safety. Restarting both of these essential programs is very time consuming. Some of the contractors involved have not yet been paid, and it is uncertain when and if they WILL be. 

The FAA Reauthorization bill which contained our minimum irreducible 10-hour rest has not been implemented, and it is unclear when that will take place. In addition, operations into Paine Field have been delayed until March 4, 2019. 

These are just a few of the impacts on our Safety. This simply cannot occur again. 

Rescheduled Joint Local Council Meeting:

Due to the predicted snow storm that is supposed to begin this weekend, which is predicted to be worse than the one this week, we felt it was in our best interest to postpone the meeting. 

We have rescheduled the meeting, to March 15th, from 11:30AM – 2:30PM. It will be in the Earhart Room on the LP (Lower Plaza) level, South Tower of the SeaTac Office Tower (the same building as 13 Coins. Free parking is available in front of the building, or we can validate your parking ticket if you park in the rear. 

This will be a joint council meeting, with Compass and Horizon Airlines joining us. This is the annual pre-Board of Directors meeting. This year is a one-day meeting, and the agenda will consist solely of the AFA-CWA Annual Budget. 

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Save the Date!

Please join us in SFO for the Council 35 Membership Meeting on March 14, 2019.  This meeting will be combined with United Airlines Council 11 for the purpose of presenting the AFA Board of Director’s meeting agenda to members as well as an opportunity to hear what’s happening within Council 35. All AFA members in good standing may attend.

Hosted By:

Your Council 35 and Council 11 LEC Officers:

Melissa Osborne, President Council 35
Kaitlyn White, President Council 11
Aladrian Hillmon, Vice President Council 35
Stan Kiino, Vice President Council 11
James Ikehara, Secretary Council 35
Margaret Hall, Secretary Council 11

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A message from your AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Committee

Human are naturally social creatures – we crave friendship and positive interactions, just as we do food and water. So it makes sense that the better our relationships are at work, the happier and more productive we’re going to be.

Good working relationships give us several other benefits. Our work is more enjoyable when we have good relationships with those around us. Good relationships give us freedom from spending our time and energy overcoming the problems associated with negative relationships. Most importantly, successful working relationships are criterial to crew resource management and thus safety.  

So what are the characteristics that make up good, healthy working relationships?

  • Trust – This is the foundation of every good relationship. When you trust  co-workers, you form a powerful bond that helps you to work and communicate more effectively. If you trust the people you work with, you can be open and honest in your thoughts and actions, and you don’t have to waste time and energy “watching your back.”
  • Mutual Respect – When you respect the people who you work with, you value their input and ideas, and they value yours. Working together, you can develop solutions based on your collective insight, wisdom and creativity.
  • Mindfulness – This means taking responsibility for your words and actions. Those who are mindful are careful and attend to what they say, and they don’t let their own negative emotions impact the people around them. They are conscious communicators.
  • Welcoming Diversity – People with good relationships not only accept diverse people and opinions, but they welcome them. For instance, when your flying partners offer different opinions from yours, you take the time to consider what they have to say, and factor their insights into your decision-making.
  • Open Communication – We communicate all day, whether we’re sending emails and IMs, or meeting face to face. The better and more effectively you communicate with those around you, the richer your relationships will be. All good relationships depend on open, honest communication.

So, what can you do to build better relationships at work?

Develop Your People Skills

Good relationships start with good people skills including how well you collaborate, communicate and deal with conflict. 

Identify Your Relationship Needs

Look at your own relationship needs. Do you know what you need from others? And do you know what they need from you? Understanding these needs can be instrumental in building better relationships.

Schedule Time to Build Relationships

Devote a portion of your flying day toward relationship building, even if it’s just in minute increments. Small and even routine interactions help build the foundation of good relationships.

Focus on Your EI

Spend time developing your emotional intelligence (EI). Among other things, this is your ability to recognize your own emotions, and clearly understand what they’re telling you.

High EI also helps you to understand the emotions and needs of others.

Appreciate Others

Show your appreciation whenever someone helps you. Everyone wants to feel that their work is appreciated. So, genuinely compliment the people around you when they do something well. This will open the door to great work relationships.

Be Positive

Focus on being positive which is both attractive and contagious.  It will help strengthen your relationships with your flying partners. No one wants to be around someone who’s negative all the time.

Avoid Gossiping

Don’t gossip. Gossip is a major relationship killer at work. If you’re experiencing conflict with someone in your group, talk to them directly about the problem. Gossiping about the situation with others will only exacerbate the situation, and will cause mistrust and animosity between you.

Stretch Yourself

Occasionally, you’ll have to work with someone you don’t like or someone that you simply can’t relate to. But, for the sake of your comfort and everyone’s safety, it’s essential that you maintain a professional relationship. When this happens, make an effort to get to know the person. It’s likely that the person knows full well that the two of you aren’t on the best terms, so make the first move to improve the relationship by engaging in positive exchanges. While you’re talking, try not to be too guarded. Ask the person about their background and interests. Instead of putting energy into your differences, focus on finding things that you have in common. Just remember – not all relationships will be great; but you can make sure that they are, at least, workable!

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Bidding opened today. As a reminder, if you want to attend the Council #19 base meeting, you will want to bid for the time off!

Date: March 11th

Time: 1pm-4pm

Location: SeaTac Towers Office Complex, 18000 International Blvd. (same tower as 13 Coins across from airport); LP Level, Earhart Room

Parking: Free out front for up to 3 hours, no ticket required. If you park behind the building it is still free, take a ticket and bring it with you to the meeting for validation. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

In Solidarity, 

Terry, Jake, Adam, Melinda and Megan

Latest News

Commuter Boarding Priority Arbitration

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On October 25, 2018, the Company and AFA arbitrated Grievance 36-99-2-29-15 (Section 28.G.6 Commuter Boarding Priority). This grievance alleged the Company’s violation of the collective bargaining agreement when management allowed Company employees (and their dependents) on pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants. AFA is very pleased to inform you […]

Introducing Your SFO Co-Terminal Special Negotiating Committee

By Leave a Comment

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews last week for three Special Negotiating Committee (SNC) Member positions related to negotiation of a possible San Francisco co-terminal agreement. The MEC thanks the candidates for demonstrating their willingness to represent our Flight Attendants. After thorough deliberation, the voting members of your MEC, consisting of the six directly-elected […]

Grievance 36-99-2-30-19 Violation of §28.G.2 Ground Commuting Policy

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Management did not allow Flight Attendants to use the Ground Commuting Policy for the recent snowstorms AFA filed Grievance 36-99-2-30-19 Violation of Section (§) 28.G.2 [Ground Commuting Policy] prior to close of regular business hours yesterday. This contractual grievance alleges the Company violated Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement §28.G.2 when management did not allow Flight Attendants […]

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After much anticipation, the wait is over. Cross-flying, referenced as “Full Integration” in the Merger Agreement, will occur in just a few hours. It is one of the most major milestones that we will pass in this merger. As you all well know by now, there has been so much change in so little time, […]

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