PDX Roadshow Q&A 12/3/14
Section 3 – Scope
Q: How many supervisors would that allow?
A: There are currently 42 on the list. The TA allows for 2% of the FA population so this would be a total of 66 maximum with 3300 FAs.
Q: If they come on as an extra are they working just a leg?
A: They are working a trip, the entire sequence.
Q: What percentage of trips will supervisors be flying as an extra?
A: Unknown, there is no contractual limitation.
Q: What do you think Company reason is behind this?
A: Ben and Brad believe this will help relationships and environment. This is partly due to the results of the Employee survey.
Q: Will supervisors appear randomly?
A: We expect advanced notice. Will confirm.
Section 8 – Hours of Service
Q: Is the debrief adjustment all or nothing
A: Yes
Section 9 – Junior Availability
Q: Will it still not cover trips into the next month? Say I had a 3 day trip on the 30th that went into the 1st and 2nd.
A: For JA you are protected.
Q: Am I protected for the 1st and 2nd if my subsequent bid award adds flying onto my line on the day I gave away from the month end overlap?
A: No, the flying was replaced on the days you are now working in the subsequent month. In order to be protected you would additionally need to drop the 1st and 2nd.
Q: If I pick up days outside of my original line and subsequently give those days away am I protected from JA?
A: No, the days protected must be off of your original line.
Section 10 – Scheduling
Q: What is our maximum scheduled duty day if I don’t opt into 4k flying?
A: Scheduled duty is 10 hours 30 minutes.
Q: Does the debrief take into consideration Customs and Immigration?
A: No, this is the current practice.
Q: Can you opt 4k for a turn and not for multiday?
A: You would opt into 4k, bid by pairing number or how you would bid for turn. If worried about unstacking create new bid group.
Q: Could I put 4k in my default bid?
A: Yes.
Q: Projection of changes in layover for 4k?
A: The 4k affects only a few routes. Look at the 4k and 15 debrief maps specific to your base. This could affect future destinations and schedules.
Q: All 2 carts, except DTW, was service addressed with 4k turns?
A: No, service is managerial right.
Section 11 – Reserve
Q: If lineholder picks up reserve day do they have to opt into LTFA?
A: Yes. They must actively opt in if they choose. Default opts out.
Section 12 – Exchange of Sequences
Q: After contract is ratified when will OT trial start?
A: August 2015, based on the implementation.
Q: If a day is limited (closed) and I pick up a TO/CP trip what happens?
A: If you pick up the day without replacing flying then the day will reopen to allow for another trip drop.
Q: What happens if OT system is not ready by August 2015?
A: We would file a grievance.
Q: Did the Company come to AFA and say we have this great system for OT trial?
A: No. It was a joint effort in creating a functioning OT system.
Section 14 – Vacation
Q: Does vacation accrual count for the 960 flown to achieve the Longevity PTO?
A: Yes
Section 16 – Sick Leave and On the Job Injury
Q: Why only age 62 – 65 for utilizing my sick leave for insurance?
A: The provision is current book, with sunset provision.
Q: If I call in sick and receive points does sick leave make up allow for point reduction?
A: No. Sick Leave Make Up is available to restore your sick leave bank, not mitigate points.
Q: If I call in sick for 10 TFP, I would have to work 100 TFP to restore, so this offers a 1 for 1 accrual?
A: Yes.
Q: If I call in sick using Sick Family or FMLA can I participate in Sick Leave Make Up.
A: Yes. If you are receiving pay from your sick leave bank you are eligible to restore using Sick Leave Make Up. As a side note if you call in FMLA, you may contact your payroll analyst and ask not to receive compensation, however, the federal law requires they give you the time off.
Section 21 – Compensation
Q: If I SIP or Jet Bridge trade what Minimum Pay Rules will apply?
A: Duty period minimum and sit pay in non-affected duty periods (at the SIP/Jet Bridge Trade split).
Q: Is the Quarterly Productivity Premium based on the base line average or your personal award?
A: Personal Award
Q: Do pre-planned absences count?
A: No. You must exceed your PBS line award.
Q: Does recurrent count towards my PBS award for QPP?
A: Recurrent does not count towards the PBS award, but will count towards the QPP threshold.
Section 22 – Expenses
No questions
Section 23 – Insurance
Q: What is management’s posturing or position on insurance?
A: 20% cost sharing and no cap. But we didn’t agree to those terms and conditions. They wanted us to share in higher cost of premiums with other employees.
Section 27 – General Association
No Questions
Section 32 – Attendance
Q: Is there a limitation on the number of medical leaves I can take?
A: No.
Q: Will we get bank points retro active for the maximum credit of 6?
A: No. It will start in Jan 2015 if TA is ratified.
Random Q & A:
Q: Where can I find the AFA Videos?
A: http://afaalaska.org/negotiations/ta/ta2-videos
Q: Could you be off on Worker’s Comp for a year a get a 12 month look back?
A: Yes. If you were out for 12 months, you would have to have a look back equal to 12 months.
Q: If I take a staffing leave do I get a credit, same as in the current agreement?
A: 1.333 TFP credit, just like today.
Q: If contract is ratified will we have availability to view our 480 TFP calculations?
A: Yes. You will have calculators for each category.
Q: Is there retro on minimum pay rules?
A: No. We attempted to have minimum pay rules paid but were not successful in agreeing on a provision.
Q: If there a professional negotiator on the team?
A: Yes, Paula Mastrangelo, Staff negotiator since 1988. She has long standing list of negotiating many contracts for legacy and regional carriers. There is an entire legal and bargaining unit at AFA International. We also used Dan Akins, an airline economist and advocate for AFA, he graduated from London School of Economics and assisted us at the bargaining table.
Q: Could management in the future ask for a longer duty day?
A: Yes management could ask, but the membership would have to ratify an agreement with the provision in order for a extended duty day to take affect.
Q: If this does get voted down will all the members of the committee stay on?
A:
Jeff Peterson – In my discussions with our committee the next committee will look very different.
Jake Jones – Will not continue to serve on NC
Lisa Pinkston – Will not continue to serve on NC
Kristy Stratton – Will not continue to serve on NC
Christina Frees – Will not continue to serve on NC
Paula Mastrangelo – Recommend a different staff negotiator take over Alaska Property
Jeff Peterson – I have other responsibilities to consider and no intent of leaving AFA in difficult position. I’m not comfortable making a statement at this time. After two failed agreements I agree with Paula, our staff negotiator, it may be time to let someone else look at the overall context of our negotiations.
Q: If assigned a like sequence can I be assigned more than one sequence?
A: No, it is one sequence.
Q: Why was duty day adjustments included in TA2?
A: This was brought forward and negotiated as a package. 4k, 15 debrief and management flying contingent on length of scale, step rates and overall compensation package.
Q: Did we achieve many of the things we wanted on the survey?
A: Yes, the committee was successful in recapturing many provisions, not all.
Q: Do you think we would get retro pay in a subsequent agreement?
A: In our professional opinion, no.
Greg McDaniel says
If TA2 is voted down , would the union consider using an outside professional negotiating team since the current negotiating team would the stepping down?
Lisa Pinkston (ANC LEC Vice President/Negotiating Committee Member) says
In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws, the negotiating committee is comprised of line FAs interviewed and appointed by the MEC (5 LECPs who are the elected officials of their respective domiciles). The MEC President is the Chair of the Negotiating Committee. There is a Staff Negotiator appointed by the Director of Collective Bargaining after consultation with the MEC. Outside experts such as financial analysts or bankruptcy attorneys are contracted if appropriate. AFA has in-house negotiators and attorneys who specialize in the airline industry.