It is extremely challenging to beneficially channel social media without allocating significant resources

Social media is an extremely powerful communication tool. As such the Negotiating Committee has attempted to acknowledge the importance of social media by interacting on various outlets in order to reach the greatest number of our members. However, it is also extremely challenging for an institution such as AFA Alaska to beneficially channel social media without allocating significant resources. Some may have agreed or disagreed with our approach at times but our intent has always been to use social media simply as a supplementary source of information. Any controversies that have resulted from our presence on social media have been unintentional.

Recent changes to secret Facebook groups

Earlier today, administrators of one of the private secret Facebook groups called “Voice the Vote” announced a name change to “Voice the Yes Vote.” Obviously the name change is indicative of taking a particular stance on TA2, a position that AFA cannot support. Our understanding is that the name may have been changed back to “Voice the Vote” and with new administrators.

Negotiating Committee will no longer be redirecting from private social media outlets

Rather than taking sides or continuing to navigate the rapidly shifting sands of social media, the Negotiating Committee will no longer be redirecting to the official channels from “Voice the Yes Vote,” “TA Talk,” “Almost Open,” or any other social media outlet not officially sanctioned by AFA. We are taking this unilateral action on all private social media outlets out of fairness to all their members and administrators. We sincerely regret if this will cause misunderstandings or hurt feelings.

Going forward the Negotiating Committee will be posting exclusively on the AFA outlets

Going forward, the Negotiating Committee will be posting exclusively on the Negotiations blog or on the AFA Alaska Facebook page or the individual council Facebook pages. You can also contact the Negotiating Committee via email at negotiations@afaalaska.org.

Roadshows

The Negotiating Committee will continue to focus on our preparations for the upcoming Roadshows starting December 1^st (see http://afaalaska.org/negotiations/ta for the full Roadshow schedule). We hope to see you soon!

In solidarity,

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt; and

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

The much-anticipated full text TA2 is now posted at http://afaalaska.org/negotiations/ta!

The Negotiating Committee realizes there have been concerns over the timing of its release. We thank you for your patience and understanding as the NC worked through a complete overhaul of TA2. We believe all the effort has paid off and will make it much easier for you to review and understand the proposed changes.

If you have any questions, you may search the Negotiations blog by topic where you will find answers to many of your questions. You may posts questions on the blog under the related topic. This way all Flight Attendants can see the question and the answer provided. If you have additional questions that are not addressed via the blog, email the Negotiating Committee at negotiations@afaalaska.org.

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

Weekly Update

The Negotiating Committee will be sending out a weekly update to let everyone have the opportunity to know and review the information and questions we are answering via the Negotiations blog. You will find the daily posts linked below.

Search the blog using keywords

You can search in the blog using keywords to find answers to specific questions about the provisions being discussed. We are increasing the content on a daily basis as we turn your questions into posts for all Flight Attendants to access. The Negotiating Committee anticipates the release of the full text language in the next few days and we know this will bring even more questions.

“Q&A,” “Get the facts” and “Did you know?”

We are using the format of “Q&A,” “Get the facts” and “Did you know?” to give you valuable information in a variety of formats to make an informed decision. We wish you happy reading and keep the questions coming! You can reach the committee on the Negotiations blog, via the Negotiations feedback form or email at negotiations@afaalaska.org.

Links

Nov 8th-

TA2 Summary

LEC Presidents’ Perspective & Voting Record Regarding TA2

Nov 9th-

Q&A: Please explain the Long Stage Length Duty Period “4k” pairing

TA Language – 4K Duty Period

Nov 10th-

Q&A: Can a management flier come onboard and replace me on a pairing?

Get the Facts – Productivity Premium

Nov 11th-

Q&A: How is my 480 credit impacted by the Minimum Pay Rules?

Q&A: Compensation!

Q&A: Doesn’t the provision stating that only those on duty can be JA’d turn us all into reserves?

Q&A: How does the rolling 12-month “look-back” work for the 480 TFP calculations?

Q&A: How come vacation pay did not improve?

Nov 12th-

Q&A: Does the Longevity Premium replace the Profitability Bonus (commonly called the COLA)?

Q&A: Where am I able to locate a link to the Hart Survey Summary?

Nov 13th-

AFA – Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Mediation: Costs associated with TA2

Did you know? – Signing Bonus

Q&A: Why are the signing bonus amounts different?

Nov 14th-

Q&A: What did we give up to achieve that provision?

Q&A: Why is the Longevity Premium not paid on vacation or sick leave?

TA2 Full Text Release Update

TA2 Provision Comparison Chart

Negotiating Committee Redirecting back to the Negotiations Blog

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

TA2 Provision Comparison Chart now available

The Negotiating Committee has developed a document that compared the various provisions in TA2 with those in the current Contract. The TA2 Provision Comparison Chart has now been posted at http://afaalaska.org/negotiations/ta.

Check out the Negotiations blog for the latest information regarding TA2

There has also been quite a bit of activity on the Negotiations blog over the past several days. If you are active on social media then mostly likely you are up to date, but for those who are less active we suggest you check out the blog at http://afaalaska.org/negotiations/blog.

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

The formal formatting of TA2 is nearly finished! The Negotiating Committee had hoped to release an electronic version of TA2 to you by now. However, we heard from management’s team Friday afternoon that they would need a few more days to make sure there were no language changes in the final version that were not agreed to previously. While the delay is frustrating, we understand that this is an important part of the process to ensure what you review in TA2 is accurate and inclusive of all information.

The Negotiating Committee knows this process was handled differently during TA1. When the Membership demanded we leave no detail out or no stone unturned for TA2, the NC took that very seriously. We want Flight Attendants to have a document they can understand and that leaves no question as to the inclusion of all provisions. Due to the massive amount of work and the attention to detail, we believe TA2 will be much easier to review. The downside of course is that this process took just a little longer than originally anticipated.

The Negotiating Committee will have TA2 to you online within a time frame that will allow approximately four weeks to review before the closing of the voting period and available in hard copy at the Roadshows and in domiciles. We will also be available to answer questions and provide clarity right up until the closing of the polls. There will be Roadshows, Q&A posts on the Negotiations blog, videos posted on line at www.afaalaska.org/negotiations and multiple ways for you to have your questions answered, including emailing negotiations@afaalaska.org and the Negotiations Feedback Form. We hope these options will give you all the resources you need to make an informed decision for your future.

Thank you for your patience. We’re nearly ready for you to see the TA2 full-text language!

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo