Safety of Our Crews, Our Flights and Our Country

January 19, 2021 19:00

Safety of Our Crews, Our Flights and Our Country

Safety Of Our Crews

Recent events are potentially negatively impacting effective Crew Resource Management

The Master Executive Council (MEC) feels compelled to address the potentially negative impact to effective Crew Resource Management (CRM) resulting from the events most affecting the country over the past year: the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest and the election. We are a nation more polarized than ever, so there is no realistic way for the MEC to discuss the issues themselves without eliciting a strong response from our membership one way or the other. Nonetheless, AFA Alaska leadership has seen a very demonstrable uptick in issues between crewmembers (Flight Attendants and pilots) resulting from such polarization. These issues degrade effective CRM and lead to a net negative impact to the safety of our crews.

Avoid the subjects of politics, religion and money in mixed company

It would be fantastic if everyone could avoid the “taboo” subjects of politics, religion and money in mixed company such as while at work (including layovers). The disappearing separation between our work and private lives due to the proliferation of social media platforms makes doing so more challenging than ever. The MEC has no illusions that everybody will ever share the same religious, political and economic views or that doing so is even desirable. However, the MEC sincerely hopes that all crewmembers can at least attempt to reach common ground with each other on these challenging topics.

As safety professionals we are expected to maintain a working relationship with each other at all times

Regardless of the outcome of those conversations, as safety professionals we are expected to maintain a working relationship with each other at all times and to always have each other’s backs when it comes to ensuring mutual safety. The AFA Alaska and ALPA Alaska Professional Standards Committees work together to assist you with crew conflict resolution. Your Local Executive Council (LEC) officers are also available as resources.

Suggested points of commonality regardless of our individual views

We all have at least some degree of collective responsibility as a society to safeguard the wellbeing of more than just the individual.
All people are created equal; have certain inalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and no person(s) may infringe on the rights of others to enjoy those same rights.
All Americans have the First Amendment right to freedom of expression (free speech, free press and peaceful assembly) without interference from the government, provided the act of doing so is not itself illegal.
All Americans have the collective right to make changes to the administration of our government via the legislative, judicial and executive branches through the democratic processes set forth by the Constitution and other laws.
All crewmembers universally desire to safely return home to our family and friends.

COVID-19 pandemic risk mitigations

Flight Attendants have brought forward concerns that not all crewmembers appear to be complying with various risk mitigations that are mandatory in certain localities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The perception is that due care is not being taken to adequately minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission prior to operating as a crewmember or traveling non-rev.

The MEC asks that all Flight Attendants be mindful of how social media posts showing crewmembers present in large groups and gathering in close quarters is upsetting to at least some of your fellow Flight Attendants. This is especially true when there are pictures and/or videos in which masks are not being worn—even if the reality is that the masks were taken off only briefly in order to memorialize the moment.

Be advised that you should adhere to any mandatory orders regarding masks, gatherings and quarantines. AFA believes that substantiated evidence of failure to do so may put you in jeopardy of disciplinary action by management.

Safety of Our Flights

Increased security measures ahead of Inauguration Day

Alaska Airlines management has worked with the unions to significantly step up security ahead of Inauguration Day, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it will crack down on unruly passengers with a zero-tolerance policy. Sensitive security information regarding the details of such security measures can be found in the most recent Special Edition Bulletin Bundle (January 15, 2021) as well as in communications from Alaska Airlines COO Gary Beck (“Our Approach to Keeping Employees and Crew Safe” – January 14, 2021) and Interim Vice President of Inflight Carmen Williams (“Enhanced safety processes through the Presidential Inauguration” – January 16, 2021). At this point in time, the MEC is satisfied with the coordinated risk management response.

AFA Recommendations

Work hard to keep problems on the ground.
Ensure strict mask compliance before pushback.
Work as one crew, communicate, and take your concerns to the pilots and supervisors.
You have the right and duty to assert concern for your safety and that of the passengers in our care.
Have pre-flight briefings with your pilots to identify how they will cooperatively work together to address disruptive and interfering passengers (boarding refusal, LEO response, diversion, etc.).
Walk with your flying partners in teams through terminals and to the hotels.
If anyone is in need of AFA Alaska EAP assistance, call 949-470-0493 or email eap@afaalaska.org.
Report an issue to AFA by opening a ticket or contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) leadership if you need immediate assistance.

Safety of Our Country

Freedom of speech and of peaceful assembly

Flight Attendants have reported concerns about crewmembers attending the “Save America” rally on January 6^th at the Ellipse in Washington, DC. Attending the event was a protected First Amendment activity no different than attending any other protest. The future security of our constitutional liberties, such as the freedom of speech and of peaceful assembly, depends on all of us to collectively safeguard the exercise of such rights irrespective of political differences.

Crimes against the state

Any effort to interfere with, rise up against or actively overthrow the government is almost certainly a crime—especially if violence or even the mere threat of force is involved. As we have seen in recent weeks, federal agencies are aggressively investigating anyone who heeded the call to “Occupy the Capitol” too literally, and charges are starting to roll in. Federal authorities have been assisted by thousands upon thousands of tips supplied by cooperative patriots who have taken It upon themselves to mine the photographic and video evidence for clues to the interlopers’ identities. Additionally, reports are plentiful of employers preemptively terminating employees who were recorded engaging in suspected criminal activity.

The subsequent fallout resulting from the storming of the U.S. Capitol building should serve as a cautionary tale. Sedition, insurrection and, of course, outright treason will not be tolerated in our United States of America.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Matt Cook, Terry Taylor, Steve Maller, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Recurrent Training 2021

January 13, 2021 17:00

Recurrent Training 2021

Master Executive Council (MEC) + Inflight Training Committee + Air, Safety, Health and Security Committee (ASHSC)

In This Edition

Early Success Rates Look Promising
COVID-19 Risk Mitigations
Written Exam Practice Questions and Answers
Adequate “Hands-On” Time Prior to Emergency Evacuation Evaluations
Acceptable Deviations to Emergency Evacuation Commands
Requalification Training (RQ)

Early Success Rates Look Promising

This is the second week of Recurrent Training 2021, and early success rates for passing the various drill evaluations are looking promising in comparison to success rates for Recurrent Training 2020. We hope the trend continues.

COVID-19 Risk Mitigations

AFA Alaska’s concerns

Mask usage and social distancing during evaluations
Sanitization of shared emergency equipment.

Inflight Training management’s response

Inflight Training management agreed to make several changes in response and posted the updated safety and sanitization guidelines.

Click here for the ”Welcome to Recurrent Training 2021 Letter” > (AAG SSO required)

Written Exam Practice Questions and Answers

AFA Alaska’s concerns

There is no comprehensive list of all potential written exam questions and answers provided like in past years.
The random practice test must be taken too many times in order to successfully view all underlying questions. (If ever?)

Inflight Training management’s response

“Learning and building confidence is our goal. With that in mind, we will be turning off the randomizer on practice exams to allow FAs to run through all available questions. We will add a note to remind FAs that questions do change regularly so they always need to refer to the practice exam on the website for most up to date questions.”
Management reports the randomizer function will be turned off by the end of the week.

Adequate “Hands-On” Time Prior to Emergency Evacuation Evaluations

AFA Alaska’s concerns

Adequate hands-on refamiliarization time should be provided during paid training hours prior to emergency evacuation evaluations.
Flight Attendants should not have to attend voluntary unpaid sessions in order to be successful during their evaluations.
There were not enough Open House sessions at each training center to accommodate the need in 2020 and several of those sessions were canceled, which only made the situation worse. More Open House sessions are needed in 2021.

Inflight Training management’s response

Schedule reworked to maintain the same 90 minutes of refamiliarization time as in RT 2020. (Hands-on time was initially going to be reduced in RT 2021, but AFA advocated for more time.)
Hands-on sessions prior to the start of RT 2021 are not an effective use of limited Training resources and will be eliminated in order to potentially reallocate the resources to additional Open House sessions around the system.
Management will review the ratio of the number of Open House slots in each training location compared to base size and restructure the sessions to allow for more options (e.g., dates, AM/PM, different times of the month). Additional dates will be added in March.

Acceptable Deviations to Emergency Evacuation Commands

Click here (password required) >

Password: See the emailed version of this newsletter sent to the personal email address that you have on file with AFA Alaska for the confidential password. Contact your LEC president if you need additional assistance.

Please respect the security of the document and do not share the password on an open forum.

Requalification Training (RQ)

RT 2021 is scheduled for one and a half days, but RQ 2021 (Level 1) is scheduled for two full days. There were only a few differences between RT and RQ in years past, but there are significantly more evaluations in RQ compared to RT this year. Flight Attendants should budget ample preparation time if attending RQ.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact your LEC president or the MEC Inflight Training Committee.

AFA Alaska Negotiations Update – December 17, 2020

December 17, 2020 20:00

AFA Alaska Negotiations Update – December 17, 2020

Master Executive Council

In This Edition

Updated Contract Negotiations Timeline
Negotiations Delayed Until September 1, 2021
Overview of the Railway Labor Act

Updated Contract Negotiations Timeline

1^st round Negotiating Committee interviews – March & April 2020

Full pay scale increase of 2.5% – December 17, 2020 – This is the final full pay scale increase under this contract. A confirmation email from Employee Records to all Flight Attendants is expected in the next few days.

Revised “Early Opener” date – September 1, 2021 – Original Early Opener date: December 17, 2020. Negotiations may start on or after this date if notice is served by either AFA or management at least 60 days prior.

Amendable date – December 17, 2021 – Under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), the amendable date of a contract is generally the date on which the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement may be changed. Unlike under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), contracts under the RLA do not automatically expire and instead generally remain in force throughout negotiations and the amendable period.

Negotiations Delayed Until September 1, 2021

AFA leadership and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to hold off on engaging in negotiations until September 1, 2021. Both parties recognize that entering into negotiations during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic would not be productive for either party. Consequently, the parties have executed a side letter of agreement amending the Early Opener date from December 17, 2020 to September 1, 2021 in Section 35 [Duration] of the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA).

Click here for the “Amendment to JCBA Section 35 [Duration]” Sideletter of Agreement >

Overview of the Railway Labor Act

Credit to “The Railway Labor Act Simplified” by the Pennsylvania Division of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division – IBT

Historical Background

The Railway Labor Act (RLA) was passed in 1926 to allow railroad union workers to resolve disputes with management while minimizing the potential for interstate commerce disruptions. The airline industry was folded into the RLA under Title II in 1936. The RLA was the first federal law guaranteeing the right of workers to organize and join unions and elect representatives without employer coercion or interference. The RLA makes it the duty of all carriers and their employees to exert every reasonable effort to voluntarily settle disputes. Negotiations procedures were historically contained in Section 6 of the RLA, which is why one often hears “Section 6” as a catch-all phrase for everything having to do with negotiations under the RLA. The RLA is currently located in 45 USC Chapter 8 Sections 151 – 188.

Who is Covered?

The RLA applies to freight and commuter railroads, airlines, companies directly or indirectly controlled by carriers who perform services related to transportation of freight or passengers and the employees of these railroads, airlines and companies.

Basic Purposes

Avoid any interruption to commerce.
Assist in the prompt and orderly settlement of disputes covering rates of pay, work rules, or working conditions.
Assist in the prompt and orderly settlement of disputes growing out of grievances or out of the interpretation or application of existing contracts covering the rates of pay, work rules or working conditions.
Ensure an unhindered right of employees to join a labor union (added in 1934).
Provide complete independence of organization by both parties to carry out the purposes of the RLA.

“Minor” vs. Major” Disputes

Disputes are divided into two categories under the Railway Labor Act: “minor” (resolved via the grievance and arbitration process) and “major” (resolved via the negotiations process).

Minor Disputes: Grievances growing out of the interpretation or application of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). – System boards of adjustment (often administered by a neutral third-party arbitrator) have exclusive jurisdiction over grievance disputes. A system board’s findings are conclusive, and any awards through this process are binding on the parties. Self-help (e.g., work slowdowns or stoppages, worker strikes or management imposed work rules) not allowed. (See “Arbitration in the Airlines Industry: System Boards of Adjustment” by Thomas J. Kassin and Sarah L. Fuson for more information.)

Major Disputes: Matters affecting rates of pay, rules and working conditions; and the creation or modification of the collective bargaining agreement between the parties. – There is almost total reliance upon collective bargaining for major dispute settlement. Self-help (e.g., strikes and imposed work rules) are permitted after negotiation and mediation procedures have been exhausted.

Next Up

(Order is subject to change)

Negotiations Under the Railway Labor Act
Negotiating for Our Future
Block hours vs. TFP
Block or Better vs. Block Delay
Incentive Pay vs. Productivity Premium Program (PPP)
Inflight Team Leader (ITL) Pay vs. “A” Pay

AFA Alaska Update – November 12, 2020

November 12, 2020 07:00

AFA Alaska Update – November 12, 2020

In This Edition

Annual Benefits Open Enrollment
COVID-19 Pandemic Update
Recurrent Training Update
AFA Disaster Relief – Multiple Disasters
Union Plus Holiday Giveback

Annual Benefits Open Enrollment

Benefits Committee

Annual Benefits Open Enrollment is underway, and you have until November 18, 2020 to make changes to your benefits for 2021.

PPO Plan

The PPO rates are frozen at the 2019 rates per JCBA §23.A.2.

Consumer Choice (High Deductible) PPO Plan

Rates significantly increased this year for the Consumer Choice (High Deductible) PPO Plan, and the various benefits have arguably been greatly diluted. AFA recommends that Flight Attendants currently on the Consumer Choice Plan should carefully consider whether this plan continues to work for your situation.

Many Flight Attendants have asked about whether the increase in rates is allowed contractually, and the answer is yes. JCBA §23.A.3: “The Company will offer a high-deductible group-insurance plan. Flight Attendants will pay no more than any other work group to participate in the plan.” The regular PPO has an annual rate increase limit, but the Consumers Choice/High Deductible PPO Plan does not.

Regional HMO Plans

Rates did not increase this year for the Regional HMO Plans. Per JCBA §23.A.4: “For Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), where offered, the Flight Attendant will pay the difference between the entire cost of the HMO and the Company contribution for the PPO plan, subject to a minimum Flight Attendant contribution of the amount charged to PPO plan participants.”

Travel Open Enrollment

You will be able to make changes to your travel dependents during Travel Open Enrollment, which is December 2-16.

COVID-19 Pandemic Update

Air Safety, Health and Security Committee (ASHSC) and Inflight Service Committee (ISC)

Management Continues to Roll Out Additional Onboard Service Over AFA’s Objections

First, coffee and tea back in July. Then, Fruit & Cheese Platters last week. Now, a second service in Premium Class is coming soon on Hawaii flights. (There have been other service additions along the way, but you get the point.) Master Executive Council (MEC) leadership has received questions from concerned members asking if we are in support of these service additions while the pandemic continues to rage.

We are not, on the basis that they are premature in our opinion. However, management strongly believes the enhancements are necessary in order to maintain guest satisfaction and that sufficient safety measures have been implemented to mitigate risk to acceptable levels.

Although the parties are agreeing to disagree on that last point, we are always attempting to find common ground. For now, management has agreed to not expand coffee and tea service to all day, to limit the second Premium Class service to Hawaii and to continue working with AFA to minimize aisle time and maximize mask compliance. Efforts continue on multiple fronts in various forums every week.

AFA COVID-19 Operational Recommendations (October 2020)

Click here for AFA Media Release “Aircraft Cabin COVID-19 Studies Affirm Safe Travel with Mask Compliance and Layered COVID-19 Safety Procedures” (October 27, 2020) >

The AFA Executive Board of Directors unanimously approved the following recommendations developed by the AFA International Air Safety, Health, Security Department working in partnership with the safety committees at all the AFA carriers. These were recently sent to the CEOs of every AFA carrier requesting action to implement the recommendations. AFA Alaska leadership is currently working through the list with executive management. We will keep you posted on the progress.

Continue to require that masks are worn onboard until a vaccine is widely available, and implement these onboard service policies to facilitate consistent mask-wearing:
- Minimize onboard food and beverage service to essential items;
- Make regular announcements: (1) for passengers to not remove their mask until the Flight Attendant has passed their row; and (2) for passengers to only “dip” their mask down momentarily to take a bite or a sip (“dip and sip”);
- Add onboard mask protocols to flight attendant safety demos, including the requirement for everyone to wear a mask throughout the flight, to wear it over the month and nose, and to only dip it down momentarily when eating/drinking;
- Only serve cold food and drinks on flights less than 1,800 miles/three hours;
- Serve individual cans/bottles for drinks, do not pour beverages from master bottles;
- Stop onboard alcohol sales: alcohol consumption is non-essential and can reduce mask compliance.
Maintain social-distancing space for flight attendants, whenever possible on the plane and transportation to/from hotel. Provide regular briefing sheet reminders about best practices in crowded spaces to reduce risk – persistent proper mask use, avoid common touch locations, use of 60% alcohol or more hand sanitizer, and wash hands for 20 seconds or more as soon as practicable after once at destination (airport or hotel).
Maintain employee sick leave policies with economic coverage of testing and non-punitive sick calls if experiencing COVID-like symptoms.
Conduct timely notification to Flight Attendants on exposure to confirmed coronavirus cases, with a 72 hours lookback to a passenger or crewmember reporting either symptoms or a positive test result, including notification to crewmembers if one or more passengers test positive post-flight. Continue company-sponsored crew testing and quarantine protocols;
Continue to implement and maintain sanitation and disinfection protocols; and
Minimize or eliminate touch points, such as hanging coats for passengers and other non-essential services.

Recurrent Training Update

Inflight Training Committee

Recurrent Training 2021: Boeing Window Exit – Ditching

Remember the very wordy Q3 Computer Based Training (CBT) Boeing Window Exit Ditching video? It’s official: As required by the FAA, we will be evaluated on that evacuation drill during Recurrent Training 2021. We do not believe this regulatory requirement will change, so start studying now!

No More Line Observation in the Special Track Training Program

The requirement for a Line Observation (which was being commonly referenced as a “check ride” in casual conversation on the line) within twelve months of a successful third or fourth competency evaluation (i.e. RT or RQ drill) has been removed from the Special Track training program. Although the Special Track continues to exist, a Line Observation is no longer part of the program.

AFA Disaster Relief – Multiple Disasters

AFA Disaster Relief Fund

We know that disasters can change lives forever. While we can’t stop destructive events from happening, we can, as a Union, assist our members with their recovery. AFA established the Disaster Relief Fund after September 11th to assist our members whose lives were placed in harm’s way. AFA members and retirees, whose primary residence is in the counties listed below and who have suffered damage and/or dislocation, are eligible for $200.00 from the AFA-CWA Disaster Relief Fund. It is a gift made possible by the generosity of your fellow union sisters and brothers with AFA.

Hurricane Laura (Louisiana):

PARISHES: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, La Salle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, Union, Vermilion, Vernon, Winn

California Wildfires:

COUNTIES: Butte, Fresno, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Medera, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Trinity, Tulare and Yolo

Oregon Wildfires:

COUNTIES: Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion

Hurricane Sally (Alabama):

COUNTIES: Baldwin, Escambia, Mobile

Hurricane Delta (Louisiana):

PARISHES: Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Vermilion

If you would like to apply for AFA-CWA Disaster Relief Funds, visit www.afacwa.org/drf and download the Disaster Relief Fund Application and mail it to AFA-CWA EAP Department, 6th Floor, 501 Third Street NW, Washington D.C. 20001-2797. You can also e-mail this same information requested to lfoster@afanet.org or phone in the necessary information to 1-800-424-2406.

If you wish to make a contribution either by check or electronic payment, please visit www.afacwa.org/drf for more information on donating.

Union Plus Holiday Giveback: Nominations Are Open

Sponsor: Union Privilege

It’s official. The Union Plus Holiday Giveback Campaign is officially live! Over the next month, Union Plus is accepting nominations for extraordinary union members across the country that deserve something a little extra this holiday season. The best part? 100 winners will each receive $1,000 in appreciation of all that they do for their communities. It’s simple to enter. How simple? Three steps for three minutes simple:

1. Record a short video of yourself explaining what makes your nominee extraordinary. They can be any union member–someone from your community, a loved one, or yourself.

2. Click here to submit the video on Union Plus’s website or post the video on your personal Instagram account using the hashtags #UnionPlusGiveAGrand and #Contest

3. Click here to submit a written entry (300 words or less) on Union Plus’s website. Nominations will be accepted until December 4th, and winners will be announced throughout December. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to make a fellow union member’s holiday season extra special and wish you the best of luck!

REQUIRED DISCLOSURE: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The Contest (the “Contest”) is open to legal U.S residents 18+. See Official Rules & Appendix for complete eligibility details and eligible unions in Official Rules. The Contest is not open to the general public. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Contest begins 11/9/20 and ends 12/4/20. Click here for Official Rules.

AFA Alaska Special Update – November 2, 2020

November 2, 2020 15:00

AFA Alaska Special Update – November 2, 2020

In this Edition

Vote!
The Jobs Crisis Does Not Stop for the Election

Vote!

Government Affairs

High voter turnout by union members helps increase the power of our solidarity. Visit vote411.org/afacwa for helpful election information. Election Day is Tuesday—please vote on or before November 3^rd!

The Jobs Crisis Does Not Stop for the Election

Government Affairs

WATCH: AFA International President Sara Nelson’s most recent update >

We absolutely should have had our Payroll Support Program (PSP) extension prior to the Senate being adjourned. There is overwhelming bipartisan support for our PSP extension — because of our actions. Instead, 100,000 aviation workers are still without a paycheck, some without healthcare.

This crisis does not stop because of an election, and we cannot wait until a new Congress for relief. We are not giving up. We are continuing to demand relief and right now our airlines are sticking with us.

#ReliefNow #ExtendPSP #EveryDayCounts

Click here for more information about what you can do >

Safety of Our Crews, Our Flights and Our Country