Q:     If the JCBA does not pass, then will both L-AS and L-VX FAs start getting cross trained this summer and will Full Implementation occur in March 2019 as shown on the timeline that MEC President Peterson explained in the Implementation segment of the Merger TA roadshow webinar?

A:     If the Merger TA does not ratify, Flight Attendant cross training will continue as scheduled. Additionally, training for both aircraft types will be incorporated into 2019 Recurrent Training, so L-AS and L-VX Flight Attendants will remain current on both aircraft types. However, Full Implementation will not happen if the Merger TA does not ratify.  Management cannot integrate both groups without an Integrated Seniority List, and AFA will not release the ISL to management without a ratified JCBA.

Q:     Hey is there any way to maybe get a bar graph or something showing how many people have voted through the voting period? This would be cool and might motivate more people to vote. Thanks.

A:     Thank you for the suggestion. The voting progress tracker has been added to the Merger TA Voting Information page.

[See also Transition of ITL to “A” [VX]]

Q:     Can someone explain the “A” position bidding to me? And does that apply to the L-AS FA?

A:     L-AS Flight Attendants bid the A position, which is awarded on a “pairing-by-pairing” basis. The ITL to “A” position transition for the L-VX Flight Attendants is described in the L-VX ITL to L-VX A Position roadshow webinar video.

Q:     I tried to find the language in the contract but unable to find. Is date of hire the mandate for the agreement? If an Alaska Airlines FA was hired previous to all Virgin America’s FAs, the only people who are senior to the Alaska FA are other Alaska FAs, right?

A:     The contract specifics that Flight Attendant Date of Hire (DOH) inclusive of time spent in Initial Training as provided for in the ISL will define Occupational Seniority/System Seniority.  This can be found in the JCBA LOA Changes to the 2014-2019 CBA TA, Section 6 [Seniority].

A.  Seniority Applications

2. Occupational Seniority/System Seniority

a. Hired as a Flight Attendant prior to Date of Ratification: Seniority that accrues from the date an employee is placed on the Company payroll as a Flight Attendant, which will be retroactive to include credit for time spent in Initial Training as provided for in the Integration Seniority List (ISL) certified by the Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC).

b.  Hired as a Flight Attendant after Date of Ratification: Seniority that accrues from the date an employee is placed on the Company payroll as a Flight Attendant, which will be retroactive to the first day of Initial Training.

c.  Occupational Seniority/System Seniority will be used for all vacation selection, eligibility for Longevity Paid Time Off, leaves of absence other than medical leaves, emergency leaves and additional personal leaves as defined in Section 15 [Leaves of Absence], reduction in force, return to active status after release due to reduction in force and bidding rights for line of time, reserve, extra sections, charter, Long Stage Length Duty Period (“4k”) and other flying applications as provided for elsewhere in this Agreement.

In addition Section X [Merger Policy…] of the AFA Constitution and Bylaws spells out the full provisions of how the ISL is achieved.

In answer to the example provided, then you are correct: a L-AS FA hired prior to all other L-VX FAs is senior to them. Only other L-AS FAs who are already senior to the example L-AS FA prior to the merger will be senior to that person following certification of the Integrated Seniority List (ISL).

Q:     I see that on the last page, tucked at the bottom of the page, it states that, “Once a ballot is cast, it cannot be changed.” Can you address why?  I don’t recall this ever happening on other contract/TA votes.  I flown with several flight attendants that were not aware of this change.  Is it being brought up in the roadshows? And does it state this in the voting material that is being mailed out?  

A:     The Department of Labor instituted a change to voting procedures to ensure that all  voters must be de-identified from their votes. This ensures that no one can then go in and determine how any one person voted.  A consequence of this “de-identification” is that a voter may then never go back and change his/her vote. Think of it as “dropping your vote” in a ballot box.

In order to comply with the DOL’s mandate, AFA’s voting system is unable to attach personal information to track a Flight Attendant’s vote; therefore it isn’t possible to retrieve your vote and change it.  The JNC has been stressing this information in all the roadshows (with a slide devoted to it), and it is posted on the Merger TA Voting Info page as well as included in the mailed ballot information.