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Final Integrated Seniority List

Below you will find the final version of the merged seniority list.  All challenges submitted to the initial list that was posted on April 3, 2018, have been reviewed and responses have been sent.  The resolution of an accepted challenge is reflected in this final version.  AFA has provided the list to management, who will be using this list to create the version that will be posted on the Flight Attendant website once programming is completed within the next several weeks.

You may access the final version of the list from the email version of this article.  Please check your personal email for a message from the AFA Alaska Seniority Merger Integration Committee.

In Solidarity,

Your SMIC – Sandra Morrow, Rolando Teran, Lynne Voigtsberger and Marie Maxwell

New Pay Rates and Retro Pay

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is providing this information to you in order to help clear up confusion about the new Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) pay rates and retro pay. This communication is a supplement to the Updated JCBA Implementation Quick Reference Guide.

L-VX Pay Rates and Retro Pay

L-VX Flight Attendants have now received three checks with the new pay rates: One on 4/30 for the first two weeks of April (smaller check), one on 5/15 for the last two weeks of April (larger check) and a retro check on 5/15 for January through March retro pay.

L-AS Pay Rates and Retro Pay

L-AS FAs will receive two checks on 5/18 with the new pay rates: One for April flying and one for January through March retro pay. For the approximately 1700 Flight Attendants who have an adjusted Occupational Seniority date between 1/1 and 5/31, you will also receive another retro check no later than 6/29 for the appropriate pay due to the new Occupational Seniority date. Considering that management had maintained throughout the roadshows that all retro pay would be paid out much earlier, AFA is extremely disappointed that management now indicates it needs until June to pay out for the adjusted Occupational Seniority dates.

Example:

Original Occupational Seniority date: 4/1/2011

Adjusted Occupational Seniority date (first day of training): 2/14/2011

FA was paid at the prior Step 6 rate of $ 37.18 for checks issued in January, February, March, April and on the May 5th advance check, if applicable.

FA will be paid for January through March for the difference between the prior Step 6 rate of $37.18 and the new Year 7 (formerly known as Step 6) rate of $38.85 on a 5/18 retro check.

FA will be paid for April at the new Year 8 (formerly known as Step 7) rate of $40.11 on the 5/18 paycheck.

FA will be paid for May at the Year 8 rate of $40.11 on the 6/20 paycheck (and the 6/5 advance paycheck, if appropriate).

FA will be paid for 2/14 – 3/31 for the difference between the new Year 7 rate of $38.85 and the new Year 8 rate of $40.11 on an additional retro check no later than 6/29.

Advance (5thof the Month) Paychecks

The advance paychecks on 4/5 and 5/5 were paid at the old pay rate, which needs to be corrected by Payroll. The 4/5 paychecks will be reconciled at the new rate on the 5/18 paychecks, and the 5/5 paychecks will be reconciled at the new rate on the 6/20 paychecks. All other advance paychecks from this year will be reconciled on the 5/18 retro check.

Longevity Premium

There has also been confusion about the Longevity Premium. There has been no change to the occupational longevity required to qualify for Longevity Premium. A Flight Attendant must achieve (i.e. have completed) 16 years of occupational service in order to qualify for the initial Longevity Premium of $1.00 per TFP. Stated another way, the initial Longevity Premium goes into effect one year after s/he reaches the top out rate of Year 16 (formerly known as Step 15). A Flight Attendant will move to the next step of Longevity Premium of $1.50 once s/he has achieved (i.e. completed) 20 years of occupational service and s/he will move to the next step of Longevity Premium of $2.00 once s/he has achieved (i.e. completed) 25 years of occupational service, et cetera. If your qualification for Longevity Premium has been affected by the adjustment to your Occupational Seniority date, you will see that new premium reflected on the “adjusted seniority” retro check no later than 6/29.

Contact the JNC or one of your local officers if you have any questions.

In Solidarity,

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

[L-AS] Transition Training Bidding Re-Open

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

AFA has been advised of a processing error involving the time that Transition Training bidding was closed within the bidding system.  According to the Airbus Transition Training Letter of Agreement, bidding was supposed to close on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 5 PM Pacific time.  In actuality, bidding closed at 9 AM Pacific time.

As a result of this error, Transition Training bidding has been reopened to allow additional time to enter and modify bids.  Bidding will now close tomorrow, May 9, 2018, at 5 PM Pacific time.  If you have already submitted a Transition Training bid, your original bid has been saved and will remain on file.  If you submit a new bid at this point in time, any new bid will override your previously submitted bid.

As a reminder, it is important that you bid enough dates for Transition Training to ensure that you are awarded one of your preferred slots.  If you do not bid or do not bid enough dates, you will be assigned a Transition Training date by Crew Planning.

In Solidarity,

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

Updated JCBA Implementation Quick Reference Guide

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) has updated this implementation quick reference guide. The list below is separated into L-AS and L-VX provisions to easily distinguish the changes for each Flight Attendant group.

Pre-Merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants (L-AS)

Provisions Retroactive to January 1, 2018

  • New Pay Rates. Across-the-board 4.5% increase effective at DOR and retroactive to January 1, 2018. May 5th paycheck will still reflect the old pay rates due to the seniority synch-up process. New rates based on seniority dates including credit for time spent in initial training will be reflected on May 20th paycheck for April flying. Retro for January through March flying will also be paid on May 20, 2018.
  • Elimination of 1/12thvacation accrual reduction. [Section 14.A.1-2.] Any reduction s of vacation accrual under the former provision will be corrected by October 2018 in time for 2019 vacation bidding.

Provisions Effective Date of Ratification (DOR) or soon after (as noted)

  • 401(k) Match Increase. 401(k) employer match increased to 7.5%. (If you are not currently contributing at least 7.5% you should increase your contribution as soon as possible to achieve full matching!) Flight Attendants may make changes to their contribution up until May 10, 2018, to apply to their April 2018 flying, which will be paid on May 20, 2018.
  • Seniority “Sync-Up” Date.Includes credit for initial training. Will apply to pass travel, vacation accrual and bidding (no change in relative seniority). Contractual 30-day protest period ends and Integrated Seniority List (ISL) will be final on May 3, 2018.
    • New badges will be issued to all Flight Attendants
    • Will not change your RT base month
  • Bank Point Award (2 bank points). One time reduction and/or credit of two (2) total points to his/her attendance points balance. The manual process of reducing or crediting each Flight Attendant’s point total has begun. If a FA reaches any level of discipline prior to the completion of manual adjustments, s/he will have her/his two points reduction applied prior to discipline being issued.
  • Might Be Late (MBL) Grace Period. 5 minute grace period [Section 32.C & E]. Flight Attendants must call Crew Scheduling and advise of MBL prior to scheduled check in time. The duty supervisor will send a report to the FA’s performance supervisor, who will check the actual scan-in time. If scan-in is not within the 5 minute grace period, attendance points will apply.
  • Ground Commuting Provision.[Section 28.G]
  • Holiday Pay Scheduled or Actual Provision. The new provision for scheduled or actual holiday pay will be in effect for the next contractual holiday: July 4, 2018. [Section 21.H.2]
  • Holiday Pay “Show No-Go” Premium. The new provision for holiday “Show No-Go” pay will be in effect for the next contractual holiday: July 4, 2018 [Section 21.H.3]
  • Medical Leave of Absence Provision. Minimum of 4 years without company approval: immediate halt to terminations in progress under former 1-year maximum duration without company approval. [Section 15.C.2]
  • Vacation Coordination Bank. To maintain insurance while on a leave of absence. [Section 15.M.2.c]
  • $75 Parking Stipend. Inflight sent an email communication to all Flight Attendants (Ron Calvin: “New Options with FA Parking” – April 11, 2018) with a link to the sign-up form. Due to many questions about the form and the tight deadline for May, management will honor requests made after the April 15 deadline to begin the stipend in May. Please note this is a monthly option, so it can be elected at any time; however, it must be submitted by the 15thof the month prior. A link to the form will be published on the Flight Attendant webpage. A Flight Attendant needs to submit a new form only when s/he wishes to change her/his parking election. [Section 28.H.2]

Pre-Merger Virgin America Flight Attendants (L-VX)

Provisions Retroactive to January 1, 2018

  • New Pay Rates.Across-the-board pay increase effective at DOR and retroactive to January 1, 2018. New pay rates for April 2018 flying will be reflected on April 30, 2018, paychecks. Retro pay for January through March flying will be paid on May 15, 2018.
  • Greater of Scheduled or Actual Block Time.Calculated on a segment-by-segment basis beginning January 1. Programming changes are required, so management anticipates paying this retroactively on May 31.
  • Reserve Premium. Greater of Reserve Premium or $2.83/block hour flown while on reserve. This requires a software change, so management anticipates July flying will be paid on August 15, and January through June retro will also be paid on August 15.
  • Per Diem Increase. Increased to $2.50 per hour. Will be reflected on May 15 paychecks for April flying, and January through March retro will also be paid on May 15.
  • Holiday Premium (2x pay).Retroactive to include New Year’s Day and will be paid on May 15 if applicable.

Provisions Effective Date of Ratification (DOR) or soon after (as noted)

  • New Pay Rates.Red Circle provision in effect for eligible Flight Attendants.
  • Trade Below 70. Ability to trade down to 50 block hours to another Flight Attendant – please see management email for instructions on trading.
  • Reserve Minimum Day. Increased to 4.3 credit hours/day of reserve. Increase will be reflected on May 15 paychecks for April flying.
  • Reserve Premium. Greater of $100 or $2.83/block hour flown while on reserve
  • Pre-Board Pay. Twenty-six block minutes (0:26) or (0.5 TFP equivalent) when asked to pre-board a flight (does not apply to RRR). Flight Attendants must currently submit via Crew Comment field in Rainmaker. Management is working on an automated process.
  • Greater of Scheduled or Actual Block Time.Calculated on a segment-by-segment basis.
  • Full Deadhead Pay. 100% pay for deadheading, retro to 4/1/2018. Increased pay will be reflected on May 15 paychecks for April flying.
  • Show-No-Go Pay Increase. Increased to 2:39 credit hours. This is an automated pay process and is tracked on the Flight Attendant’s line by CSS.
  • Charter Pay. Increased to 2x pay. Pay will be automated and applied by CSS if charters operate.
  • Sit Pay. If “sit” in excess of 2:00 (scheduled or actual) between flights, Flight Attendants receive pay of fifty-three block minutes (0:53) (above guarantee for reserves).  “First fight of day” sit pay:  Sit pay, above, applies to the first flight if there is an actual delay in excess of 2:00 in addition to ground holding pay. This provision requires a software change, so management anticipates July flying will be paid on August 15, and January through June retro will also be paid on August 15.
  • International Pay.Increased to $1.13/block hour, applies when customs is not pre-cleared. This will be reflected on May 15 paychecks for April flying. This must be manually added to paychecks, so International Pay will not be visible in Rainmaker.
  • ITL Program Transition. Flight Attendants will begin bidding to be in the “A” pool at the end of April for June. “A” pay will start in the June bid month and will first appear on the July 15 paycheck, if applicable.
  • Premium Open Time. Increased to 1.5x pay for trips picked up. This pay is automated.
  • Operational Assignment Premium. Increased to 1.5x pay. This pay is automated.
  • Holiday Pay Premium.Increased to 2x pay; new holiday: July 4th.
  • Might Be Late (MBL) Grace Period.5 minute grace period [§32.C&E]. A Flight Attendant must call CSS and advise of MBL prior to scheduled check in. A MBL code will be placed on the schedule, and a supervisor will check the FA’s line to verify the scan-in time. If check-in is not within the 5 minute grace period, attendance points will apply.
  • Extended Maternity Leave. L-AS policy available to L-VX Flight Attendants. Any Flight Attendant who returned to work from a Maternity Leave after January 1 who would like to take Extended Maternity Leave should contact her leave analyst.
  • Base Swaps. Minimum 3-month base swapsavailable between LAX and SFO-based L-VX Flight Attendants. Notification required May 1st for swap effective June 1st.
  • Management Seniority Accrual. Supervisors/management on seniority list may not accrue seniority for longer than they have been a line Flight Attendant.

All Flight Attendants

No furlough protection for all Flight Attendants effective April 3, 2018 through December 31, 2019.

* * *

All the relevant documents describing the negotiated changes can be accessed on the Merger TA & Information Page.

In Solidarity,

Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

Merged Seniority List FAQ

Thanks for your patience as the Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) collected and compiled responses to your most frequently asked questions (FAQ).  We have posted a document with these questions and answers.

You can find the link to the FAQ document in the email version of this article.  Please check your personal email for a message from the AFA Alaska Seniority Merger Integration Committee containing the link to the FAQ document.  If you did not receive the email, please contact your Local Council Officers.

The questions included in this FAQ are:

  1. Where can if find the merged seniority list?
  2. How was the seniority list integrated?
  3. How was the seniority list integrated with the classes that had the same seniority date for both L-AS and L-VX? (same-day tie-breakers)
  4. Did everyone keep their relative seniority?
  5. How did the SMIC determine the initial training credit for the L-AS FAs?
  6. Did Jet America Flight Attendants get training credit when they merged with Alaska?
  7. What if I believe my seniority information is incorrect on the new list?
  8. When will I be able to see seniority by base?
  9. Where is the seniority information for FAs working in a supervisor/non-flying role for Inflight?

If you have any additional questions, please send them to seniority@afacwa.org.

In Solidarity,

Your SMIC – Sandra Morrow, Rolando Teran, Lynne Voigtsberger and Marie Maxwell

Supreme Court Ruling on Bernstein v. Virgin America

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The Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling today that denied an appeal from Alaska Airlines to reconsider a lower court’s ruling in the case of Bernstein v. Virgin America. The lawsuit claimed that various California labor laws had been violated related to wages, hours worked, pay, and meal and rest breaks.  The suit was originally filed against Virgin America and became the responsibility of Alaska Airlines after the merger between the two companies. Management has distributed multiple employee communications complaining that they will now have to obey the law but has not shown that they are focused on practical solutions.  AFA stands ready to work out a solution with management that is compliant with the law and is a mutually agreeable path forward for all stakeholders.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2022

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Scheduling Committee Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, June 28 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding. Your Local Scheduling […]

June 2022 MEC Meeting Recap

Master Executive Council (MEC) Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15 to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants. As part of the meeting, the MEC met with members of inflight, labor relations, and executive management to discuss issues and concerns that […]

AFA and Management Agree on a Remedy for the Delayed May & June 2022 Bid Awards

AFA Alaska leadership and Alaska Airlines management have reached agreement on a remedy for the delayed May & June bid awards. All Flight Attendants who were active at any point during the May or June 2022 bid months will receive 4.0 TFP on their respective July 20th paychecks. Thank you to the more than 4400 who participated in the “It’s Time to Make It Right!” letter writing campaign, and AFA appreciates management’s commitment to doing the right thing in these circumstances.

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022

Reserve Committee Our AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, June 9 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent and advocate for our Reserve Flight Attendants. The Committee also met with management to review a number of specific concerns that were brought forward by Flight Attendants. Your Local Reserve Committee is available to […]

December 2021 MEC Meeting Recap

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December 2021 MEC Meeting Recap Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson Just wrapped up chairing our monthly MEC meeting yesterday and today. As usual, your AFA committee chairs and reps provided written reports to the MEC about the latest developments in their areas, and we received live briefings regarding dispute resolution & grievances, scheduling, […]

Inflight Leadership Change and the Path Forward

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Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson Now that is has been officially announced that Travis will be stepping away as leader of the Inflight division, I thought Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants might want to hear from their MEC president. I may not always be at liberty to communicate the details of every conversation advocating […]

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