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Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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Management Pressure and Trading While on Probation

The Master Executive Council (MEC) has recently become aware of situations involving Inflight management discouraging new hires from exercising their contractual ability to trade, reposition, or give away trips or reserve days.  This kind of pressure violates our contract.

Have You Been Pressured Not To Trade?

When you were on probation, did a member of Inflight management discourage you from exercising your contractual rights to trade?  We’re looking for first-hand examples of Inflight supervisors or managers discouraging you from:

  • Asking for personal drops
  • Trading or giving away pairings (either on your line or picked up)
  • Repositioning, trading, or giving away reserve days or block

Share Your Example With Us

If you have a first-hand example of an Inflight supervisor or manager pressuring you not to exercise your contractual right, we’re looking for your feedback.  Flight Attendants currently on probation: please participate!  However, be assured that AFA will hold any responses from probationary Flight Attendants in strict confidence until the completion of probation.

Click here to complete a response form

Questions?

Send an email to probation@afaalaska.org

In Solidarity,

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

MEC 5B Logo

Personal Strategies for Approaching the 13th Anniversary of September 11th

From Your AFA EAP

As we approach the thirteenth anniversary of September 11th, many of us will begin to plan how we’ll recognize this day. Anniversaries offer an opportunity to acknowledge our memories and experiences, to connect with others who share in them, and to pay tribute to our individual and collective journeys. Anniversaries can also serve as personal and professional milestones of our healing and resiliency.   For some, September 11th will be marked with private personal gestures such as observing a moment of silence, spending quiet time reflecting, or dedicating our flying to our profession. For others, it will be marked with collective activities such as ceremonies and memorial services.

There is no right way or better way to recognize the anniversary; but, there are some suggestions that may prove helpful as we approach the anniversary of September 11th.

  • Observe the anniversary in a way that’s comfortable for you. Say “no” to events or activities that you sense may flood you with too many feelings.
  • Don’t compare yourself to how others around you appear to be dealing with the September 11th
  • Acknowledge that we all heal at different rates, in different ways, and with different outcomes.
  • Give yourself permission and time to be affected. Though uncomfortable, anticipate and plan for having a stress reaction as the anniversary approaches. Trust that if you have moments of difficulty, you’ll be able to pull yourself back together.
  • Try not to isolate. Isolation can often amplify difficult feelings. Pre-plan now to be with family or friends if you know you have this tendency.
  • Think through in advance how much and the type of anniversary media coverage you can comfortably absorb. Actively monitor and control what news coverage enters your personal space.
  • If you are interested in attending scheduled anniversary events, check local community websites or voicesofsept11.org.
  • Ask for help, support, and opportunities to talk. Your AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to listen. Telephone numbers of your local EAP committee members are listed at afanet.org under the EAP Section or at http://afaalaska.org/eap. You can also call the AFA International EAP at 1-800-424-2406 or the AFA Alaska EAP at 1-949-470-0493.

In solidarity,

Your AFA International and AFA Alaska EAP

Patriotic Ribbon

Your Negotiating Committee Thanks You…

Thank you!

Thank you to all of our Flight Attendants for your support today.

To those working and proudly wearing your red pin–thank you!

To those who helped organize and spread the word–thank you!

To those who showed up with signs and voices representing the entire work group–thank you!

Watching your solidarity shine today was encouraging and reenergizing. So many of you took the time to make this day a priority. We are proud and grateful.

We will continue to work hard to bring you what you’ve earned and deserve.

In solidarity,

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

 

MEC 5BSS Logo (Web)

 

REMINDER: RED Hot Informational Picketing Tomorrow

Get ready to show your solidarity at tomorrow’s RED Hot informational picketing in all five bases!  The Negotiating Committee is currently at the table with management during this week’s mediation session.  Your support is critical to show management and the public that we stand behind our Negotiating Committee in their efforts to achieve the contractual improvements we deserve!

Click here to sign up to participate in tomorrow’s event

Information For Tomorrow

Picket times for each base are as follows:

ANC – 11 AM to 2 PM  ▪︎  LAX – 8 AM to 10 AM  ▪︎  PDX – 6 AM to 8 AM
SAN – 8 AM to 11 AM  ▪︎  SEA – 4 PM to 6 PM

Already Working?

If you’re already working tomorrow, you can show your support from wherever you are!  Take a picture with your RED AFA pin and share it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with hashtag #afaalaska.  Then check out our AFA Alaska tagboard at afaalaska.org/tagboard and watch our sea of RED online!

If you have any questions about tomorrow’s picketing event, contact your Local Mobilization Chairperson.  You’ll find contact information at afaalaska.org/mobilization.

Changes To Workers Compensation 

Alaska Airlines has contracted a new third party vendor in Seattle to coordinate the return to work process for Flight Attendant worker’s compensation claims, as well as light or alternate duty.  J. Donley Associates began administering Seattle-based worker’s compensation claims for our group on May 1, 2014.  This has generated a lot of questions.

Please be aware that you may be contacted within the first 48 hours of filing a claim.  

When representatives make contact, they are advising Flight Attendants they are calling to facilitate light duty and the return to work process.  Again, this has caused a lot of concern and questions; in some cases the Flight Attendant contacted has not even had a chance to seek medical treatment.   AFA leadership has brought forward concerns to inflight management regarding the timing of the communication and the premature discussion of alternate duty and return to work.

While worker’s compensation laws can be complicated and vary from state to state, it is important for Flight Attendants to know that there are contractual provisions that apply to all Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.  This is particularly true with respect to alternate duty, which is optional unless the leave exceeds 12 months.

A few important provisions to keep in mind if you are contacted

Section 16.K Alternate Duty 

  1. A Flight Attendant on worker’s compensations leave of absence will have the option of preforming alternate duty.
  2. The maximum number of days that a Flight Attendant may work alternate duty in a month will be determined by taking the average number of days that the Flight Attendant worked per month during the twelve (12) months preceding her/his injury.
  3. An alternate duty assignment may be made only when the Flight Attendant meets the skill level necessary for the position and her/his medical provider certifies that s/he is able to perform the job.
  4. Alternate duty may be performed in any domicile, co-terminal or the Flight Attendant’s registered commuter city, at her/his option.

Please refer to entire Section 16 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Sick Leave/On The Job Injury for additional information.

There may be benefits to performing alternate duty, especially if you are unable to use sick leave to remain insured on your leave.  However, we encourage Flight Attendants to reach out to their local AFA Worker’s Compensation/Benefit Committee member for information before making the decision.  You can find contact information at afaalaska.org/benefits.

In addition as a reminder if you are injured while working please keep in mind it is critical that you:

  • Seek medical attention immediately.  Time loss (or worker’s compensation pay) will not begin until you seek treatment for your injury.  In addition, in each state there are waiting periods for time loss compensation, which do not begin until medical attention is sought.  Remember that attendance points will apply under Section 32 until you seek treatment.
  • Call a supervisor or on-call supervisor via crew scheduling to obtain a worker’s compensation packet.  They can fax pertinent documentation to your medical facility, if needed.
  • When you are able, call your local AFA worker’s compensation/benefits committee member for assistance with the process.  You can find contact information at afaalaska.org/benefits.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt and MEC Benefits Chairperson Terry Taylor

MEC 5B Logo (Email)

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

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Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

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Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

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