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Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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Violation of CBA §12.C.2-3 [Exchange of Sequences: Trading Procedures]

Late this afternoon AFA was made aware of yet another contractual violation that will occur over the next few days in regards to out of domicile pick ups, trades, drops, giveaways. We also have additional information to share with you about trading Recurrent Training dates.

Currently, AFA and management agree to the following posted schedule:

Posting of Trips
All bases: 14th @ 2000 Pacific Time (PT)

FA-to-FA trading

  • SAN – 15th @ 0900 PT
  • PDX – 15th @ 1000 PT
  • ANC – 15th @ 1100 PT (1000 AKT)
  • LAX – 15th @ 1200 PT
  • SEA – 15th @ 1300 PT

Open Time trading

  • SAN – 16th @ 0900 PT
  • PDX – 16th @ 1000 PT
  • ANC – 16th @ 1100 PT (1000 AKT)
  • LAX – 16th @ 1200 PT
  • SEA – 17th @ 0900 PT

Recurrent Training trading

All bases 18th @ 0900 PT (0800 AKT)

Out of domicile FA to FA & OT

18th @ 0900 PT (0800 AKT)

However, Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) was programed incorrectly, and beginning today the following schedule will occur:

Posting of Trips

February 14th – Already began earlier (prior to 8pm PT) for all bases.

FA-to-FA trading

Same as current schedule in “FA-to-FA trading” above.

Open Time trading

Same as current schedule in “Open Time trading” above.

Recurrent Training trading

Recurrent Training trading will start at the agreed-upon time on the 18th at 0900 PT (0800 AKT). Open Recurrent Training slots are already visible in JCA (the graduation cap icon), but you will not be able to trade into them until the 18th at 0900 PT (0800 AKT).

Out of domicile FA-to-FA

Out of domicile Flight Attendant-to-Flight Attendant pick-ups, trades and giveaways will start on February 15th for all bases at the respective start time for Flight Attendant trades in each domicile.

Example 1: All F/As regardless of where they are based may pick up out of SAN on the 15th starting at 0900 PT.

Example 2: All F/As may pick up out of SEA on the 15th starting at 1300 PT.

Out of domicile OT

Out of domicile Open Time pick-ups, trades and drops will start when Open Time opens for the domicile in which the sequence operates.

Example: A SEAFA picked up a SAN OOD sequence on the 15th at 0900 PT. S/he must wait until the 16th at 0900 PT to trade that sequence with SAN Open Time.

In our continuing effort to defend our contract, AFA has filed Grievance 36-99-2-12-17 Violation §12.C.2-3 Trades, Pick-Ups, Drops and Give-Aways on Incorrect Dates.

Reminder: Change to Trading Timeline in March for April Schedules

Effective next bid month (March 2017), both Open Time and Flight Attendant-to-Flight Attendant trading begins on the 15th of the month.

Read more >

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee; MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

2017.02.14 Grievance 36-99-2-12-17 Violation §12.C.2-3 Trades, Pick-Ups, Drops and Give-Aways on Incorrect Dates

White House Meeting with Airline and Airport Executives

Last Thursday’s White House Airline and Airport Executive Meeting was concerning as it relates to job security and safety regulations.
Specifically, President Trump said the following:

“I know you’re under pressure from a lot of foreign elements and foreign carriers. I’ve been hearing that a little bit. At the same time, we want to make life good for them also. They come with big investments — in many cases, those investments are made by their governments. But they are still big investments.”

“So we want to help you realize these goals by rolling back burdensome regulations.” 

 Full text of public remarks >

A follow up article in The Street stated:

Given that the U.S. already has “the safest aviation system in the world,” Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, doesn’t want to see it diminished.

“The flying public enjoys aviation regulations we fought to achieve,” Nelson said in an interview. Among them: rest requirements, no smoking or knives on planes, and crew training. “Each regulation includes careful review and input from all stakeholders,” she said.

Also, Nelson said, Trump’s statements “show a complete disregard for enforcing trade agreements or protecting and promoting U.S. jobs” that are endangered by the Middle East three and Norwegian Air International.

“President Trump can’t afford to get this wrong,” Nelson said.

Read more >

Sign the petition to Save U.S. Aviation Jobs now >

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee; and MEC Government Affairs Chairperson Krystle Berry

Reserve Contractual Violations in Jeppesen Crew Access

The cutover to Jeppesen Crew Access has not been very kind to Reserves

The Master Executive Council (MEC) is very frustrated that the cutover from Jeppesen Maestro/eMaestro to Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) has not been very kind to Reserves. Although self-assignment has finally been implemented after a long delay (the original estimate was by the end of 2nd quarter 2016), there are numerous other reserve-specific contractual violations due to JCA. For the life of a Reserve, it has been one step forward and at least two steps back.

Reserve contractual grievances recently filed

AFA has recently filed the following Reserve-specific contractual grievances on your behalf:

  • 36-99-2-43-16 Violation of CBA §11.H.8 Reserve Exchange of Days, Pick-ups and Trades (January 4, 2017)
  • 36-99-2-6-17 Violation of §11.E Low Time First Available (LTFA) Out of Order Assignments January 31 to February 2, 2017 (February 10, 2017)
  • 36-99-2-7-17 Violation of §11.E Low Time First Available (LTFA) Out of Order Assignments Post Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) Cutover (February 10, 2017)
  • 36-99-2-10-17 Violation of §11.F.15, §11.H.7 & §11.H.8 Failure to Provide Automated Ability for Reserve Flight Attendants to Self-assign and Trade APSB (February 10, 2017)

Reserve-specific JCA updates

Management has been developing an interim reserve trade board to provide a platform for posting and trading reserve blocks/days until the function can be programmed in JCA. The MEC has been pushing management to get the interim trade board up and running as soon as possible. Based on recent progress, we are hopeful it will be available for use sometime this coming week.

Management has provided a disturbing estimate to AFA regarding implementation of the permanent reserve trade board. Right now management is saying April or so, which is completely unacceptable of course.

In slightly better news, management has informed the MEC that the ability to post and trade Airport Standby (APSB) may be functional by next week.

Scheduling notifications are active for Reserves

The MEC has received feedback that there may be confusion about whether or not the scheduling notifications are active for Reserves. They definitely are. That means if you accept the scheduling notification, Crew Scheduling has officially notified you of the scheduling event (e.g. reserve assignment, change to report time, et cetera). If you wish to decline the scheduling notification, you must click the little “X” in the corner of the notification window; then Crew Scheduling will contact you using the traditional methods (e.g. calling your number(s) on file, et cetera).

AFA will continue to push management to make the situation right

AFA will continue to advocate on behalf of the Reserves and push management to make the situation right as soon as possible. If the parties cannot reach an acceptable resolution to these violations, AFA is fully prepared to go to arbitration if necessary in order to defend our contract.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee; MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Jarod McNeill; MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

All Open Time Trips Withheld and Premium Pay Removed – Part 3

All trips in Open Time coded as premium and subsequently withheld

Yesterday morning, AFA became aware that all trips in Open Time across the entire system were coded with premium pay, then withheld and placed back in OT with the premium removed. AFA subsequently filed a grievance on the issue. Check out “All Open Time Trips Withheld and Premium Pay Removed” and “All Open Time Trips Withheld…Part 2” for more information.

System glitch was responsible for the “blanket premium”

It has now been confirmed that the “blanket premium” was the result of a glitch with Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA). A system patch is scheduled for early next week to permanently resolve the problem. Jeppesen has developed a short-term strategy for reversing blanket premium in case it happens again prior to the patch. However, AFA will take the same contractual position if the blanket premium recurs.

Management is resolved to not restore premium across the board but will pay premium for trips picked up while the system issue existed

Management is resolved to not restore premium across the board due to concerns over operational reliability but will pay premium for trips picked up while the system issue existed. Crew Scheduling management reportedly has now ensured that all who picked up during this error can see the premium reflected in their roster view.

Vice President of Inflight Services Andy Schneider sent the MEC the following statement:

At the present time I’ve committed to pay 1.5 to any FA who picked up a trip in Open Time at that rate while the system issue existed. However, I’m not planning to reinstate the rest of the trips that were in Open Time at the 1.5 rate, as those only exist due to a system issue and not as a result of any operational need. I also worry that putting the 1.5 back on those trips would cause additional operational hardships. Putting them back in at 1.5 would make us more vulnerable to staffing shortages as it is likely that many trips would be dropped in order to pick up at 1.5. While I understand AFA’s position on this issue and I will let the grievance work through the process.

Management has clarified that they are committed to pay premium on any trips that were picked up at double time (2.0x) as well.

Forward to arbitration…

At this point, it looks like the parties will be resolving this dispute via arbitration unless we are able to reach a settlement that the MEC believes is favorable for our members. Thank you in advance for your patience!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee; MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

2016 Performance Based Pay

Performance Based Pay is 8.73% of 2016 eligible earnings

Pursuant to CBA §29.A [Profit Sharing and Retirement: Performance Based Pay], all Flight Attendants will receive a Performance Based Pay (PBP) payout today on all eligible earnings described in the Alaska Airlines, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan. This year, line employees are receiving about a month’s pay or 8.73% of their 2016 eligible earnings. This is the eighth consecutive year Alaska has exceeded the 5% payout target, and PBP has averaged 9.14% over 5 years. Prior to 2009 Flight attendants participated in the Variable Pay Plan (VPP), which had a maximum payout of 7.0% of eligible earnings.

PBP eligible earnings

What are PBP eligible earnings? In general, it should be everything except for the prior year’s PBP payout, the Quarterly Productivity Premium (QPP), Operational Performance Rewards (OPR), per diem, expense reimbursements and imputed income.

Some of you have been doing your own calculations and questioning why your PBP payout is not consistent with eligible earnings. Well, the most probable reason is that the Company has likely been calculating PBP incorrectly for Flight Attendants since at least date of signing for this contract in December 2014. At a minimum, we believe that Sit Pay and Longevity Premium have not been included in the calculation for PBP 2014-2016.

PBP grievance

Consequently, AFA has filed Grievance 36-99-2-8-17 Violation §29.A Failure of Company to Include All Eligible Earnings in Calculation of Performance Based Pay (PBP). AFA believes the remedy would be a “make whole” recalculation and payout for the excluded eligible earnings. Management is currently in the early stages of research, which may take awhile due to the complexities of the issue. In the meantime, enjoy your 2016 PBP payout, and congratulations to all!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

2017.02.10 Grievance 36-99-2-8-17 Violation §29.A Failure of Company to Include All Eligible Earnings in Calculation of Performance Based Pay (PBP)

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