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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)

Jeppesen Crew Access Update – February 9, 2017

[Note: It has been an incredibly challenging and chaotic week for all AFA representatives since the Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) cutover. We have been working non-stop defending our contract and fielding scheduling, reserve, attendance points and pay issues–and more. Based on all that has happened, the MEC will be sending out several separate communications in a row over the next few days. We apologize in advance for flooding your inbox and/or social media newsfeeds, but we want you to have timely information.]

As AFA indicated in “AFA Requests Attendance Points Review” (February 7, 2017), representatives from the Master Executive Council (MEC) met with management yesterday morning (Wednesday, February 8, 2017) to address several topics of concern for AFA. The parties focused mostly on the continuing fallout from the Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) cutover as well as points accrued as a result of Winter Storm Maya and the inability to reach Crew Scheduling due to busy phone lines.

AFA and management agreed to a review process for accrual of points resulting from these circumstances, which AFA will detail in a separate communication to follow.

JCA cutover points review

Pursuant to the provisions of the Jeppesen Crew Access Trade Suspension Letter of Agreement (LOA), AFA and Management reviewed each situation on a case by case basis in which points were assessed for a Management Drop (MD) between January 31 and February 3, 2017, to determine if the event(s) leading to the Management Drop met the agreed-upon parameters. The LOA established points forgiveness if the parameters were met. Click here for more details >

AFA is pleased to announce that management agreed to forgive points for all MDs that were granted during that period. Management will be following up directly with the affected Flight Attendants to advise of the points adjustment.

Growing list of JCA issues

The parties reviewed a growing list of JCA issues that AFA is tracking, including recent feedback from the AFA Reserve Committee. AFA and management walked away from the productive meeting with ‘homework’ and an agreement to prioritize fixes to the system.

Help AFA in the effort to fix JCA

[Note: AFA previously published this information in “AFA’s Response to Jeppesen Crew Access Cutover” (February 7, 2017), but we errantly provided the wrong email address to communicate JCA suggestions/concerns to management (we accidentally switched the order of two letters). The correct address is CSS_SC@alaskaair.com, which has now also been corrected in the original post. We apologize for any confusion!]

How can you help fix JCA?

For troubleshooting problems:

  • Open a ticket with the IT Help Desk (877-238-1077 or desk@alaskaair.com) whenever you have a JCA problem.
  • If you emailed the IT Help Desk, then copy in (i.e. use the “cc:” line) your local Scheduling Committee rather than sending a separate email. If you called the IT Help Desk, then also email your local Scheduling Committee (ANC: scheduling@afaalaska.org, SEA: sea.scheduling@afaalaska.org, PDX: pdx.scheduling@afaalaska.org, LAX: lax.scheduling@afaalaska.org and SAN: san.scheduling@afaalaska.org) to advise them of the same problem for tracking purposes. Emails sent to these addresses are routed to the base-specific Scheduling Committee chairperson(s) and the respective LEC president.
  • Email MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Jarod McNeill (mcneill@afaalaska.org) for reserve-specific issues.

For suggestions/concerns only:

* This email address is for sharing JCA issues and suggestions. AFA is hoping responses to this address will improve our chances of action and future improvements. The JCA project group is compiling a “wish list” and keeping track of how many Flight Attendants send in the same suggestion. If there is an obvious error then allegedly it will be addressed “immediately.” If a suggestion/concern is being submitted multiple times by many different F/As, it may improve our chances for a feature upgrade in the nearer future.  Reserve-specific JCA issues

Reserve advertising and trading

Unfortunately, the ability to advertise (post) and trade reserve days/blocks has not been programmed in JCA. Additionally, the “Reserve Trade Board” in First Class cannot be viewed in the web version–only in the discontinued “classic” version that many can no longer access. AFA and management are aware of the issue, and management is actively working on an interim trade board and a longer-term fix. AFA has already filed a grievance on this issue and will continue to push management to restore the ability to post reserve blocks/days as soon as possible.

Self-assignment and trading of Airport Standby

The ability for automated self-assignment of airport standby has been “temporarily” suspended due to a programming error. However, eligible Reserves may call Crew Scheduling to self-assign APSB during the appropriate time period until the function has been restored. AFA will also be filing a separate grievance on this issue.

AFA believes that yesterday’s meeting allowed us to address serious concerns regarding the JCA cutover directly with executive Inflight management and the necessity for Inflight to advocate for swift action on high priority issues. This meeting also allowed AFA and management to establish expectations regarding communication on a go-forward basis that ensures issues are noted and addressed.

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; MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Jarod McNeill; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

All Open Time Trips Withheld and Premium Pay Removed – Part 2

All trips in Open Time coded as premium and subsequently withheld

Earlier this 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” for more information.

AFA met with management this afternoon to discuss the contractual violations

Master Executive Council (MEC) representatives met with management at 3pm PT today to discuss the situation. AFA reiterated to management our expectation that the more than 400 Premium Open Time trips across all domiciles must be restored with their applicable premium in order to be in contractual compliance. AFA requested that any Open Time trips previously coded as premium that were subsequently picked up should be paid at premium. (Contractually this would not include Open Time trades or Reserve self-assignment.)

Management is currently declining to restore premium across the board

Management is currently declining to restore premium across the board at this time due to concerns over operational reliability. However, you may see some Premium Open Time out there due to staffing concerns. Management believes the “blanket premium” might be the result of a programming glitch with Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) because the exact same thing happened for the pilots’ Open Time trips. Management is currently researching the issue with Jeppesen and our internal Information Technology (IT) department.

Follow-up meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning

The parties agreed to a follow-up meeting tomorrow morning to discuss their findings and next steps. AFA will continue to defend our contract and advocate to management for them to do the right thing. We will provide another update following that meeting.

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

All Open Time Trips Withheld and Premium Pay Removed

All trips in Open Time coded as premium and then subsequently withheld

At approximately 9:15am Pacific Time this morning, AFA became aware that all trips in Open Time were coded with premium pay. MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones was notified shortly thereafter that all trips in Open Time were being pulled and recoded without the premium pay. That’s right—all trips in Open Time across the entire system were withheld and premium pay removed!

AFA has filed a grievance on the issue

AFA has already filed a grievance on the issue, and Master Executive Council (MEC) representatives have been in communication with management. Pursuant to clear contractual language in CBA §9.E [Premium Open Time] and §12.E [Open Time], AFA has informed management that the more than 400 Premium Open Time trips across all domiciles must be restored with their applicable premium in order to be in contractual compliance. Our understanding is that all trips were returned to Open Time without the associated premium by around 11am PT. AFA’s position is that premium must also be paid on any Open Time trips previously coded as premium that were or are subsequently picked up. (Contractually this would not not include Open Time trades or Reserve self-assignment.)

AFA and management have a follow-up meeting scheduled for later this afternoon

Management is currently considering AFA’s assertions, and we have a follow up meeting scheduled for later this afternoon. AFA will provide an update as soon as possible after the meeting concludes.

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

2017.02.09 Grievance 36-99-2-4-17 Violation §9.E. & §12.E Removing from Open Time Trips Posted with Premium Pay AMENDED 2nd

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 7 – September 2025

Our JNC made significant progress in shaping our JCBA, successfully reaching a Tentative Agreement on Section 13 – Uniforms. Key provisions include enhancements to uniform standards, ensuring protective measures such as no surnames on name tags from the Hawaiian CBA. While we continue discussions on various sections, including Air Safety Health and Security, Training, and Commuter Policy. We appreciate feedback from the 2207 Flight Attendants who participated in our recent Vacation Survey.

Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 23, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at Alaska Airlines Corporate Headquarters to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), […]

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the first group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that […]

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

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