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[AS] Enacting §8.S [Natural Disasters…] Due to Hurricane Irma

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

Turning crews out of Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Havana (HAV) starting tomorrow

In anticipation of Hurricane Irma, Alaska Airlines management has made the decision to reposition crews out of Fort Lauderdale (FLL) tonight and to turn crews out of FLL and Havana (HAV) starting tomorrow. AFA and Alaska Airlines have agreed to enact the provision of §8.S [Natural Disasters…] in order to ensure crew safety. The provisions of §8.S remain in effect until such time as Alaska Airlines is able to resume normal operations to the affected stations. Based on the size of Irma, AFA is advocating for management to widen the scope of §8.S in the coming days if the latest forecast models hold. AFA has also requested that management keep the Inflight webpage (SSO login required) updated with the latest information regarding which stations have been affected by Hurricane Irma and are covered by the provisions of §8.S.

Irma Preparedness

AFA International has developed a Hurricane Irma preparedness page for those potentially affected by the storm.

Read more >

Hurricane Harvey and Houston (IAH)

The Master Executive Council (MEC) is pleased that management appears to be more proactive in seeking to utilize §8.S for Hurricane Irma than it was for Hurricane Harvey. Management never sought AFA’s approval to use §8.S in order to turn crews out of Houston (IAH) in advance of Harvey, which resulted in one Flight Attendant crew being stranded in IAH during the storm. Thankfully, management successfully worked with that crew over the next several days, and the crew was eventually evacuated without physical harm. AFA is hoping Hurricane Irma will be an opportunity for the Company to improve its response.

Hurricane Harvey resources for AFA members

The AFA International Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Department has developed an informational page with details on giving help, getting help and recovery resources related to Hurricane Harvey.

Read more >

AFA Disaster Relief Fund

The AFA Disaster Relief Fund provides a means for AFA members to assist other members and retirees who have suffered significant damage and/or relocation as a result of a disaster. Since it began in the fall of 2001, the AFA Disaster Relief Fund has provided support in the aftermath of many large-scale disasters including the September 11th terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and other natural and/or man-made disasters.

AFA encourages members to donate now. Be assured 100% of your contribution will go directly to impacted Flight Attendants in the form of cash assistance.

Read more >

If you have any concerns, questions or need assistance, contact the appropriate AFA resources (e.g. EAP, local officers or Scheduling or Reserve Committee members).

In Solidarity,

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

[AS] Open Time Update – September 2, 2017

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

What is “Back to Book”?

The “Back to Book” Open Time system is the trading system outlined in the 2006-2010 Flight Attendant Agreement as modified by the 2011 AFA Arbitration Award No. 6-99-2-18-11 “Withholding Open Time.” This modified trading system was in place 2012-2015. The contractual language associated with this system is found in CBA §12.F [Exchange of Sequences – Back to Book: Open Time Trading]. The “Back to Book” Section 12 Exchange of Sequences follows the regular Section 12 and precedes Section 13 Uniforms in your contract. The arbitration award follows LOA 6 Contract Implementation Schedule and precedes the index.

What is the Status of “Back to Book”?

It has been three months since our last Open Time update (“Open Time Negotiations Update – June 1, 2017”), so it is not a surprise that Flight Attendants have been inquiring about the “Back to Book” Open Time system. As indicated in the last update, AFA filed a grievance earlier in the summer disputing management’s failure to to provide sufficient IT resources for reverting Back to Book. That grievance was subsequently sustained by management, which essentially means management agrees with AFA’s position. Management further agreed to remedy the situation by contracting with Jeppesen to program Back to Book.

It is ridiculous that a whole year has passed after ending the Open Time Trial, yet very little progress has been made toward actually programming Back to Book into the new Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) crew tracking and trip trading system. Management has been citing “IT limitations” as the reason why reverting Back to Book is still so delayed. (“If reverting, the timeline for rolling back will be dictated by IT limitations” per §12.F.9.a [Exchange of Sequences: Open Time Trial]). Management and Jeppesen claim that all available resources have been allocated to implementation of JCA.

Representatives from the Master Executive Council (MEC) and Alaska Airlines management have met several times recently to have frank discussions about the entire situation. Some of these meetings have included representatives from Jeppesen. The MEC’s goal in these meetings has been to achieve implementation guarantees for programming the new Open Time Tentative Agreement (TA) reached back in May and/or programming Back to Book. As you may recall, the MEC unanimously voted against releasing the Open Time TA due to a lack of implementation guarantees. Unfortunately, the meetings have been depressing.

Management is not inclined to agree to implementation guarantees without confident estimates about when the work would be completed. Further complicating the programming of a replacement Open Time system is the reality that Jeppesen and Alaska management have limited resources. Those resources are stretched even more thinly due to merger-related projects that have aggressive deadlines and several key staffing changes at Jeppesen and in Inflight management.

Finally, the eMaestro system is totally and irrevocably gone. Jeppesen cannot simply ‘flip a switch’ and resurrect eMaestro and/or Back to Book Open Time. Going Back to Book requires Jeppesen to completely replicate the Back to Book trading rules in JCA. Even if implementation were seamless, the “new” Back to Book system would have a significantly different look and feel than in eMaestro.

The very preliminary estimate for programming Back to Book is late summer next year. Based on our recent and ongoing experience with JCA implementation, let’s just say that the MEC does not have confidence that Back to Book—or a completely new Open Time system—will be implemented on time or without glitches.

AFA and management are meeting again early next week to discuss our options. The MEC will provide another update after that meeting. After all the disappointments with extremely delayed implementation timelines and a disastrously executed transition to the new trip trading system, you deserve better!

In Solidarity,

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

[AS] Introducing the Next MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

At our monthly meeting held yesterday, your Master Executive Council (MEC) interviewed candidates for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee chairperson. Former Chairperson Zac Weeks recently vacated that position to successfully pursue an opportunity in Alaska Airlines management as the duty manager of Inflight Crew Scheduling. Two candidates interviewed for the position (one Seattle-based Flight Attendant and one Los Angeles-based Flight Attendant). The MEC thanks the candidates for stepping forward in the spirit of Union service. The MEC has appointed Jake Jones as MEC Scheduling Committee chairperson.

About Jake

Jake Jones is currently serving a third term as vice president of AFA-CWA Council 19 Seattle. Jake is a Seattle-based Flight Attendant and joined the company in 2006.  He holds an AA in Business Administration and Management. Prior to working for Alaska Airlines, he was in the banking industry for seven years.

In Solidarity,

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

[AS] MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Interviews

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

Background

The MEC Chairperson of the Scheduling Committee is responsible for coordinating the activities of the committee at the airline level. The Chairperson works closely with each Local Committee Chairperson to gather feedback and input and represents the positions of the Committee and MEC in interactions with management.

Additional Information from the MEC Policy Manual

Scheduling Committee

1.  SCOPE

a.  The Scheduling Committee is responsible for the following:

(i)  The committee will recommend and assist in constructing pairings and building sequences of trips and days off into monthly lines of time.

(ii)  The committee will work to monitor company compliance with all scheduling-related provisions of the collective bargaining agreement and take necessary steps to correct violations

2.  POLICY/RESPONSIBILITIES

a.  The MEC Scheduling Committee shall consist of the MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson, the MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS, the MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction, and the Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson from each council.

b.  The MEC Chairperson shall:

(i)  Provide clear direction and coordination to Local Scheduling Committees and each MEC Subcommittee

(ii)  Communicate with the Local Scheduling Committee Chairpersons, LEC Presidents, and MEC Officers on a daily basis on his/her activities and matters requiring attention, follow up, or escalation

(iii)  Compose informational and educational articles of interest to the membership and provide them to the MEC Communications Chairperson to be included in MEC communications and posted to the MEC website

c.  Flight Attendant Schedules

(i)  Discuss scheduling problems with the company and will report such problems and resultant discussions to the MEC

(ii)  Maintain written records of agreed upon standards and procedures and shall report to the MEC any proposed or imposed modifications to such practices.

(iii)  Monitor the company throughout the scheduling process for any perceived or potential violations of the Agreement and shall identify these violations to the LEC President of the domicile affected.

(iv)  Comply at all times with the applicable provisions of the current collective bargaining agreement.

d.  Staffing

(i)  Monitor monthly staffing reports and make recommendations to the company for appropriate resolution.

(ii)  Monitor placement of flying and provide the MEC with evaluations of such placement and its justification.

(iii)  Compile feedback and relay it to the MEC

(iv)  Use domicile feedback to work with the company in resolving the Union’s problems and concerns.

(v)  Monitor staffing statistics and, where appropriate, establish trends of chronic understaffing for current and future use.  Use all information available to eliminate understaffing.

e.  Placement of Flying

(i)  The MEC Scheduling Committee in conjunction with the MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson will review placement of flying with the intent of resolving the problems that generate such placement.

(ii)  Should specific causes be established, the MEC Scheduling Committee shall work with the company to resolve the Union’s concerns provided that such action does not otherwise negatively impact the Flight Attendants, i.e. surplus, or excessively low block time.

…

5.  SCHEDULING REVIEW BOARD

a.  The Scheduling Review Board (“Board”) shall consist of the MEC President (or designee), MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson (or designee with the concurrence of the MEC), and Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling (or designee). Additional guests may be invited and participate as needed.

b.  The Board shall meet at least every two weeks to address and resolve disagreements between the union and the company pertaining to any subject relating to Flight Attendant schedules or actions of the Inflight Crew Scheduling Department.

c.  The Board may meet either in person at a mutually agreed location, by telephone conference call, or by other electronic means of communication.

d.  Items for inclusion in the agenda shall be provided to all members of the Board at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the scheduled meeting to allow time for proper research and preparation. Items submitted within 24 hours of the scheduled meeting will be placed on the agenda of the following meeting, except by mutual agreement.

e.  Any item that cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the members of the Board will be forwarded to the MEC Grievance Committee for escalation

Qualifications

  • Robust working knowledge of scheduling provisions of the Flight Attendant collective bargaining agreement.
  • Knowledge of CFRs and other regulations pertaining to flight time, duty time, and crew rest guidelines.
  • Ability to maintain office hours in Seattle during the business week and attend meetings as required.
  • Strong computer skills. Excellent working knowledge of Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA, NavBlue PBS, Google email, and Microsoft Office.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external e-mail, prepare reports, and plan meetings agendas and take minutes.
  • Ability to meet deadlines, delegate responsibilities, and follow up on assigned tasks.

Duties

  • Provide assistance and guidance to Local Scheduling Committee Chairpersons in handling scheduling-related concerns and issues. Assist in resolution of issues as needed.
  • Attend meetings with management and represent the AFA position on scheduling-related matters.
  • Participate in the Scheduling Review Board process.
  • Oversee the activities of the PBS and Pairing Construction subcommittees.
  • Schedule, plan, and conduct monthly meetings of the committee and other meetings and conference calls as needed.
  • Coordinate with the MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson to discuss issues that affect both reserve and lineholding Flight Attendants.
  • Correspond with the Local Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and MEC regularly to provide status updates. Prepare and send a monthly committee report to the MEC.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

  • This position is budgeted for 100 TFP of Flight Pay Loss (FPL) per month in accordance with section 27.P.2.b of the CBA, paid with a 5% override at “A” pay.
  • Time commitment is approximately four days per week in Seattle with additional work completed remotely or in the office as necessary. No relocation or accommodation expense is provided for this position.
  • The MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson does not bid a line.

Working Relationships

With The Scheduling Committee

Constant interaction with the Local Scheduling Service Committee Chairpersons. Frequent interaction with Local Scheduling Committee Members.

With The Master Executive Council

This position reports to the Master Executive Council. The MEC executive sponsor for the committee is the MEC President.

With Alaska Airlines Management

Constant interaction with inflight management, particularly the Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling (Denia Pisia), Director of Crew Planning & Resource Allocation (Chad Koehnke), Inflight Crew Planners (Kelly Yeager and Sabrina Blevins)

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

  • The MEC will hold interviews during the August MEC meeting on Tuesday, August 29.
  • Interviews will be at the AFA Alaska MEC office in Seattle.
  • Submit a declaration of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou at linda.christou@afaalaska.org no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on Friday, August 18, 2017. Linda will be able to provide additional information regarding transportation and booking of flights if necessary.

 

In Solidarity,

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

[AS] MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Vacancy

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

The Master Executive Council (MEC) announces a vacancy for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee chairperson. On Thursday afternoon, Zac Weeks offered and the MEC accepted his resignation as MEC Scheduling Committee chairperson, effective immediately. The MEC wishes Zac the best in his future endeavors and thanks him for his service to AFA.

The MEC is currently determining a succession plan for the position, and we will provide an update once a decision has been made. In the meantime, continue to utilize your local Scheduling Committee members or Local Executive Council officers for scheduling-related issues.

In Solidarity,

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

Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Management has recently informed our Master Executive Council (MEC) that they are distributing new Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) to Flight Attendants with devices nearing the end of their lifecycle. The specific schedule for this distribution will be communicated by management separately. Flight Attendants with the oldest devices […]

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

On Thursday, September 18, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing efforts to represent our Flight Attendants and advocate for improvements in our workplace. Although our Inflight Service Committee has now merged, meetings with management continue to focus primarily on the Alaska or Hawaiian brands individually. This particular meeting was centered […]

Vacation Survey Closing Soon

There’s just 1 DAY LEFT to complete the crucial vacation survey that will help shape future provisions—your insights are essential for advocating the best outcomes for all Flight Attendants. The survey is currently open and will remain available until Wednesday, September 24 at 12 PM PT.

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