[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:

• Email CSS_SC@alaskaair.com *

* 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