Latest News – Page 144

Recurrent Training 2020 – Part 3

January 24, 2020 21:00

The Master Executive Council (MEC) has collected the following information to help you navigate the pitfalls of this year’s Recurrent Training. See AFA Alaska’s “Recurrent Training” (January 16, 2020) and “Recurrent Training 2020 – Part 2” (January 23, 2020) for additional background and information.

General preparation

The Recurrent Training SharePoint Site has a ton of useful information. How to get there? World of Inflight -> Training -> Recurrent Training -> Recurrent Training SharePoint Site. Click the “View Videos & Completion Packs” button for “must-have” drill resources such as videos and completion packs for Recurrent Training (RT) and Requalification Training (RQ). (There are now two completion packs for RT, one per day.) AFA is aware there have been unannounced changes to this site, but to the best of our knowledge, the information posted at the time of this writing is current.

2020 RT CBT must be completed a minimum of two hours prior to class time.

There is no late grace period. If you are late to RT, then you will be assessed one attendance point, sent home without pay and asked to reschedule your RT class.

Inflight Instructors are Flight Attendants

Flight Attendants in Recurrent Training are understandably frustrated. However, please keep in mind that Inflight Instructors are Flight Attendants, and they are feeling stressed about Recurrent Training as well. Please direct your frustration towards management and not your fellow Flight Attendants. For those of you sending feedback to management by email, please copy in your AFA Local Executive Council (LEC) leadership (e.g. if SEAFA, then copy in sea@afaalaska.org; if SFOFA, then copy in sfo@afaalaska.org). The MEC will announce a more comprehensive communication strategy following our meeting with management early next week.

Drills/Evaluations

As of this writing, RT 2020 includes only 45 minutes of hands-on practice for the doors and windows and no hand-on practice for emergency equipment. AFA has advocated to management that Flight Attendants need much more hands-on time for doors and windows and at least some hands-on time with the emergency equipment rather than none. AFA has received reports that access to or view of emergency equipment may not be available in at least some locations, so do not count on touching equipment prior to being evaluated.

CPR & AED operation, door and window operation, door evacuations and emergency equipment are all being evaluated as successful/unsuccessful (i.e. pass/fail) drills. You must receive 100% on each drill in order to be successful.

Instructors are no longer allowed to coach or provide any feedback between evaluations. If you are unsuccessful, ask to look at your completion pack to determine which area caused the failure. You may also ask to step out of the evaluation environment to review your completion pack or example videos. Finally, you may request a different Instructor prior to proceeding to a second attempt.

FAs will be given two opportunities to successfully pass each drill in class. A Flight Attendant will be allowed to complete class after the second unsuccessful attempt. However, s/he will be placed into disqualified (FNQ) status, which results in loss of Known Crewmember (KCM) privileges and the ability to jumpseat until resolved.

Special Track Training

Following a second unsuccessful attempt of a drill, a FA will be placed into a Special Track Training program. The FA will be removed from payroll and all scheduling obligations as a crewmember until remediation training is conducted and a retake of the drill is successfully completed. Only scheduling obligations impacted by the disqualified (FNQ) status will be removed, not the entire schedule. Flight Attendants will retain insurance during this process. S/he will be pay protected between the second and third attempt. Management will make every effort to conduct the remediation training and third attempt within seven days of RT. (A Flight Attendant also has seven days to re-take and successfully pass the written exam if s/he scores less than 80%, but this does not cause a FA to enter the Special Track Training.)

Flight Attendants will be paid 6 TFP for each day of additional training or testing, and travel pay will apply for required out of domicile training as applicable. Be aware there is a contractual limitation regarding the number of hours and time of day that training may be conducted pursuant to §30.A.2: “Training will be scheduled for no more than eight (8) hours and will occur between the hours of 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM local time.” It is management’s discretion regarding the training location, but AFA understands that management has a strong desire to hold remediation training and re-takes in Seattle.

The FA will be required to demonstrate proficiency through additional retention checks prior to the next annual RT class. In other words, you will probably be tested again on the same drill in the coming months. Another 6 TFP and travel pay will apply for required training out of domicile as applicable. The Special Track Training also includes some form of an operational observation, which is being called a “checkride.” However, this is not necessarily the traditional checkride one receives while on probation; the truth is that none of the details have been worked out yet.

The Special Track Training program specific to unsuccessful emergency equipment drills is still being developed, so AFA cannot can’t share those details with you because we don’t know what they will be. Much of this is still a moving target, but AFA is not supportive of the Special Track Program as it is currently constructed.

See “Drill Evaluation & Drill Attempt Process” in the RT 2020 FAQs document on the Recurrent Training SharePoint Site for more info.

Recurrent Training feels more like Recurrent Testing

The unfortunate reality is that as of now, Recurrent Training feels more like Recurrent Testing. AFA will continue to advocate to management to develop rational competency criteria, to provide adequate notice and the proper tools to be successful in RT. Meanwhile, Flight Attendants should probably take the initiative to actively perform their silent review using the updated verbatim commands, and to do this often.

Contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) leadership if you have any concerns or questions about Recurrent Training. The Inflight Training Committee may also be utilized as an additional AFA resource.

AFA is planning another update regarding Recurrent Training after our meeting with management next week.

In Solidarity,

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

Your MEC Inflight Training Committee – Megan Brown, Steve Vincent, Sam Clifton and Justin Wetherell

Recurrent Training 2020 – Part 2

January 23, 2020 20:00

The Recurrent Training (RT) program for 2020 was unveiled with many significant changes: two days rather than one, verbatim drills, instructor vs. evaluator, the list goes on. Unfortunately, what we didn’t expect was how disorganized and unprepared Inflight Training management would be in delivering this new program. In our last communication about Recurrent Training (January 16, 2020), AFA informed Flight Attendants of the approved exceptions to the “verbatim” evacuation commands when management was unwilling to communicate. Why is management reluctant to be forthright and honest? Management should be held to the same standards they expect us to uphold.

Communication from management to the Flight Attendants has been abysmal at best. The core value of “Deliver Performance” in the Company’s Service Framework says, “I’m accountable and responsible for the success of the operation.” This is followed by, “know and perform my role,” “execute operational timelines,” “use time and resources wisely” and “collaborate across roles to ensure the team’s success.” Management has missed the mark on each. The same value states, “I take initiative to provide accurate and timely information,” which management has failed to do since the chaos of RT 2020 started. Management can keep throwing apologies out, but there is no accountability and no repercussions for them despite the many consequences Flight Attendants have experienced as a result of management’s actions.

Did you know that Instructors have been required to go through up to three different “calibration trainings” due to changing expectations, unclear standards and poor communication? Training materials are constantly being updated for Flight Attendants and Instructors sometimes after class begins, which could mean the difference between a successful or unsuccessful drill. Training management has also been unclear in their communications with base leadership and scheduling leadership, which has set those leadership groups up for being unable to help Flight Attendants or answer their questions.

Failure rates for the drill evaluations in some locations have been as high as 45%. What is meant by a failure rate? You have two attempts at each evaluation to successfully complete the drill. If you do not pass those two attempts, then you are allowed to complete RT but immediately pulled off the line and your Known Crewmember (KCM) access and jumpseating privileges are revoked until you go through remediation training and successfully pass the drill. More information about remediation training and the associated “Special Track” training program will be shared in the next RT communication, which will be published by AFA tomorrow.

We cannot continue RT 2020 on this track. With change there is understandably some stress attached. However, the level of stress added to both Flight Attendants and Instructors is out of control, and something needs to be done. Vice President of Inflight Ron Calvin and his team need to come together and make things right. This was their mess to begin with, and they are not meeting the same standards of near perfection they require from our workgroup. Management can and must do better.

The MEC requested a meeting with management as soon as possible to discuss these failures, and we are hoping management will meet with us next Tuesday. We want management to acknowledge the poor development of RT 2020 drill evaluations, the abysmal execution of the program so far, and the lack of communication and lack of transparency that has caused so much angst amongst our group. What will be done to rectify this unacceptable situation?

To be clear, the MEC takes issue with management in this debacle. We fully support our Instructors and their desire to provide a neutral, fair and supportive environment at each training location.

Stay tuned for the next RT update tomorrow!

In Solidarity,

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

Recurrent Training 2020

January 16, 2020 22:15

The Master Executive Council (MEC) appreciates Inflight management addressing the rumor mill regarding Recurrent Training (RT). We are particularly thankful Inflight went on record to state the recent changes to RT in response to an audit by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were absolutely not due to inadequate Inflight Instructors. However, the MEC is extremely disappointed that management has not taken more ownership of the situation at a much earlier date.

We are further frustrated by the fact that management missed a key opportunity to potentially mitigate or perhaps even eliminate some of the changes. How so? Management failed to accept AFA recommendations during integration in 2018 to incorporate “approved alternative” evacuation command verbiage into the Flight Attendant Manual (FAM).

AFA officers and representatives, the Inflight Training Committee and Inflight Flight Attendant Instructors have spent much of the past few months asking tough questions of management regarding the RT debacle and advocating for the best interest of Flight Attendants. We’re certainly not finished, but this is what we can report so far:

RT Computer Based Training (CBT) “Homestudy”

Cornerstone is a joke and needed to be replaced yesterday. AFA will continue to pressure management to provide Flight Attendants with the tools to help make us successful. Cornerstone is not one of those tools.

RT Written Test

The written test is still 25 questions and requires 80% (20 or more correct) to pass. Although the test question database has been eliminated for RT 2020, AFA has confirmed the test is derived exclusively from the (as of this writing) 74 questions in the various knowledge checks of the Homestudy. Once you have completed the Homestudy, you can go back and directly access each knowledge check separately in order to review the questions and answers as many times as you would like.

Be aware the order of the questions and/or responses may be randomized, but the actual questions and the one correct answer for each respective question will remain the same. If the knowledge checks in the Homestudy happen to be updated (this happens occasionally if a question is corrected or if a policy or procedure changes), then the questions and answers may change slightly. In summary, the Homestudy knowledge check database that is current at the time of RT is the one used to construct the written test.

How to access the knowledge checks?

World of Inflight (login required) -> Training -> Recurrent Training -> Recurrent Training SharePoint Site -> “IMD Tutorial” or “Web Tutorial”

Evacuation Commands

Flight Attendants are expected to come to RT prepared to demonstrate proficiency by using verbatim evacuation commands. However, AFA can positively confirm all those meetings with management over the past few months about the commands paid off!

Flight Attendants will be deemed proficient (and therefore successful in completing their evacuation evaluation) if they inadvertently use any of the four approved exceptions: “the” may be added between “Help” and “people,” “airplane” or “aircraft” may be used instead of “plane” and “jump” may be said twice in a row. Although a Flight Attendant will be coached to use verbatim commands in the future, the following commands would be considered successful:

“Heads down, stay down” / “Open seatbelts — Open seatbelts” / “Stay back –Stay back” / “You two, stay at the bottom” / “Help (the) people off” / “Send them away from the plane (/ airplane / aircraft)” / “Leave everything” / “Exit here” / “Jump (Jump)”.

Again, you are expected to deliver the commands verbatim, but using the approved alternatives will still result in passing the evaluation. We hope this information will help to reduce the understandably high level of anxiety regarding evacuation drills in RT this year. Please keep in mind that Inflight Instructors are Flight Attendants, and they are feeling stressed about Recurrent Training as well.

In Solidarity,

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

Your MEC Inflight Training Committee – Megan Brown, Steve Vincent, Sam Clifton and Justin Wetherell

AFA Update – January 10, 2020

January 10, 2020 20:00

In This Edition

REMINDER: Know Your Dues Obligation
Recurrent Training
Two Computer Based Trainings (CBTs) are Due in January
Uniforms
Commitments to Healthier Habits
National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

REMINDER: Know Your Dues Obligation

Membership Committee

Each of us has an obligation to ensure that our AFA dues payments are current and up-to-date. Section 26 of our collective bargaining agreement outlines the requirement for each of us to pay dues as a condition of employment. If you receive a notice that dues are past due, it is important to remedy the past due amount immediately. Failure to remedy a past due amount may result in termination of employment.

How Do I Know If I Have a Past Due Amount?

If you have a past due amount, you will receive a statement from the AFA International Membership Services Department sent to your mailing address on file with AFA. The statement will show for which month(s) dues have not been paid.

What To Do If You Receive a Past Due Notice for AFA Dues

If you receive a statement indicating that you owe dues, the easiest way to make a payment is through the AFA Membership Services website. You can also contact the Membership Services Department to discuss options for a payment plan if you are unable to pay the owed amount immediately. More information about payment options can be found here.

Final Notices

A number of Flight Attendants throughout the system are significantly past due despite multiple communications regarding the dues obligation, and many attempts have been made by AFA representatives to contact and work with them. Consequently, AFA intends to send final notices to this group late next week.

If a Flight Attendant does not pay the amount owed within 15 calendar days of receiving final notice, AFA will then notify the Company. At that point, the Company will terminate employment in accordance with Section 26.D of our collective bargaining agreement.

Flight Attendants have had or will have several supplemental income opportunities to help meet their dues obligation: the “Block of 8” Productivity Premium Program (PPP) paid on December 20, the December PPP to be paid on January 17, Performance Based Pay (PBP) to be paid out soon. Vacation cash-out is always an option as a last resort. Membership Services also accepts credit cards for dues payments.

Questions?

If you have any questions about dues, please contact your Local Membership Committee or AFA International Membership Services at (800) 424-2401, ext. 707.

Recurrent Training

Inflight Training Committee

Management has made substantial changes to the Recurrent Training (RT) program for 2020 following the shutdown of RT in October 2019 in response to findings by the FAA. The Master Executive Council (MEC) has made it a priority to examine these changes closely and push back on any that appear to be more stringent than necessary to achieve regulatory compliance. As a result of those efforts, AFA secured a number of improvements behind the scenes that had a significantly positive effect for Flight Attendants impacted by the “new” RT in 2019. AFA is working hard to attain similar improvements to RT 2020 prior to classes beginning next week.

This week, management conducted a five-day “Train-the-Trainer” session in Seattle during which the Inflight Instructors (who are also Flight Attendants) and all of the members of the AFA Inflight Training Committee (who are also Inflight Instructors) received instruction from Inflight Training management on how to deliver the 2020 Recurrent Training (RT) program. Several MEC leaders also attended as observers. There were a number of spirited conversations during the week in which the Inflight Instructors, Inflight Training Committee members and the MEC observers provided feedback to management regarding the curriculum and evaluations. The group advocated for changes that protect the interests of Flight Attendants and Flight Attendant Instructors.

Management is currently in the process of incorporating that feedback and is planning a communication about Recurrent Training to the entire Flight Attendant group early next week. AFA will release a standalone RT update in response to management’s communication once it is published.

Two Computer Based Trainings (CBTs) are Due in January

Inflight Training Committee

As of today, 2041 Flight Attendants (about a third of all FAs) have not completed the Q4 2019 CBT that is now due on January 15, 2020. There is another CBT due on January 31, 2020: Annual Compliance Training (ACT) 2019. Flight Attendants not completing the required CBTs by the deadline will be issued progressive discipline.

If you are having issues completing the training, contact the IT Help Desk at: 877-238-1077 or email Inflight Training at inflight.training@alaskaair.com. Please keep track of any time you spend working with IT to resolve the issue and collect any documentation (including IT ticket information, screenshots of telephone call history with calls to IT, etc.). Once the issue is resolved, please submit this information through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center. These issues will be referred to the IT Review Process and handled through Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) meeting and may be eligible for additional pay.

Uniforms

Uniform Committee

Custom Uniforms pieces are now arriving from Unisync. It is important to try on your pieces as soon as they arrive and send any items back for return as soon as possible so that you can place an order for replacement pieces. Exchanges must first be processed as a return and then a new order submitted for the replacement item.

Returns

Uniform returns are processed through the Unisync website at http://aag.unisync.store (login required) or by calling Unisync customer service at (833) 525-2752. Detailed instructions on how to complete a return can be found on the Unisync website. After you have processed a return (either online or through customer service), you should receive an email notification when your allotment has been credited for the return. Once you receive this notification, you’ll be able to order replacement pieces using the credit from the return as well as any unused funds.

When you complete the return process, you’ll receive a return merchandise authorization (RMA) number. You may either 1) print the return request submission page or 2) indicate your RMA number along with your name and Peoplesoft number on Section A of the return slip (or on any piece of paper if you are missing the return slip); include the return authorization information with your shipment to ensure that your allotment is properly credited.

Per a letter of agreement with management, Flight Attendants are not responsible for the cost of uniform shipping, including returns. All shipments should include a pre-paid FedEx return label to the box. If you did not receive a pre-paid label, please contact Unisync customer service. Inflight management will assist Flight Attendants with uniform returns, provide appropriate packing supplies at no cost to the Flight Attendant and ship the return upon request. Returns must be postmarked no later than 90 days from receipt of the items.

New Uniform Wear Start Date

Management will soon be announcing the date for cutover to the new uniform. Please do not wear the new uniform or any pieces or accessories until the cutover date.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the uniform return or exchange process, please contact your Local Uniform Committee.

Commitments to Healthier Habits

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

The beginning of a new year is often marked with commitments to healthier habits. One health routine that you may want to consider is to examine your alcohol use annually, if not more frequently. To help you do this, the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program (FADAP) along with researchers and experts in the field of addiction developed an alcohol screening instrument just for flight attendants.

Should you answer yes to any of the below questions, please follow up with your Flight Attendant peer assistance program at your airline. Your conversations are confidential. You can reach your FADAP peer through the FADAP toll free help line at:

1-855-33FADAP or 1-855-333-2327

Flight Attendant Alcohol Use Screening

Routinely evaluate your alcohol use just as you would other health issues. Self-assess by asking yourself the following questions:

Have you shown up for a flight hung over?
Have you bid a certain position to have easy access to alcohol in the past year?
Have you drank past the cut off time in the past year?
Felt bad or guilty about your drinking in the past year?
Do you drink alcohol 4 or more times per week?
Have you had 5 or more drinks on a typical day when you are drinking?

Should you answer yes to any of the above questions, please follow up with a call to a Flight Attendant peer with the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program (FADAP). Your conversations are confidential.

National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Human Rights Committee

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. We can take a stand against human trafficking by recommitting ourselves to end it on our planes. As Flight Attendants and aviation’s first responders, we are uniquely positioned to identify human traffickers and assist their victims.

United Against Slavery: Take the Survey

AFA is proud to collaborate with United Against Slavery to collect comprehensive data among our members to help combat all forms of human trafficking. We know that Flight Attendants are a frontline identifiers against perpetrators using air transportation to relocate victims of sex and labor trafficking.

It is important to find out what is and isn’t working on the line while we work as an industry to help combat human trafficking. We want your voices to be heard, so we invite you to participate in the National Outreach Survey for Flight Attendants, between thought April 6, 2020. This online survey is optional and allows flexibility to accommodate your schedules for any member who chooses to participate. We have an opportunity to collect much needed data in the aviation sector to help combat human trafficking.

Click here to take the survey

AFA Update – December 20, 2019

December 20, 2019 12:00

In This Edition

MEC Committee Position Appointments

MEC Committee Position Appointments

Master Executive Council (MEC)

At last week’s regular MEC Meeting, the MEC conducted interviews for MEC Committee positions. We would like to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and a willingness to serve. After careful consideration and much deliberation, the six directly elected Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents have made the following appointments:

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee

Chairperson	Seth Heiple
Vice Chairperson – Air Quality	Yvette Satterlee
Vice Chairperson – Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP)	Bradley Young
ASAP Alternate Representative	Ronda Ruderman

Benefits Committee

Chairperson

Terry Taylor

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) /Professional Standards Committee

Chairperson	Elizabeth Dillon
Vice Chairperson	Jeanne McCleave

Grievance Committee

Chairperson	Stephanie Adams
Assistant	Bianca Dew
Payroll Representative	Kiara Jenkins

Government Affairs Committee

Chairperson	Krystle Berry
CWA Next Gen Representative	Martin Monteblanco

Hotel Committee

Chairperson	Laura Hinojosa
Vice Chairperson	Jodi Snow

Inflight Service Committee

Chairperson

Stephanie Garnett

Inflight Training Committee

Chairperson	Megan Brown
Committee Member	Steve Vincent
Committee Member	Samuel Clifton
Committee Member	Justin Wetherell

Reserve Committee

Chairperson	Julie Pinson
Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation	Jarod McNeill

Retirement Committee

Chairperson

Terry Taylor

Scheduling Committee

Chairperson	Jake Jones
Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction	Karen Ferrell
Vice Chairperson—Preferential Bidding System (PBS)	Steve Poynter
PBS Subcommittee Member (Alternate Vice Chairperson)	Adam Clarey
PBS Subcommittee Member	Sheri Rochel
PBS Subcommittee Member	Virginia Fritz

Uniform Committee

Chairperson

Todd Scarlett

All appointments are effective January 1, 2020. Terms of appointment coincide with those of the MEC Officers, concluding on December 31, 2022.

General preparation

Inflight Instructors are Flight Attendants

Drills/Evaluations

Special Track Training

Recurrent Training feels more like Recurrent Testing

RT Computer Based Training (CBT) “Homestudy”

RT Written Test

How to access the knowledge checks?

Evacuation Commands

In This Edition

REMINDER: Know Your Dues Obligation

How Do I Know If I Have a Past Due Amount?

What To Do If You Receive a Past Due Notice for AFA Dues

Final Notices

Questions?

Recurrent Training

Two Computer Based Trainings (CBTs) are Due in January

Uniforms

Returns

New Uniform Wear Start Date

Questions?

Commitments to Healthier Habits

Flight Attendant Alcohol Use Screening

National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

United Against Slavery: Take the Survey

In This Edition

MEC Committee Position Appointments

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee

Benefits Committee

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) /Professional Standards Committee

Grievance Committee

Government Affairs Committee

Hotel Committee

Inflight Service Committee

Inflight Training Committee

Reserve Committee

Retirement Committee

Scheduling Committee

Uniform Committee

Recent Posts

Local Councils

Master Executive Council

Negotiations

Contract

Committees

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