Alaska Airlines-Virgin America Merger Update: January 31, 2017
There have been concerns raised to your Master Executive Council (MEC) leadership about what exactly the acquisition of Virgin America by Alaska Air Group and the subsequent merger between Alaska Airlines and Virgin America will mean for the AFA Alaska contract. Specifically, the question on the minds of many: If the Virgin America In-flight Teammates (ITMs) ratify a second tentative agreement between the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) (the union representing the ITMs) and Alaska Airlines management, will our joint contract negotiations result in a deterioration of the “legacy Alaska” compensation and/or work rules? These concerns have been brought about by a recent communication from Alaska Airlines management to the Virgin America ITMs that hints an impending second tentative agreement (TA) and provides management’s perspective regarding the TA.
Be assured our bargaining objectives will not be negatively affected if the Virgin America (VX) ITMs have a contract, because the “floor” for our talks will be the AFA Alaska contract. In our preliminary discussions so far, Alaska Airlines management has indicated they want to simply assimilate the Virgin America ITMs into our contract with minimal or no changes. It is clear from executive management on down that they are not expecting to “negotiate” any changes to the AFA Alaska contract.
For example, check out the video of the Alaska and Virgin America Day One Town Hall in which MEC President Jeff Peterson asks Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden about expectations related to the merger for enriching the Alaska labor group contracts. The video can be accessed by going to “AS+VX Day 1 roundup: Photos, videos and celebration” on Alaskasworld.com (login required), scrolling down to “Employee and teammate town hall” and clicking on the link to the full version of the town hall. Jeff’s question is found between 51:15 and 52:00 and Brad’s answer is between 52:00 and 53:15.
In spite of this prevailing opinion amongst management, we have indicated there must be improvements for the Alaska Flight Attendants as well as for the Virgin America ITMs. The recent communication from Alaska Airlines management to the VX ITMs spoke of them getting the AFA Alaska pay and work rules, not lesser ones. Management also referred to our contract as “industry leading.”
Certainly, management recognizes there is no going backwards. We all want make this merger a success. Undermining the pay, protections and benefits in our contract would be a disastrous for the merger. Finally, all AFA Alaska and AFA Virgin America members in good standing (dues current) will get to vote on the joint contract, so we are going to move forward in solidarity to improve the legacy Alaska contract.
Beyond providing this information to our membership, it is important that AFA Alaska does not speculate any further on TWU VX’s ratification process and how it may affect the merger of our groups. The VX ITMs should have the space to take part in their democratic vote without influence or interference from anyone, including us. The MEC encourages the VX ITMs to talk to their TWU leadership for any specific concerns or questions regarding their contract negotiations.
Until the NMB makes the determination that AFA is the representing union for Virgin America, the MEC affirms the right of TWU VX to achieve a historic first contract. As a reminder, AFA filed for single carrier status with the NMB on January 5, 2017. AFA looks forward to representing the Virgin America ITMs in the near future!
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee
AFA Listening Tour: First Stop LAX
AFA Listening Tour – LAX
We are launching an AFA Listening Tour this winter and spring with Local, MEC and International Officers. We want to hear from you!
Our union is not an institution. It’s you and me and all of aviation’s first responders. To ensure our union is reflecting the needs and hopes of Flight Attendants today, these meetings seek to gather your questions, concerns and ideas.
Our first meeting is scheduled for February 16, 2017, in Los Angeles where we have Local Councils at Alaska, Compass, Hawaiian, and United. In addition to our International Officers, we’ll have Local and MEC Presidents from all four airlines to ensure we can address any issue. All Flight Attendants are welcome!
First Listening Tour Meeting: Los Angeles
February 16, 2017
11 am- 2 pm
Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
6101 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA, 90045
RSVP HERE >
AFA Officers Scheduled to Attend:
Timothy Green, AFA Alaska Council 18 President
Jeffrey Peterson, AFA Alaska MEC President
Brandon Stone, AFA Compass Council 84 President
Mike Nelson, AFA Compass MEC President
Melissa Hooper, AFA Hawaiian Council 47 President
Sharon Soper, AFA Hawaiian MEC President
Dante Harris, AFA United Council 12 President
Ken Diaz, AFA United MEC President
Sara Nelson, AFA International President
Debora Sutor, AFA International Vice President
Additional locations coming soon.
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee
Flight Attendant Check-In App and Elimination of Scanners Sideletter of Agreement
Collective Bargaining Agreement sections modified:
- 8.D. [Hours of Service/Check-In and Debrief];
- 24.L. [General and Miscellaneous/Company Provided Inflight Mobile Device (IMD)];
- 28.I. [Domiciles/Company Provided Commuters, Printers and Scanners at Domicile(s)];
- 32.C. [Attendance Policy/Attendance Policy Definitions]; and
- 32.E. [Attendance Policy/Control Procedure]
Your AFA Master Executive Council (MEC) and Alaska Airlines management entered into a side letter of agreement that requires Flight Attendants to check-in exclusively via the company-designated app on their IMD beginning no later than January 31, 2017.
>>> Click here to view the Flight Attendant Check-in App and Elimination of Scanner Sideletter of Agreement <<<
Why did the MEC agree to this? First, we are keeping pace with advancing technology and the overwhelming trend in our group away from utilizing the hard-wired scanners. Less than 7% of Flight Attendants check in via the scanners as of this writing. Secondly, we secured several improvements to our contract, including but not limited to the following:
- If a Flight Attendant unsuccessfully attempts to scan in while s/he is in the approved geographical area, s/he may call Crew Scheduling to be checked in; Crew Scheduling will report this as an “Inability to Remotely Scan In.” Only in the case of three or more instances of an Inability to Remotely Scan In within a bid month will such an event be considered a performance issue and handled under the Company’s progressive discipline policy. However, any instances of an Inability to Remotely Scan In that are due to circumstances beyond the Flight Attendant’s control (e.g., such as but not limited to a malfunctioning application or IMD, or atmospheric conditions causing interference with the IMD or GPS location function) will not be considered for the purpose of progressive discipline.
- Management will provide sufficient training for the use of the IMD and related Company-required applications.
- We created an Information Technology (IT) Review Process that provides Alternative Dispute Resolution committee members to review all claims brought forward by a Flight Attendant and allows for the possibility of compensation at one (1.0) TFP if the parties agree that IT support was provided by the Flight Attendant over and above reasonable maintenance.
This side letter establishes a significant improvement over the previous policy that did not allow Crew Scheduling to check-in Flight Attendants; now Flight Attendants who attempt to check in via the app may be checked in by calling Crew Scheduling if they are having trouble with the app, and s/he will be checked in with no questions asked.
Contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) president if you have any questions or concerns.
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
AFA and Alaska Airlines Management Settle Grievance No. 36-99-2-24-16 Suspension of Flight Attendant Trades and Denial of Related Contractual Provisions
[Note: This membership release is being re-issued in order to clarify the pay component of the Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) Reserve. You only receive triple pay if used; if you are not called, there is no pay. However, there is also no obligation to answer the phone if you are on the JCA Reserve list and you are called for an assignment. AFA apologizes for any confusion.]
The Master Executive Council (MEC) and Alaska Airlines management reached an acceptable settlement agreement with regard to Grievance No. 36-99-2-24-16 Suspension of Flight Attendant Trades and Denial of Related Contractual Provisions.
The parties have agreed to the following provisions in recognition of the challenges associated with having trip trading suspended for a prolonged period of time due to the Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) cutover and the impact to a Flight Attendant’s quality of life:
All Flight Attendants will receive a two (2) point credit to their Attendance Points balance.
These credits will be added to Flight Attendants’ Attendance Point balances effective January 31, 2017, for use on January 31, 2017. However the parties recognize there may an administrative lag in the points being reflected on a Flight Attendant’s Attendance Point balance. The two (2) point credit will be applied before any discipline is administered on or after January 31, 2017. Updated Attendance Point balances will be reflected as soon as administratively possible, but no later than March 1, 2017.
Examples:
Attendance Point balance of 2 points is reduced to 0
Attendance Point balance of 1 point is reduced to 0 with 1 bank point added
Attendance Point balance of 0 with 6 bank points will increase to 8 bank points
The parties also agreed to the following provisions to resolve attendance-related concerns during the JCA cutover:
Management Drops
Management drops will be granted without points for verified events if either of the following are true:
The event is found to be an unavoidable emergency.
The Flight Attendant made a reasonable attempt to trade away trip off of her/his line in advance if the event was anticipated.
Points Review Process
AFA and Management will review each situation on a case by case basis where points were assessed for a Management Drop between January 31 and February 3, 2017, and determine if the event(s) leading to the Management Drop met the parameters above.
Finally, the MEC and management agreed to the following provisions to improve operational reliability during the upcoming Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) cutover:
What: JCA Reserve
Compensation:
JCA Reserves will be compensated at:
A minimum of 8 TFP per day if used, or actual flying, whichever is greater, paid at 3X the trip rate.
A minimum of 8 TFP per day reserve premium if used, or actual flying, whichever is greater.
Timeframe: During the period from January 31, 2017, through February 3, 2017, Flight Attendants will have the ability to put themselves on JCA reserve.
Process to sign up:
Flight Attendants may sign up by sending an Outlook email to CrewSked.ReserveDesk@alaskaair.com no later than 11:59 PM PST on January 29th. This email address will be functional by 2 PM PST Thursday, January 26th.
The email must include the following:
Name
Arctic Number
Base
Seniority
The date(s) the Flight Attendant would like to be on JCA reserve. The date(s) may be from January 31, 2017 through February 3, 2017. For each of the day(s) the JCA Reserve will be on call from midnight to midnight (domicile time).
Co-terminal preference(s) (LAX only)
Preferences will be limited to:
No “A” position
No All-nighters
No Long Stage Length Duty Period (“4K”) sequences
Flight Attendants may remove themselves from the list up until assignment.
Process to award trips by Crew Scheduling:
Crew Scheduling will award in seniority order among the JCA Reserves. JCA Reserves may be utilized before or after AM, PM, ER Reserves at Crew Scheduling’s discretion.
Crew Scheduling can start contacting JCA Reserves at 8PM PST the day prior to the JCA Reserve going on call.
JCA Reserve will not receive a No Show if she/he does not answer.
If the JCA Reserve does not answer during the on-call period, she/he will be removed from the list and an email sent stating the removal from the list. No attendance points will be assessed.
The JCA Reserve may call back to be returned to the list.
As a result of reaching the preceding agreements, AFA has agreed to withdraw Grievance No. 36-99-2-24-16 Suspension of Flight Attendant Trades and Denial of Related Contractual Provisions.
AFA will continue to monitor the cutover to JCA, and your respective Local Executive Council (LEC) president will send out base-specific information to help address concerns during implementation of JCA.
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee; MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones
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