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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – January 2022

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, January 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
  • Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Tuesday, January 25, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met 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), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Virginia Fritz (SFO), Brie Donoghue (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN).  Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Adam Clarey.  The committee met with Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling Denia Pisia, Manager of Crew Planning Mac Patterson, and other management representatives from Crew Scheduling and Crew Planning. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Snow Operations – Precancellation, reassignments, diversions, stranded and hotel/transportation concerns reported by Flight Attendants through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center.
  • Regional aircraft flying within the State of Alaska and the lower 48. How it affects our bases and block hours. 
  • Filing Activity Claim Forms within Rainmaker to assist Flight Attendants with pay related questions.   Scheduling representatives do not have access to individual Flight Attendant Rainmaker profiles and need to request screenshots when assisting with pay.  
  • Contactability requirements of Section 8.Q. Reviewed when Flight Attendants are required to be contactable and return calls to scheduling.  Also being available for ground time while on duty. 
  • El Paso flying locked in SEA base March through May 2022. 
  • Sick Leave and staffing, if sick leave is reduced could potentially add more line holders and reduce the overall reserve staffing system wide. 
  • Flight Attendants with ground time on more than 4 hours need to request day rooms.  Scheduling will wait to book the room until the Flight Attendant makes contact.  
  • Pyramiding Pay – premium, holiday, over duty, winter incentive

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Information Technology Improvements.  Including, but not limited to, Block2Block/Inflight Mobile, Flight Attendant website performance, JCTE performance, Open Time statistics and trade processing times, JCTE releases, and Crew Scheduling/Crew Admin items (non-JCTE).
  2. Reassignment Flow Chart.  Developing an easy-to-follow flow chart to help explain how reassignments work, similar to the pre-cancellation flow chart. 
  3. Scheduling Quality of Life Improvements.  Reviewing ways to improve Trip Length Distribution (TLD) and other quality of life options.  Working with management to develop a quality of life survey to determine Flight Attendant scheduling priorities. 
  4. Sunset of NAVBLUE ClassBid PBS.  Conducting PBS base sits to help support Flight Attendants in preparation for the cutover.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Scheduling Committee is your voice to management.  You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

AFA Alaska News in Review – January 28, 2022

In This Edition

  • MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson Interviews
  • 2022 College Scholarship Opportunities
  • Shared on Social

MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson Interviews

Originally posted January 28, 2022

As preparations for contract negotiations continue, our MEC is seeking candidates for the position of MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson.  The Mobilization Committee works to provide support to the Negotiating Committee through coordinated solidarity activity and two-way communication between the membership and the committee.  The MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Mobilization Committee across all six bases.  Interviews will be held during the April Regular MEC Meeting on April 13, 2022.  Interested candidates should complete the online expression of interest form and submit a resume by Tuesday, April 5 at 5 PM Pacific time.

Read More >

2022 College Scholarship Opportunities

Originally posted January 28, 2022

As an AFA and CWA Member, you and/or certain eligible dependents have the opportunities for at least three different scholarships.  An additional opportunity, the Union Plus Free College Benefit, offers the ability to earn a degree with no out of pocket expense for tuition, fees, and e-books.  Check out the links below for eligibility requirements, application information, and other important details for each opportunity.

Read More >

Shared on Social

Negotiating Committee Final Interviews

On Wednesday, January 26, our Master Executive Council (MEC) met to conduct final interviews with the candidates for the three Negotiating Committee Member positions who will represent us during upcoming contract negotiations with the Company. Our MEC would like to express their appreciation for all of the candidates who stepped forward and expressed a desire to serve our Flight Attendants. Given the importance of the decision, the MEC agreed to take additional time over the weekend to consider the candidates and will meet again on Tuesday, February 1 to continue with the selection process. 

2022 College Scholarship Opportunities

AFA International

  • As an AFA and CWA Member, you and/or certain eligible dependents have the opportunities for at least three different scholarships.
  • An additional opportunity, the Union Plus Free College Benefit, offers the ability to earn a degree with no out of pocket expense for tuition, fees, and e-books.
  • Check out the links below for eligibility requirements, application information, and other important details for each opportunity.

As an AFA and CWA Member, you and/or certain eligible dependents have the opportunities for at least three different scholarships, and the ability to earn a degree with no out of pocket expense for tuition, fees, and e-books.  The time for applying is now!

Brought to you by our Union, these benefits of union membership have become very popular with members.  Please see the respective links for detailed information, and good luck in obtaining financial assistance.

AFA Scholarship Fund

The Association of Flight Attendants Scholarship Fund is intended to provide financial assistance to dependents of our active members who will be attending a college or university.  The deadline for applications is April 10.  Details are available on the AFA International website at http://www.afacwa.org/scholarships.

CWA Joe Beirne Scholarship

The Joe Beirne Scholarship is offered by CWA. The deadline for applications is April 30.   Details on this scholarship are on the CWA website at http://www.cwa-union.org/pages/beirne.

Union Plus Scholarship Program

Union Plus provides a suite of scholarships, educational discounts, and loans available for union members.  You can find information at https://www.unionplus.org/college-education-financing.  One additional “click” brings up the scholarship applications that may be submitted online by the deadline of January 31.

Union Plus Free College Benefit

In addition, there is a free college benefit available through Union Plus for active and retired Members and their families with the opportunity to earn an associate degree completely online – for FREE.  Details and an application are online at https://www.unionplusfreecollege.org.  This benefit can save you thousands of dollars.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact your LEC Officers.

AFA Alaska News in Review – January 21, 2022

In This Edition

  • Grievance Committee Update – 3rd and 4th Quarters 2021
  • Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2022
  • Shared on Social

Grievance Committee Update – 3rd and 4th Quarters 2021

Originally posted January 20, 2022

Our Grievance Committee works to protect all Flight Attendants from arbitrary and unjust disciplinary action and to uphold our collective bargaining agreement.  This update provides a short summary of the committee’s work over the past two quarters.  Management has issued discipline lately for a variety of reasons.  Read on for more information about the reasons why management is disciplining and terminating Flight Attendants.  If you’ve faced a situation that you believe might be a contractual violation, please report the issue through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center. AFA Representatives review each report submitted and will follow up to help you determine options and a course of action.

Read More >

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2022

Originally posted January 21, 2022

Our AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met on Thursday, January 13 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to safety, health, and security in our workplace.  The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft.  Reporting safety concerns is more important than ever given the challenges we are currently facing as a work group.  Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Reports (ASAP), and fatigue reports can all be filed through Report It!  Please contact a member of your Local ASHSC if you need assistance.

Read More >

Shared on Social

You can now order FREE at-home COVID-19 test kits online at special.usps.com/testkits.

  • Limit of one order per residential address
  • One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
  • Orders will ship free starting in late January

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2022

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

  • Our AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met on Thursday, January 13 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to safety, health, and security in our workplace.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft.
  • Reporting safety concerns is more important than ever given the challenges we are currently facing as a work group.  Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Reports (ASAP), and fatigue reports can all be filed through Report It!  Please contact a member of your Local ASHSC if you need assistance.

On Thursday, January 13, our AFA Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace.  Representing you at the meeting were Debi Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Blair Kimball (PDX), Brad Young (SFO), Felicia Porter (LAX), and Eva Gatus (SAN).  Also present were MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple, MEC ASHSC Vice Chairperson—Air Quality Yvette Satterlee, and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Director of Inflight Strategy & Support Gloria Chow, Cabin Safety Manager Cari Smith-Allen, Manager of Inflight Policy & Procedure Joevanni Camacho, and Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder from management.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Request for increased sanitization of galley areas between flights.
  • Concerns with MedLink clearing passengers who appear to be ill.
  • Concerns about the perceived lack of sufficient signage in airports regarding mask requirements.
  • Overall inadequate communication of mask requirements to passengers.
  • Concerns about perceived inadequate lighting outside of new ANC RT facility.
  • Concerns about connectivity with change in cell service provider for IMDs.
  • Ensuring we have adequate procedures when we do not have the ability to use B2B due to lack of connectivity.
  • Requested update to soft blocks on A321 to better protect the B F/A and reminder to CSAs to honor soft seat blocks when possible.
  • Request for brighter cabin lighting during compliance checks.
  • Ongoing lack of adequate trash stowage space.
  • Double vs. single chamber life vest and how to properly demo.
  • Airbus assist handle.
  • Making COVID testing more readily available.
  • “New” boarding positions and challenges with safety and compliance.
  • Closing the loop on disruptive passenger and yellow card events by taking company and FAA response and reporting it back to submitter.
  • Trend of catering provisioning the entire aircraft from the aft galley only.
  • Looking for improvements to the Report It! App.
  • Request to add “in an emergency leave everything” to safety demo announcement.
  • Need for better guidance in the FAM about when passenger tattoos and clothing should be considered inappropriate and how to handle.
  • Requests for improvements to onboard medical equipment, including adding a pulse oximeter, adding a glucometer, and improving sizing of the blood pressure cuff.
  • Request for management to provide additional clarification on policies related to lifting and stowing passenger carry-on bags.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Time in Motion Studies. Working with management and the AFA Inflight Service Committee to assess how long it takes to perform each F/A duty. For example, performing preflight checks or doing a full beverage service on a A320. It is our hope that this information will support changes like providing time for preflight checks prior to boarding and ensuring inflight service is not scheduled unless it can be consistently and safely accomplished on legs like SFO-PSP or ANC-BET.
  2. Improving the Uniform Boot Policy. Working with management and the AFA Uniform Committee to allow for a broader range of Arctic boots, to allow Arctic boots in Alaska any time there is snow or ice on the ground, and to allow boots outside of terminals and the aircraft anytime there is inclement weather (policy not yet in effect).
  3. COVID-19 Mitigations. The ASHSC stays up to date on the pandemic by reviewing CDC guidance, TSA orders, FAA recommendations etc.; working with the ASHSD (Air Safety Health & Security Department) at AFA International; and coordinating with AFA ASHSC’s at other airlines. This information is used to continually advocate for appropriate COVID-19 mitigations in our work environment.

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please help the committee to advocate for improvement and change by filing a report.  Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) reports, and fatigue reports can all be submitted using ReportIt!  If you’re not sure what type of report to file for a particular situation or need help, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of your Local ASHSC.

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local ASHSC is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the ASHSC page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, August 13, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), Diana Berni (PDX),  Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026

On Monday, August 10, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met remotely to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA pmAS), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), Kanani Vallot (SAN), and Matt […]

787-9 Inflight Service Grievance: Protecting Our Contract and Standards

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants For decades, Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants have defined the Spirit of Aloha. We take pride in delivering world-class service, but management’s current Boeing 787-9 service model is threatening that legacy. It isn’t just inefficient—it’s an unsustainable pace that undermines the quality our passengers expect and the professional […]

Pre-Merger Alaska Reserve Webinar Video and Q&A Recap – August 6, 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Thank you to everyone who joined our first pre-merger Alaska Reserve Webinar! We created this interactive session to share practical contract tips and help you feel more confident about reserve life. You can now watch the recording on our YouTube channel using the link below. Please note that […]

Wrapping Up Membership Engagement Focus Month: Stronger Together

July was a remarkable month for our Membership Engagement Committee. We set out with a clear purpose: to bring our Flight Attendant community closer together, share valuable resources, and build authentic connections throughout our system. Over the past four weeks, we explored what it means to be engaged in our AFA family. We kicked things […]

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