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[L-VX] MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson – Legacy Virgin America Interviews

This message is for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants

Background

The MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson – Legacy Virgin America is responsible for coordinating the activities of the committee specific to all Legacy Virgin America Flight Attendants. 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.

This is a temporary position that will remain in place through full implementation of the JCBA.

Qualifications

  • Current Legacy Virgin America Flight Attendant
  • Robust working knowledge of scheduling provisions of the Legacy Virgin America work rules and 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 FLICA, PBS, Google email, and Microsoft Office. Knowledge of osTicket helpful.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external e-mail, prepare reports, and plan meeting agendas and take minutes.
  • Ability to meet deadlines, take ownership of issues, delegate responsibilities, and follow up on assigned tasks.

Duties

  • Provide assistance in handling L-VX 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.
  • Participate in PBS bid awards and the Pairing Construction process.
  • Assist in planning of and participate in 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 line-holding L-VX Flight Attendants.
  • Correspond with the Local Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and the MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson regularly to provide status updates. Prepare and send a monthly report to the MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

  • This position is budgeted for 66.4 block hours (equivalent of 75 TFP) of Flight Pay Loss (FPL) per month, paid with a 5% override at “A” pay.
  • Time commitment is approximately two days per week in Seattle with additional work completed remotely or in the office as necessary.
  • Hotel accommodation expense (one night per week) will be provided for this position.
  • This position does not bid a line but may pick up flying as responsibilities permit.

Term of Appointment

This is a temporary position that will begin work on June 18, 2018 and will remain in position until at least 90 days after full JCBA implementation (currently scheduled for January 31, 2019).

Working Relationships

With The Scheduling Committee

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

With The Master Executive Council

This position reports to the Master Executive Council through the MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson. 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), Crew Scheduling Duty Managers, and Manager of Crew Planning (Cecilia Mui).

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

  • Initial interviews will be conducted on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.
  • Interviews will be at the AFA Alaska MEC office in Seattle. Positive space travel to and from the interview will be available.
  • 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 Tuesday, May 29, 2018. 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

New Pay Rates and Retro Pay

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is providing this information to you in order to help clear up confusion about the new Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) pay rates and retro pay. This communication is a supplement to the Updated JCBA Implementation Quick Reference Guide.

L-VX Pay Rates and Retro Pay

L-VX Flight Attendants have now received three checks with the new pay rates: One on 4/30 for the first two weeks of April (smaller check), one on 5/15 for the last two weeks of April (larger check) and a retro check on 5/15 for January through March retro pay.

L-AS Pay Rates and Retro Pay

L-AS FAs will receive two checks on 5/18 with the new pay rates: One for April flying and one for January through March retro pay. For the approximately 1700 Flight Attendants who have an adjusted Occupational Seniority date between 1/1 and 5/31, you will also receive another retro check no later than 6/29 for the appropriate pay due to the new Occupational Seniority date. Considering that management had maintained throughout the roadshows that all retro pay would be paid out much earlier, AFA is extremely disappointed that management now indicates it needs until June to pay out for the adjusted Occupational Seniority dates.

Example:

Original Occupational Seniority date: 4/1/2011

Adjusted Occupational Seniority date (first day of training): 2/14/2011

FA was paid at the prior Step 6 rate of $ 37.18 for checks issued in January, February, March, April and on the May 5th advance check, if applicable.

FA will be paid for January through March for the difference between the prior Step 6 rate of $37.18 and the new Year 7 (formerly known as Step 6) rate of $38.85 on a 5/18 retro check.

FA will be paid for April at the new Year 8 (formerly known as Step 7) rate of $40.11 on the 5/18 paycheck.

FA will be paid for May at the Year 8 rate of $40.11 on the 6/20 paycheck (and the 6/5 advance paycheck, if appropriate).

FA will be paid for 2/14 – 3/31 for the difference between the new Year 7 rate of $38.85 and the new Year 8 rate of $40.11 on an additional retro check no later than 6/29.

Advance (5thof the Month) Paychecks

The advance paychecks on 4/5 and 5/5 were paid at the old pay rate, which needs to be corrected by Payroll. The 4/5 paychecks will be reconciled at the new rate on the 5/18 paychecks, and the 5/5 paychecks will be reconciled at the new rate on the 6/20 paychecks. All other advance paychecks from this year will be reconciled on the 5/18 retro check.

Longevity Premium

There has also been confusion about the Longevity Premium. There has been no change to the occupational longevity required to qualify for Longevity Premium. A Flight Attendant must achieve (i.e. have completed) 16 years of occupational service in order to qualify for the initial Longevity Premium of $1.00 per TFP. Stated another way, the initial Longevity Premium goes into effect one year after s/he reaches the top out rate of Year 16 (formerly known as Step 15). A Flight Attendant will move to the next step of Longevity Premium of $1.50 once s/he has achieved (i.e. completed) 20 years of occupational service and s/he will move to the next step of Longevity Premium of $2.00 once s/he has achieved (i.e. completed) 25 years of occupational service, et cetera. If your qualification for Longevity Premium has been affected by the adjustment to your Occupational Seniority date, you will see that new premium reflected on the “adjusted seniority” retro check no later than 6/29.

Contact the JNC or one of your local officers if you have any questions.

In Solidarity,

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

[L-AS] JCTE Contractual Waivers Not Installed

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

Yesterday, AFA released a communication regarding JCTE contractual 48/7 and out of base waivers that were supposed to be installed in an update to JCTE last night.  Early this morning, we were advised by management that the update to the JCTE software was not successful and these waivers have not been installed.  As of now, management has been unable to provide us with a timeframe as to when we can expect the software to be successfully updated.

Please be mindful when grabbing or trading trips that JCTE continues to lack these waiver notifications. If you have any questions about JCTE contractual waivers, please contact your Local Scheduling Committee.

In Solidarity,

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

[L-AS] Transition Training Bidding Re-Open

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

AFA has been advised of a processing error involving the time that Transition Training bidding was closed within the bidding system.  According to the Airbus Transition Training Letter of Agreement, bidding was supposed to close on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 5 PM Pacific time.  In actuality, bidding closed at 9 AM Pacific time.

As a result of this error, Transition Training bidding has been reopened to allow additional time to enter and modify bids.  Bidding will now close tomorrow, May 9, 2018, at 5 PM Pacific time.  If you have already submitted a Transition Training bid, your original bid has been saved and will remain on file.  If you submit a new bid at this point in time, any new bid will override your previously submitted bid.

As a reminder, it is important that you bid enough dates for Transition Training to ensure that you are awarded one of your preferred slots.  If you do not bid or do not bid enough dates, you will be assigned a Transition Training date by Crew Planning.

In Solidarity,

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

[L-AS] JCTE Contractual 48/7 and Out of Base Waivers

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

AFA was advised that JCTE will be receiving an update on the evening of May 8, 2018, that will include the contractual 48/7 waiver (Section 8.L) and out of base warnings that previously existed in eMaestro.  It is important to remember when picking up or trading, you may be required to waive or accept provisions.  If you waive a provision when processing a direct trade, you will also be waiving the contractual protections for the Flight Attendant receiving the trip.   Prior to processing a trade, it is important that you discuss any contractual waivers with the Flight Attendant who will be receiving the trip and determine whether s/he agrees to any contractual waivers.  If you choose to accept the waivers when processing a trade, this acceptance will be noted in the system and pay protection and/or rest requirements may not apply.  Refer to Section 8.N of the CBA for waiver of contractual rest.

If you have any questions about JCTE contractual waivers, please contact your Local Scheduling Committee.

In Solidarity,

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

Election Notice: Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Officer Elections

The term of office for our current Alaska + Hawaiian Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers will conclude on December 31, 2025. The voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will elect new MEC Officers at the November Regular MEC meeting. This communication serves as notice of the election in accordance with the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual. […]

SEA Domicile Negotiations – September 2025 Update #2

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants Negotiations Update Our SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee met with the company on September 11 to review their response to our September 5 proposal.  We feel that it is important to acknowledge the challenges within our company as Alaska management is struggling to understand our Collective Bargaining Agreement […]

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, September 11, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Conner Gallager (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Rebecca Garcia (SAN). Also present […]

Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month

September 15 marks the start of Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month in the United States, a vibrant celebration dedicated to honoring the rich contributions and diverse cultures of Hispanic-Latinx Americans. Spanning a full month, this observance—also known as National Hispanic Heritage Month—has its roots in Hispanic Heritage Week, which was established by legislation signed into law by […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Monday, September 8, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle 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), Ila Christy (PDX), Hilary […]

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