Latest News – Page 159

[L-AS] Introducing Your MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative

May 25, 2018 17:00

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews earlier this month for the new MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative position. The MEC would like to thank the candidates who demonstrated willingness to represent our Flight Attendants. After thorough deliberation, the MEC has appointed Kiara Jenkins to the position.

About Kiara

Kiara Jenkins spent her childhood on the island of Guam and, in 2008, graduated from Olympia High School in Olympia, WA. Before pursuing a career as a Flight Attendant, she worked at Starbucks as a supervisor and coached club and high school volleyball for 3 years. She has been ANC, SEA, and LAX-based since joining the Alaska family in 2011. Previously, she served as the Government Affairs Committee Chairperson for Council 18 in LAX. On any given day, Kiara can be found hosting homemade dinners for friends, barbecuing outdoors, or spending quality time with her family.

About The Position

The Payroll Representative works under the umbrella of the MEC Grievance Committee and is responsible for working with management to advocate for Flight Attendant interests in all matters pertaining to Flight Attendant pay. In addition, the Payroll Representative also works closely with the Benefits, Scheduling, and Reserve Committees to handle and assist in the resolution of Flight Attendant pay concerns and issues. Additional information about the position can be found by clicking here.

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 Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

Final Integrated Seniority List

May 24, 2018 12:00

Below you will find the final version of the merged seniority list. All challenges submitted to the initial list that was posted on April 3, 2018, have been reviewed and responses have been sent. The resolution of an accepted challenge is reflected in this final version. AFA has provided the list to management, who will be using this list to create the version that will be posted on the Flight Attendant website once programming is completed within the next several weeks.

You may access the final version of the list from the email version of this article. Please check your personal email for a message from the AFA Alaska Seniority Merger Integration Committee.

In Solidarity,

Your SMIC – Sandra Morrow, Rolando Teran, Lynne Voigtsberger and Marie Maxwell

AFA Issue Reporting and Resolution

May 23, 2018 12:00

Last year, your AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) introduced the AFA Alaska online support center. The system is designed for you to document and report scheduling and reserve concerns, situations where you might be facing discipline, potential contractual grievances, and any other issue where you might need AFA support. The system also allows AFA representatives to better track issues that are occurring, identify trends, and address and resolve issues with management.

You can access the system using the following link:

Click here to access the AFA Alaska Online Support Center

Reporting New Issues

You can report a new issue in the system by opening a ticket, just follow these steps:

Visit http://support.afaalaska.org/
Click the blue “Open a New Ticket” button
Fill in your personal information (including a non-company email address)
Select the help topic that relates to the issue
Fill in the issue-specific information and provide details

From this screen, you’ll also be able to attach pictures, PDF files, screenshots, and other information that will help your AFA representatives to have more information available about the issue.

Once you’ve opened a ticket, you’ll receive a confirmation email and with a ticket number. Behind the scenes, your ticket will be assigned to an AFA representative who will assist you with the issue.

What Happens Next

The AFA representative assigned to your case will work with management to determine a resolution. If management agrees, then the representative will contact you and advise you of the resolution. If AFA and management do not agree, the AFA representative might escalate the issue.

What are SRB and ADR?

When the AFA representative assigned to your case and management are unable to come to a mutually acceptable resolution, the AFA representative might escalate the issue to Scheduling Review Board (SRB) if the issue is related to scheduling or Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for all other issues.

SRB and ADR meetings are typically held every other week. Issues can sometimes take a few months to resolve based on the work and discussion involved between management and AFA. If an issue gets resolved in SRB/ADR, the AFA representative assigned to your case will contact you and advise you of the outcome.

Grievances

If there is no resolution in SRB or ADR and there is a contractual violation, AFA will file a grievance. Contractual grievances must go through the grievance procedures as outlined in section 19 of the Flight Attendant Contract. If the grievance is not resolved there, it may be escalated to the System Board of Adjustment, where the case would be heard before a neutral arbitrator. Information about the System Board of Adjustment can be found in section 20 of the Flight Attendant Contract.

Checking on Open Issues

With your ticket number, you can track the status of the ticket online, add additional information and attachments for your AFA representative to have available. To check on your ticket:

Visit http://support.afaalaska.org
Click the green “Check Ticket Status” button
Enter your email address and ticket number
Click the “View Ticket” button

As always, the more information and evidence you attach to the ticket (i.e., screenshots, emails, etc.), the better your AFA representatives can assist you.

Questions?

If you have questions about reporting issues to AFA or how issues get resolved, please contact your Local Grievance Committee.

In Solidarity,

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

May 18, 2018 17:00

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

May 16, 2018 11:15

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 (5^thof 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

About Kiara

About The Position

Reporting New Issues

What Happens Next

What are SRB and ADR?

Grievances

Checking on Open Issues

Questions?

Background

Qualifications

Duties

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

Term of Appointment

Working Relationships

With The Scheduling Committee

With The Master Executive Council

With Alaska Airlines Management

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

L-VX Pay Rates and Retro Pay

L-AS Pay Rates and Retro Pay

Advance (5thof the Month) Paychecks

Longevity Premium

Recent Posts

Local Councils

Master Executive Council

Negotiations

Contract

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Advance (5^thof the Month) Paychecks