Remembering 9/11/2001
Hurricane Dorian
AFA leadership has been in contact with Alaska Airlines management all weekend as we actively monitor Hurricane Dorian’s path. Management has just announced the first Dorian-related cancellation, which is AS 1074 SEA-FLL tomorrow morning (Monday, September 2, 2019). More cancellations and re-routes are likely in the coming days. As a precaution, AFA and management have agreed to enact Section 8.S [Natural Disasters…] in order to turn crews out of Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and in anticipation of re-starting operations to FLL once conditions have returned to normal.
If you are currently laying over in FLL, Crew Scheduling will be reaching out to you tonight to arrange a deadhead first thing tomorrow morning. It is imperative that you are responsive to their efforts to contact you tonight.
If you are a registered commuter in an area projected to be directly affected by Hurricane Dorian and you are concerned, AFA encourages you to discuss your options with management as soon as possible. All crews with flying to Florida and the south eastern seaboard over the coming days are encouraged to monitor the Scheduling alerts on the Inflight webpage and to be responsive to contact from Crew Scheduling.
If you need assistance from AFA, please feel free to contact your respective local leadership, local Scheduling Committee chairperson(s) or EAP. This will be a constantly evolving situation, so stay tuned!
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones
AFA Update – August 30, 2019
In This Edition
- Where to Find Our Contract on the IMD
- The Latest on KCM
- Personal Strategies for Approaching the Anniversary of September 11
- Election Notice: MEC Officer Elections
Where to Find Our Contract on the IMD
Contract Committee
Having easy access to our collective bargaining agreement empowers you to ensure that you are always able to reference your contractual rights and responsibilities in a given situation. Section 27.T of our collective bargaining agreement requires that the Company provide access to an electronic version of the contract on the IMD. Management has complied with this contractual requirement by housing an electronic version of the contract in the GoodReader app.
To access the contract on your IMD, follow these steps:
- Open the GoodReader app
- Tap on ASFASupplemental
- Tap on Collective Bargaining Agreement
- Tap on Contract
- Tap on the contract file
Questions?
If you have any questions about accessing the contract on your IMD, please contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers.
The Latest on KCM
Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)
On Saturday, August 24, an update was posted to the KCM website indicating program changes related to unpredictable screening procedures (USP) and uniform requirements that were to take effect several days later. This update was posted with no advance notice and a very short implementation schedule. After receiving notice of these proposed changes, AFA promptly engaged the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), Airlines for America (A4A), and the TSA to have additional conversations about these program changes and discuss alternatives.
Unpredictable Screening (USP) Changes
Additional measures related to USP (commonly referred to as “random selection”) went into effect on Tuesday, August 27 as announced. With this change, if you are selected for USP at a KCM access point you will continue to be flagged as a selectee at all KCM access points at that airport for a pre-determined amount of time. If you are referred for USP that involves re-direction to the passenger screening lanes, please remember that you are subject to the same requirements as passengers if you are not in uniform. Only crewmembers in uniform are exempt from TSA limitations on liquids, gels, and aerosols.
Uniform Requirement
As a result of discussions with AFA, ALPA, and A4A, the TSA made the decision not to change the uniform requirement for KCM screening, meaning that crewmembers continue to be able to use KCM access points while out of uniform.
Compliance and Reporting
It is important that we continue to comply with procedures and instructions at KCM access points and security checkpoints if selected for unpredictable screening. If you are given an instruction by a TSA Officer that differs from communicated procedures, please respectfully question the instruction. If the Officer does not change the instruction, comply and then report the issue immediately to AFA.
The only way to address concerns with individual TSA Officers or airports carrying out KCM screening differently from communicated procedures is to report the issue. Posts on social media about individual issues will not only fail to resolve the concern but could also unintentionally share sensitive security information (SSI) related to the KCM program. Please use the reporting form below to report any issues as soon as possible so that they can be addressed directly with the TSA.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding KCM, please submit your question using the above form or contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers for assistance.
Personal Strategies for Approaching the Anniversary of September 11
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee
As we approach the anniversary of September 11th, many of us will begin to plan how we’ll recognize this day. Anniversaries offer an opportunity to acknowledge our memories and experiences, to connect with others who share in them, and to pay tribute to our individual and collective journeys. They can also serve as personal and professional milestones of our healing and resiliency. For some, September 11th will be marked with private personal gestures such as observing a moment of silence, spending quiet time reflecting, or dedicating our flying to our profession. For others, it will be marked with collective activities such as ceremonies and memorial services.
- There is no right way or better way to recognize the anniversary; but, there are some suggestions that may prove helpful as we approach the anniversary of September 11th.
- Observe the anniversary in a way that’s comfortable for you. Say no to events or activities that you sense may flood you with too many feelings. Find more gentle ways of honoring the anniversary.
- Don’t compare yourself to how others around you appear to be dealing with the September 11th anniversary.
- Acknowledge that we all heal at different rates, in different ways, and with different outcomes.
- Give yourself permission and time to be affected. Though uncomfortable, anticipate and plan for having a stress reaction as the anniversary approaches. Trust that if you have moments of difficulty, you’ll be able to pull yourself back together.
- Try not to isolate yourself. Pre-plan now to be with people if you know you have this tendency.
However you choose to structure your day this September 11th or however it just naturally unfolds, please remember that your AFA EAP Committee Members welcome being a part of it. If you or a flying partner needs a confidential ear, please call us at (949) 470-0493 or find your local EAP contact information on the EAP Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. Remember, we’re just a phone call away.
Election Notice: MEC Officer Elections
Master Executive Council (MEC)
The term of office for our current Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers will conclude on December 31, 2019. The voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will elect new MEC Officers at the regular November MEC meeting. This communication serves as notice of the election in accordance with article III.C.1 of the MEC Policy Manual.
Background
The MEC Officers consist of a President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer. These officer positions are responsible for serving as the coordinating council for the membership of the airline and carrying out the decisions of the MEC. These officer positions are elected by the Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents, who are the voting members of MEC.
Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of the MEC Officers are defined in article VII.C.2 of the AFA Constitution & Bylaws.
MEC President
From the AFA Constitution & Bylaws (article VII.C.2.a)
The President shall be the official Union spokesperson and chief executive officer for that airline and shall have the authority and duty to:
(1) Be responsible for and charged with administering the policies of that Master Executive Council, and implementing the objectives and policies announced by the Board of Directors and Executive Board.
(2) Be responsible for the expeditious processing of members’ complaints and grievances.
(3) Be the Union representative on that airline for the purpose of furthering and implementing the objectives and policies announced by the Board of Directors and Executive Board.
(4) Coordinate and compile Master Executive Council policy, review reports and recommendations and submit such material to the appropriate committees of the Union.
(5) Be a member of the Negotiating Committee.
(6) Be a member of the Executive Board.
(7) Be granted the privilege of the floor at all meetings of the Board of Directors, but shall have no vote, if not also a Local Council President.
(8) Be responsible for and supervise the business and managerial functions of the Union on that carrier.
(9) Consult with and be assisted by the Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer.
(10) Ballot the Master Executive Council if necessary or when required.
(11) Keep a current and accurate inventory of all Union property and supplies purchased or provided by the Union and submit a copy of this to the International Secretary-Treasurer of the Union.
(12) Inform all Master Executive Council Officers and committees that all files, correspondence, documents and other materials resulting from the work of such committees are the property of the Union, not the personal property of individuals, and are to be safeguarded.
(13) Maintain the Union’s files and property, then transfer them to her/his successor promptly.
Additional Duties & Responsibilities
- Attend regular and special MEC meetings, quarterly Labor Leader meetings with the company, and annual AFA-CWA Board of Directors meetings.
- Participate in the MEC Duty Officer program
Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement
- This position is contractually provided 130 TFP of Flight Pay Loss (FPL) per month
- Must have the ability to be present in the MEC Office in Seattle to attend meetings and as needed. Additional work completed remotely as necessary.
- No relocation or accommodation reimbursement is provided for this position.
- The MEC President is on-call to respond to critical incidents and situations.
MEC Vice President
From the AFA Constitution & Bylaws (article VII.C.2.b)
The Vice President shall:
(1) Function under the jurisdiction of the President in carrying out the policies and directives of the Master Executive Council.
(2) Perform the duties of the President at her/his request or in the absence of the President.
(3) Be granted the privilege of the floor at all Master Executive Council and Board of Directors meetings, but shall have no vote if not also a Local Council President.
Additional Duties & Responsibilities
- Serve as executive sponsor of MEC Committees and inform the MEC Secretary-Treasurer of upcoming meetings for calendaring.
- Be responsible for obtaining a monthly written report from each of the MEC Committee Chairs and providing these reports to the MEC Secretary-Treasurer for submission with the monthly MEC agenda.
- Attend regular and special MEC meetings, quarterly Labor Leader meetings with the company, MEC committee meetings, and annual AFA-CWA Board of Directors meetings.
- Coordinate and participate in the MEC Duty Officer program
Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement
- This position is budgeted for 120 TFP of Flight Pay Loss (FPL) per month
- Must have the ability to be present in the MEC Office in Seattle to attend meetings and as needed. Additional work completed remotely as necessary.
- No relocation or accommodation reimbursement is provided for this position.
- The MEC Vice President is responsible for fulfilling the responsibilities of the MEC President during vacation and as needed.
MEC Secretary-Treasurer
From the AFA Constitution & Bylaws (article VII.C.2.c)
The Secretary-Treasurer shall:
(1) Assist the President in administering Master Executive Council funds.
(2) Maintain Master Executive Council records and perform such other duties that may be specifically assigned to the Secretary-Treasurer by the President or Acting President.
(3) Be responsible to the President and Master Executive Council.
(4) Be responsible for general record keeping and accounting of the Master Executive Council budget and any funds.
(5) Distribute a quarterly statement on expenditures to the Master Executive Council.
(6) Assist in preparation of the Master Executive Council annual report to the membership.
(7) Exhibit at all reasonable times the general records to any Officer or active member in good standing upon application.
(8) Maintain Master Executive Council records and record all meetings of the Master Executive Council.
(9) Deliver to her/his successor all monies and other property of the Master Executive Council. On demand of the International Office, s/he shall make available all books and records for examination and audit.
(10) Submit a copy of all Master Executive Council meeting minutes and nomination notices to the International Secretary-Treasurer of the Union.
(11) Be responsible for distributing a list of Master Executive Council committees’ flight pay loss to the Master Executive Council and the International Office each month; this list will include, but not be limited to, hours and ID(s) missed, days on projects, and projects charged.
(12) Be granted the privilege of the floor at all Master Executive Council and Board of Directors meetings, but shall have no vote if not also a Local Council President.
Additional Duties & Responsibilities
- Maintain the MEC agenda; solicit agenda items from members of the MEC
- Reserve meeting space and other meeting resources as needed
- Make arrangements for MEC hotel accommodations and meals
- Perform month-end financial reconciliation activities including:
- Monthly submission of MEC flight pay loss to the company
- Monthly reconciliation of Union Business flight pay loss
- Monthly submission of all Union Business to AFA International
- Review and approve expense reports
- Monthly reconciliation of budget and expense reports
- Attend regular and special MEC meetings, quarterly Labor Leader meetings with the company, and annual AFA-CWA Board of Directors meetings.
- Participate in the MEC Duty Officer program
Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement
- This position is budgeted for 100 TFP of Flight Pay Loss (FPL) per month
- Must have the ability to be present in the MEC Office in Seattle to attend meetings and as needed. Additional work completed remotely as necessary.
- No relocation or accommodation reimbursement is provided for this position.
- The MEC Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for fulfilling the responsibilities of the MEC Vice President during vacation and as needed. S/he is responsible for fulfilling the responsibilities of the MEC President if the president and vice president are simultaneously unavailable.
Working Relationships
With The Master Executive Council (MEC)
Constant interaction with the LEC Presidents, other LEC Officers, and other MEC Officers
With MEC Committees
Constant interaction with MEC Committee Chairs and Committee Members.
With Management
Constant interaction with Alaska Airlines management, particularly within the inflight and labor relations departments
With AFA International
Frequent interaction with AFA international officers and staff members
Term of Office
The regular term of office is for three years, beginning on January 1, 2020 and concluding on December 31, 2022.
Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling
The MEC will hold interviews and conduct elections during the regular November MEC meeting on Tuesday, November 5 and Wednesday, November 6, 2019. Bid around these dates or plan to arrange your schedule accordingly to accommodate.
Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume online at https://forms.gle/DoRD4akQcakcuWRn9. The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Tuesday, October 29. After that time, MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou will contact qualified candidates to schedule a specific interview time.
Please note that in order to submit an expression of interest, you must have a Google account. If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.
Questions?
If you have any questions about MEC duties and responsibilities or the election process, please email officers@afaalaska.org.
SFO Co-Terminal Negotiations Update
Back in January, AFA communicated that management had approached AFA regarding their desire to negotiate a co-terminal agreement for the SFO domicile.
The Master Executive Council (MEC) then conducted interviews for three Special Negotiating Committee (SNC) members and appointed them in February.
The SFO Co-term SNC met in early April for negotiations training and preparation. During that session, the SNC determined that a proposed SFO Co-terminal Agreement would have to contain significant improvements for all Flight Attendants (not just for those in the SFO domicile) in order for a tentative agreement to have a chance of ratification by a majority of the membership. With that prerequisite in mind, the SNC developed a conceptual proposal (a non-binding proposal, or “supposal”) and passed it to management for their consideration.
Management recently responded to the conceptual proposal:
Thank you for sending us AFA’s conceptual proposal to consider while negotiating co-terminals for SFO. It is our understanding that the Special Negotiating Committee strongly believes we would need to implement many of the items listed in the proposal in order to have the SFO co-terminals voted in by AFA membership.
As you know, the difference in savings is relatively small between opening a SJC FA base, and opening SFO co-terminals. Given that, we have very little to play with in order to implement items in AFA’s Conceptual Proposal, while still achieving savings and efficiency for the company greater than (or equal to) those that the company would gain by opening an SJC base.
As such, it would appear that continuing to negotiate a deal between the two parties in order to achieve SFO co-terminals is not productive. Please let us know if you’d like to continue the discussion, or if you agree that the parties should respectfully walk away at this point and acknowledge a deal could not be reached at this time on SFO co-terminals.
The MEC concurs with management’s assessment that the parties should respectfully walk away from further negotiations. We sincerely thank the SFO Co-Terminal Special Negotiating Committee members for their service.
The MEC has been holding off on publishing these details in deference to management’s desire to take the lead on communicating plans for a San Jose Flight Attendant base. However, the MEC has become aware via social media that Inflight executive management has been openly talking to line Flight Attendants about such plans. Consequently, we feel an obligation to get in front of potential rumors and confirm to our members that the reports are true: Management intends to open a SJC base in the next year or so.
We know our members will have many questions. Once management provides the MEC with more concrete information, we will pass those details along to you.
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee
AFA Update – August 16, 2019
In This Edition
- Hotel Crew Room Blocks Card Now Online
- REMINDER: Human Rights Committee Forming
- TAKE ACTION: Stop Toxic Fumes!
- Cabin Air Quality Resources
Hotel Crew Hotel Room Blocks Card Now Online
Hotel Committee
Your AFA Hotel Committee has succeeded in their effort to have the Crew Hotel Room Blocks card uploaded to an easily accessible location on both the Inflight website and the IMD. The Crew Hotel Room Blocks card (commonly known as the “purple card”) is a quick reference card that provides information about appropriate hotel room features and room locations. This card can be shown to hotel staff when you are assigned a hotel room that does not meet the requirements of the company’s contract with the hotel in order to hopefully remedy the situation on-the-spot.
Going forward, the Crew Hotel Room Blocks card will be published on the first page of the monthly Hotel Hotline document. The Hotel Hotline can be found on the Flight Attendant website under Hotel, Travel & Station > Hotel Hotline. On the IMD, you can find the Hotel Hotline under ASFASupplemental > Hotel Hotline.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your Local Hotel Committee.
REMINDER: Human Rights Committee Forming
Human Rights Committee
In 2018, the AFA Board of Directors approved the creation of Human Rights Committees across AFA, with committees to be formed at each Local Council and MEC. Members of the Human Rights Committee will work to promote activities that foster greater understanding of one another and the diversity of our membership in order to build the strength of our Union through our common struggles and goals rather than allowing others to divide us by our differences. This work will involve close coordination with local community and CWA allies to engage in efforts that advance both human rights and worker’s rights.
As part of the formation of the Committee, volunteer involvement opportunities are available both at the local level (Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson) and the airline level (MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson). If you are interested in filling the role of Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson, please refer to recent communications from your Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers or contact your LEC President.
MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson
Information about the MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson can be found in the August 2, 2019 AFA Update.
The MEC will hold interviews for the position of MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson during the September MEC meeting on Tuesday, September 17. Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume online at https://forms.gle/bns2FHqC11PLe3889. The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Tuesday, September 10. After that time, MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou will contact qualified candidates to schedule a specific interview time.
Please note that in order to submit an expression of interest, you must have a Google account. If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.
TAKE ACTION: Stop Toxic Fumes!
Government Affairs Committee
The Cabin Air Safety Act of 2019 aims to protect airline passengers and crew from the harmful effects of toxic cabin air.
“Our workspace is the public’s travel space and in that space today, crews and passengers are breathing toxins and it has to stop,” said AFA International President Sara Nelson.
Call your Representative and Senators today and tell them to cosponsor the Cabin Air Safety Act. The House bill is H.R. 2208 and the Senate bill is S. 1112.
Call Your Representative: 866-937-4359
Call Your Senators: 877-750-7411
“Hi, my name is_________. As a constituent and a Flight Attendant, I am calling to ask you to cosponsor the Cabin Air Safety Act of 2019. Flight Attendants and passengers can be exposed to toxic fumes in the cabin. We need the FAA to intervene and implement protections. Support clean air onboard for passengers and Flight Attendants!”
AFA’s efforts to improve the cabin environment span the last three decades, from advocating for smoke-free skies to stopping poisonous pesticide spraying to addressing the dangers of contaminated bleed air. We advocate that the airline industry either end the use of engine bleed air for cabin air supply like on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or mitigate the circulation of contaminated air. In 2015, AFA was an active member of the ICAO task group that published Circular 344, which advises airlines to enhance their operational procedures to minimize onboard exposure to smoke and fumes. This led to an FAA Safety Alert published in 2018. This is progress, but it doesn’t go far enough.
“Most Americans go to work with the expectation of breathing clean air. Flight Attendants don’t have this guarantee, and it is past time for that to change,” AFA President Sara Nelson said.
Cabin Air Quality Resources
Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee – Air Quality Subcommittee
Your AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) and Air Quality Subcommittee have worked with AFA International to put together a number of tools and resources to use in the event of a cabin air fume event. Some of the resources available are listed below.
Air Quality Fume Event FAQs
The Committee has compiled a comprehensive question and answer document to help provide information about many of the questions and concerns that have been received about cabin air fume events.
You can access the Q&A document by clicking here.
Air Quality Exposure Quick Reference Card
The Air Quality Exposure Quick Reference Card is a wallet sized card that explains what to do in a contaminated cabin air exposure event. The card can be kept in a badge holder behind your company ID or in your wallet.
The card was recently updated by the Committee and now includes information about the Airbus fleet. If you currently have an older version of the card, please destroy your old card and replace it with a newly updated one. The updated cards are currently being distributed to each domicile.
Look for more information from your Local Council about where to pick one up at your base. You can access and print the card on the AFA Alaska website by clicking here.
AFA Alaska Website
Additional air quality information, including a flow chart that describes what to do in a cabin air fume event, can be found at afaalaska.org under Committees > Air Safety, Health, & Security (ASHSC) > Air Quality.
Questions?
If you have additional questions about cabin air quality or the AFA resources available, please email airquality@afaalaska.org or contact a member of your Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC).
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