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[AS] Open Time Update – September 2, 2017

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

What is “Back to Book”?

The “Back to Book” Open Time system is the trading system outlined in the 2006-2010 Flight Attendant Agreement as modified by the 2011 AFA Arbitration Award No. 6-99-2-18-11 “Withholding Open Time.” This modified trading system was in place 2012-2015. The contractual language associated with this system is found in CBA §12.F [Exchange of Sequences – Back to Book: Open Time Trading]. The “Back to Book” Section 12 Exchange of Sequences follows the regular Section 12 and precedes Section 13 Uniforms in your contract. The arbitration award follows LOA 6 Contract Implementation Schedule and precedes the index.

What is the Status of “Back to Book”?

It has been three months since our last Open Time update (“Open Time Negotiations Update – June 1, 2017”), so it is not a surprise that Flight Attendants have been inquiring about the “Back to Book” Open Time system. As indicated in the last update, AFA filed a grievance earlier in the summer disputing management’s failure to to provide sufficient IT resources for reverting Back to Book. That grievance was subsequently sustained by management, which essentially means management agrees with AFA’s position. Management further agreed to remedy the situation by contracting with Jeppesen to program Back to Book.

It is ridiculous that a whole year has passed after ending the Open Time Trial, yet very little progress has been made toward actually programming Back to Book into the new Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) crew tracking and trip trading system. Management has been citing “IT limitations” as the reason why reverting Back to Book is still so delayed. (“If reverting, the timeline for rolling back will be dictated by IT limitations” per §12.F.9.a [Exchange of Sequences: Open Time Trial]). Management and Jeppesen claim that all available resources have been allocated to implementation of JCA.

Representatives from the Master Executive Council (MEC) and Alaska Airlines management have met several times recently to have frank discussions about the entire situation. Some of these meetings have included representatives from Jeppesen. The MEC’s goal in these meetings has been to achieve implementation guarantees for programming the new Open Time Tentative Agreement (TA) reached back in May and/or programming Back to Book. As you may recall, the MEC unanimously voted against releasing the Open Time TA due to a lack of implementation guarantees. Unfortunately, the meetings have been depressing.

Management is not inclined to agree to implementation guarantees without confident estimates about when the work would be completed. Further complicating the programming of a replacement Open Time system is the reality that Jeppesen and Alaska management have limited resources. Those resources are stretched even more thinly due to merger-related projects that have aggressive deadlines and several key staffing changes at Jeppesen and in Inflight management.

Finally, the eMaestro system is totally and irrevocably gone. Jeppesen cannot simply ‘flip a switch’ and resurrect eMaestro and/or Back to Book Open Time. Going Back to Book requires Jeppesen to completely replicate the Back to Book trading rules in JCA. Even if implementation were seamless, the “new” Back to Book system would have a significantly different look and feel than in eMaestro.

The very preliminary estimate for programming Back to Book is late summer next year. Based on our recent and ongoing experience with JCA implementation, let’s just say that the MEC does not have confidence that Back to Book—or a completely new Open Time system—will be implemented on time or without glitches.

AFA and management are meeting again early next week to discuss our options. The MEC will provide another update after that meeting. After all the disappointments with extremely delayed implementation timelines and a disastrously executed transition to the new trip trading system, you deserve better!

In Solidarity,

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

[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy

Commuter Policy Survey Results

AFA received 128 complete responses to the survey:

57% FOR

29% AGAINST

14% UNDECIDED

As a result, the Master Executive Council (MEC) has agreed to the implementation of the Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy, starting October 1, 2017, for a duration of 4 months. AFA will send another survey out to VX F/As in November to gather feedback about whether the Commuter Policy should continue or cease. If the trial is successful, the Commuter Policy will remain in effect until Virgin America Flight Attendants are covered under a merged agreement with Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.

AFA VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA FINAL DRAFT (August 2017) >

FAQs

What will happen to the Stuff Happens Pass (SHP) during the trial period?

The SHP will be available for use concurrently with the Commuter Policy during the trial period. Flight Attendants will also be able to accrue SHP during the trial period. If the Commuter Policy is officially adopted after the trial period, the SHP program will be phased out through a sunset provision.

Does this policy cover ground transportation issues?

Yes. This policy covers both ground and air commuting challenges.

How many times may I use this policy?

There are no limits to the number of occurrences an F/A can use the Commuter Policy to cover transportation challenges.

Are there any black-out dates?

Unlike the SHP program, there are no blackout days for using the Commuter Policy.

Can you clarify that this policy does not cover recurrent training?

The Commuter Policy does not cover recurrent training, company events, or other events related to maintaining currency. Please refer to VX Work Rules Chapter 2, Section B.10 for information regarding calling in sick, missing, or rescheduling recurrent training.

If a line-holder is released to rest after being assigned RRR on the calendar day of the original report will the line-holder be provided with a hotel?

No hotel will be provided. In-base hotels are only provided if an F/A is displaced re-assignable (DRA) from a pairing.

Will a Flight Attendant on LCC be able to use the Commuter Policy on a subsequent day of a pairing if they are not able to return to base a second time?

The Commuter Policy is intended for use once per assigned pairing. Section E.3.d of the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA stipulates that corrective action will occur if an FA calls out late due to a commuting issue for the replacement assignment.

If I’m a Flight Attendant using the Commuter Policy, could I be assigned reserve in another base? For example, if I’m a commuter out of JFK and I can’t get to SFO, would I ever be asked to sit in JFK to help the operation?

It is management’s right to send one or more reserves to an outstation to help cover the operation. However, in the case of JFK, management has indicated that they will no longer be sending F/As to sit reserve in that city once the base is closed.

If a pairing originates in another city will it be up to the Flight Attendant to get her-/himself there?

Management has agreed that the company will be responsible for getting the VX F/A to the origination point of the trip. As an example, if a VX F/A is stuck in LAS and the trip assigned originates in LAX, CSS would deadhead (DHD) the F/A from LAS to LAX.

Will Flight Attendant feedback be gathered in anticipation of the trial period closing?

Yes. AFA will send another survey out to VX F/As in November to gather feedback about whether the program should continue or cease.

Can you confirm that if the Commuter Policy is not extended through January 2018, that the SHP program will remain in effect without a sunset?

The VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA stipulates that if the Commuter Policy is cancelled, the SHP program will remain in effect

Can you confirm that if the Commuter Policy is extended past January 2018, it cannot be terminated until both VX and AS F/A’s are covered under a merged agreement?

If the Commuter Policy is extended past January 2018, the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA will remain in effect until we have a merged agreement.

* * *

Contact your Council 35 Officers Melissa or Jamie (email: vx@afaalaska.org) if you have any questions or concerns.

In Solidarity,

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

[AS] Introducing the Next MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

At our monthly meeting held yesterday, your Master Executive Council (MEC) interviewed candidates for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee chairperson. Former Chairperson Zac Weeks recently vacated that position to successfully pursue an opportunity in Alaska Airlines management as the duty manager of Inflight Crew Scheduling. Two candidates interviewed for the position (one Seattle-based Flight Attendant and one Los Angeles-based Flight Attendant). The MEC thanks the candidates for stepping forward in the spirit of Union service. The MEC has appointed Jake Jones as MEC Scheduling Committee chairperson.

About Jake

Jake Jones is currently serving a third term as vice president of AFA-CWA Council 19 Seattle. Jake is a Seattle-based Flight Attendant and joined the company in 2006.  He holds an AA in Business Administration and Management. Prior to working for Alaska Airlines, he was in the banking industry for seven years.

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 Council 35 (Pre-Merger VX JFK/LAX/SFO) Election Results

The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Local Council officer positions:

Local Council President: Melissa Osborne
Local Council Secretary: Jamie Cogen

View the certified election results here

These officers will serve a term of office starting immediately and concluding on June 30, 2019.  Should a joint collective bargaining agreement be ratified before that date, the election process to form a full Local Executive Council (LEC) would be triggered with 30 days of ratification (AFA Constitution & Bylaws Article III.A.2.d).

The Master Executive Council (MEC) congratulates the newly elected officers and we sincerely thank all those who stepped forward to run in the election.  The MEC would also like to offer a special thanks to outgoing Local Council Secretary James Ikehara for stepping up and helping to provide immediate representation upon the formation of Council 35.

In Solidarity,

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

[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Trial Commuter Policy Survey

This message is for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants

AFA and the Virgin America (VX) leadership team (management) have agreed to test a commuter policy for VX Flight Attendants. The trial commuter policy is paired with a third Short Call Reserve (SCR) reserve availability period for the duration of the Commuter Policy and a sunset clause for the Stuff Happens Pass (SHP) if the Commuter Policy is extended beyond the four-month trial period of October 2017 through January 2018. (A sunset clause for the SHP means the SHP would be phased out if the Commuter Policy extends beyond January 2017.) See the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA Final Draft for details.

Prior to implementing the trial commuter policy, AFA is polling the Virgin America Flight Attendants to determine if there is sufficient interest in proceeding with such a test. For security reasons, the survey link will be included only in the emailed version of this communication and distributed to personal email addresses on file in the AFA Newsletter Sending System. The survey link will not be available on the afaalaska.org website nor on social media, and AFA requests that you do not repost the link.

The survey is now open to VX F/As only and will close on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, at 9am Pacific Time.

(Survey link is located here in the emailed version of this communication.)

If AFA goes forward with the trial, we will again poll the VX F/As in November to gauge membership satisfaction with the trial and interest in continuing the Commuter Policy beyond January 2017. AFA will then have an opportunity to end or extend the trial depending on the survey results.

If you have any questions or if you need the survey link sent to you, email your Local Council 35 officers or the Joint Negotiating Committee from a personal email address. If you are requesting a survey link, please provide the following for verification purposes: your name, employee number and current domicile.

In Solidarity,

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

Council 30 (ANC) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 12 PM PT today for the election of Council 30 LEC Officers, representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in Anchorage. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: LeiLauni ScheidemanLEC Vice President: Heather ReierLEC Secretary: Anne Madsen View the certified election results here >> These newly elected officers […]

Apps To Help You Save Money On Food

Our AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee recognizes that Flight Attendants may be facing increasing challenges when it comes to accessing affordable food, whether on the road or at home. We want you to know that you are not alone. In response to these difficulties, we have compiled a list of apps to help […]

What You Need To Know About The FAA Capacity Cuts

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans for a 10% reduction in flight capacity across 40 markets, starting this Friday. According to news reports, these schedule reductions will begin on Friday and will gradually increase throughout the weekend until they reach the full 10% by the following week. Reports also suggest that all Alaska […]

Council 47 (LAX pmHA) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 12 PM PT today for the election of Council 47 LEC Officers, representing Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants based in Los Angeles. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: Joshua AokiLEC Vice President: Paul IkiokaLEC Secretary: Beth Hayes View the certified election results here >> These newly elected […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants In accordance with Article VI.C of the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, the terms of office for the MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions align with those of the MEC Officers. Since the current term for the MEC Officers will conclude on December 31, […]

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