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[VX] Proposed Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy Letter of Agreement

This message is for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants

As previously reported, AFA and the Virgin America (VX) leadership team (management) have agreed to test a commuter policy for VX Flight Attendants. It took a little longer than anticipated for the parties to finalize the proposed letter of agreement (LOA), so AFA apologizes for the slight delay.

Prior to implementing the trial commuter policy, AFA will be polling the Virgin America Flight Attendants to determine if there is sufficient interest in proceeding with such a test. Realistically, AFA now anticipates that poll to be released early next week. In the meantime, AFA is publishing the final draft of the proposed Commuter Policy LOA for your review.

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

If you have any questions, contact your Local Council 35 officers or the Joint Negotiating Committee. Be on the lookout for the membership poll regarding implementation of the trial commuter policy early next week!

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 Alaska MEC Administrative Office Moves to a New Location

The AFA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council (MEC) administrative office moved to a new location this week after a whirlwind of packing. The prior location in the Alaska Airlines Flight Operations and Training Center in Seattle is being repurposed for additional training facilities as a result of the merger, so AFA was relocated in order to make room. We are extremely grateful to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou for coordinating the move on relatively short notice.

The new office location is at the SeaTac Office Center (“STOC”), 18000 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98188. We are in the south tower—the same building as the 13 Coins restaurant and the administrative offices of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Alaska Airlines MEC. The exact suite address is still being worked out with building management, but in the meantime you can find us on the 11th floor in suite 1103. Once AFA receives confirmation of the official new address, we will update the AFA Alaska website and the membership release footer accordingly.

The MEC thanks you in advance for your understanding as we work through settling into the new office.

In Solidarity,

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

Merger Negotiations Session #2 Update – August 2017

The AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee just finished several days of collective bargaining with management; we met from Tuesday, August 8th through Thursday, August 10th in Seattle, WA. This is our second merger negotiations session, with the first held back in June. (See “AFA Alaska-Virgin America Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Prepares to Meet with Management This Week” for more information.) Representing management: Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays, Outgoing Vice President of Alaska Airlines Inflight & Call Center Services Andy Schneider (and now incoming vice president of People), Managing Director of Labor Relations-Air Elizabeth Ryan and Virgin America Manager of Labor Emily Kimmel.

As AFA indicated in our Merger Negotiations Session #1 Update – June 2017, merger negotiations are a different process than regular negotiations. These talks are not under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board or Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act, and neither side believes that the entire contract is open for discussion. Discussions are focusing on a short list of items, and all the provisions in the AFA Alaska contract (scheduled pay raises, etc.) will continue in force.

Virgin America JFK Flight Attendant Base Closure

While the JNC discussed several transition items, the bulk of our time was spent reviewing the Virgin America (VX) Flight Attendant JFK base closure packet with management. VX Director of Inflight Valerie Jenkins and Inflight Project Manager John Maze joined us for much of those discussions by conference call. AFA Council 35 Virgin America President Melissa Osborne also actively participated by phone.

The JNC and President Osborne asked many questions and the parties exchanged a lot of information as we advocated for the JFK Flight Attendants. The JNC and President Osborne were able to achieve some modifications to the relocation package offered by management and to clarify language in the related Q&A document. The parties agreed it would be best for management to hold off on publishing some details about relocation travel until next week. This is in order to give management more time to fully develop the program and to consider several requests by AFA and our members.

Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy

Management and the JNC drafted a letter of agreement (LOA) that allows for a trial implementation of a commuter policy for Virgin America Flight Attendants beginning in October. (See “[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Work Rule Improvements – Part 3” for more information.) The parties used the “Get Going Policy” from the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) Tentative Agreement as a template with some slight modifications, coupled with a third reserve availability period (RAP) from 8am – 8pm for Short Call Reserve (SCR). Management needed some extra time past the end of our session yesterday to review the final draft, but we do not anticipate this to take more than another workday or so, which will take us into next week. Once again, AFA would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the efforts of our sisters and brothers on the TWU VX negotiating team for providing the basis for the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA.

Prior to implementation of this LOA, AFA will poll the Virgin America Flight Attendants to determine if the majority wishes to ‘test drive’ a commuter policy that is paired with a third SCR RAP. The initial survey will help guide the Master Executive Council officers in their decision whether or not to ratify the LOA. If we do trial the Commuter Policy and third SCR RAP, AFA will again poll the VX F/As in November to gauge membership satisfaction with the trial. AFA then has an opportunity to end the trial just in case it proves to be unpopular.

Information regarding the survey and the full text of the VX F/A Commuter Policy Letter of Agreement is now anticipated early next week, which is just slightly later than originally indicated in the last commuter policy update. AFA will continue our efforts to get this out to the Virgin America Flight Attendants as soon as possible.

Transition Issues Discussed

The JNC received several responses from management on prior information requests. We also had a very helpful and productive meeting with Alaska Director of Retirement Services Chrystie Dickens and Retirement Benefits Analyst Jaime Smalley to discuss the intricacies of merging the Alaska (AS) and Virgin America Flight Attendant 401(k) plans. Merging the two is a complicated multi-step process that must be completed within the guidelines of IRS regulations and other applicable laws. Finally, we consulted with Virgin America Crew Payroll Supervisor Peter Silberstein regarding the differences between VX and AS vacation accrual.

* * *

This negotiations session set the parties up for getting into more detailed discussions about specific transitional items next time. In the interim, each side has ‘homework assignments’ to make the time between sessions more productive. Merger Negotiations Session #3 is scheduled for September 12-14, 2017, in Seattle, WA.

Finally, the JFK Flight Attendants were constantly in our thoughts this week. Our hearts go out to each and every one of you, and the JNC will continue to seek any means possible to reduce the impact on you and all your families affected by this base closure.

In Solidarity,

Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

JFK Virgin America Base Closure Announcement

Earlier today, Virgin America (VX) management announced that the JFK Flight Attendant base would close effective November 1, 2017. The announcement of this closure will have a significant impact on the lives of our JFK-based Flight Attendants. At the same time, this will also have a ripple effect throughout the system on the way VX pairings are built in the near term and will impact downline Alaska pairings as well.

AFA and management have been in discussions to reduce the impact of the base closure on the JFK-based Flight Attendants and to implement accommodations that will make the transition easier. Paid moving expenses, positive-space travel for commuters, commuting stipends and other provisions will help to facilitate the transfer to new bases. No one will be furloughed and management has assured us that they will do their best to ensure that each JFK Flight Attendant will be accommodated at the VX base of her or his choice.

Management has established a timeline for transitioning JFK-based Flight Attendants to either SFO or LAX. Management and AFA worked on a packet of information that includes this timeline and relocation/commuter provisions. This packet has been sent via FedEx to each JFK-based Flight Attendant.

Click here for the Q&A document included in the packet >>

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) officers, your Local Council 35 officers and the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) members are working together to offer support and assistance. JFK-based Flight Attendants should feel free to contact your Local Council 35 officers at vx@afaalaska.org or call them at (206) 457-2010, extension 10 with any questions or if you need assistance navigating this process.

We understand how disruptive this announcement is for JFK Flight Attendants, and we are here for you in this difficult time.

In Solidarity,

Your Council 35 officers – Melissa & James

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

Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

 

 

8->10 Day of Action

Tomorrow is August 10 (8-10), our Online Day of Action to keep our rest and jobs in front of Congress. Our representatives need to take action now to enact 10 hours irreducible rest for Flight Attendants and protect good U.S. aviation jobs.

Have you signed up for Twitter yet? Twitter is an effective platform to connect with our legislators and we’ve made it simple for you to sign up and participate.

Click here to get started.

Tomorrow, go to afacwa.org/8-10. This page will direct you to take action by tweeting at members of Congress and making calls for 10 hours rest and good U.S. aviation jobs.

8/10 Day of Action Checklist:

  1. Create a Twitter Account.
  2. Like AFA on Facebook and follow AFA on Twitter.
  3. Schedule 15 min on your calendar tomorrow to to make a difference.
  4. Spread the word with your flying partners.

To create a Twitter account:

  1. Go to http://twitter.com and find the sign up box, or go directly to https://twitter.com/signup.
  2. Enter your full name, phone number, and a password.
  3. Click Sign up for Twitter.
  4. In order to verify your phone number, Twitter will send you an SMS text message with a code. Enter the verification code in the box provided.
  5. Once you’ve clicked Sign up for Twitter, you can select a username (usernames are unique identifiers on Twitter) — type your own or choose one Twitter has suggested. Twitter will tell you if the username you want is available.
  6. Double-check your name, phone number, password, and username.
  7. Click Create my account. You may be asked to complete a Captcha to let Twitter know that you’re human.
  8. Follow @afa_cwa on Twitter.
  9. Add a profile picture to ensure people know you’re a real person and not a bot.

Thank you in advance for participating!

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 Government Affairs Committee Chairperson Krystle Berry

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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