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CourseMill App/Recurrent Training 2017 Homestudy

Happy New Year to all! If you are a January 2017 Recurrent Training (RT) student, the new year may not feel quite so happy as it could be due to problems with downloading the now-infamous courses #2 and #5 on the CourseMill App. AFA has made numerous attempts to get clear direction from Inflight management regarding how to fix the app; unfortunately, they have failed to respond to many of our inquiries or else have given unsatisfactory responses the few times when they have actually gotten back to us. We know it has been the holidays and all, but seriously?!

This is the fix management currently has posted in alerts on the Inflight Webpage under “Training”:

“If you are having trouble downloading your 2017 Recurrent Training mobile courses 002 or 005, please try the following: 

  • Ensure you have good Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Delete the CourseMill app (Hold down icon and tap the “x”)
  • Reinstall the CourseMill app from the Apple App Store
  • Enter your activation code when you re-launch the app (the IT Help Desk or a member of inflight management can look up your activation code)
  • When it prompts you to download all of your courses again, select “No”. Then, click on course 002 and download it individually. Do the same with course 005
  • When downloading the courses, make sure the screen doesn’t turn off, by periodically touching it to keep it “awake”
  • Courses 002/005 may still crash, however if you try deleting and reinstalling the app again, you should be able to get through both courses
  • If you want to view previous courses you’ve already completed, you can then choose to download those courses as well; you won’t lose any saved information of previous courses you’ve already completed

Thank you for your patience as we work on this issue.

Inflight Training”

AFA does not endorse the proposed fix, but we have some anecdotal reports that it has worked for some Flight Attendants. All the excessive time spent uninstalling, reinstalling and downloading is unacceptable. AFA presently has an open grievance regarding this issue, which we are attempting to arbitrate in February.

We have been informed that any Flight Attendant who shows up to Recurrent Training without his or her 2017 RT electronic homestudy completed will be asked to leave class without pay. AFA will continue to advocate for Flight Attendants who are unable to complete training due to a CourseMill app failure.

In the meantime, please email and/or call inflight Training management or the Mobile Help Desk to get your CourseMill app working.

Lisa.McCarroll@alaskaair.com or 206-392-6251

Jennifer.Sovey@alaskaair.com or 206-392-6491

Amanda.Westendorf@alaskaair.com or 253-569-6977

Psalm.Terry@alaskaair.com

Ranjita.Prasad@alaskaair.com

Mobile Help Desk: 1-877-238-1077, option 4 or support@enterprisemobile.com.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

End of Year Reminders 2016

As we approach the end of 2016, the Master Executive Council (MEC) wants to remind you of a few important items.

AFA EAP

Alaska Flight Attendants are the best in the industry and this is due, in part, to our amazing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Committee! EAP is always available to assist and support you. As we approach the holiday season our jobs become much more difficult and we are away from our families. EAP peers help FAs assess their expectations, troubles, health issues and commitments. Re-evaluating commitments and expectations will help to make the holiday season more manageable and enjoyable. AFA EAP’s greatest tool is the ability to listen, calming the presenting issue. Referring to professional resources appropriate when the FA is unable to find resolution.

You can find EAP contact information here: http://afaalaska.org/eap.

Review Your Personnel File

This is a great time of year to review your personnel file (“p-file”). According to our collective bargaining agreement, you’re entitled to a complete copy of your personnel file with at least seven (7) calendar days’ notice (§24.G).  We recommend that every Flight Attendant take advantage of this contractual right and review your personnel file on a regular basis. To make a request for your copy of your personnel file, contact your performance supervisor.  We recommend doing so in writing via Outlook email.

Employee Choice Travel Credits

Any remaining Employee Choice Travel Credits must be converted by December 31, 2016. Once you convert the credits you have three months to travel or make changes to those credits. These credits do not roll over! You will find your Employee Choice Travel Credits in your Paperless Employee Travel (PET) account.

Uniform Allotments

The current uniform allotment will expire December 31, 2016. You will receive a new $700 allotment on January 1, 2017. Taxes and shipping will be covered through the Land’s End portal. You can find the link to Land’s End on your World of Inflight FA homepage –> Catering & Brand –> Uniforms –> Lands’ End. Make sure you copy your People Soft (PS) number from your homepage, as you will need this number to access the allotment link on the Land’s End homepage and to place uniform orders. If you have questions you can contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) Uniform Committee.

December 2016 “No Junior Assignment” Pledge

AFA and Alaska Airlines management agreed to a “No Junior Assignment” Pledge. Flight Attendants who are working trips that originate between December 15, 2016, and December 25, 2016, will not be Junior Assigned (JA’d) off of those trips.

Year End Record Improvement

Any Flight Attendant who has 4.0 or fewer attendance points will have her/his record reduced to 0 points after the end of the year, provided s/he did not accumulate any attendance points since November 1st. In order to qualify for this provision, a Flight Attendant must achieve a minimum of 480 TFP in the calendar year (inclusive of vacation/Longevity PTO but excluding sick leave) in addition to all other requirements outlined in §32.G.4. It usually takes a few weeks into January for the year-end record improvement adjustment to occur.

“DOS +2” Step Rates of Pay

Effective December 17, 2016, all Flight Attendants received a contractual pay raise. “DOS +2” in the step rates of pay chart in §21.A now applies. You can find your individual step rate of pay at the intersection of your step (the steps are listed in the rows on the left) and the “DOS+2” column (the contractual increases are listed in the columns at the top).

Employee Records supposedly sent an email to all Flight Attendants on December 17th via Outlook advising of the contractual increase. However, AFA has received multiple reports from our members that the notification was never received—even after checking “Junk Email” and “Clutter” folders. If you did not receive the email, Inflight management has advised to contact Employee Records (employee.records@alaskaair.com) in order to verify your contractual increase. AFA requested that Inflight management also send out a bulletin regarding this issue.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee and MEC S/T-Elect Linda Christou

Trades Gone Wrong

Over the past few months AFA has noticed an increase in complaints and concerns in relation to FA-to-FA trading.

As a result of this increase and one recent issue that resulted in a Written Warning, the Master Executive Council (MEC) would like to remind Flight Attendants of the importance of evaluating trades before they are processed.

Remember, all trades are final. Even when an unintentional trade mistake occurs that trade is final and cannot be changed without first notifying the affected Flight Attendant.

The posting of trips for trade with specific expectations is self-policing. There is no contractual language that requires AFA or management to intervene with problems associated with FA-to-FA trade issues when they arise.

In some trading issues, Flight Attendants have elevated into steps of progressive discipline due to attendance points accrued as a result of No Shows from unknown trade actions on their lines. AFA has had very little success with convincing management to adjust points as a result of this type of trade issue.

Before you process a trade:

  • Carefully review the trade and verify if you are trading with Open Time or if you are trading with a Flight Attendant.
  • Have you reviewed the comments box to ensure you are trading trips that meets the desire of your fellow coworker?
  • Did you call or communicate with the posting Flight Attendant prior to the trade?

Again, if the posting Flight Attendant has comments associated with the trade please respect and adhere to those stipulations. Remember, this is a self-policing system, and issues that arise as the result of “trades gone wrong” do not fall under the scope of your AFA reps or management to resolve.

If a mistake is made as a result of a trip trade or trip pick up, contact the affected Flight Attendant immediately. Discuss options to resolve the issue. The affected Flight Attendant is under no obligation to take a trip back as a result of a “trade gone wrong.”

As a reminder, per the Company security policy, you are not allowed to share your login information with anyone.

It is important that we work together and respect one another when we process trades.  Discipline that results from “trades gone wrong” is a serious issue and could result in Flight Attendants suffering discipline, or even termination, as the result of point accumulation.

If you have questions contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) president.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Open Time Negotiations Session 2 Update – December 7-8, 2016

The AFA Negotiating Committee and Alaska Airlines management met for the second time to negotiate a new Open Time system, with the session taking place in Seattle this past Wednesday and Thursday.

Background

As you may recall, our current Open Time system was implemented on a trial basis. AFA chose to end the trial, which put us into negotiations for a new system. Our contract states that our old system (the one in effect under the previous contract) will be reinstated while we negotiate a new system; however, this cannot be accomplished until some computer programming is done, which will take several months. Until then, the current system remains in effect.

Overview

Negotiating an open time system is always challenging. AFA wants to maximize Flight Attendants’ scheduling flexibility—the ability to trade trips, to get certain days off or even to straight drop trips. Management believes that every flexibility gain for us increases “liability” for the Company by negatively impacting the staffing and therefore the overall operation, which ultimately leads to higher costs. AFA recognizes that the entire workgroup cannot work only when we choose. In turn management understands, at least to some extent, that Flight Attendant morale is important and ultimately benefits the Company.

Details

With those competing interests in mind, the parties engaged in very spirited discussions. Both sides are supportive of the ability to do multiple trades (e.g., trade a 4-day for two 2-days), which we know is very important to Flight Attendants. The parties did not reach actual agreement on any specific provisions, but we did emerge with what we hope will be a framework for a new system. AFA’s last proposal of the session will require management to do some data crunching. If management believes our proposal will create too much liability in the form of uncovered trips, then AFA will need to know how management reached that conclusion. We want facts and numbers.

Next session

Based on the parties’ limited availability, our next session is scheduled for late February. Our plan is to see management’s data in advance of the session so that we can ask any questions and get clarifying information in the interim. The Negotiating Committee expects the session to start off with management passing its next proposal.

“Back to book”

AFA has asked for updates from management with respect to programming the old (“back to book” Open Time system). Although we recognize it may take some time, the process needs to begin. We will pass along management’s response when we receive it.

Thanks as always for your support. If you have comments or other feedback, you may email the Negotiating Committee at negotiations@afaalaska.org or else contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) president.

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Attorney Kimberley Chaput

MEC Committee Chair Interviews

In accordance with Article VI.C of the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, the term of appointment for the MEC Committee Chairpersons is concurrent with those of the MEC Officers.  As the current MEC Officer term of office will end on December 31, 2016, the MEC will be conducting a review of the MEC Committee Chairperson positions in early 2017.

During this review process, the MEC will be interviewing for the following MEC-level chairperson positions:

  • Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairperson
  • Benefits Committee Chairperson
  • EAP Committee Chairperson (2 positions)
  • Hotel Committee Chairperson
  • Hotel Committee Vice Chairperson
  • Reserve Committee Chairperson
  • Retirement Committee Chairperson
  • Scheduling Committee Chairperson
  • Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson (PBS Subcommittee Chairperson)
  • PBS Subcommittee Member (though not a chairperson position, this position is appointed at the MEC level)
  • Uniform Committee Chairperson

Appointments for the ASHSC Vice Chairperson, Government Affairs Committee Chairperson, Grievance Committee Chairperson, and Inflight Service Committee Chairperson positions were all made within the last several months.  As a result, these positions will not be reviewed and will continue their term until the end of the next MEC Officer election cycle.

General Qualifications

The following qualifications apply to all MEC-level Chairperson positions:

  • Previous experience as a Committee Member or Chairperson preferred (required for EAP)
  • Previous committee-specific training preferred (required for EAP)
  • Ability to attend meetings as required, including being present in Seattle on occasion
  • Strong computer skills. Good working knowledge of Inflight Mobile Device, Google email, and Microsoft Office.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external e-mail, prepare reports, and plan meetings agendas and take minutes.
  • Ability to meet deadlines, delegate responsibilities, and follow up on assigned tasks

Duties and Responsibilities

Information about the duties and responsibilities of each specific committee can be found in article VII of the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, which can be accessed by clicking here.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss for each position will be discussed during the screening interview.

Interview and Selection Timeline

Qualified candidates will be invited to a screening interview with the MEC by video conference on Wednesday, January 4.

Finalists will be invited to an in-person interview at the AFA Alaska MEC office in Seattle at regularly scheduled February MEC meeting on February 21 and 22.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

Submit a declaration of interest and resume to MEC Secretary Treasurer-Elect Linda Christou at linda.christou@afaalaska.org no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on Wednesday, December 28, 2016.

Questions

Any questions about MEC Committee Chairperson positon duties and responsibilities can be directed to MEC Vice President Brian Palmer at brian.palmer@afaalaska.org.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee and MEC Secretary Treasurer-Elect Linda Christou

Crew Meal Survey Closing Soon

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is committed to prioritizing your nutrition during the work day through our crew meal provisions. We are eager to hear your thoughts on which elements of crew meals are most meaningful to you, as we continue to advocate for […]

Council 43 (HNL) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 12 PM PT today for the election of Council 43 LEC Officers, representing Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants based in Honolulu. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: Kela Chong IVLEC Vice President: Martin GusmanLEC Secretary: Soon Kim View the certified election results here >> These newly elected […]

Council 39 (PDX) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 11 AM PT today for the election of Council 39 LEC Officers, representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in Portland. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: Krystle Shae BerryLEC Vice President: Melodie AnderesLEC Secretary: Kevin Sharp View the certified election results here >> These newly elected […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – May 2026

On Monday, May 11, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met virtually 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), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), and Kanani Vallot (SAN), with MEC Hotel Committee […]

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