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AFA Alaska Airlines Collective Bargaining Agreement 2014-2019

Electronic Contract with Hyperlinked Citations and Index

 

AFA and Alaska Airlines management are finally ready to publish the electronic contract with hyperlinked citations and index. We hope you will find the document much easier to use on your mobile devices compared to prior versions. Besides the link below, you can find the contract and active letters of agreement at afaalaska.org/contract. Management will also be pushing the contract to your Inflight Mobile Device.

 

If you click on the hyperlinked citation references, the document will reposition to that citation. If the citation is a sub-paragraph within a main “header,” the hyperlink will take you to the header and you simply have to scroll down to the desired paragraph. At the bottom of every page you will find a link for the Table of Contents, the Index and the Reference section. The Reference section shows a list of the main headers within each section as well as the letters of agreement. All of the citations are hyperlinked throughout the document for ease of reference.

 

Although we have scoured the contract many times over, with a document as complex as this one there are bound to be a few errors such as incorrect or broken hyperlinks. If you find something amiss, email the Contract Committee at contract@afaalaska.org. It is possible to periodically update the electronic contract as needed to correct those minor errors.

 

–> AFA ALA eCBA 2014-2019 FINAL 2015.11.09 <–

 

TA2 Print vs Final Print Versions Comparison

 

There have been several contractual improvements and clarifications added since the TA2 Print version. In order to make it easier to identify the changes, we have created a comparison document that highlights differences between the two. The comparison document is produced using a computer program that catches the vast majority of differences, but it is not infallible. Be aware there may be a few citations that are not highlighted even though the citations differ between the versions.

 

–> Printed TA2 v2 vs Final Printed Copy v1 thru LOA6 Comparison <–

 

Hard copies

 

The contract will be sent off to the printer shortly, and we expect publication to take several weeks. AFA and management are ordering enough for every flight attendant to have a trade paperback sized hard copy of the contract. As soon as we have the details regarding an estimated release date and the means of distribution, we will provide an update.

 

* * *

 

It has been a long time coming—we thank you for your patience! If you have any concerns or questions, please contact your LEC president.

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt; and

 

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

AFA Alaska

New “Temporary” FA to FA and Open Time Trading Schedule

Background

 

In light of recent technical issues with Open Time, the Master Executive Council (MEC) made a decision at our November meeting last week to temporarily change trading times for all bases. This is a temporary change that should end with an upgrade from eMaestro to the Jeppesen Crew Tracking Enterprise (JCTE) system next year.

 

The problem appears to lie with the current system’s inability to handle the amount of users when Seattle Flight Attendants access the system. As many of you know, technical issues with Open Time are not new. However, all trading within a base now starting at the same time has been consistently causing Seattle Flight Attendants to have trouble logging into eMaestro. The system completely shut down for over 30 minutes when Seattle Open Time began in September and, even though management implemented changes to accommodate the traffic for October and again in November, Seattle Flight Attendants experienced problems accessing the system.

 

Due to the on-going problems and the fact that these problems begin with Seattle’s start time, the MEC has decided to further alter FA to FA trades and Open Time(s) by splitting FA to FA trades and Open Time(s) to different days/times beginning in December for January trading. Again, this is a temporary fix until transition to JCTE. We anticipate the new schedule—which will be in effect in December for January trading and until further notice—will offset the ‘load factor’ to the system that allows every Flight Attendant, in every base, a fair opportunity to access Open Time and FA to FA trades.

 

NEW TRADING TIME LINE IN PACIFIC TIME

 

15th – FA to FA Trades

0900: SAN

1000: PDX

1100: ANC

1200: LAX

1300: SEA

16th – OT (Except Seattle)

0900: SAN

1000: PDX

1100: ANC

1200: LAX

17th – 0900 OT SEA

18th – 0900 Out of Domicile (ALL)

* * *

 

If you have any questions please contact your LEC president.

In Solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

AFA Alaska

2016 Open Enrollment Information

Open Enrollment starts tomorrow (Monday, November 2nd). Your AFA Benefits and Retirement Committee compiled the following information in order to assist you with navigating Open Enrollment.

General Changes

 

  • Mailer will be sent to employee’s home addresses 10/15 to advise that Open Enrollment begins on 11/02/15.
  • Follow up emails will be sent as reminders through Outlook beginning 10/30.
  • A new tool will be added to the web portal. It is called “Alex,” and is a user-friendly tool to enter information, which will then enable employees to compare and contrast different health benefits options.
  • A ‘My Alaska Benefits-Annual Enrollment Tab’ will be added to the Alaskasworld website.
  • If desired, an employee can enroll or make changes by telephone.
  • This year, confirmation of changes/enrollment emails will be sent to employees in Outlook. There will be links in these emails directing F/As back to their selections in the portal, and their portal message folder if need be.
  • Employees may carry over up to $500 in unspent Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds into 2016.

 

2016 Consumer’s Choice (Health Savings Account/HSA)

 

  • In Washington State only, the Premera Network will change from the current Heritage Network to the Premera Prime network. This only affects Washington. In Alaska, the Heritage network will remain in place. All other states use the Blue Shield network, which will not change. F/As should be reminded to check to see that their current health providers are also Premera Prime participants.
  • The company contribution will remain $1,000 for employee only and $2,000 for a family. This year all enrollees in the plan will receive an additional $500 company contribution to the plan for an individual and $1,000 for a family. This bonus is available during open enrollment only, both for those switching plans and for current Consumer’s Choice plan participants.
  • A new “HSA On-Demand” feature will be added to the Health Savings Account (HSA) website. It will be called “Click to Pay,” with a sign up and usage explanation. It will automatically draw funds from the employees account to pay bills, similar to an online bill pay service.
  • A change in the crediting and access to the company contributions will begin in 2016. Similar to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), the company contributions will be credited at the beginning of the year. IRS regulations require than an employee’s personal contributions cannot be credited until the beginning of the month in which they were actually deducted, and transferred to the HSA account.
  • If an employee has prior year contributions and/or an investment balance in their account, their cash balance would be used first. Next, they could access their investment balance, and then the company’s contributions. This might prove very beneficial for someone who incurs a large expense in the early part of the year.
  • The Health Saving Account (HSA) statements will look different this year—more information will be added. A “HSA for Dummies” booklet will be posted on the website.
  • For prior HSA plan participants who become ineligible (due to Medicare, or other disqualifiers which are listed in the booklet), the Company will contribute $500 to a Special Purpose FSA, which can be used for dental and vision expenses, as well as medical expenses after the relevant deductible is met in one of the other AS plans.
  • The 2016 HSA limit is $6750 for an individual under the age of 55.

 

Premera PPO

 

  • For 2016 forward, the plan is no longer ‘grandfathered’. The plan will provide 100% preventative health care coverage beginning in January.
  • Like the Health Spending Account (HSA), the Washington network will be Premera Prime for 2016 forward.
  • Hospice and palliative care will now be covered even for non-terminal conditions when appropriate.
  • Over the counter medications in the categories of Flonase, Nexium, and Claritin will no longer be covered, but can be submitted as a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) claim with a doctor’s written prescription.
  • Up to 90-day prescriptions for maintenance medications can now be filled in retail stores as well as through mail order. There are some exceptions depending on the medication.

* * *

 

Questions? Contact your local Benefits Committee chairperson.

 

In solidarity,

 

MEC Benefits & Retirement Committee Chairperson Terry Taylor and your AFA Benefits Committee

AFA Alaska

Much Improved Sleeping While in Uniform Policy!

AFA advocated very hard on your behalf in regard to the recent changes to the sleeping while in uniform policy. Collectively we were successful in getting management to reconsider the policy. Inflight just published Bulletin #2015-0272 “Sleeping While in Uniform” that establishes a much-improved policy.

 

The bulletin outlines that a flight attendant “may not nest in any public area where customers gather at (a) terminal”, which “includes laying down on (the) floor or on seats inside public areas of (a) terminal” (sic). Essentially this means we may use our discretion to close our eyes as long as we’re not lying down.

 

Of course a flight attendant may never sleep or give the appearance of sleeping while in uniform when customers are present on the aircraft—except when assigned a customer seat such as when deadheading or commuting.

 

The bulletin contains an additional clarification that break rooms are acceptable locations even though they may not be appropriate sleep locations for other work groups.

 

The Master Executive Council (MEC) sincerely thanks Alaska Airlines management for developing a more sensible sleeping policy for the flight attendants. We also thank our members for their resolute support in getting the policy reconsidered!

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple

AFA Alaska

What is going on with ____ (fill in the blank)?

What is going on with ____ (fill in the blank)?

 

Sometimes you just have to shake your head. First it was Open Time (going on several months now). Then Vacation Open Time yesterday. Today it’s basically everything: Alaska’s World, PET, World of Inflight, eMaestro, etc. Today’s systemic outage is reportedly for different reasons than the challenges with Open Time or Vacation Open Time.

 

AFA requested that management communicate something about the outage earlier this morning to give a more complete update. We believe they are working on it, but they are also attending to the operational challenges resulting from the outages. Hopefully more information will be out soon.

 

Beyond frustrating!

 

In solidarity,

 

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Chairperson Jake Jones

AFA Alaska

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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