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Open Time Programming Changes

eMaestro update tonight

 

There will be an eMaestro outage beginning at 11 pm Pacific Time tonight (Wednesday, January 27th) for a system update.  This update should bring the programmed Open Time (OT) trading rules into contractual compliance with the language in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) §12.F [Open Time Trial]. Changes to trading rules will be effective when eMaestro is brought back online.

 

Pairing codes and trading rules

 

The new OT system will include codes displayed next to the pairings.  The codes will be TO (“Trading down is Open”) / CP (“CouPon Drop”) / DD (“Direct Drop”) / TX (“Trading down is eXcluded”)—or the code may be blank.  Each pairing with the code TO, CP or DD on a particular day of departure together make up the Threshold Sequence Number (TSN), which determines if the day is “limited” (closed).  Any trip with the TO/CP/DD code may be traded up or down regardless of the number of days as long as the trip exchanged reports on the same day.

Day for day trading!

 

With this update there will be additional trading capabilities regarding day for day trading, including multiple sequence trades in Open Time! The multiple sequence trading rules are more favorable than the language currently in §12.F [Open Time Trial], which was a pleasant surprise to AFA when discovered earlier this week. Management has agreed to incorporate these multiple sequence trading rules into the OT Trial. Due to the short lead-time, the parties were unable to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to supplement the language of §12.F prior to the programming patch going live. However, we will publish that MOU as soon as possible.

Single or multiple sequence trade: TX or uncoded

 

If a pairing in Open Time is labeled TX (“Trading down is eXcluded”) or it has a blank designation, then that pairing can be traded for one or more pairings on your line as long as the trips being traded off of your line cover the same dates as the trip being picked up in OT even if there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line. The trip(s) on your line does not necessarily have to report on the same date of report as the trip in OT as long as the trip(s) being traded off of your line covers the same dates as the trip in OT or more.

 

Example: Two turns on your line starting on the 1st and 2nd can be traded for a 2-day in OT starting on the 1st that is coded TX and the 1st is “limited” (closed).

 

Example: A turn starting on the 1st and a 2-day starting on the 3rd on your line can be traded for a 4-day in OT starting on the 1st that is coded TX and the 1st is “limited” (closed)—even though there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line.

 

Single sequence trade: TO/CP/DD

 

No change to current trading rules.

Multiple sequence trade: TO/CP/DD

 

If a pairing in Open Time is labeled TO/CP/DD, then that pairing can be traded for one or more pairings on your line as long as the trips being traded off of your line cover the same dates as the trip being picked up in OT—even if there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line; none of the days of departure of the trips being traded off of your line can be “limited” (closed) in OT. Again, the trip(s) on your line does not necessarily have to report on the same date of report as the trip in OT as long as the trip(s) being traded off of your line covers the same dates as the trip in OT or more.

 

Example: Two turns on your line starting on the 1st and 2nd can be traded for a 2-day in OT starting on the 1st that is coded TO/CP/DD if both the 1st and the 2nd are open.

 

Example: A turn starting on the 1st and a 2-day starting on the 3rd on your line can be traded for a 4-day in OT starting on the 1st that is coded TO/CP/DD if both the 1st and the 3rd are open—even though there is a gap between the trips being traded off of your line. In this case, it does not matter whether the 2nd and the 4th are “limited” (closed) or open.

 

* * *

 

More information can be found in §12.F [Open Time Trial]. Because so much of this is new to everybody, naturally there will be questions. Use your Local Executive Council (LEC) officers or Scheduling Committee members as resources but please be patient while everyone familiarizes themselves with the new rules. We’ll have several weeks to play with the new trading rules prior to March Open Time opening on February 17th for Seattle and February 16th for all other bases. The Open Time Trial as referenced in §12.F.10 will officially commence on those dates.

 

In solidarity,

 

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

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Introducing AFA Pairing Analyst Karen Ferrell

At the January meeting of the Master Executive Council (MEC) earlier this week, your MEC interviewed candidates for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson for Pairing Construction, commonly referred to as the AFA Pairing Analyst.  In total, four candidates interviewed for the position (one Anchorage-based flight attendant, two Seattle-based flight attendants and one Los Angeles-based flight attendant).  The MEC sincerely thanks the candidates for stepping forward.  After much discussion, the MEC has appointed Karen Ferrell to the position.

About Karen

Karen has worked for Alaska Airlines for over 37 years in various job capacities. Currently she is an Anchorage-based flight attendant and has been for 17 years. Karen is also the AFA Council 30 Anchorage vice president and Local Executive Council (LEC) co-chair of the Scheduling Committee.

Karen says, “I have always been interested in the scheduling aspect of our job, and before the current system sat with [Anchorage based flight attendant and former AFA line builder] Anita Davis on a few occasions to try to learn and understand what was then ‘line building.’ …Over the last several years, the quality of our pairings has continued to deteriorate. And though I understand there are many variables to consider, it is my hope that there is a solution that will satisfy the Company’s desire to save money AND create a variety of pairings that can satisfy the diverse needs of our work group.”

* * *

The MEC thanks MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones for continuing to run pairing solutions on behalf of AFA until Karen can be brought up to speed. She is scheduled to attend training at a Jeppesen training facility in Montreal in early April. Congratulations, Karen!

 

In Solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones; and AFA Pairing Analyst Karen Ferrell

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2015 Performance Based Pay

PBP is 9.3% of 2015 eligible earnings

 

Congratulations for another generous Performance Based Pay (PBP) payout! The 2015 PBP for most employees—including flight attendants—is 9.3% of eligible earnings, which is the equivalent of nearly five weeks of pay. More information about PBP can be found on Alaska’s World at https://splash.alaskasworld.com/News/2016/01/21_pbp.asp (login required).

 

PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings for flight attendants

 

Flight attendants first received PBP in 2009, which was paid in early 2010 and incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement as part of the 2010 Contract Extension. Flight attendants previously participated in the Variable Pay Plan (VPP), which had a maximum payout of 7.0% of eligible earnings. PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings over the past seven years that flight attendants have been receiving PBP.

 

PBP is very competitive when compared to profit sharing plans at other carriers

 

If you have heard that profit sharing at another carrier is better than our PBP, know this: Profit sharing for line employees at most other carriers has been lucrative only in the last few years. When you consider that PBP has paid out an average of 8.8% of eligible earnings in every year we’ve been on the plan (since 2009), PBP is very competitive when compared with the best of other profit sharing plans in the industry.

 

* * *

 

Thank you for all your hard work—now let’s all pull together to achieve the maximum PBP payout in 2016!

 

In solidarity,

 

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

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Winter Storm Jonas Update January 22, 2016 @ 1225 PDT

AFA and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to extend the provisions of 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] to Philadelphia (PHL) due to Winter Storm Jonas.

 

Currently covered under 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] for Winter Storm Jonas: JFK, EWR, PHL, BWI, IAD and DCA.

 

Questions? Contact your Local Executive Council officers or Scheduling Committee members.

 

In solidarity,

 

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

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Winter Storm Jonas Update January 22, 2016 @ 1030 PT

AFA and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to extend the provisions of 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] to the greater New York metro area (EWR & JFK). Crew Scheduling is arranging for all crews either currently in rest or scheduled to overnight in EWR or JFK to be turned out of Newark tonight. The provisions of 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] now include BWI, IAD, DCA, JFK and EWR.

 

If you have any questions, contact your Local Executive Council officers or Scheduling Committee members.

AFA-Alaska-Logo-Transparent-Background

 

In solidarity,

 

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

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