Latest News – Page 317

MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Chairperson Opening

January 27, 2014 20:20

Dear Flight Attendants:

Due to the cancelation of our January MEC meeting to accommodate the TA Roadshows, the previously scheduled interviews for the position of MEC Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee Chairperson have been re-scheduled. The interviews will now be held February 19 and 20 at the MEC office in Seattle.

For those of you interested in applying for this position, there is still time to submit your resume. Please submit your resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Gesch by fax at (206) 246-4752 or by email at ysgesch@gmail.com. Resumes must be submitted by February 10, 2014. Yvette will then contact you to schedule your interview.

For a description of the position responsibilities please see below. If after reviewing this information, you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact current MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Chairperson Barb Moynier at shsc@alaskamec.org or MEC Vice President Brian Palmer, who oversees our MEC Committees, at bpalmer@alaskamec.org.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, and Sandra Morrow

Scope

a. The Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (SHSC) shall work with the Company on matters pertaining to cabin and Flight Attendant safety and health.

Policy/Responsibilities

a. The MEC SHSC shall consist of the MEC SHSC Chairperson, MEC SHSC Vice Chairperson—Air Quality, and the Local SHSC Chairperson from each council.

b. The MEC SHSC Chairperson is the primary contact with the Company, the FAA and the International office, regarding Flight Attendant safety and health issues.

c. The MEC Chairperson shall:

(i) Attend any safety meetings with the company.

(ii) Attend FAA/Alaska Airlines safety meetings.

(iii) Attend AFA-CWA Air Safety Department training seminars

(iv) In conjunction with the International Office, develop and conduct initial and ongoing local Safety/Health training, including NTSB accident investigation procedures

(v) Communicate with the AFA-CWA Air Safety Department.

(vi) Communicate with other airline safety representatives, as appropriate.

(vii) Participate in accident investigation, hijacking, sabotage, etc., as directed.

(viii) Communicate with the Alaska ALPA MEC Safety Chairperson as appropriate.

(ix) Attend and participate in Congressional hearings dealing with cabin safety, as directed.

(x) Assign special safety assignments to local Safety/Health Chairpersons as appropriate. The MEC officers and appropriate LEC President shall be advised of these special assignments.

(xi) Handle safety incidents, i.e. equipment problems, occupational injuries, as they arise.

(xii) Compose informational and educational articles of interest to the membership and provide them to the MEC Communications Chairperson to be included in MEC communications and posted to the MEC website.

(xiii) Be on a 24-hour call-out in the event of an accident.

d. The committee shall:

(i) Participate in programs concerned with air safety, health and security.

(ii) Act in an advisory role to the MEC on safety and health matters.

(iii) Study safety and health problems and prepare recommendations to be presented to the MEC for consideration.

(iv) Review material, handle correspondence and keep members informed of safety and health developments through the Communications Committee and/or reports at Local Council meetings.

(v) Attend company debriefings after an accident or incident or when pertinent issues are discussed.

Position Description Information (Please Review Both Links)

Frequently Asked Questions About the Tentative Agreement (TA)

January 21, 2014 21:06

Dear Flight Attendants:

During the past two weeks, your Negotiating Committee and members of the Master Executive Council (MEC) have been conducting a series of TA Roadshows in the Flight Attendant domiciles throughout our system. While conducting these sessions, we have heard similar questions being asked by many of you in regard to certain sections of the TA. To assist in your understanding and to help bring clarity to these common questions, the Negotiating Committee has developed a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and corresponding answers.

Please take a few moments and read over the FAQ, which you can find here: http://alaskamec.org/ta/faq. On this page, you’ll find answers to general questions about the TA, negotiating timeline and procedures under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), as well as answers pertaining to specific sections and negotiated language. Additionally, the FAQ contains a correction to insurance costing projections based on exact figures whereas estimates were used at the roadshows. We hope that once you’ve had the opportunity to read over the FAQ, many of the rumors and misconceptions that have manifested about the TA will be put to rest.

If you have a question that is not answered in the FAQ, we invite you to attend one of the 2nd round of roadshows to be held the first two weeks of February. The roadshow schedule is posted on the TA info page, which can be found here: http://alaskamec.org/ta. In addition, you are always welcome to contact the Negotiating Committee directly to get your questions answered by emailing negotiations@alaskamec.org.

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Tracy, Karina Cameron-Fetters, Jake Jones and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

Adverse Weather Advisory: AFA International Office

January 21, 2014 10:01

Dear Flight Attendants:

Due to a rapid accumulation of snow in the Washington, DC area, staff members at the AFA International Office have been asked to stay at home today for their safety. We realize many of you may be attempting to contact the International Office for assistance with ballot and voting information for the T/A and LEC Officer nominations for SEA and PDX. You may leave a message for the Membership Services Department using their contact telephone number and messages will be returned as soon as possible once the office has reopened.

Membership Services Contact Information

To contact the Membership Services Department, follow these instructions:

Ballot and Voting Questions

Flight Attendants who do not receive their voting instructions with the 16 digit activation code must call the AFA Ballot Helpline 1-800-424-2401 PRESS 1 then EXT 706. (after the polls open 1-17-14)

Dues or Membership Issues

Flight Attendants who have dues or membership issues please have them call AFA Membership Services 1-800-424-2401 Press 7.

The office is normally staffed Monday through Friday 9:30 AM to 5 PM EST.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeff Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, and Sandra Morrow

Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Begin Voting on New Agreement

January 17, 2014 10:12

Washington, DC – Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today begin voting on a new contract that includes top-of-the-industry improvements in many categories. Voting concludes on February 14 at 9:00 am PST with results announced shortly after.

“Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants have earned industry awards over the years and worked with management to create a winning strategy for our airline and it is important that a new contract reflect those contributions. Throughout these negotiations, Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants mobilized for an agreement that recognizes our award-winning role. While the AFA negotiating committee worked tirelessly for the priorities identified by the membership, the decision is up to the over 3,100 Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA President at Alaska Airlines.

The tentative agreement was reached in December 2013 with the assistance of the National Mediation Board.

The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 68 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 60,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.

Negotiations Update January 13, 2014: Tentative Agreement (TA) Ratification Ballots Mailed

January 13, 2014 19:19

Dear Flight Attendants,

Ballots for the Tentative Agreement (TA) ratification vote are currently being mailed out. Polls open 1/17/2014 (Friday) and close 2/14/2014. It is extremely important for all eligible Members to vote! For your information, a non-vote does not count one way or the other. Also, you may change your vote multiple times—the final vote on record is the one which will be counted.

Flight Attendants who do not receive their voting instructions with the 16 digit activation code must call the AFA Ballot Helpline 1-800-424-2401, press 1 then EXT 706 (after the polls open 1/17/2014). If you have not received your voting instructions by Monday 1/20/2014 or so then please call the AFA Ballot Helpline.

Flight Attendants who have dues or membership issues please call AFA Membership Services 1-800-424-2401, press 7.

AFA Membership Services is staffed Monday through Friday 930AM EST to 5PM EST.

Voting Instructions: As with the LEC officer elections, Flight Attendants will receive a ballot packet containing the voting instructions including a 16-digit activation code and the voting guide. These will be mailed from the mail house in Maryland on 1/13/2014. The activation code is specific to each Member therefore new instruction or voting guides will not and cannot be mailed. If a Flight Attendant does not receive her/his ballot packet, s/he must contact the AFA Ballot Helpline. A new activation code with instructions will be emailed from the voting system directly to the Member.

A Flight Attendant must be an active member in good standing to be eligible to vote.

Active: They must not be on an unpaid leave of absence; however if they are within the 3 month window then they are eligible.

EX: FA is on an unpaid leave as of 1/1/2014. Their 3 month dues obligation is JAN, FEB & MAR. This person is eligible to vote without any issues.

EX: FA is on an unpaid LOA as of 10/1/2013. Their 3 month dues obligation is OCT, NOV, DEC 2013. This person is not eligible to vote unless they contact Membership Services and pay their dues through and including February 2014 [AFA C&B Article II C.1.b(3)].

Probationary Flight Attendants: Flight Attendant not off probation as of 2/14/2014 are not eligible to vote and cannot make themselves eligible to vote, nor will they receive the voting instructions. However, if a probationary Flight Attendant is off probation on or before 2/14/2014 they are eligible to vote during the entire voting period.

Member: A Flight Attendant must be a member to cast a vote. Non-members or agency fee payers are not eligible to vote. However, they will receive the voting instructions with a 16-digit activation code. These non-members can make themselves active by completing a membership application and paying the $60 initiation fee (due immediately). These individual must contact AFA Membership Services.

Good Standing: If a Flight Attendant is delinquent in paying their dues they are not eligible to cast a vote. These F/As will receive the voting instructions with an activation code, however they will not be able to cast a vote until they settle their account. These individuals must contact AFA Membership Services

Address Update: AFA Membership Services will be uploading the roster into the ballot system on 1/19/2014. Until then a Member may submit an address update via the AFA Membership Services change of address web page: www.afacwa.org/coa.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow