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AFA Reminders – May 30, 2019

In this edition:

  • AFA Census closes on May 31
  • Report adjoining hotel rooms on CrewCare
  • FDA requires stronger warnings about rare but serious incidents related to sleep medications

AFA Census closes on May 31!

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA 2019 Census is a project to better understand the demographic make-up of our union, including your aspirations, needs, and preferences. We also want to know in what areas of your community you may already be engaged in making a difference for you, your family, and the place where you live. All of this will help us build power together so we can continue to advance our Flight Attendant careers.

The University of New Hampshire Survey Center (UNHSC) is conducting this very important data gathering effort. You should have received emails and possibly a phone call to encourage you to complete the Census. You may have a pre-filled email from “Sara Nelson via UNH” with the subject line “AFA Census – Response Requested.”

Our contract with UNHSC ensures your information remains confidential within AFA. It does not allow UNHSC to share any of your information with outside organizations. A summary of the final results will be shared with AFA members.

The AFA census can be accessed using the following link: https://unh.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9TguTDVCSOZJEmF.

Reminder: report adjoining hotel rooms on CrewCare

A message from your Hotel Committee

As previously published on April 9, your Hotel Committee needs your assistance in reporting instances of adjoining rooms with connecting doors assigned to crews on layovers.  If you are assigned an adjoining and connecting room, even if you are able to switch rooms, please make note of the hotel, room number and date and file a CrewCare report on the situation.

CrewCare reports are automatically routed to Alaska management, API (Accommodations Plus International, the company’s hotel contractor), and your AFA Hotel Committee Members.  Representatives from API and management use the data from the reports to follow up on each situation with the corresponding hotel.  CrewCare can be easily accessed from the Hotel, Travel, & Station menu of the inflight website or by using the CrewCare icon on the home screen of your IMD.

Management has asked that we report these situations each and every time that they occur.  The more information that we are able to provide, the more effectively each hotel can be held accountable.

FDA requires stronger warnings about rare but serious incidents related to sleep medications

A message from your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

Updated warnings for eszopiclon (Lunesta) zaleplon (Sonata) and zolpidem (Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, Intermezzo, and Zolpimist).

At the end of April 2019, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that the agency’s most prominent warning will now be required on certain prescription insomnia drugs.  The warning follows FDA’s review of 66 cases of serious injuries and/or  deaths resulting from various complex sleep behaviors after taking these medicines. These complex sleep behaviors have included  falls, burns, near-drowning, exposure to extreme cold temperatures leading to loss of limb or near death, self-injuries such as gunshot wounds, carbon monoxide poisoning, fatal motor vehicle collisions with the patient driving and suicide. The new warnings will be required for eszopiclone (Lunesta), zaleplon (Sonata) and zolpidem (Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, Intermezzo, and Zolpimist).

“While these incidents are rare, they are serious and it’s important that patients and health care professionals are aware of the risk. These incidents can occur after the first dose of these sleep medicines or after a longer period of treatment, and can occur in patients without any history of these behaviors and even at the lowest recommended doses,” said FDA Acting Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D.  In addition to the warning, the agency is requiring the addition of a contraindication to not use these medicines in patients who have experienced an episode of complex sleep behaviors after taking them. The warning and contraindication are intended to make the warning more prominent and reflect the risk of serious injury and death.

Upcoming AFA Board of Directors Meeting

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers, Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents, and many other LEC Officers and Committee Chairs will be attending the 47th Annual AFA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting next week in Denver, Colorado.  This annual meeting is where AFA conducts the business of our Union at the international level.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, March 19Executive Board Meeting (MEC President from each airline)
Wednesday, March 20Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, March 21March Regular MEC Meeting

BOD Meeting Agenda Items

Your LEC President represents you and the other members of your Local Council on the Board of Directors and will be casting votes on your behalf at the BOD meeting.  Your MEC Officers serve in an ex-officio capacity on the BOD but do not have voting privileges.

This year, as in all odd numbered years, the only advanced agenda item for consideration by the Board is the annual AFA-CWA budget. Each LEC held a Local Council meeting over the past several weeks to discuss the proposed budget and gain your feedback.  You can find details about the proposed 2019-2020 AFA-CWA budget at http://afa-bod.org/index-of-agenda-items.

Questions?

If you have any questions or thoughts about the BOD meeting or the proposed AFA-CWA budget, please contact your LEC President.

In Solidarity,

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

Commuter Boarding Priority Arbitration

On October 25, 2018, the Company and AFA arbitrated Grievance 36-99-2-29-15 (Section 28.G.6 Commuter Boarding Priority). This grievance alleged the Company’s violation of the collective bargaining agreement when management allowed Company employees (and their dependents) on pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants. AFA is very pleased to inform you that a neutral arbitrator has found in favor of AFA’s position. 

Background

In 2015, AFA became aware that management had made changes to the employee travel program giving management employees at the director level and certain IT employees a boarding priority of D2 for space-available pleasure travel. D2 is above the boarding priority of D8 for space-available registered commuter travel and well above the boarding priority of E1 that most employees receive for space-available pleasure travel. Contract 2014-2019 Section 28.G [Commuter Policy] states that registered commuters will be given boarding priority over Company employees (and dependents) on pleasure travel and over all employees of other airlines on Alaska Airlines mainline flights. 

The Award

The parties recently received the final award, which specifies:

  1. The grievance was timely filed.
  2. The Company violated Section 28.G.6 of the 2014-2019 Agreement when it allowed Company employees and their dependents on non-revenue pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants.
  3. The Company is prohibited from granting Company employees and their dependents on non-revenue pleasure travel to be given higher boarding priority than commuting Flight Attendants.

The Remedy

Management estimates it will take approximately eight weeks to implement the required changes to Fly in order to become contractually compliant. When the changes are complete, the D2 boarding priority will be deactivated for Directors (and their dependents), and they will use the E1Y space-available pleasure travel boarding priority instead. This award decision is a very satisfying resolution for AFA. This award decision is a very satisfying resolution for AFA. The award restores the proper boarding priority for space-available registered commuter travel relative to all other employees on space-available pleasure travel. It also sends a clear message to management that proper notice must be given to the union for changes to Company Policy and that unilateral changes to policy in conflict with contract language doesn’t fly!  

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 Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

MEC Grievance Committee Assistant Interviews

Background

The MEC Grievance Committee Assistant is responsible for providing administrative support to the MEC Grievance Committee and Local Grievance Committees.  The Assistant works closely with the MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson, Local Grievance Committee Chairpersons, Scheduling Committee, and Reserve Committee to ensure Flight Attendant receive the best possible representation.

Qualifications

  • Robust working knowledge of the Flight Attendant collective bargaining agreement, specifically the scheduling, reserve, grievance procedures, board of adjustment, and compensation sections.
  • Ability to maintain office hours in Seattle during the business week and attend meetings as required.
  • Strong computer skills. Excellent working knowledge of Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA), Google email, osTicket, and Microsoft Office preferred.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to write communications, respond professionally to internal and external e-mail, track issues, prepare reports, and plan meeting agendas and take minutes.
  • Ability to meet deadlines and follow up on assigned tasks.
  • Previous Grievance, Scheduling, or Reserve Committee experience strongly preferred.

Duties

  • Provide procedural assistance and administrative guidance to Local Grievance Committees in handling Flight Attendant concerns.
  • Maintain the grievance log.  Assign grievance numbers when requested and log appropriately.  File grievances as requested.  Ensure copies of all filed grievances are received and filed appropriately.  
  • Oversee the Scheduling Review Board (SRB) process.  Facilitate SRB meetings.  Maintain the SRB agenda, keep and distribute meeting minutes, update osTicket records with meeting outcomes, and post meeting notes for member review. 
  • Participate in the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process as a notetaker.  Maintain the ADR agenda, keep and distribute meeting minutes, update osTicket records with meeting outcomes, and post meeting notes for member review.
  • Serve as system administrator of the osTicket system.  Set up new users, maintain user accounts, and conduct all new user training. Conduct daily and weekly reviews of the system to ensure all tickets are receiving proper follow-up.  Coordinate with corresponding Committee Chairpersons or Officers to address and resolve open issues.
  • Maintain grievance files.  Ensure each file contains all necessary documentation.  Handle all requests for retrieval of files by authorized Committee Members, Officers, or AFA staff and provide requested files within established timeframes.  Oversee and maintain electronic file system.
  • Maintain records of all memorandums of understanding, letters of agreement, and labor memorandums.  Post newly executed documents to the AFA website and arrange for inclusion on the IMD. 
  • Maintain the Grievance Committee calendar.  Schedule and plan meetings and conference calls as needed.
  • Participate in meetings with management at the request of the MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson or MEC Officers.
  • Develop, write, and edit correspondence and other communications.  Assist in preparation of monthly committee reports to the MEC and quarterly committee reports to the Members.
  • Other duties as assigned by the MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson or MEC Officers.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

  • This position is budgeted for 60 TFP of Flight Pay Loss (FPL) per month, paid with a 5% override.
  • Time commitment is approximately two days per week in Seattle with additional work completed remotely or in the office as necessary.  No relocation or accommodation expense is provided for this position.
  • The MEC Grievance Committee Assistant will have two pre-arranged, pre-planned absences (at 6.0 TFP credit per day) loaded into her/his schedule each work week for bidding purposes. Alternatively, s/he may be placed on “no bid” status with MEC approval.

Working Relationships

With The MEC Grievance Committee

This position works directly on a day-to-day basis with the MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson and Payroll Representative. Frequent interaction with Local Grievance Committee Members.

With Other MEC Committees

Frequent interaction with the MEC Committee Chairperson and Local Committee Chairpersons of the Scheduling and Reserve Committees. Occasional interaction with Local Committee Members of each committee.

With The Master Executive Council

This position reports to the Master Executive Council through the MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson. The MEC executive sponsor for the committee is the MEC President.

With Alaska Airlines Management

Constant interaction with management, particularly the Managing Director of Labor Relations—Inflight (Carmen Williams), Manager of Labor Relations (Mike Link), and Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling (Denia Pisia).  Occasional interaction with Inflight Crew Scheduling Duty Managers and other members of management.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

  • Submit a declaration of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou at linda.christou@afaalaska.org no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Linda will be able to provide additional information regarding transportation and booking of flights if necessary.
  • Initial interviews will be conducted by telephone or videoconference from January 28-30, 2019.  Linda will contact eligible candidates to arrange a timeslot for an interview.
  • Final candidates will be invited to interview with the MEC by telephone or videoconference on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

Questions?

Please direct any questions about the position to MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams at stephanie.adams@afaalaska.org.

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 Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams


SFO Co-Terminal Negotiations

Management has recently approached AFA regarding their desire to negotiate a co-terminal agreement for the SFO domicile.  Alaska Airlines currently operates a co-terminal agreement at LAX, which allows pairings to be built to begin and end at co-terminal airports through the Los Angeles metropolitan area.  If adopted, an SFO co-terminal agreement would allow a similar arrangement for pairings to begin and end at co-terminal airports throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Why Negotiations?  Can’t Management Just Open Co-Terminals?

Though management retains the right to open and close domiciles at their discretion within the guidelines spelled out in the collective bargaining agreement, co-terminals are not domiciles in themselves but rather additional airports that are part of a single domicile.  There is no contractual mechanism that allows management to add additional airports to a domicile, therefore an agreement must be negotiated. 

Special Negotiating Committee To Be Formed

The voting members of your Master Executive Council (MEC), consisting of the six directly-elected LEC Presidents, have approved the creation of a special negotiating committee to negotiate a co-terminal agreement with management.  The committee will consist of three Negotiating Committee Members who will be selected by the MEC.  The MEC President serves as Chairperson of the committee per the AFA Constitution & Bylaws.

Although a co-terminal agreement would certainly effect Flight Attendants based at SFO, it would also have a further reaching impact throughout the system.  With more trips being able to begin and end at co-terminal airports, there would likely be a reduction in layovers in these locations. The systemwide distribution of flying would also be impacted as co-terminal airports would begin accommodating pairings built out of those locations.  For this reason, the Special Negotiating Committee positions are open to Flight Attendants from all domiciles.

Special Negotiating Committee Positions

Scope of the Special Negotiating Committee

The Special Negotiating Committee will negotiate an agreement for co-terminal airports to be added to the SFO domicile.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Special Negotiating Committee

From Section VI.A.2 of the AFA-CWA Policy Manual

The duties and responsibilities of the Negotiating Committee shall include the following:

a.         The Committee, with the advice of the Staff Negotiator shall have the authority to conclude an agreement, subject to the provisions of Article XII. of the Constitution and Bylaws.

b.         All members of the Committee, including alternates whenever possible, shall complete a negotiations training seminar prior to writing an “opener.”

c.         Committee members shall be familiar with Union policy and keep abreast of new developments in the industry.

d.         Committee members shall utilize the facilities and resources of the Union and the experience and knowledge of Union Officers, International Office staff and study committees of the Union. (e.g., Legal, Retirement and Insurance, Wage and Working Conditions, etc.).

e.         Committee members shall maintain a current record of the:

(1)        Financial condition of the company.

(2)        Management lines of authority and methods of communication.

(3)        Operations statistics and experiences of the airline which may be used in bargaining, grievances, litigation, etc.

f.          Committee members shall be familiar with the wishes of the flight attendant group with respect to wages, working conditions, and work rules, through, for example, system-wide distribution of contract surveys, periodic road shows, etc.

g.         The Committee, with the advice of the Staff Negotiator, shall prepare the contract opener.

h.         The Committee shall provide regular updates to the membership on the status of negotiations through, for example, newsletters, hotlines, telephone trees, etc.

i.          The Committee shall maintain a complete record of the negotiations, including proposals, notes and communications, and such record is the property of AFA-CWA. A copy of this record will be forwarded to the International Office by the Negotiating Committee.

Expectations/Qualifications

  • Appointed by the AFA Alaska MEC and terms are served to completion at the approval of the MEC.  Takes direction from the chairperson of the Special Negotiating Committee (i.e. in this case the MEC President) with input from the AFA International Collective Bargaining Department (i.e. staff negotiator) and Legal Department (i.e. staff attorney).  After successful ratification of the SFO Co-Terminal Agreement will continue to serve as a contract interpretation resource for the agreement.
  • Maintain a complete record of negotiations including proposals, notes and communications. Such record is the property of AFA-CWA.
  • Public interactions (including social media) must reflect favorably on AFA Alaska.  If requested by AFA Alaska, Special Negotiating Committee Members must be willing to reasonably limit social media interactions for the duration of preparation, negotiations and implementation.
  • Ability to tolerate controversy amongst one’s peers.
  • Willing to travel for training, preparation, negotiations, roadshows and other meetings as needed.
  • Must be willing to adjust her/his schedule as needed, sometimes with very little notice.

Flight Pay Loss/Expenses

  • 6 TFP for each 8 hours of work 
  • Travel time is unpaid; exceptions will be treated on a case-by-case basis.
  • Meal & incidentals and other expenses to be reimbursed according to AFA Alaska Policy Manual and AFA-CWA C&B.

How to Express Interest In the Positions

  • Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest letter and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou at linda.christou@afaalaska.org.
  • The expression of interest letter should include responses to the following questions:
    • What interests you about this position?
    • Why do you believe you are a good candidate for the position?
    • What is your understanding of the LAX co-terminal agreement that is currently in place?
  • The deadline for applications is Friday, February 1, 2019 at 5 PM Pacific time.
  • Linda will contact applicants to coordinate an interview with the MEC and arrange travel (if necessary).  Interviews will be held at the AFA MEC Office in Seattle, WA on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

Questions?

Any questions regarding Special Negotiating Committee positions should be directed to MEC President Jeffrey Peterson at jeffrey.peterson@afaalaska.org.

In Solidarity,

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

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