Dear Fellow Flight Attendants:

On Thursday, May 9, the way that you contact your PDX AFA Representatives, Committee Members, and Officers will change.   We are pleased to introduce an easy and accessible way to get ahold of your AFA Representatives when you need them—The PDX AFA Hotline.  The PDX AFA Hotline will provide one contact telephone number that will help guide you to who you need to speak to and connect you automatically.  No longer will you need to attempt to find contact information, reference committee lists, and guess who can best help you with a situation–everything will be contained within one telephone number.

Why Are We Making This Change?

Based on feedback from Flight Attendants, we learned that people have a difficult time knowing who is on a Committee, what their contact information is, and who to call about what. The PDX AFA Hotline makes contacting Committee Members and Officers easy by having one telephone number for every need.  You will now need to save one telephone number and use it for whatever you might need.

What’s Going To Happen?

On Thursday, May 9, the PDX AFA Hotline will go live.  You’ll receive an email from the LEC Officers with the new telephone number as well as a list of the options within the system so you can dial ahead.  This list will also be posted on the AFA bulletin board in the PDX Inflight Office and on the AFA website at alaskamec.org/pdx.

In addition, new lanyard/wallet cards with the telephone number and options list will be distributed to mail files near the end of next week.  This will provide an easy-to-reference reminder about the Hotline and will make it easy to dial ahead in the system if you’d like.  The lanyard/wallet cards can also be used as a bag tag with the addition of a bag tag loop or rubber band (not provided)

Who Do I Contact If I Have Questions?

Any questions or feedback about the PDX AFA Hotline should be directed to LEC Vice President Brian Palmer (bpalmer@alaskamec.org).

We are excited to bring this new system to Portland and look forward to making your AFA Representatives easy-to-reach and more accessible to you!

In Solidarity,

Cathy & Brian
Your LEC Officers

 

 

Base Blast 2013.03.16

Official Meeting Minutes

Official Meeting Minutes

Local Council Meeting
Alaska Airlines Council 39, Portland
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 – 12:30 to 3 PM
Vancouver Room, PDX Airport Conference Center, Portland, OR

Attending:
Cathy Gwynn, LEC President
Brian Palmer, LEC Vice President
Blair Kimball, MEC Inflight Service Committee Chairperson
Contesa Diaz-Nicolaidis, LEC EAP/Professional Standards Chairperson
Barb Moynier, MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Chairperson
Bob Moore, MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson
Michael Cruz
Liz Skayhan, PDX Inflight Base Manager (Announcements Portion Only)
Cheri Soule, PDX Inflight Supervisor (Announcements Portion Only)

 

I.         Call To Order – 12:32 PM

II.         Announcements

a.     Liz Skahan – Don Davies met with the port.  PDX remodeling.  Lower level expansion not happening. Possible moving upstairs for CSA/FA shared location possible before summer. Liz will keep us posted.

b.     2 Probationary FAs coming to PDX in March.

c.     How will San Diego effect the Portland base?  Only 1 FA on list to transfer now. Target of 350 FAs in PDX.

d.     Greenlight issues with RT program.  System down 2/6 and 2/7th

e.     Mexico (SJD) – Prohibited items.  Items not used for your job may be confiscated. Laptops, cameras, tennis racquets etc.  Laptops better but other items may be taken. Recent incident with a guitar being taken by customs.  F/A detained 1 hour.

III.         Call For Late Agenda Items – None

IV.         Officer’s Reports

a.     President

i.     Cathy – BOD coming up in ORD.

ii.     Most local FA issues resolved at ADR (Alternate Dispute Resolution) meeting.  ADR minute highlights.

b.     Vice President

i.     CWA Conference in PIT in April. BOD in ORD in February.

ii.     PDX is 3rd largest base.  Excited about growth.

V.         Committee Reports

a.     Air Safety, Health, & Security – Barb Moynier

i.     Flight 816 debrief took place. More information from incident forthcoming.

ii.     Write up If FFDO doesn’t identify self during briefing.  Use ASAP or go to Barb.  Brought to Same Page meeting with pilots.

b.     Benefits – Cathy Gywnn

i.     Leave OF Absence Handbook on the AFA Website. Questions, contact AFA Benefits Chair Ann LaRue.

ii.     LTD Insurance in effect 1/1/13. Part of “me too” clause with pilots.

c.     EAP/Professional Standards – Contessa Diaz-Nicolaidis

i.     Drug and alcohol abuse/treatments number one issue. Company pays for multiple treatment sessions at 80%.

ii.     FAADAP – Flight Attendant Alcohol And Drug Abatement Program is a program that operates separate from EAP.  Alaska has a zero tolerance policy. FAADAP works with FA independently and confidentially.

d.     Government Affairs – Cathy Gwynn

i.     Working on “Fix the Senate” campaign

e.     Grievance – Cathy Gwynn

i.     Ongoing grievance for calling in Sick Child without sick time in bank changed to ED with points

f.      Hotel – Cathy Gwynn

i.     We are working on changing hotels in PDX, SJD and BOS.  All bed bug write ups have been inspected by independent exterminators have come up negative.

ii.     Encourage all to use Crew Care with concerns

g.     Inflight Service – Blair Kimball

i.     Seattle’s Chocolate Test in FEB and MAR on flights out of Seattle.

ii.     900ER Galley issues have subsided.

iii.     Continue to work on juice quantities

iv.     Water on allowed in overhead bins on KOA and LIH flights and select BLI.  Approved 28ABC overheads only. Crews not to touch.

h.     Membership – Brian Palmer

i.     A few members not in good standing

i.      Reserve – Brian Palmer

i.     Continuing Understanding Reserve program.  Great response.  This months topic is Flying Into A Day Off.   Social media via Facebook. Next months is Can They Do That?

ii.     Two new probationary FAs in March.  Welcome them.

j.      Retirement

i.     No Report

k.     VOICE – Cathy Gwynn

i.     Voice report cards go out every month.  Communication has been great.

l.      Uniforms – Bob Moore

i.     New uniforms—27 vendors narrowed to Omega and Lands End.  Rebranding will play a piece in what is chosen ultimately.

m.   MEC Standing Committees

i.     No Reports

VI.         Old Business – None

VII.         New Business

a.     AFA Board of Directors Meeting Agenda Items

i.     No questions or concerns.  Link to agenda items for BOD on MEC Website.

ii.     Brian Palmer suggested that Cathy Gwynn vote in the best interest of the membership on all agenda items.

1.     So moved by C. Diaz-Nicolaidis

2.     Seconded by M. Cruz

3.     Motion carried

b.     Michael Cruz provided some background on his view of Grievance 36-99-2-6-12 currently in motion with Alaska Airlines regarding QX Date of Hire and travel/pass policies.  He is currently on the agenda at the upcoming BOD Meeting to discuss the information.

i.     M. Cruz moved that Council 39 support the withdrawal of the grievance.

ii.     Seconded by C. Diaz-Nicolaidis

iii.     Discussion

iv.     Motion carried

c.     Michael Cruz drafted a letter of support on behalf of AFA for supporting QX date of hire integration when transferring to AS.

i.     M. Cruz moved that letter of support be adopted

ii.     Cathy Gwynn noted something of this nature would need memberships support via vote.

iii.     Brian Palmer noted that this would be most properly formatted as a resolution.  Brian will work with Michael to rewrite as a resolution to be presented to MEC at BOD

iv.     M. Cruz withdrew motion

VIII.         Adjournment – 3:09 PM