SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS – 2017 ENROLLMENT

From August 14th—16th, National Group Protection (NGP) will be in the crew lounge in Portland to communicate the AFA supplemental benefit plans.  Please look for the NGP benefit counselors during the on-site enrollment to enroll or make changes to your existing coverage.  Note that you can enroll in any of the crew lounges, not just your base location.

• Accident Insurance

• Critical Illness Coverage (NEW PLAN!)

• Whole Life Insurance

We have enhanced the Critical Illness plan—lower rates and more covered illnesses.  Please take the time to sit down with a benefit counselor and review your options.  This is also an excellent time to make sure you have filed for your annual health screening benefits, which are part of the accident and critical illness benefit plans.

• Supplemental – these plans supplement any existing coverage
• Voluntary – members choose to participate
• Limited Underwriting – no medical or physical exams required
• Family Coverage – available with all of the plans
• Portable – members can continue coverage if they leave the company
• Payroll Deduction – premiums are paid through payroll deduction

If you have any questions regarding the upcoming enrollment, please contact National Group Protection (NGP) at 800-344-9016.

PDX AFA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Applications are Being Accepted for

Local Council 39 Portland Committee Positions

If you are interested in serving on a committee, please review the requirements below and email your committee letter of interest and resume to pdx@afaalaska.orgby midnight on August 18, 2017.

Flight attendants must be current on dues and maintain their member in good standing status. Probationary flight attendants may volunteer; once they start paying union dues.

Committee Requirements 

• Regularly work 40+ TFP
• No intention of transferring from Portland in the near future.
• Considerable knowledge and adherence to Service Standards.
• Understand that this is a volunteer and not a paid position. There may be occasions for flight pay loss for meetings or projects.
• Professional in manner with Management and Flight Attendants.
• Adhere to committee policies, procedures, and standards of ethical conduct.
•  Maintain confidentiality of sensitive and personal information.
• Be an advocate and support for all flight attendants.
• Ability to communicate by email, phone, and in-person with Flight Attendants and Alaska Management.
• Working knowledge of the Current Bargaining Agreement.
• Some positions require knowledge of scheduling, pay, work rules, and duties.
• Receive guidance from AFA Officers and Committee Chair.
• Commit to volunteering for a minimum of one year.
• Provide information promptly and meet occasional deadlines.
• Must sign a Willingness to Serve Commitment

Committee Descriptions

Air Safety Health Security http://afaalaska.org/ashsc

ASHSC acts in an advisory role to the LEC Officers on safety matters. Studies local air safety and health problems and prepares recommendations to the LEC Officers for consideration. The committee reviews and handles correspondence keeping the members informed of developments. You may be asked to attend management debriefings regarding safety related issues.

Benefits http://afaalaska.org/benefits#purpose

The Benefits Committee works to educate and provide assistance to in all matters involving benefits (including insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs)

Employee Assistance http://afaalaska.org/eap

The EAP is a support service provided by Flight Attendants for Flight Attendants. EAP peer representatives are trained to provide three distinct, but interrelated, services that include assessment, support, and referral. The EAP also handles professional standards and critical incident response.

Government Affairs http://afaalaska.org/governmentaffairs

The Government Affairs Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and pursue legislative activities that relate to the AFA-CWA political agenda and to build positive relationships with candidates for office and elected officials regardless of party.

Grievance http://afaalaska.org/grievance

The Grievance Committee’s is responsible for the protection of Flight Attendants against arbitrary and unjust disciplinary action and the upholding of the collective bargaining agreement.

Hotel http://afaalaska.org/hotel

The Hotel Committee investigates complaints regarding hotels and transportation and periodically inspects layover hotels for any decline in quality. The committee surveys potential hotels and attempts to eliminate or avoid any possible problems.

Inflight Service http://afaalaska.org/inflightservice

The Inflight Service Committee represents Flight Attendant interests regarding catering and inflight service/sales and addresses complaints and concerns regarding catering and inflight service/sales.

Retirement http://afaalaska.org/retirement

The Retirement Committee assists members with questions regarding retirement, 401(k) plans, and other investment vehicles that may become available and keep members up-to-date and educated about these programs.

Scheduling http://afaalaska.org/scheduling

The Scheduling Committee assists Flight Attendants with concerns relating to pairings or scheduling including legalities.

Uniform http://afaalaska.org/uniform

The Uniform Committee is responsible for ensuring contract language compliance in the area of uniforms. The Committee represents Flight Attendant interests to management regarding design, fabric selection, and other details.

AFA Council 39 Information http://afaalaska.org/pdx

An applicant cannot be guaranteed an interview. Resumes and letters of interest will be screened for qualifications, and successful applicants will be invited to interview.

In Solidarity,

LEC Council 39 Officers

Mario de”Medici, Krystle Berry, Alan Sousa

Your AFA ASHSC (Air Safety, Health and Security Committee) has been working for some time to find ways to address injuries attributed to push up style overhead bins and passengers carry-on bags.

With the encouragement and support of the ASHSC the company has been successful in getting Boeing to develop a lift assist mechanism for the Space Bins which the company is in the process of installing. This is helpful, but we know more needs to be done since push up style bins will be with us for the foreseeable future.

To that end we have partnered with Inflight Safety & Compliance and Alaska Air Group Safety to conduct a safety risk assessment of the boarding process focusing on overhead bins and carry-on bags.

To support that effort, we encourage all F/As who have been injured operating overhead bins or by handling or being struck by carry-on bags to fill out the anonymous survey sent out Friday in Andy’s What’s Happening. For convenience we have provided a link to that survey below.

In Solidarity,

Mario de’Medici, Krystle Berry, Alan Sousa

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

The Master Executive Council (MEC) announces a vacancy for the position of MEC Scheduling Committee chairperson. On Thursday afternoon, Zac Weeks offered and the MEC accepted his resignation as MEC Scheduling Committee chairperson, effective immediately. The MEC wishes Zac the best in his future endeavors and thanks him for his service to AFA.

The MEC is currently determining a succession plan for the position, and we will provide an update once a decision has been made. In the meantime, continue to utilize your local Scheduling Committee members or Local Executive Council officers for scheduling-related issues.

In Solidarity,

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