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Council 15 May Updates

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CA Based Local Council Membership Meeting


As previously communicated, our local Council meeting will be Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 1100 PDT. The meeting will be via Zoom and is open to all members of Councils 15 (SAN), 18 (LAX) and 35 (SFO) in good standing.  The primary purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the AFA Board of Director’s meeting scheduled for May 13-14, and any local council agenda items.  Please submit local council agenda items to san@afaalaska.org prior to May 5th, 2021.  Advance registration is required using a personal (non-company) email address. To receive confirmation to attend, please register here.

MEC President Jeff Peterson has offered to be available to answer any questions regarding the Contract Extension Tentative Agreement during the first portion of the meeting.

Road Show Videos Posted For TA Extension Vote

All four virtual roadshows have been posted. Recordings of the Zoom sessions and their respective transcripts (when available) may be accessed from the Contract Extension 2021 webpage –> Virtual Roadshows –> Session Recordings.

The MEC highly encourages you to check out the 2nd roadshow with special guest panelists AFA Director of Collective Bargaining Joe Burns and Aviation Economist Dan Akins of FlightPath Economics.

Click here for the 2nd  roadshow video >

Did Not Receive a Ballot or Misplaced Your Activation Code

Flight Attendants who do not receive their voting instructions with the 16-digit activation code after the polls open may request a new code and instructions by filling out an online form. Membership Services will process these requests and a new activation code with instructions will be emailed directly to the Member as soon as possible during regular business hours.

Click here for the Request a New Activation Code form > 

Alternatively, you may call the AFA Ballot Helpline at (800) 424-2401, choose option 1, then enter extension 706. Flight Attendants who have dues or membership issues should call AFA Membership Services at (800) 424-2401 and choose option 7.

AFA Membership Services and the AFA Ballot Helpline are staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM EDT. The AFA International office is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so everyone is working from home. Please leave a voice message with your name, Peoplesoft number and a good callback number. Someone will return your call as soon as possible during regular business hours.

Dues, is the Invoice You Received Correct?

AFA International recently updated their billing systems. There were also several types of leaves due to Covid that may not have been coded consecutively. Your invoice may be showing you owe more than you do.

Before paying your invoice or if you’ve already paid please contact AFA Membership Services at (800) 424-2401 and choose option 7. AFA Membership Services is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM ET. Keep in mind that the AFA International office is currently closed due to the pandemic, so everyone is working from home. Please leave a message and someone will call you back as soon as possible during regular business hours.

You can also email San@afaalaska.org 

We need to know the following 

  • Peoplesoft 
  • Type or leave
  • Month or months of each leave
  • continuous or multiple leaves
  • did you come back from leave and go out on a new one
  • did you attend RT or RQ while on leave

Uniforms

The new uniforms have been on the line for about a year now. Since the new custom uniform was released during COVID, many Flight Attendants returning from furlough will be wearing it for the first time.

Wondering what the guidelines and policy are for the new uniform? Here is a link to the uniform page for guidelines, ordering, the fit center, etc: https://splash.alaskasworld.com/es/uniforms/

Need different uniform pieces? Different sizes? Here are some options to help if it is past the 90 day return policy:

  • Trade your Uniform pieces (if it’s past the 90 day return policy) with other flight attendants by posting on the AS/QX in-flight new uniform Forum on Facebook AS / QX Uniform Trades
  • Inquire with the Seattle Fit Center.  They have limited pieces that you may possibly (not guaranteed) be able to exchange your pieces for if they have the size you need. These are pieces from flight attendants who have quit, retired etc.  Phone:  206-392-7730,  email: fitcenter@alaskaair.com
  • You can also to order new pieces via the Uniform Webpage

Committee Chairs and Members Needed

The following Council 15 committees have vacancies in both the chair and member positions:

If you are interested in volunteering, please have a look at the position duties and responsibilities and reach out to your Council 15 officers at SAN@afaalaska.org.

Covid-19 Absence Reporting Form

 If you accrued attendance points for sick leave usage under Section 32 (Attendance Policy) of the CBA for a COVID-19 related absence, you had the option to submit a “COVID-19 Absence Reporting Form.”  Per the Bulletin dated April 12 2021. F/As on any leave of absence (including EVF or ELOA) as of the date of that Bulletin will have 14 calendar days to submit starting from their first day back to active service (the date you return from your leave of absence regardless of whether you fly that day or not.  Ensure you include enough detail in question #6 of the form (the reason for the absence) so a thorough review may take place 

Any future non-work-related sick leave absences due to COVID-19, from the date this Bulletin is published, through 5/31/21, must be substantiated with a non-work-related positive COVID-19 test from either the F/A or someone in the F/A’s immediate household to be considered for point reduction. Please submit your documentation to the following confidential email address: inflightperformanceteam@alaskaair.com.

Are you Contributing to 401k

We discovered many F/A’s  are not taking advantage of their 401K company match. The previous company match was 7% its been 7.5% company match for 5 years. If you are able and you haven’t updated your contribution to 7.5% try and do so It all adds up in the long run. The % change is not automatic, you have to physically go into your Vanguard account or call Vanguard direct (800-523-1188).

Council 15 Spring Updates

​Important Dates and Information

SAN LAX SFO Membership Meeting May 6

The next membership meeting for Council 15 members will be Thursday May 6, 2021 on Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss the AFA Board of Director’s Meeting scheduled for May 13, 2021. This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 15, 18 and 35 members in good standing (up-to-date on dues). If you have any agenda items to discuss or specific questions please submit to SAN@afaalaska.org by May 5th, 2021.

Performance Investigations and Disciplines

CBT

Discipline for failing to complete quarterly CBTs are continuing to trend.  Flight Attendants returning from leave are given 60 days to complete CBTs.  The Council 15 Grievance Committee has been successful in assisting FAs dispute discipline when evidence of technical difficulties exist.  Being busy and forgetting to complete the CBT has not been accepted as extenuating circumstances to miss a CBT deadline and the discipline will remain.  If more than one CBT deadline is missed, discipline will progress to higher steps on the discipline scale (i.e. 2 missed CBTs in 18 month period will escalate to a Written Warning).

Commuter Violations

Monthly audits are occurring, and Council 15 has seen disciplines for misuse lessen however there are still Flight Attendants that are using it incorrectly.  Please be sure your registered cities are current and comply with guidelines set forth in the commuter program outlined on the FA webpage.

Grievance vs. Gripe

Not all concerns brought forward to AFA can be resolved by the union.  Knowing the difference between a Grievance and a Gripe is key to understanding how we can assist you.  

Grievance 
A grievance is a formal challenge to management that our contract has been violated or that unjust discipline has been issued.  

Example: “Charter flying was awarded out of seniority order.”  We have specific contract language citing how Charter Bids will be awarded, therefore, this could be a grievance.

Prior to filing a grievance, your local union reps will attempt to resolve the concern with management, if that proves to be unsuccessful, a formal grievance may be filed.  

Gripe
A Gripe is a complaint that is not a contractual violation.

Example: “It’s not fair that I was flown into a day off”.   It may not seem fair, but it is contractual, therefore this would be considered a gripe. Or   “I thought I had the day off because my flight canceled, why did I get a no show? This isn’t fair! Our contract states that you must report as scheduled if no contact is made with crew scheduling​for canceled flying, therefore this would be considered a gripe. 

Occasionally we hear from members that are upset because they were unaware of contractual language or a company policy that has been violated.  It’s everyone’s responsibility to know our work rules. Not knowing the rules doesn’t prevent management from issuing discipline. 

Your SAN union reps are always available to help determine when a complaint is a gripe or a grievance.  We are always willing to assist you with contract interpretation.

Please ensure that you have our contact information saved in your phone. You never know when you may need to reach out to us.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Enrollment is open for the Alaska Air Group Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The plan allows you to purchase company stock at a 15% discount from the fair market value on the offering date or purchase date, whichever is less.

To take advantage of this opportunity, you must enroll by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (U.S.) on April 20, 2021.

  
•If you’re already enrolled, no action is needed. You will be automatically re-enrolled at the rate you specified, or if you like, you can change your contribution rate now.
 
•If you enroll or change your contribution rate, you must specify a contribution rate between 1%-10%.
 
•If you want to learn more, view the ESPP Prospectus under Benefits/Pay on Alaska’s World or On Your Horizon.
 

You must have a Schwab One® brokerage account in order to enroll. Use the “Open an Account” button to open your account or to link an existing Schwab One account to Equity Award Center®.

Please open your account as soon as possible because late enrollment requests cannot be processed. 

Please see your Alaska email for more information.

Scholarship Opportunities  

AFA Scholarship

The Association of Flight Attendant Scholarship Fund is intended to provide financial assistance to dependents of our active members who will be attending a college or university.  Applications must be postmarked by April 10, and sent to the following address:

AFA Scholarship Fund

P.O. Box 56

Hartwood, VA 22471-0056

For more detailed information, visit the AFA website.

CWA Joe Beirne Scholarship

​The Joe Beirne Scholarship offered by CWA is available to AFA Members as well as dependents. The deadline for applications is April 30.   For more detailed information, visit the CWA website.

How Do I contact Officers

Using your personal email address (not Alaska), the preferred methods of contact are:

  • Open an Online Support Request ticket
  • Officer group email SAN@afaalaska.org (if one officer is flying /unavailable other officers can respond)
  • Individual officer emails (if information is for a specific officer)
  • Calls/text (if situation requires more urgent attention)

When contacting Council 15 officers please avoid the following methods:

  • Sending to/from alaskaair email (subject to company audits and therefore not private)
  • Officer personal Facebook/social media accounts (not actively monitored for AFA concerns)
  • Excessively lengthy texts (please use email for important information as it’s easier to respond and forward to appropriate resource-texts should be reserved for alerts to an issue that requires a timely response)

In Solidarity,

Brice, Melanie, JR

End of Year Update

Goodbye, 2020!

As 2020 comes to an end, your local AFA Officers want to express our gratitude to each and every member of AFA Alaska Council 15- SAN.  Starting with the Recurrent Training fiasco to the COVID pandemic, our members have handled everything thrown at us with grace and professionalism. We have stayed unified and supported each other.  We are proud to represent such an amazing group of Flight Attendants!

4th Quarter CBTs

All 2020 CBTs must be completed by Dec. 31st if you are not on a leave. Failure to complete by the deadline will result in progressive steps of discipline. If you are currently on a leave you have 60 days once you return from leave to complete your CBT.

CBT’s may be completed on your company issued IMD or on your personal device or computer.

On your IMD, launch the Cornerstone Learn App
portal:  aagtraining

Using your personal device or computer?
Alaskas World > Inflight Page> Training> Cornerstone

*Please verify that all modules have been completed by reviewing your Cornerstone Learn transcript OR ensure that you have a received an email stating your training has been completed.

If you are having any significant problems with the Cornerstone app, please open a support ticket by going to the following link: http://support.afaalaska.org/ provide screenshots if possible.

Be Prepared

We are seeing a rise in Covid 19 exposures and test positives as well as entering into the Flu season. It is a really good idea to pack a thermometer, ibuprofen and your favorite cold medicines in your overnight bag.

Professional Standards vs. Management

Conflicts or issues with Coworkers 

Please keep in mind that many personal conflicts should be taken to your AFA Professional Standards (PS) team and not taken immediately to management.  Often EAP/ PS can resolve the problems or issues without Management becoming involved. Once management is aware of the situation, it could lead to all parties being called in for meetings. There is the potential of 1 or all parties involved receiving discipline and or possibly even termination depending on the issue and once all parties involved are heard in meetings with Management.

Our AFA EAP and Professional Standards Committee is an invaluable resource to assist you in dealing with conflicts between Flight Attendants (as well as Pilots) without creating job jeopardy or threat of discipline. 

The PS/EAP team works with both sides of the disagreement to find the best possible resolution and is completely confidential. Our Professional Standards team can reach out to other AS workgroups that have Professional Standards. 

The Professional Standards team has had a high success rate in working with the Flight Attendants involved to achieve a positive outcome. 

Your EAP/ Professional Standards Committee Representatives are:

Melanie Buker – chair 

melanie.buker@afaalaska.org

208-890-1849

Ava McWilliams – co-chair

ava.eap@yahoo.com

951-662-3486

Norma Dorman  

eap.norma@icloud.com

619-417-4617

Rex Hampton 

rexonthebeach@yahoo.com

760-218-7567

Holly Mozzone  

hollymozzoneeap@msn.com

253-334-2848

Contacted by Management?

If you receive a call or email from any Supervisor, it is best first to clarify if the conversation could lead to disciplinary action. If the answer is “Yes,” at this point you can request that the Union be involved in any further discussions. However, even if the supervisor states that the conversation won’t lead to any discipline if at any time you feel the questions to be uncomfortable you can end the conversation by saying you will only continue with an AFA Union rep present. 

Including a Union rep, there is insurance. They are an advocate and a second set of ears to ensure that your point is understood clearly by the company and not misinterpreted.

Reach out to your local officers at SAN@afaalaska.org

Membership Dues

Thank you to those of you that have made an effort to remain current with your Membership Dues while out on leave of absence and/or Voluntary Furlough!

If you are calling the AFA Membership office 800-424-2401 EXT 707, please leave a message.  Due to the COVID pandemic office staff are working remotely.  Messages are checked and calls will be returned within a timely manner.   

“How much do I owe?”

While on leave of absence (Medical, COVID, Staffing Adjustment, etc.  LOA) and/or enhanced voluntary furlough (EVF) you are responsible for the first three months of membership dues ($50/mo.) 

If you took a combination of leaves/EVF and you were out continually for three months or longer it is unlikely that you will owe more than $150. you can pay online at https://unionly.io/o/afacwa/dues 

“Do I owe membership dues if I attend(ed) Recurrent Training (RT) while on Leave of Absence/EVF?”

No.  Attending RT during a month in which you were on LOA/EVF does not trigger an additional membership dues payment.  This also applies to Requal Training (RQ).

More information can be found here: Payment Options

Guest Passes

Remember to convert your unused companion travel passes before the end of day December 31st. Once converted the live in your FLY account under guest passes, manage guest passes. They can be ticketed for 3 months after the conversion date.
 
FLY> Guest Passes> Manage Guest Passes

End of Year Record Improvement

Record Improvement S32.G.4– should be applied by mid-January, If you had 4 or fewer points at the end of 2020, and you did not accrue any points in NOV, DEC your points will be removed and you will be starting 2021 with zero points. Please allow about two to three weeks for the attendance Supervisors to apply your Nov/Dec record improvement. Once this has been done, let your Officers know if there are any discrepancies. 

December PPP

JCBA§21.R. 
December is an Individual PPP month ($350).

To qualify,  you must meet or exceed your awarded TFP for the month of December by at least five (5.0) TFP.

The payout will be on Jan 20th in a separate check from your normal pay.

Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and looking forward to 2021!

In Solidarity,

Brice, Melanie, JR

SAN November Updates

SAN LAX SFO Membership Meeting Nov 16

The next membership meeting for Council 15 members will be Monday, November 16, 2020 at 1100 on Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss the AFA Board of Director’s Meeting scheduled for November 18, 2020. This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 15, 18 and 35 members in good standing (up-to-date on dues).  You must register to attend.  If you have any agenda items to discuss or specific questions please submit to SAN@afaalaska.org by November 9, 2020.

Increases to High-Deductible Health Insurance Plan

Your Council 15 Officers have fielded many questions regarding increases in the consumer choice health insurance plan.  The JCBA §23.A.3 defines the option: “The Company will offer a high-deductible group-insurance plan. Flight Attendants will pay no more than any other work group to participate in the plan.” The regular PPO is limited to a 15% increase over current rates in §23.A.1 and did not increase for 2021. The PPO rates are frozen at the 2019 rates per JCBA§23.A.2 

Multi-Factor Authentication coming soon 

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is a security process for authenticating users by requiring two methods to sign in – generally a password and another form of identification. Many already using this process to access sites such as online banking, and Alaska is now rolling it out to all employees for PeopleSoft and Office365 products.  The deadline to enroll in MFA is December 1, and employees that do not enroll by the deadline will be locked out of AS accounts.  Enrollment information will be sent to all employees via company email. 

FMLA Qualifications after Staffing and Furlough Mitigations Leaves

To qualify for FMLA, FAs need to work 504 hours within a rolling 12 month period.  With so many FAs taking leaves this year, qualifying for FMLA is a struggle for many.  AFA approached management to request a waiver or exemption to qualifying hours.  Management declined to change required hours to remain consistent with other work groups in the company.  This means that if an FA doesn’t qualify for FMLA, the intermittent leave option will not be available. Continuous leaves will be offered through Matrix as a (non-FMLA) medical leave.

Trending Performance Investigations and Disciplines

CBT


Discipline for failing to complete quarterly CBTs are continue to trend.  Flight Attendants returning from leave are given 60 days to complete CBTs.  The Council 15 Grievance Committee has been successful in assisting FAs dispute discipline when evidence of technical difficulties exist.  Being busy and forgetting to complete the CBT has not been accepted as extenuating circumstances to miss a CBT deadline and the discipline will remain.  If more than one CBT deadline is missed, discipline will progress to higher steps on the discipline scale (ie 2 missed CBTs in 18 month period will escalate to a Written Warning).


Reserve Violations


Reserves that spend their reserve days out-of-base or not remaining within airport during airport standby continue to be investigated.  Violations of the reserve proximity requirements will result in termination on the first offense.  Please see JCBA§11 for rules regarding reserve availability periods.

Contacting AFA Officers

Please, Do Not call from a blocked phone number.  Blocked Calls/Voicemail are filtered out and may not be delivered.
Please, Do Not send messages via Facebook Messenger (or any 3rd party message App).

Please, Do Not email over Company servers  (@alaskaair.com).  

The company has access to all communications on company servers.   Assume every email sent or received via Co Email will be seen by management.   

Member run Facebook Pages are NOT actively monitored by AFA.  Therefore, there should be no expectation that any AFA officer will see or address any issues or complaints posted on those pages.

If you need assistance, please reach out to your AFA Reps via appropriate channels and provide details for us to assist you.  

Please contact us using the following approved platforms:

Email: SAN@afaalaska.org

Phone: (206) 457-2010 X5
OS Ticket:   https://support.afaalaska.org/
Committee Roster:  https://afaalaska.org/san/committees

Registered Commuter Status

Key reminders for F/As who are registered commuters D8Y Status:•

  •  Commuting using the D8Y boarding priority is only permitted when traveling to/from work.
  •  F/As are not eligible to use when traveling for personal reasons.

F/As must submit an update request or removal request via the Commuter Form on the Inflight Website if any of the following events have changed since originally enrolling in the Commuter program.

  • Registered commuter city, primary residential address, permanent domicile, temporary base swap

Commuting using the D8Y boarding priority is not permitted when: 

  • Beginning or completing an out of base pick up
  • When choosing to be released from a deadhead originally scheduled to return F/A to domicile,
  • F/A travels to a city that is not their registered commuter city and then flies to their domicile(exception: making a legal connection en route from the F/A’s registered commuter city to the F/A’s domicile or vice versa).

.

California Councils Joint Membership Meeting November 16, 2020

Board of Directors Membership Meeting

The next membership meeting for members will be Monday, November 16, 2020 at 1100 on Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss the AFA Board of Directors Meeting scheduled for November 18, 2020.  This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 35, 18 and 15 members in good standing (up-to-date on dues).  

Agenda, time and registration details will be sent in a separate communication. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

-Your AFA Alaska California Council Officers-

  • Melissa, Aladrian, James and Brad (SFO@afaalaska.org)
  • Tim, Kelese, Martin and Bryan (LAX@afaalaska.org)
  • Brice, Melanie and JR (SAN@afaalaska.org)

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