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Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

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September Updates and Important Information

AFA Meeting Oct 8th 12:00 to 3:00

AFA Constitution and Bylaws require that local councils hold a membership meeting twice per calendar year.  Our first meeting of the year was held in May to discuss the AFA Board of Directors Meeting Agenda.

This meeting is open to all Council 15 members in good standing. The purpose of the meeting will be to provide members the opportunity to meet your Officers. Please come ready to ask questions and participate in the discussions regarding merger negotiations, bidding and the latest issues impacting Council 15 members. The meeting will be in the Volunteer Conference Room located above the USO across from Terminal 2 East.

Scheduling Chair JR will be attending to discuss scheduling issues and our Uniform Chair Denise Sheldon will be there with her uniform pieces and will discuss the second round uniform testing.

If you have an agenda item that you would like to discuss at the local meeting or any issues or concerns you would like us to discuss with management, please send them no later than OCT 4th, to LEC Secretary/Treasurer Stephen Couckuyt at Stephen.Couckuyt@afaalaska.org

We hope to see you there!

Going Away Party/Happy Hour for Melissa

We are looking for a fun venue for the happy hour following the Base Meeting, someplace close to the airport. If you know of a place please, contact Melanie Buker @ 208-890-1849 and continue to send photos, videos, quotes, etc so that we can create a nice going away video. Mail to: melanie.buker@gmail.com

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Committee Updates:

We welcome Norma Dorman, Rex Hampton and Holly Mozzone to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Professional Standards Committee.

These 3 bring diverse backgrounds, work experience and many varied skills in areas such as peer support, working with addiction and volunteer work.

They have just recently completed the EAP initial training, so please help us in welcoming them to the EAP peer support program.

We have one opening on the uniform committee and with the second round of wear testing upcoming, we think it’s important to add a male to the committee. If interested, please send an email to: SAN@afaalaska.org.

We are also looking for someone to assist with Workers Comp if you would be interested and have knowledge in this area please send an email to: san@afaalaska.org

To look at the complete list of our SAN committee’s go to ​http://afaalaska.org/committees

​

Pairing Changes

After many talks with management regarding our high percentage of 4-day trips in SAN.  They heard us loud and clear: 4-day pairings for SAN significantly dropped to 14.7% for OCT.  However, please know that though Crew Planning was able to make this adjustment from SEP to OCT, they may not always make adjustments like this.  The reality on trip distributions is that it needs to be assessed on a month-by-month basis across all bases as Crew Planning tries to balance safety, quality, cost, and productivity.

Until we are fully integrated, scheduled for February 2019, we may see many changes. Flying that we’re missing now should return and you’ll have the ability to fly on both Airbus and Boeing aircraft.  Also, this is when all bases are planned be aligned and transfers will be allowed for both Airbus and Boeing into all 6 bases as staffing permits.

Professional Standards

Conflicts and/or issues with Coworkers

In San Diego we are lucky to have a great team of supervisors and management staff.

Please keep in mind that many personal conflicts should be taken to your Professional standards team and not taken immediately to management.  Often AFA EAP/ Professional Standards can resolve the problems or issues without Management becoming involved. Once management is aware of the situation that could lead to someone’s discipline and or possibly even termination.

Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Chair and Reps can be found here: http://afaalaska.org/san/committees

​

Reminder:    Calling out Sick or Sick Family

Less is more

When calling in sick, the only thing that scheduling needs to know is that you are calling in either sick, sick family, FMLA or Workers Comp period.  They do not need to know why, what symptoms or anything else related to the illness. You don’t need to apologize, and you don’t need to explain.

Reminder:  Contacted by Management?

Know Your Rights

If you receive a call from any Inflight Supervisor, it is best to first 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 conversations. 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 leading or uncomfortable you can once again end the conversation by saying you will only continue with a union rep present.

Having a union rep there is insurance. It is an advocate and a second set of ears to ensure that your point is understood clearly by the company and not misinterpreted.

​

Keeping Current with AFA Information

​

There are several ways to keep up to date with your Council #15 news! In addition to your regular email updates, the information can be found at: afaalaska.org/san

Are you on Facebook?

Like the Official Council #15 page at: https://www.facebook.com/AFA-Council-15-San-Diego-249262698862442/

We also have the SAN AFA page that is not public and you need to ask one of your friends who is in the group already, or one of the Officers to add you.

Receive the most important information via text (we do not send out all communications via text, just the ones that are the most important!). Register for texts at: https://www.remind.com/join/afalec15

We also have an App exclusive to SAN. The App give you easy access to jump seat agreements, KCM Locations, Air Quality and much more. The App is not searchable in play store you need to either click on this link:  http://m.magmito.com/inva/47717

Or ask one of your officers and we can assist you with downloading.

​

​

In Solidarity,

Brice, Melanie and Stephen

 

July Newsletter

Transition Training

Transition Training began last week.  Despite recent updates to the Cornerstone Training program, we are still receiving reports of technical difficulties with both the app and the desktop version.  If you experience trouble, go to https://support.afaalaska.org, and open a ticket.  We would encourage you to start early, to avoid problems.

We are also aware it is taking longer than 4 hours to complete. Please make sure to include that in your trouble ticket above.

The most important thing with any computer or IMD Training, screen shot or take a picture of the completion page. Do not rely on the program to register you as completed.  If it does not show you as completed, we need some sort of evidence to be able to manually process your completion.

When taking the test remember it is open book and you can take it from your IMD or from a computer. To make the test easier to complete have your Manual, Ghost Manual and Study Guide open on one device and the test open in a separate device so you don’t have to switch back and forth. In the event that you fail the test, you will receive an email advising you that you have 7 days after class ends to retake a paper version.  You can take the paper version during lunch break at TT or schedule to take it at base.

You can find the Ghost Manual on the Training Tab – Transition Training Resources – “Ghost Manual”

The Ghost Manual is the combined manual we will be using starting next year.

Practice your door drills, take a deep breath and go slow. The training is very hands on, try not to stress to much.

 

CBT Training

The most recent CBT training was due May 11, 2018.  There were 13 Flight Attendants issued discipline because of failure to complete the training.  Several of these disciplines have been rescinded after AFA was able to determine why the training had not been completed.  If you were issued discipline and have not responded to our attempts to reach you, or you have email or screen shots showing your technical difficulties with the program please contact San@afaalaska.org. There is a possibility of getting the discipline reversed.

 

Required Items

In a recent bulletin, Inflight Performance announced that forgotten required items will result in steps of discipline.  We are aware of several recent instances of expired badges, as well as reporting without an IMD.  Make certain that you have all required items before reporting to your flight.

 

EAP Committee

We recently posted openings for EAP representatives.  We were overwhelmed by the number of Flight Attendants who expressed interest.  We reviewed the applications and chose 3 flight attendants to join our EAP Committee. We will be looking again at the beginning of the year and will be contacting those who were not selected to gauge interest and open it to anyone interested to apply again including hopefully Flight Attendants on the Airbus side who will have been able to transfer into SAN.

 

Supplemental Insurance

Supplemental Insurance Enrollment, through National Group Protection, will take place during the week of 8/14-16, in SAN.  The premiums for these coverages can be payroll deducted.  If SAN isn’t a convenient location, drop into any base during scheduled visits.

· Seattle                July 23rd—27th  

· Anchorage         July 30th–August 1st

· Los Angeles       August 6th—8th

· San Diego          August 14th—16th

· Portland              August 20th—22nd

Accident Insurance

Critical Illness Coverage

Whole Life Insurance

There are some benefit enhancements/upgrades this year, so 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.

 

Workers Comp Using Your Own Doctor

Non California Residents

Forms can be obtained from Base Management or from your Officers

In the event you sustain an injury or illness related to your employment, you may be treated for such injury or illness by your personal medical doctor (M.D.), doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) or medical group if:

• on the date of your work injury you have health care coverage for injuries or illnesses that are not work related;

• the doctor is your regular physician, who shall be either a physician who has limited his or her practice of medicine to general practice or who is a board-certified or board-eligible internist, pediatrician, obstetrician-gynecologist, or family practitioner, and has previously directed your medical treatment, and retains your medical records;

• your “personal physician” may be a medical group if it is a single corporation or partnership composed of licensed Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy, which operates an integrated multispecialty medical group providing comprehensive medical services predominantly for nonoccupational illnesses and injuries;

• prior to the injury your doctor agrees to treat you for work injuries or illnesses;

• prior to the injury you provided your employer the following in writing: (1) notice that you want your personal doctor to treat you for a work-related injury or illness, and (2) your personal doctor’s name and business address.

Summer News

Terminal 1 and 2

On May 20th, our morning OGG, HNL and LIH flights started departing out of T2 using Gates 20, 21, and 22 (these are the gates our SJD & PVR flights arrive into).

Baggage check-in will remain at T1, and passengers for three of our Hawaii flights will head over to T2 to depart out of gates 20, 21, and 22.

Knowing which terminal to go to for your flight is key, as well as knowing where the closest KCM for these gates is located.

Transition Training

Everyone must go through both Recurrent Training (RT) and Transition Training (TT) this year. Recurrent Training certifies you on Boeing aircraft and TT certifies you on Airbus aircraft.

It is currently planned to start bidding for both aircraft types in January 2019 for flying in February 2019.

Next Year’s RT will certify you on both aircraft.

Being as SAN does not have a training facility we are the only base that is provided with a hotel/hotels and travel pay. Travel pay is based on the shortest route flying between SAN and the base you choose to do recurrent.  Depending on the flight schedules for your travel day your TFP for travel could fluctuate, for example in order of highest tfp for travel to lowest.

ANC: SAN-SEA-ANC, SAN-PDX-ANC

LGB: SAN-SEA-LAX limo LGB, SAN-PDX-LAX limo to LGB or SAN-SFO-LAX limo LGB

SEA: SAN-SEA

PDX: SAN-PDX

Keep in mind you are not required to take those flight but that is how your pay will be determined for travel purposes. If you have questions please reach out to your Scheduling Chair San.Scheduling@afaalaska.org or your Officers SAN@Afaalaska.org

Pairing Changes

As we move toward fleet integration, flying is being shifted from Boeing to Airbus, and from Airbus to Boeing.  Our pairings are changing more than they typically do because of seasonal flying changes.  We expect more changes in the future.

We’ve heard from many F/As who are unhappy with these changes, and who are upset that their preferred pairings are no longer available.  This is not limited solely to San Diego. Unfortunately, it is likely to continue.  We’ve all seen the ‘network realignment’ articles on Alaskasworld.

Please know that your officers and the SAN Scheduling Committee continue to advocate for improved pairings, but ultimately the company’s decisions are based on cost. Both our Scheduling Chairs and Crew Planning are very aware that these changes are unpopular.  We have been told that a communication from Crew Planning on this subject is forthcoming, but do not have a specific date.

​

Professional Standards

Conflicts and/or issues with Coworkers

In San Diego we are lucky to have a great team of Supervisors and Management staff.

Please keep in mind that many personal conflicts should be taken to your Professional standards team and not taken immediately to management.  Often AFA EAP/ Professional Standards can resolve the problems or issues without Management becoming involved. Once management is aware of the situation that could lead to someone’s discipline and or possibly even termination.

Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Chair and Reps can be found here: http://afaalaska.org/san/committees

​

Calling out Sick or Sick Family

Less is more

When calling in sick, the only thing that scheduling needs to know is that you are calling in either sick, sick family, FMLA or Workers Comp period.  They do not need to know why, what symptoms or anything else related to the illness. You don’t need to apologize, and you don’t need to explain.

Contacted by Management?

Know Your Rights

If you receive a call from any Inflight Supervisor, it is best to first 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 conversations. 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 leading or uncomfortable you can once again end the conversation by saying you will only continue with a union rep present.

Having a union rep there is insurance. It is an advocate and a second set of ears to ensure that your point is understood clearly by the company and not misinterpreted.

​

Keeping Current with AFA Information

​

There are several ways to keep up to date with your Council #15 news! In addition to your regular email updates, the information can be found at: afaalaska.org/san

Are you on Facebook?

Like the Official Council #15 page at: https://www.facebook.com/AFA-Council-15-San-Diego-249262698862442/

We also have the SAN AFA and SAN TRIPS pages that are not public and you need to ask one of your friends who is in the group already, or one of the Officers to add you.

Receive the most important information via text (we do not send out all communications via text, just the ones that are the most important!). Register for texts at: https://www.remind.com/join/afalec15

​

Do You Have Questions, Issues or Concerns?

On June 1 we will have 378 F/As in San Diego and possibly growing to 395 by the end of the year and in an effort to keep track of everything in one place we are asking that if you have questions, issues or concerns that you please go to https://support.afaalaska.org and ‘open a ticket.’

We particularly ask that you use this resource for scheduling, pay and reserve concerns.  We need the information requested on the form to research your concern.  If you would like to talk to an officer or committee chair, please go to www.afaalaska.org/contact, and look through the officer and/or committee lists for contact information for your local representatives.

​

In Solidarity,

Brice, Melanie and Stephen


Important Upcoming Dates

 

Tentative Agreement Merger Roadshows

The JNC is planning to present the comprehensive full text agreement to the Master Executive Council (MEC) on Monday, February 12. If the MEC votes to release the tentative agreement (TA) for membership ratification, then the TA will go out for a vote.

*** The following proposed roadshow schedule is subject to change or cancellation. ***

Morning: 9 am – Noon, Afternoon: 1 pm – 4 pm (All times local.)

Tu 3/6 – ANC – Morning & Afternoon

Th 3/8 – SEA 1 – Morning & Afternoon

F 3/9 – PDX – Morning & Afternoon

Sa 3/10 – SEA 2 – Morning & Afternoon

M 3/12 – SFO 1 – Morning & Afternoon

Tu 3/13 – SFO 2 – Morning & Afternoon

W 3/14 – LAX 1 (LAX) – Morning & Afternoon

Th 3/15 – LAX 2 (SNA) – Morning & Afternoon

F 3/16 – SAN – Morning & Afternoon

PBS Training Base Sits

If you have questions and you are on a layover or have sit time in one of the bases feel free to stop by. You can also email questions to San.scheduling@gmail.com or pbs.qa@alaskaair.com

Base Sit Schedule:  subject to change due to  just announced, upcoming TA roadshows

ANC   Mar 5   @ Alaska Regional HQ   Check with local AFA officer for times

Mar 8  @ Alaska Regional HQ   Check with local AFA officer for times

LAX   Mar 6    6am-2pm

Mar 8    6am-2pm

PDX  Mar 6     6am-2pm

Mar 9   10am-6pm

SAN  Mar 6    5am-11am  (change from Mar 5th)

Mar 8    5am-11am

SEA  Mar 5    5am-6pm   Inflight-Mezzazine

Mar 6   10am-6pm  Inflight-Mezzazine

5am-4pm  C Concourse Break Room-hosted by SEA Reserve Comm.

Mar 7   5am-6pm   Inflight-Mezzazine

Mar 9   5am-1pm   Inflight-Mezzazine

5am-4pm   C Concourse Break Room-hosted by SEA Reserve Comm.

AFA Base Meeting

​

Mar 27 10:00-1:00 Location to be determined

Topics:

Agenda Items for the International AFA Board of Directors meeting being held in April.

Answering questions and concerns regarding the Merger TA

Discussing issues or concerns regarding the SAN Base.

​

Special Guests:

Karen Farrell will discuss Pairing Building and how pairings are chosen (AFA vs Company).

Lisa Pinkston ANC President will be assisting with PBS bidding

Adam Clarey will be assisting with PBS Questions

 

Updated PBS Website

Your Joint PBS Committee is ready to roll out the newly updated NAVBLUE PBS website. The internal functionality of PBS remains the same as far as processing bids. However, there are several updates to logging in, entering bids, searching for pairings, and options for saving or submitting bids.

Training Materials

Training materials are available on the PBS QA/Help page. Access from the FA Webpage under Line Bidding> PBS QA/Help. Links for training materials are also available at the top of the PBS Info Page.

A great start would be to watch the PBS Quick Tour video, produced by ANC Scheduling Chairperson Justin Wetherell. More tutorial videos are available on the PBS QA/Help page, or by clicking here. *It may be difficult to navigate the updated website without using the training materials and videos.
Access the updated PBS website here: https://asa.classbid.com/webapp/#/

Base Sits

Base sits will be scheduled for March and April, supported by members of the Joint Alaska & AFA PBS Committee.

Why the Update?

Updates to the PBS website allow functionality on tablets and smartphones with 5.5”+ screens. Changes also allow creating/editing bids offline, which can be saved and submitted once an internet connection is established. Watch the Bidding Offline tutorial to learn how.

Your AFA PBS Committee was involved in the entire process of bringing the updated PBS website to you from the start of development. Many improvement suggestions were incorporated by NAVBLUE into the updated website. Other airlines have already been using the updated website, some for more than a year. This allowed testing, catching errors, and incorporating fixes prior to implementing at Alaska. AFA Scheduling and Reserve Committee members have been bidding with the updated system for several months, and reached a consensus that it is ready to roll out for all flight attendants.

NAVBLUE plans to end access to the current version of PBS later this year, so we recommend taking time now to learn the updated website. Links to the ‘old’ and ‘new’ websites are found on the FA Website under Schedule & Bidding> Line Bidding. Two months of parallel bidding start Monday, January 29th, during which access will be available to both versions of PBS. The most recently submitted bid, regardless of which website was utilized, will be used during bid awards.

Send questions and feedback to the PBS Committee at pbs.qa@alaskaair.com.

Fly Safe!
Council 15 Scheduling and Reserve Committees and LEC Officers

Your Joint Alaska & AFA PBS Committee
Rebecca Asbell – PDXFA
Sabrina Blevins – Crew Planning
John Bumanglag – Crew Planning
Adam Clarey – SEAFA
Steve Poynter – SEAFA
Kelly Yeager – Crew Planning

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