AFA International just sent out a very informative edition of “AFA Interactive” that we suggest everyone read if you have not done so already. It can be found by clicking HERE.

A plain text version of it can also be found below:

In this edition (April 6, 2020):

• Thank You to Compass Air Flight Attendants
• Update on Our Payroll Grants
• CDC Change on Transporting Passengers from Cruise Lines
• AFA Opposes Any Efforts to Reduce Flight Attendant Staffing Minimums
• Request to FAA for Social Distancing Waiver on Jumpseats and Safety Demo
• Flight Attendant Volunteer Medical Assistance Force
• AFA in the News

Thank You to Compass Air Flight Attendants

Compass Air’s last flight is today. Thank you to every Compass Flight Attendant and crew past and present! We’re fighting hard to save our industry so we can see you in the skies soon. We especially want to thank the work of AFA Leaders Mike Nelson, Shannon Kelly, Mary ‘Terry’ Kiernan, Heather Harris, and Dorothy Traxler. These leaders have been strong advocates for Compass Flight Attendants and all of us as aviation’s first responders. Watch this video tribute >

Update on Our Payroll Grants

Our airlines submitted applications for the CARES Act Aviation Payroll Grants with U.S. Treasury on Friday. Our action made these applications possible, and we are getting word that there is reason to be optimistic about the process.  

The New York Times released a story over the weekend: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio and Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Sherrod Brown sent a letter to Secretary Mnuchin pressing him to implement the CARES Act as intended and without interference or delay. This reflects our work as well and we thank these leaders for their continued oversight and strong defense of our jobs.

If you have not yet added your name to the letter to Secretary Mnuchin you can do so now: Take action >

CDC Change on Transporting Passengers from Cruise Lines

On Friday, passengers from the cruise liner Holland America cruise ship departed Florida to destinations across the country and world. 

AFA Alaska MEC was made aware that passengers from the ship were due to transfer from a charter in SFO to more than five Alaska Airlines flights. Our AFA leadership raised concerns with management about commingling these passengers with regularly scheduled passengers and our crews.  Thanks to AFA Alaska’s quick notice — AFA International Health and Safety was able to alert other safety chairs. At United, more than 130 passengers from the ship were scheduled to fly from SFO to Australia and a few other destinations within mainland U.S.

The solution that AFA achieved at both carriers was to schedule management-staffed charters for the cruise line passengers only, with specific health protocols. A similar situation happened on Sunday at American and APFA leaders were able to achieve the same results with their management. Working together and sharing information is effective and paramount as we address the issues created by this crisis.

After weeks of allowing cruise ship asymptomatic passengers who were exposed to the coronavirus to travel home on commercial passenger flights with nothing more than a temperature check, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course and issued new guidance. This is an example of the importance of our Flight Attendant unions voice in aviation safety, health, and security. We are helping to identify issues that need to be resolved and in doing so, achieving better conditions for the public. There are many other issues to resolve, but it’s important that we recognize the role we play in creating a more healthy aviation system.

Cruise companies will now have to charter flights to return passengers to their home cities, the agency said. This is an example of the important work our Union does to advocate for the health and safety of crew and the passengers in our care. 

AFA Opposes Any Efforts to Reduce Flight Attendant Staffing Minimums 

“Any proposed flight attendant staffing reductions based on load factors would set a dangerous precedent, are not in the public interest, and must be denied. Flights should stay on the ground or be designated as cargo only if we aren’t carrying passengers. That is, in fact, the best way to reduce exposure to the COVID-19 virus.” Read the letter to the FAA >

Request to FAA for Social Distancing Waiver on Jumpseats and Safety Demo

The FAA is reviewing a request from several airlines for a waiver through August 2020 to allow for social distancing on our planes. This would allow seating in passenger seats near doors where two Flight Attendants are normally sharing a jumpseat, as well as a waiver of donning oxygen masks and life vests during safety demonstrations. We have supported this waiver request and we believe FAA will communicate on soon. 

Flight Attendant Volunteer Medical Assistance Force

We have heard from many Flight Attendants that you would like to do more to support our medical community. As flights are pulled down, it may be that aviation’s first responders have time to help. We are discussing with government and medical support services the critical need for extra hands – either through virtual on-line assistance or hands on at hospitals and medical centers.

We’ve already had a tremendous response of Flight Attendants signing up to help. Later this week we will be communicating to those who have expressed interest. If you missed the chance to sign up for this information before, you can sign up now.

Please let us know if you are willing to consider volunteering whether from home or on site, and advise us if you have medical training of any kind that exceeds our Flight Attendant qualifications. The medical community needs all the help we are willing to offer. Fill out this form if you would consider volunteering. AFA will not share your information with any outside organization without your permission, but we need to know who would like to help in order to proceed. 

Sign up for the Flight Attendant Volunteer Healthcare Force >

AFA in the News

NYT: Top Democrats Press Treasury to Accelerate Airline Bailout

TIME: “We’re Definitely Spreading It”: Flight Attendants Fear They Are Losing The Fight Against The Coronavirus

WATCH on MSNBC’s Alex Witt: COVID-19 Impact on Aviation Workers

Please go to Alaskasworld.com, and look for the article titled “COVID-19: Help today! Click here to support fair allocation of federal funding”, pictured above.  This is very time sensitive.  We need as many employees as possible to sign this letter.  

Your Council 19 Officers would like to pass along this information from AFA International.

As we now face the unfortunate reality that many of our members will be sheltering in place, accepting voluntary leaves and experiencing reduced schedules, this is an often-overlooked opportunity.

Our partnership with CWA entitles AFA members to take advantage of a complimentary online learning opportunity. CWA/NETT provides access to hundreds of training courses via LinkedIn Learning. This might be the perfect time to brush up on existing skills or learn new ones. 

Examples of Learning Titles include:

Zoom Meetings

Microsoft Collaboration

Microsoft Excel

SharePoint

You can get started by completing this form. This free resource can also be shared with member’s family members.  To sign up you will need our CWA local number, 27019.

March 31, 2020

The grants in the relief package provide paychecks for workers, not bailouts for airlines. These grants do one thing and one thing only: fund paychecks and benefits for two million hourly workers like flight attendants, pilots, gate agents, mechanics, the people who clean planes, cook the food, and help people through the airport.

Secretary Mnuchin is threatening to take equity on the grants — leveraging the very people who make aviation fly and who right now are on the frontlines of this pandemic. Congress did not intend for this to work this way. The payroll grants are intended to keep us out of the unemployment line. The return to taxpayers is no involuntary furloughs or layoffs, keeping our vital industry intact for essential service during this national emergency, and our ability to continue to pay taxes, be consumers, and take care of ourselves and our families during this crisis. Warrants make sense on the loans, they do not make sense on the grants that are designated for our paychecks.

You can’t leverage people. We’re the ones the CARES Act is supposed to protect. This is our money, but the Secretary is planning to make conditions so onerous that the airlines can’t take it. That will mean hundreds of thousands of jobs lost and bankruptcies all over again. Not this time! This isn’t right. We are asking President Trump to make sure the Treasury Secretary doesn’t dismantle the bipartisan agreement to keep us in our jobs, connected to our paychecks and healthcare.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION NOW!

AFA International COVID-19 Resource Page: afacwa.org/coronavirus

AFA-CWA Council 19 Base Meeting

When: Friday, November 22nd, 2019

Where: Earhart Room Lower Plaza STOC

Time: 1pm-4pm

Agenda

I. Call meeting to order-meeting called to order at 1:02pm by Terry Taylor

A. Call for late agenda items

B. Late agenda items

C. Announcements

II. Meeting

1. Officer Update

President Report- Four day MEC meeting all MEC Committee Chair positions will be interviewed, send in your application and letter of interest no later than November 25.  To get to the expression of interest form please follow this link to the latest MEC Update, https://afaalaska.org/mec.

Unusual amount of lost IMD’s in Seattle, automatic oral warning (lowest level of discipline).

Benefits handbooks have all been updated on the inflight page.

We are getting a new payroll system, Rainmaker.  A release date has not yet been published.

Vice President Report- See JCTE/Crew Access Agenda Item

Secretary Report- We are operating under budget.  Push from the MEC to get all outstanding dues paid.  International Membership is resending all bad standing letters.  If you are in bad standing contact International Membership and pay off your dues in full or start a payment plan by signing a promissory note.  AFA International Membership Office 1-800-424-2401, ext. 707 (M-F 9:00-5:30 EST).   You can pay your dues online at http://www.afacwa.org/payment or mail your payment to AFA-CWA Membership Department, 501 Third Street NW, 7^th Floor, Washington DC 20001.  

• Committee Updates

Scheduling Committee- OT Issues, our base does not have the same experience as the smaller bases.  Over 160 tickets have been filed with AFA, and a grievance has been filed. Will need to schedule base sits regarding how back to book works.  A transaction history will be another report available soon in JCTE.

PBS- Steve Poynter AFA MEC PBS Committee Chair- Program update coming on Monday November 25^th.  This update will require Flight Attendants to clear your cache.  Instructions for clearing cache are available on the PBS Info Page a quick google search will also provide you information on how to clear your cache.  Update has increased the speed of the login synchronization process.  New aircraft code when bidding opens 32B, code is for 321 NEO.  If you are avoiding Airbus you will need to add this new Airbus code for January bidding, when bidding opens on December 5^th.

EAP/Professional Standards-FAAS Program (Flight Attendant Alcohol Support) has been put on hold to do a safety risk management assessment.  EAP believes there’s is a huge need for this program.  In the meantime, EAP will still utilize their current substance abuse resources to support Flight Attendants that reach out to EAP.  In January Horizon will start building the same program.  EAP Chairs will tour Recovery Ways facility in Salt Lake City.  New EAP Rep joining us in December Frank Isles, brings our total to 9 reps.  Transition to new EAP emails soon, more information will be provided at that time.

Communications- Text alert program isn’t functioning anymore.  Looking at a replacement text alert program through AFA International.  

Reserve- Only one class of 83 is planned for next year to come online May 1^st.  Planned classes for the next year are subject to change.  

Hotel-New Program Aces has been delayed until at least March.  Recent site visits to MSP, FLL, SAT, and currently doing OKC.  Upcoming site visits for LGB for recurrent training and DEN. Complaints regarding ORD hotel on Facebook, but very few official complaints filed through Crew Care.  For hotels issues please file a complaint with Crew Care.  Everyone will be moved to Crystal City in DCA until January because of construction.

Uniform-Looking at an alternate for the new winter parka for fall 2020, reason for the alternate is complaints regarding the warmth of the current one.  The current winter parka will still be uniform complaint.  Reminder that only uniform approved coats are allowed.  Ongoing grievance regarding using our allotment for Luly Yang accessories.  Swapping out crew bags for the Legacy VX FA’s to the travel pro.  CBT Quarter 1 2020 will include uniform compliance standards.

Inflight Service-Asking catering to put their top 10 wish list together, once received, wish list will be communicated to the Flight Attendants.  Gogo App will no longer be needed to stream movies, planned rollout is April 2020.  Push for FA’s to write up inop outlets, this is a maintenance issue not an inflight serve issue.  Planned launch in April, FA’s will be able to directly communicate with the boarding agents in B2B.  New menu tasting on December 16^th.

Safety-New hardstand operation, called cargo 7, near existing Alaska hanger.  Port is planning on putting placards to scan for safety concerns out at hardstand locations.  Concerns regarding using the thumbs up on Airbus for potential injury if the CSA opens up the door before FA pulls their arm back from viewing port.

Human Rights-Introduction of our new chair Yan Yan Teague, Human Rights is a new committee set up at the AFA/CWA convention in 2018.   Still navigating how the Human Rights Committee will function.  Working towards more partnership with CWA, increasing election turnout.  Working on a gender-neutral option for our Flight Attendant uniform.

Government Affairs- Unite Here Local 8 union includes our caterers in Seattle, attended a meeting to support their negotiations, Tuesday November 26 a picket scheduled at SeaTac.  Planning on a government affairs/human rights joint meeting this next year during the upcoming election to begin a voter registration push as well as a push to sign up for Flight Pac.

• Agenda Items

• Training update-Have seen an increase in FA’s failing their first and second attempts evacuation drills.  Change in drills, no instruction or coaching is allowed.  RT classes have been running over since we’ve come back from the FAA shutdown.  
• Pairing update/scheduling issues-Guest ANCFA Karen Ferrell MEC AFA Pairing Analyst- Company and AFA provide pairing solutions each month and the company decides which solution will be selected.  Main consideration is cost when selecting pairing solution. AFA’s goal is to find the sweet spot where the most desirable pairings are selected for each base balanced out with a comparable cost to the company solution so that AFA’s pairing solution is selected.

Karen presented a slideshow of how pairing construction works, and how pairing solutions are selected. 

Results from the survey in Seattle indicate that 4 day trips are not desirable, during the pairing solution runs the amount of 4 day trips is considered and attempts are made to limit the amount of 4 days in Seattle.

Discussion and Q&A for Karen and the Scheduling Committee regarding soft locks, hard locks, and why pairings are built differently each month.

• Parking issues at North Lot-Increased number of complaints regarding the North Parking Lot.  Overcrowded buses and lack of parking spaces are the two main complaints. Company committee is working on the issue and looking into alternate solutions for parking options. Parking complaints and concerns should be sent directly to Jenny Bookert, jenny.bookert@alaskaair.com, pictures are helpful.
• JCTE/Crew Access issues- MEC met with the President of Jeppesen regarding our recent Crew Access issues.  Changes were made to stabilize the system, but still a work in progress.  Notifications, Trip Header, Trade History, Fire and Forget were the main topics discussed by line pilots, line fa’s, AFA reps, and ALPA reps at the November 17^th meeting.  Jeppesen doesn’t have a real time instant solution, currently working towards 10 second transaction processing time.  Back to Book will be coming, estimated timeline to reprogram Crew Access is 9-12months.  For more information on Back to Book please refer to our contract Section 12 Exchange of Sequences.
• Delta Airlines Organizing- AFA has begun organizing Delta, look for more information coming out soon if you are interested in assisting with the effort.
• Question and Answers from members regarding topics discussed, officer reports, and general questions.

III. Adjournment- Meeting Adjourned by Terry Taylor and seconded by Adam Clarey at 3:57pm

Attendance at local Council 19 meeting 11/22/19

Members

Kriste McKeown

Carole Babcock

Leisa Russell

Sean Cox

Justin Wetherell

Eric Thorsen

Jerry Sinclair

Denise Brooks

Teresa Murphy

Jennifer Christensen

Jake Jones

Steve Poynter

Martin Vance

Lisa Haugen

Julie Pinson

Tyler Vail

Ross DeJong

David Lake

Yan Yan Teague

Jarod McNeil

Rita Tillou

Olivia Borrows

Melinda Jorge

Adam Clarey

Terry Taylor

Guests

Karen Ferrell-ANCFA MEC Pairing Analyst