Council #19 – Base Update

We have a few base events and some changes to procedures that are worth a reminder. 

Supplemental Benefits Open Enrollment

From September 9th-13th, National Group Protection will be visiting Seattle. This is the yearly open enrollment period with the group that provides supplemental benefits for AFA-CWA Flight Attendants. Time and location will be available shortly. 

Retirement Planning Session – Seattle

We have had a number of Council #19 Flight Attendants retire over the last few years. Vanguard has a wealth of planning information and resources available through the website, including one-on-one phone appointments. We have also been asked if  ‘in-person’ seminars are available. The Alaska Air Group Credit Union has scheduled seminars over the next few weeks. The information below includes a link for registration. The seminar will be provided by the Oppenheimer Investment Group.

September 12th, 1:00PM

Alaska Air Group Credit Union – Seattle Branch

19530 International Blvd S, Suite 108. SeaTac, WA 98188

RSVP by clicking HERE

Bidding Window for Recurrent Training 

Starting this month, bidding for recurrent training dates have changed. 

Bids Open: 21st of the month by 9:00AM

Bids Close: 28th of the month at 9:00AM

Bids Posted:  By the last day of the bid period

Vacation Bidding

Vacation bidding begins next month. Inflight will be posting a guide for those who have not bid for vacation using this system in the past. As an advance reminder, there are two rounds of bidding, and it is important to make certain that you bid during the first round. 

Your PBS Committee wants to alert you that, effective immediately, new web addresses must be used to access the Navblue PBS Website.

https://asapbs.navblue.aero/webapp

https://asapbs.navblue.aero ‘old’ PBS website

In addition you can use the links to PBS Bidding site provided on AlaskasWorld. Inflight Webpage>>Schedule>>Bidding/Line Bidding.

A reminder to update your bookmarks/favorites on your personal device with the new website addresses. The ones you may have previously used will no longer work. 

Clearing your cache before bidding each month is recommended (and sometimes required) for Navblue to function properly. This will resolve most problems with access and program functionality. Instructions can be found on the PBS Info Page.

For assistance with logging onto the Navblue site, send an email to the PBS Committee at:pbs.qa@alaskaair.com.

Council #19

July 2019 Update 

Human Rights Committee

AFA-CWA has formed a new Committee. We are looking for a Seattle Local Committee Chair for the newly formed Human Rights Committee. 

We are particularly looking for those who have not previously been involved in AFA Committee work. Do you have a background, education or experience working in the areas of diversity, inclusiveness and human rights? Or are you passionate about these issues?

Training will be provided by the AFA-CWA International office, in Las Vegas, on September 24th and 25th, 2019. Topics will include bias and implicit bias in the workplace, as well as internal organizing and movement building. Additional training will also be provided on the Alaska level to support this new committee and our Local Chairs. 

If you are interested in volunteering, please submit a resume along with a letter explaining your interest  in participating, to adam.clarey@afaalaska.org, no later than August 15th. Interviews will be scheduled during the last two weeks of August. 

Attendance Issues

We have seen an uptick in attendance issues resulting in disciplinary action. Many options for managing illness and family member medical issues are available. If you have questions, please reach out to our Benefits Committee, or a local officer for assistance. BenefitsAssist@hotmail.com.

Crew Conflicts and Summer Stress

Flying this summer is fraught with overcrowded flights, cranky flyers, inadequate parking available, airport construction, and other problems. This is stressful for all of us. We all deal with stress in different ways. If you need assistance managing stress, we have resources available which are completely confidential. 

If you find yourself in a situation where it is difficult to work with someone, and unable to resolve the situation on your own, please reach out to EAP/Professional Standards.

Committees

Much of the work of our union is done by our Committee volunteers. If you need assistance, it is likely that there is a committee which specifically deals with your concern. A current list of committees can be found at: https://afaalaska.org/sea/committees.

Is Your Information Current?

Does AFA have all of your current up-to-date information? Keeping your information current is very important so you receive all of the most up-to-date information from AFA. The address you have on file with AFA is where your ballot will be mailed as well, during an election. Please update your information by clicking HERE.

Are You “In the Know?”

Do you receive all of Council #19s updates? Do you feel that you have the most up to date information? There are several tools at your disposal for keeping up to date.

Follow the Council #19 Facebook page by clicking HERE.

If you are a Reserve Flight Attendant, click HERE to follow the Reserve Facebook page (only current Seattle Reserve Flight Attendants will be approved).

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Our hearts go out to the crew and passengers on the Miami Air Military Charter that overran the runway at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and slid into St. John’s River. The crew evacuated the aircraft professionally and safely after the aircraft laid to rest in the water. No serious injuries have been reported and no loss of life. 

The 18-year old 737-800 was in route to Jacksonville from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and was bringing troops back from deployment. 

We realize these kind of events can be traumatic and encourage you to reach out to the AFA Alaska EAP  Committee if you need assistance. The EAP is a support service provided by Flight Attendants for Flight Attendants, their families, and partners. EAP peer representatives are trained to provide three distinct, but interrelated services that include assessment, support and referral services, professional standards, and critical incident response.

Please call 206.619.3032 or 949.470.0493 if you need assistance. 

In Solidarity, 

Council #19 

Petition: Our Rest is Law, Implement Now

Many of you saw the post from International, however this has been a hot topic that we receive questions about regularly so we wanted to do an additional post as well. Please read the below article from AFA International and complete the petition and tell your flying partners to complete it as well!

Thanks to the advocacy of thousands of Flight Attendants and our focused #FightFor10, we achieved 10 hours minimum rest in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, signed into law on October 5, 2018. But we have learned through multiple conversations with industry and regulators, Delta Air Lines has pushed the the Department of Transportation and the FAA to slow down implementation, and now all airlines are saying they will wait for instruction from FAA before complying with the law.
 
Sign this petition to demand DOT and FAA to immediately implement the law, and to encourage members of Congress to hold them accountable >

This is about our safety, health, equality, and following the law. fightfor10.org

In Solidarity,

Council #19