We will be holding a Local Council #19 meeting on March 27th. The majority of the agenda items will be advanced Board of Director’s meeting agenda items, as this is required by the AFA Constitution and Bylaws.

We will devote the last hour of the meeting to taking questions regarding the TA, but they will be structured and time limited. We will have a JNC Committee member in attendance to assist in answering questions.

What:  Council #19 Base Meeting

When:  March 27, 2018, 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Where: Sea Tac Office Towers, South Tower, Earhart room (Lower Plaza)

Parking: Parking is provided. There is a large lot behind the building, tell the guard you are attending an Alaska Airlines AFA meeting.

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 Flight Attendant 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/#/

New PBS website is now on-line!

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 how your bids are processed.  What’s changed is the logging in process, how you enter your bids,  how you search for pairings and options for submitting or saving your bids.

Without consulting the provided training material you will have a difficult time logging on and navigating the new PBS!  The changes to the PBS website were necessary for the program to be fully function-able on tablets and smartphones, including your company-issued IMD.  It allows for use when off-line, unlike the program today that requires an internet connection.  You’re now able to work on your bids when off-line, ‘saving’ your work until you’re back on-line and can then ‘submit’ them.  This feature is only available on the new website.

Your AFA PBS Committee has been involved in the entire process of bringing the updated PBS website to you from the start of its development.  Suggestions made to Navblue by us for improvements have been incorporated into the new website.  We took the time to allow other airlines to ‘go first’ and be the guinea pigs for their new website.  Other airlines have been using their new ‘user interface’ for many months now…some up to a year…and ideas they’ve suggested have been incorporated as well.  Local AFA committee members have been using the new website to bid for some months now and we all felt it was ready for the entire group.

Navblue plans to end access  to the current version of PBS later this year so it’s important that you take the time now to learn the new website. Links to both ‘old’ and ‘new’ websites are found on the Inflight webpage…Schedule and Bidding then Line Bidding.  Monday, January 29th begins two months of ‘parallel bidding’….where access is available on both the new PBS websiteand​the current version.  Whichever bid is submitted last, regardless of which website was utilized, will be the bid that is used during bid awards.

Training materials are posted on the PBS QA Sharepoint site.  You’ll find a link posted on the Inflight webpage at ‘Line Bidding’….look for ‘PBS QA/Help’.  Links to all training material are also found at the top of the PBS Info Page…you will be required to log into Alaska Outlook network if you’re not already logged in via Alaskasworld.

A great start would be to watch the Quick Tour Video…produced by ANCFA Justin Wetherell.  Justin’s assistance was a huge part of helping to make this transition successful and we are forever grateful.  Just below are links to the PBS QA/Help website and the updated Navblue PBS website.

Watch for base sits in March and April conducted by local members of your Scheduling and Reserve Committees.  Members of the Joint Alaska-AFA PBS Committee will be providing support in the bases as well.

PBS QA/Help page—>  https://alaskaair.sharepoint.com/sites/pbsqa

Questions or feedback should be sent to the PBS Committee at​pbs.qa@alaskaair.com

Your Joint Alaska-AFA PBS Committee are:

Rebecca Asbell-PDXFA

Sabrina Blevins-Crew Planning

John Bumanglag-Crew Planning

Adam Clarey-SEAFA

Steve Poynter-SEAFA

Kelly Yeager-Crew Planning

In Solidarity,

Your Council #19 Officers – Terry, Jake, Adam, Melinda and Megan

Having a Baby? 

Are you having a baby or thinking of having a baby in 2018?

Seattle AFA Council 19 is excited to be hosting a Maternity Roundtable to help you plan for the exciting event and answer questions that you may have.

Date: February 8th

Time: 10:00AM – 2:00PM

Location: 18000 International Blvd, SeaTac (SeaTac Office Towers, South Tower – office building located across from airport, in the same building as 13 Coins.)  This meeting will be in the Conference Room on the lowest level of the building (LP, in the elevators), across from the security station.

Parking: Available in the front or back of the building. If using the rear parking lot, notify the security guard that you are attending an Alaska Airlines event.

Beverages and Snacks will be provided.

We would like to be able to plan for the day. Please email: BenefitsAssist@hotmail.com or text: 425.238.8219 to RSVP.

We are looking forward to a fun day of sharing thoughts, ideas and baby planning!

PS: If you are planning to come, please bring a copy of your Flight Crew Pay Sheet. This will help us plan your maternity leave!

In Solidarity,

Your Council 19 Benefits Committee -Kathy, Danni & LeAnne

Your Council 19 Officers – Terry, Jake, Adam, Megan & Melinda

Council #19 Holiday Update

First, on behalf of your Local Council Officers and Committee members, we hope that all of our members had a chance to spend time with family and friends, and to celebrate the holiday season. While it caused some chaos, the snow in Seattle added a festive touch. This has been a very busy year, and at times both chaotic and frustrating. We look forward to the end of 2017, and a fresh start for 2018 .

There have been some major challenges with Crew Access, and with the interface with payroll. We are well aware of the anger and frustration. AFA and Inflight Management, up to and including the VP of Inflight are working on expediting resolution of these problems. We know that for many of you it does not feel like we are “doing anything”. That could not be further from the truth. We have filed grievances that were sustained, meaning that the company acknowledged that the errors and contract violations AFA brought forth that are resulting from Crew Access issues were valid and should be corrected. In many instances, the programming to do so has been delayed due to programming and other priorities. We continue to find this unacceptable.

We spend hours tracking down incorrect pay, missing trips, incorrect trip values, and other errors. We’re happy to do so. If you have an issue, please go to support.afaalaska.org, and open a ticket. The more information you can provide, including screenshots, the better. Should you have to do this? No. However, without this information, we simply cant track down your issues to get you the proper resolution. The Scheduling and Reserve Committees are compiling the top 5 problems from all bases, so that Management and AFA can resolve these ASAP.

Maternity? If you are currently pregnant, or planning to start or add to your family, you’ll be pleased to know that Danni Burk Peterson has returned to our Benefits Committee as a Maternity Specialist. There have been many fairly recent changes and improvements to our Maternity Leave policies and benefits. We’ve scheduled a maternity roundtable from 10-2 on February 8th, in the South Tower of the Sea-Tac Towers (same tower as 13 Coins). We’ll send out text alerts with address information closer to the date. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to benefitsassist@hotmail.com, with “Maternity Roundtable” in the subject line and your name.

We look forward to the New Year. Many changes are coming. Starting in 2018, Virgin America officially becomes Alaska Airlines, and their ITM’s become Alaska Flight Attendant’s. The Joint Collective Bargaining Committee continues to work on a single contract, which will bring the Council #35 members into our group. We welcome them!

Change can be challenging, and we’re sure there will be adjustments along the path to a single carrier. We hope that you feel supported, and free to reach out for assistance during the coming year.

In Solidarity,

Terry, Jake, Adam, Megan & Melinda