Hello Seattle Flight Attendants,

This weekend Base Management, LEC Officers and Scheduling Chairs, partnered to secure more Crew Access Base Sits and Training Sessions.

Starting Tuesday, February 7th,Seattle Scheduling Chairs will be hosting a base sit in the Seattle Resource Center (Crew Room) on the Mezzanine Level beginning at 05:00 am through 6:00pm.

Once we are able to secure the training room schedule for next week, we will be sending out the “Sign Up Genius” link and a list of training sessions. Only 10 Flight Attendants are allowed per each training session, but we will also host additional base sits.

Thank you for your continued patience as your AFA representatives work through this transition period.

Seattle Flight Attendants,

There is another change to the parking situation for Recurrent Training. Please note that you no longer have to park at MVP parking. You can now park at the overflow lot located near the main parking lot at Flight Ops.

Monday – Friday:

·         Parking at the FTC is available in the Overflow parking lot (see map, below)

·         Permit is not required

·         Show your employee ID to the guard, who will then open the gate (a guard will be staffed from 7:15am to 8am)

·         If you are on leave and do not have an employee ID, you will need to show your IMD to the guard to identify you as an Alaska Airlines employee

Saturday:

·         You may continue to park in the main parking lot, with the Saturday permit (attached and available on the Inflight Website – Training)

Map for parking Monday-Friday:

REMINDER: Your new crew scheduling system launches tonight at 8:00 pm. 

After this time you will access the new system under Schedule & Bidding.

It’s going to be very important that you view the videos to learn more about the new system. Then, take the simple 3-question quiz to receive 1.0 tfp.

NOTE: Make sure you receive an email confirmation that you took the quiz. If you didn’t receive an email, take the quiz again. You do not have to re-watch the videos to retake the quiz.

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Update your contact information in PeopleSoft! It is important to list a phone number for the company so they can contact you or your family in the event of an emergency. It is not required to list a cell phone number and the act of listing a number does not mean that you are required to answer a call from Crew Scheduling unless you are required to do so per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

REMINDER: You will need your PeopleSoft ID to access the new crew scheduling system. Your Peoplesoft number is located on your crew ID (and is not your Arctic Number).

You also have the ability to list for TEXT Alerts. You can sign up for Text Alerts on AlaskasWorld.

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Preferential Bidding System- PBS

The only change to the bidding system is how you log in:

In order to log into PBS, you must now use your ‘PeopleSoft’ number.  It can be found on your company I.D. card.  Arctic numbers will no longer be used for logging into PBS, Buddy Bidding or using Avoid or Award bids.

For more information, log into PBS and read the PBS Info Page.

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The Seattle Scheduling Committee pulled together a few helpful suggestions to assist you when you first navigate the system.

Make sure to review the new “Terminology” for using the Crew Access trading system. You will find Crew Access Quick Tour cards available in the Inflight Resource Center.

Note:

1. In the new system your schedule is called your roster.

2. Your bid position on the trip is called role.

3. Pairing number is called Trip Number.

You can view your roster by tapping the airplane icon at the top of the screen. Use Publish Roster available at Navigation Bars/Reports/Publish Roster to print your roster.

If you wish to have your crew info shared on Trip Assignments you will need to “Opt In” under the Settings tab on the menu.

Looking to pick up or trade your trip? Make sure that you have the “Home” button selected to ensure that you are looking in the Seattle trip pool.

When you click on the ‘Pickup’ or ‘Trade’ button on a transaction the process is complete.  There is no secondary window that will open to complete the trade unless you need to waive rest or to allow pickup of a 4k trip.

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Tips on How to Locate Trade Codes

Note: If the trip assignment has a code attached (TO), it would be located under the FAR Block Time.  The trip counts towards the TSN.

Note: “No code” located under the FAR Block time means the trip has no impact on the TSN.

Remember: The change in the system does not mean that we are going “Back to Book” with trading. If you want to process a multiple trade the same rules apply.

Trading rules for trips with or without codes are in Section 12 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

• A trip isn’t yours until you finish the transaction. The Trade Cart doesn’t “hold” it for you
• When you advertise your trip you won’t see it listed in the Trip Pool
• Trading or Splitting Reserve Trips? Search in First Class, Submit request via Outlook
• There isn’t a clock within the application to indicate time related to trading windows. You will need to use the clock on your device / computer
•  Patch coming soon that to make TSN codes more visible

eMaestro is switching to the new 

Jeppeson Crew Access “JCA” system at

8:00 PM PST on January 30^th.  

Your LEC Officers have prepared the following information to help you ease into the new system. Also, your LEC Scheduling Chair/Vice Chair, Martin Vance and Rita Tillou, will be hosting base sits and classroom training sessions starting next week. 

 Information to sign up for the classroom training sessions is located in the January 26th weekly inflight bundle and we have listed the information below. Please make sure that you have completed the videos and completed the quiz before you attend a training session.

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0E4BABAE2FA1F58-crew6

You DO NOT have to sign up for base sits. 

FAQs:

What is Crew Access?

•      It is the new scheduling and trading system for flight attendants. It is not a replacement for NavTech PBS and does not affect bidding. However, we have also prepared helpful hints to protect your default and monthly bids.

Tips:

Watch the training videos on the Inflight Webpage

Complete the 3 question quiz to receive pay

Complete all trading by 8:00 PM PST on January 30^th

Reserves should update LTFA preference by 8:00 pm on January 30^th

After JCA launches, FAs will use PeopleSoft numbers when calling Crew          Scheduling

After JCA launches, Flight Loads will no longer be available on the FA Website

You will have to search on PET for loads

After JCA launches,verify your outlook calendar is working. AFA has been told this function should work.

PBS Helpful Hints:

Navtech PBS changes related to Crew Access

Effective January 27th:

You will now use your PeopleSoft number to log into PBS…your password remains the same.  Your PeopleSoft number is located on your company I.D. card.

Any previously entered bid containing an Arctic number will be ignored (Buddy Bid, Award and/or Avoid bids). You must now use the person’s PeopleSoft number.  If needed, send an email to PBS.QA@alaskaair.com for help with PeopleSoft numbers.

Our understanding is that your Default bid will carry over in the transition to PeopleSoft numbers.  In case it does not, print out or take a screen shot of your Default bid in case you need to re-enter it.  Do this prior to 8pm on Jan 30th!

Crew Access Filters:

•    There are limited search filters for OT

Filters may be added in the future (i.e. TFP)

If you have filter recommendations or requests, send to sea.scheduling@afaalaska.org.

•    You may subscribe to 5 filters for text notifications

Text will be sent if a trip is “advertised” by a FA or dropped into OT

You may save more than 5 filters, but can only receive texts for 5

Notifications & Messages:

•    When logging in to Crew Access, any notifications (schedule changes) will pop up

You may acknowledge ALL CHANGES and not receive a call OR

You may skip notifications and Crew Scheduling will still call you

•    Notifications will include hotel, roster, and assignment changes

•  “Notifications” ARE NOT a contractual means of contact for Reserve notification after a trip

•  Reserves must still check email or call CS after a reserve trip
•   You may view unacknowledged notifications from the drop down menu
•  Messages include Make a Wish and Military flights

Reports:

•      Static – your roster that was awarded from Crew Planning, with no changes

•      Reports should show the last 3 months of information

Reserve: 

Reserve Self-Assignment, Section 11.E~ please read!

•  Even if you have self-assigned, YOU ARE STILL ON CALL AND CONTACTABLE per your reserve classification
•   You may trade a self-assigned or CS assigned trip with OT or other reserves
•   Self Assign is 10am-2pm Domicile Time the day before a trip begins

•  At 2pm, OT trips will be pulled and assigned by CS
•   ER Reserve classifications may not self-assign any trips or APSB
•   APSB may only be self-assigned for day 1 of a 5-day block, day 1 and/or 2 of a 6-day block

•  Reserve Self-Assignment for an AM or PM Reserve with four (4) or fewer days of availability remaining in her/his block may self-assign a sequence from Open Time between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM (PT) the day prior to check-in, subject to the following restrictions:

1. The self-assignment must be within the Reserve’s domicile

2. The self-assigned sequence must commence within the Reserve’s availability period and must be for the same number of days as the Reserve has left in her/his block.

3. Sequences may not be split to accommodate a self-assignment.

Your AFA Officers realize that this is a lot of information and we want to ensure that you have an easy transition to the new system. Please email us at sea.scheduling@afaalaska.org with any questions.

In Solidarity,

Your LEC Officers and LEC Scheduling Chairs

Seattle Flight Attendants,

The Council 19 Election Cycle is underway! Please make sure that you receive your nomination ballots and nominate the candidates you desire to serve as your Local Executive Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and 2 Council Representative Positions.

Nomination Schedule:
MAIL DATE: 01-24-17     Voting Notice and Voting Guide are mailed containing your personal 16-digit activation code
POLLS OPEN: 01-26-17    12:00 PM EST Polls Open and voting begins
POLLS CLOSE: 02-15-17    2:00 PM EST Polls close and the election count takes place.

Election Schedule:

MAIL DATE: 03-20-17 Voting Notice and Voting Guide are mailed containing your personal 16-digit activation code
POLLS OPEN: 03-22-17 Polls Open and voting begins
POLLS CLOSE: 04-11-17 Polls close and the election count takes place.

For more information on the election process click the following link:

http://afacwa-elections.org/councils/ala-council-19-sea/

On the AFA International Website you can also find information on each of the positions, what to expect when running for office, and other helpful hints to help you with your campaign.

http://afacwa-elections.org/election-handbook/

Council 19 is hosting a “Meet the Candidates” Forum on March 29, 2017

1:00pm-4:00 pm

Hilton SEA TAC Airport

Remember, recent changes to the C&B do not allow you to change your vote once it is cast. If you would like to meet the candidates running for office please mark this date on your calendar. Polls Open March 22, 2017, and close on April 11, 2017. 

All candidates running for office are invited to attend this meeting.

Per the Election handbook:

 Appearance at a Local Union Meeting. {Article VIII D.3.a}

Here too, all candidates must be treated equally. If Local Council is to be used for candidate debates, literature distribution or other campaign purposes, all candidates must be given equal access to the meeting. Likewise, all candidates should be notified of the planned meeting date no later than the general meeting notice. Flight pay loss for candidates may not be used for such a meeting.

Information on the LEC Officer Positions:

 Running for Office

A. Minimum Qualifications Necessary to Run for Local Office
{Article III C.2}

Under AFA-CWA’s Constitution, you must be an active member in good standing from the Local Executive Council at the time of nomination and election. This is the only eligibility requirement in the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws.

B. Duties and Responsibilities of Local Council Officers
{Article III C.3}

The duties and responsibilities of an LEC Officer are outlined in the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws. However, the role of the officers is much more than can be written into any document. Members in good standing elect officers to represent them in all union business and to be their voice at the bargaining table. The Local Executive Council is charged with managing the affairs and business of the union at the Local Council level including establishing committees, conducting membership meetings, and processing grievances, to name a few. Ultimately these responsibilities fall upon the LEC President.

As a member of the Master Executive Council (MEC) and of the AFA-CWA Board of Directors (BOD), the LEC President has the ability to shape the union at every level. MECs, the highest governing bodies at each airline, direct union activity at their respective carriers and are ultimately responsible for the direction of negotiations. The AFA-CWA BOD, the highest governing body of our union, has ultimate responsibility for the direction of our union.

The LEC Vice President works at the direction of the LEC President and, in the case of the LEC President’s absence, assumes responsibility for the work of the Local Council, MEC and BOD.

The LEC Secretary assists the President in administering Local Council funds, maintaining Council records and any other duties as assigned by the President.

The Local Council Representatives (Council Reps) assist all officers of the Local Council. Council Reps shall not succeed to any vacant office in a Local Executive Council.

The role of a union officer is more than just a title; it is a whole host of responsibilities.

**NOTE:  New Officer Training will be offered in 2 separate sessions prior to taking office. A 2-day New Officer Orientation will be scheduled during the 2nd full week of May and the 2nd full week of November during election cycle years. The orientation session will be followed after taking office by a second session entitled New Officer Training. The training sessions will be scheduled during the 2nd full week of August and the last week of January during election cycle years.

C. Experience and Skills Important to Being an Effective Officer

Experience is extremely important and having held previous union positions is certainly useful. As with most other careers, you will not usually start at the top but begin in an entry level position. For AFA-CWA that means gaining experience by serving on a committee that interests you or volunteering to work in an unofficial capacity. Through hands-on experience you learn the structure of AFA-CWA and what representing your co-workers involves. Work experience from a past job or from volunteer work outside the union may well provide useful technical skills to support your candidacy. It is possible for a member with no previous AFA-CWA experience to get elected and be an effective leader, but it requires hard work and time to learn the job.

The flight attendant membership will expect a union officer to be familiar with the contract or, in the case of a newly organized carrier, with what the flight attendants hope to secure in a first contract. They will want their leaders to care about solving problems on and off the line. Understanding the carrier’s goals and needs will help in working out problems with the company management.

The local council office must administer and maintain a budget, provide oversight and direction to flight attendants on local committees and ensure these committees function properly, be knowledgeable of business communications procedures, understand the functioning of office equipment, and be willing to acquire new skills at AFA-CWA leadership training seminars.

The actual job requirements will vary from council to council primarily because the size of AFA-CWA councils varies significantly. For a full understanding of the workload of your local council, you can talk with current local officers.

Finally, commitment is essential. At times, the hours are long and the challenges trying. The support of your family will be critical. If you are determined that these difficulties will not get you down and if you are dedicated to solving problems and resolving disputes, you may find union leadership very rewarding.

We hope that you all participate in the election process. If you have any questions you can contact LEC President, Laura Masserant