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AFA Council #19 Seattle September Newsletter

In This Edition

  • Solidarity
  • LAX Pop-Up Event
  • Workplace Wellness
  • Spotlight on the Contract
  • Parking
  • Best Practices
  • CBT Reminder
  • Attendance Reports
  • Local Council Meeting
  • Hispanic Heritage Month
  • AFA International HRE Committee
  • Communications Committee
  • Membership Dues

What Truly Is Solidarity and Why Is It Important?

We often hear the term solidarity, but what does this truly mean and why is it important? A dictionary can easily guide us to the meaning of a word, but what is a word without the feeling and essence of wisdom behind it. Packed tightly within this one word is woven our unity, our livelihoods, each other, our joint career path, our unification…as one collective force. 

All for one and one for all as they say which so aptly applies, as throughout each chapter of our careers, we all will collectively encounter similar challenges and triumphs as safety professionals. Our union then embodies each one of us, all together working toward the better good…for those of today and for those of tomorrow. We march on in unison, to fight the good fight. To stand proud. To stand unified. To stand in…solidarity. 

We stand as one voice to be reckoned with, improvements always to be sought, our long -fought protections to stay intact. Together we stand, together we can achieve…all within the sincerest form of the word…solidarity. We are AFA strong.

 

Surprise Pop-Up Picket in LAX

Much gratitude to the LAX base with help of our SAN base; they flawlessly conducted a surprise informational pop-up picket on September 13th. Picketing was done outside the Ritz-Carlton in Marina Del Rey whereby our CEO hosted a community reception. The success of this picket can be attributed to our fellow proud union members in LAX and SAN along with their elected leadership. This event had no leak of chatter prior on social media making it a surprise indeed and was planned in just a week’s time with resounding success. 

Many thanks to the collaborative and dedicated efforts of the organizing LEC LAX President, Tim Martinez Green, LAX Mobilization Chair Samantha Wolff, SAN LEC President Brice McGee, as well as other duly elected leadership in attendance including our own SEA LEC President, Paula Isla-McGill. 

There is such irony in a company event being hosted at a luxury high-end hotel such as the Ritz-Carlton, while our own frontline staff is treated less than monetarily in the face of massive inflation and a 9-year-old contract. All of this in stark contrast within the vast disparity of our CEO’s total compensation package of 6 million plus in 2022. 

May equity be brought to us, the flight attendants, the face of the airline, as a collective we repeatedly and continuously bring a remarkable and safe experience onboard. We repeatedly bring our passengers back to fly with unwavering loyalty as we aid tremendously in making the airline lucrative. Industry leading contract now, let’s keep the pressure on… 

View the Facebook post by the MEC at: https://www.facebook.com/alaskamec/posts/783793590417502

Workplace Wellness

Our career path is a symphony of rich experiences in one another and all we meet along the way. At times, we may find ourselves in need of refilling our own cup with constant travels, time changes and the occasional challenges we all can face onboard. Be kind to yourself. Practice self-care. Take the extra time to rest and to let all else go for the time being. 

Studies show that simply 10 minutes of meditation a day helps calm and enhance relaxation with increased clarity, all translating to lower levels of emotional and physical stress. Or perhaps walking, as you meander through the many cities as you release all else.  Any form of movement is a tremendous way to practice self-care, but if it is simply doing something just for you to enhance a calmer mind, then this is a form of helping fill your cup. Rest is always paramount, too. 

We live in a fast-paced world and our job is no exception, continual flights with the traveling public, keeping on top of items and planning forward…practicing self-care will only help the everyday nuances with an effervescent fresh spirit. 

If you ever feel you need additional assistance with any life matters; know that the EAP is there for you in complete confidentiality. EAP is a union-based peer to peer assistance program with many assets for your continued well-being along your path. 

Spotlight On the Contract

Knowledge is wisdom and with that being aware and well-versed of one’s contract is of vast importance. As always, be sure to familiarize yourself with all of your contractual rights. Questions? Be sure to reach out to your Union officers and relevant Committee members for clarification. 

There has been an uptick in Reassignments (Section 10.R) and Precancellations (Section 10.S). Please familiarize yourself with CBA Section 10.R and 10.S in its entirety. 

AFA Scheduling has helpful resources to assist you on the AFA website, under Committee Resources. Below are helpful flow chart links:

October 3rd additionally provides a great opportunity to come prepared with any questions on flow charts at our membership meeting on October 3rd, whereby chairpersons will be on hand to answer questions.

Parking Reminder

As all have experienced, parking in the NEPL has become quite challenging and at times, frustrating. We encourage you to utilize the 30-minute grace period agreed to by management. As long as you scan into the NEPL by 30 minutes prior to your scheduled report, your late points will be removed if you are unable to check in on time. 

The more we are able to report and utilize the 30-minute grace period, the better picture management will have regarding how insufficient our parking and port transportation is to get us to work in a reasonable amount of time. Our time is valuable and 30 minutes is certainly a good amount of time to already give before starting our work day. Thank you for your cooperation, please utilize the policy if needed.

Helpful Tidbits and Best Practices for Screenshots (for proof)

At times, we encounter delays and at times, we have all seen where not nearly enough ground time was allotted between our delayed flight and subsequent flights. We often think to ourselves that the new ground times are quite low and quite frankly unrealistic. At times, a delayed flight is not adjusted at all to reflect a proper delay between a current flight and the next. Please take screenshots and be sure to send them to AFA if this happens to you.

Speaking of screenshots; here’s a running list we’d highly encourage to be mindful of for capturing screenshots.

  • Every scheduled trip prior to the start of a trip.
  • Crew Access trip images after each segment.
  • During delays.
  • Call logs with crew scheduling.
  • Check in times.
  • Published roster prior to each trip.
  • The LTFA prior to 10:00am each day.
  • Prior to block.  Intermittent screenshots. Immediately after being assigned a trip. 
  • All open time trips prior to 2:00pm every day. If those trips aren’t assigned to a reserve by 6:00pm, those trips need to be back in OT. If withheld, file a ticket. 

When we come together and document, any potential attempt at circumventing our contractual rights becomes highlighted.  Screenshots simply help document our respective scenarios. 

CBT Reminder

Do not forget to complete your CBT by the September 30 deadline. It is important to remember if you do not complete the required training, the discipline is progressive. If you are already in steps of discipline, failure to complete your CBT will move you up the steps, up to and including discharge. If you encounter any technical issues, please contact the ITS Help desk. To verify your CBT is complete, check that your Cornerstone transcript lists under “Completed” and check your email for a confirmation. 

Don’t forget, you get 1TFP for completing the CBT, and it will count towards your PPP bonus.

Attendance Reports

Do you regularly check your attendance report? If not, make sure to do so and check for accuracy. Login to Crew Access, Reports, Attendance Report, Generate. Make sure to check that everything on there is accurate. If you are calling out sick, do not forget to fill out a point reduction form prior to the end of your next sequence (32.D). To find the form, visit the FA Website, Administration, Performance, New Point Reduction Form. Make sure to fill out accurately and put the date that the trip or reserve block you are calling out for started on. Please remember, the point reduction form cannot be used for short sick calls.  If you find an issue with your attendance report, you can bring it to the attention of your performance supervisor. Please remember, anytime you have a conversation with management, you can request a Council #19 representative to be present on the call with you.  If they can’t and/or wont assist, fill out a ticket at https://support.afaalaska.org

Local Council Meeting Announcement

Please save the date for our Local Council Meeting that will take place in October. We hope to see a lot of Seattle members at the event, so mark your calendar!

Date: October 3, 2023

Time: 1:00PM – 4:00PM

Location: Earhart Room at the International Plaza (same building as 13 Coins) across from the airport.

Come get updates and meet with your Local Officers and Committee Chairpersons. We will be available to answer your questions and give updates on current issues. Parking is free in two areas. There is parking out front that is free for a few hours, or park in the rear. If you park in the rear, please make sure to bring your parking ticket with you to the meeting so we can validate it for you.

You can view the agenda for the meeting by CLICKING HERE.

If you will be attending the meeting, please REGISTER HERE. 

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month officially started on September 15th and runs through October 15th. Make sure to wear your Hispanic Heritage AFA pins with pride. If you need one, there is a supply available in the Seattle Inflight Office, just ask a supervisor. 

AFA International HRE Committee

The AFA Human Rights and Equity Committee is committed to providing the broadest possible representation of our members regardless of age, disability, marital status, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and gender expression. We honor and celebrate the shared humanity of the members in our care. We shall at all times endeavor to promote the principles of tolerance, fairness, equity, justice, respect and inclusion within our Union. It is only when we all work together we can tear down the walls of division and create a progressive culture that values social & economic justice for all working people. 

You will find the latest HRE Committee Newsletter below:

2023-October-HRE-Newsletter-Download

Communications Committee Update, Looking Toward the Future

Our Communications Committee Chair and new members are delighted to be working together to provide you with the latest. Our focus is on engagement and relaying pertinent topics, to you, our proud SEA Council 19 members. Keep an eye out on our newsletters; in addition, if you are on Facebook, be sure to join our SEA Council 19 Facebook page. Feel free to utilize our Facebook platform with your questions and thoughts. 

Additionally, we are developing a SEA Council 19 Tik Tok as well as a new Instagram. These are simply additional ways to keep informed. We’re excited to be bringing new platforms of communication to you via social media platforms. Yet, if you’re not on social media, that’s okay, be sure to have your email address on file and with that you’ll receive our latest, too. 

Most importantly, never forgetting, you are the union…each and every one of you. We are only as strong as we are together. Stay engaged, stay in unity, stay informed.

Membership Dues

We will be planning solidarity events in the near future, so it is important to make sure that you are up to date on your membership dues. Also, please remember that when a tentative agreement is reached with the company, you  have to be up to date in order to vote! If you have questions about your dues status, please reach out to our Council #19 Secretary, Adam Clarey at adam.clarey@afaalaska.org. 

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up to date information on our Council #19 Facebook Group. Click below to join our group and stay connected. Also, our communication team is researching other social media platforms, more information will come soon!

Council #19 September Committee Update

In this ediition

  • Inflight Service Committee Update
  • Membership Committee Update
  • Mobilization Committee Update
  • Reserve Committee Update
  • Scheduling Committee Update
  • Uniform Committee Update

Inflight Service

The Seattle ISC committee continues to receive reports of poor-quality glassware, and utensils coming from the Seattle Kitchen. The reports of dirty and spotted glassware, and utensils has been discussed with management multiple times. Management indicates that they have asked LSG for a review of their processes, and to check the dish washing equipment. Management indicates that LSG has found a faulty part in the machine, and that a fix is in process. Please continue to report dirty dishes using the Block 2 Block app. 

The ISC committee is also asking management to address the shortage of FC glassware, and to find a solution as quickly as possible. We have too many reports of missing glassware and having to use paper cups in FC. This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately.

Please continue to use B2B to report all catering issues. Your report may not be responded to, but it is read and assigned to the appropriate team inside the Catering Department. 

 Membership

In September, we welcomed over 70 new Flight Attendants from Class 5 to Seattle. We add each new Flight Attendant to the AFA newsletter database. All Flight Attendants should be receiving email updates from AFA. If you are not receiving AFA emails, please register here. If you accidentally unsubscribed or need to update your email address, please email us, and we can update your subscription for you.

It is important to keep up with your union dues; missed dues deductions will not be taken out of a future 20thpaycheck. Dues are owed each month you are active or for the first three months of an unpaid leave. The deductions that occur from the 20th paycheck each month apply to that month (the September 20th paycheck covers September dues). Please visit the AFA Membership page for more union dues information and payment options if you owe dues. 

Mobilization

As you know, your mobilization committee has been hard at work this summer. We organized two highly successful informational picket events, with over 300 attendees in July and an astounding turnout of over 1,000 in August. Flight Attendants, Pilots, Agents, family, friends, and labor allies came together to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to fighting for the contract we deserve. While we don’t have any formal activities planned at the moment, we encourage you to continue wearing your red AFA pins and proudly displaying our red AFA luggage tags on your suitcases to show management that we are fired up and ready to continue the fight. 

Reserve

We have been busy on the Council 19 Reserve Committee continuing to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants based in Seattle. Please reach out with questions or concerns anytime via our email sea.reserve@afaalaska.org. If you have a contractual concern, then please file a ticket at the AFA Support Center page. 

We have noticed an increase in out of order assignments, so be sure to check the LTFA and take screenshots if you feel you are assigned out of order related to other Flight Attendants with the same classification reserve (AM/PM/ER)/number or days of availability. 

Remember, if you experience an over duty period (duty period that exceeds 12.5 hours) you may be due double out rest. Whatever is on your line at the time of the over duty period you are obligated to complete, but scheduling should not add any new flying after an over duty period has occurred. With how busy reserves have been in Seattle, a reminder is due that you do not have to accept any assignment that causes you to exceed 118.2 TFP flown reserve TFP for a bid period. An easy way to keep track is by checking how much TFP to date you are credited with on the LTFA. If you exceed 118.2, you can ask to be released from your remaining reserve days. 

We have seen an uptick in crew access trading issues, if you experience a crew access glitch, please let the reserve committee know ad we will forward it to the correct party. 

Lastly, we successfully fought to have the north satellite quiet room open after hours for overnight APSB shifts. For instructions on how to leave the north satellite when the trains are not running, visit the inflight webpage, my base, SEA, SEA Base and SpotOn location information, ADVISORY, and read the message about after-hours crew room access. 

Fly Safe and see you out there!

Scheduling

It has been a very busy summer for the Seattle Scheduling Committee. Thank you all who have submitted AFA Support Tickets so we may assist and document scheduling related issues. 

Below are highlights of upcoming important scheduling topics: 

  • Don’t forget to bid your 2024 Vacation.
  • 2024 vacation bidding is now open. Refer to Inflight Bulletin for details and due dates for first and second round vacation bidding and award timelines. 

As a reminder for vacation bidding:

For additional vacation bidding assistance, there is Vacation Bidding User Guide found on the Inflight webpage > Scheduling and Bidding > Vacation Trading > Vacation Bidding & Trading User Guide. 

Keep in mind January, February, and March bid dates for both vacation and monthly bidding. 

Section 5 – Definitions: Month: Each Calendar month will be a bid month except for January, February, and March.

  • January: January 1 – January 30
  • February: January 31 – March 1
  • March: March 2 – March 31


Additional information can be found in the CBA, Section 14, Vacation.

October PBS Base Sits

We will be conducting PBS base sits in Seattle in October, for November bid schedules. 

  • October 5: 11AM – 7PM
  • October 6: 9AM – 5PM
  • October 7: 10AM – 6PM
  • October 8: 10AM – 6PM
  • October 9: No SEA Base Sit
  • October 7 & 9: Virtual Base Sit 11AM – 1PM

Please Note: There will be PBS base sits at ALL bases. If you are on a sit or in another base, you can participate in those base sits. 

PBS Base sit schedule for all bases is posed on the PBS Information Page. 

REASSIGNMENT and PRECANCELLATION

There has been an uptick in Reassignments (Section 10.R) and Precancellations (Section 10.S). Please familiarize yourself with CBA Section 10.R and 10.S in its entirety. 

AFA Scheduling has helpful resources to assist you on the AFA website, under Committee Resources. Below are helpful flow chart links:

Uniform

This is a recap from the Quarterly Meeting held on August 8, 2023.

The quarterly meeting was divided into an AFA only meeting and an AFA with management meeting. The following items were discussed:

  • Reported quality issues including wings/pins causing injury and holes in uniform, name bar falling off wings, hems and seams running/tearing, zipper tabs falling off feminine cardigans, holes in sweaters, and sleeves on cardigans splitting at cup. 
  • Clarified there is no desire for management to remove the requirement for company issued lanyard due to safety concerns. Current lanyards are “snap away” feature that prevents injury.
  • Management will consider moving from the current approved list to “boot guidelines and requirements” for the seasonal navy boots. Updates will be made as soon as internal discussions conclude. 
  • The committee requested management review seasonal neckwear policy to allow for year-round wear for pride, patriotic, and breast cancer awareness themes. Marketing’s initial concern is this would lose the cohesive look of the brand with so many different styles. It also lessens the impact of the seasonal neckwear during those specific months/days. Will continue discussing. 
  • There with be an update on gender neutral collections and the Unisync website in late October. It will link back to uniform subsite to provide more information. 
  • Management is not inclined to remove the hosiery requirement for the feminine look. 
  • Unisync has a preferred vendor list which as limited ability to source a transition jacket. The committee has requested a list of the preferred vendors and will continue to actively assist in sourcing the best possible fit and quality. 
  • The feminine vest wear test was a success, and the redesign will be used in the site relaunch in October. 

The next quarterly Uniform Committee meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

What the Committee is Working On:

Wear Testing: Wear testing for the pride neckwear began on Monday August 7th and will run for 14 days. Wear testing for a gender neutral “Aura Vest” has been suspended. Advocating for a uniform that suites all body types require wear testers. Seeking volunteers who have gender neutral, petite, tall, and/or plus sizes to test uniform redesigns and additions. 

Mock Neck Sweater: Will be added to uniform collection and available for preorder in October. Shipping in Quarter 1.

Warm Weather Shirt: Added to the uniform collection and currently available for order. The shirt does not have any alteration guidelines; however, Flight Attendants may hem the shirt halfway up their bicep. Flight Attendants may not fold or cuff the shirts more than once. 

We want to hear from you! Please email Unisync with any quality issues. In the email, please describe the issue in detail, include the “PO” number from the tag, attach photos of the issue and the tag, if possible, and CC your Local Uniform Committee chairperson (sea.uniform.chair@afaalaska.org). Please consider opening a ticket on the AFA Support page so the Uniform Committee can track these issues. 

Would you like to join the wear test pool? Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you would like brought up with management, also lets us know. Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management. You can find contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA website. 

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up to date information on our Council #19 Facebook Group. Click below to join our group and stay connected. Also, our communication team is researching other social media platforms, more information will come soon!

AFA Council #19 August Newsletter

Council #19

  • Day of Solidarity Recap
  • CBT Reminder
  • Local Council Meeting Announcement
  • New Committee Members
  • Human Rights & Equity 
  • Vacation Bidding

August Day of Solidarity

Our day of Solidarity was a day to be proud of. We would like to thank all our members who came out and braved the hot weather, to stand shoulder to shoulder with your union brothers, sisters and siblings as we fight for what we deserve. The event was a huge success systemwide. In Seattle, we had close to 1,000 members present. We would like to thank all the volunteers that came and helped make sure that the event was a success.

We would like to give a special thanks to our guest speakers and representatives that attended the event. Sara Nelson (AFA-CWA International President), Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) and Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda! A warm thank you to our Government Affairs Committee for helping organize those special guests!

Also, thank you to our fellow Flight Attendant families from Horizon, United, Hawaiian, Piedmont, Envoy, Omni, American, Southwest and Delta who showed their support by joining us. In addition, thank you to Pilots from Alaska, United, Delta, Horizon, American and Southwest. We are all in this together.

Please stay tuned for future events. We will get the word out via email and social media when something is planned. 

Red Bag Tags

A new red AFA luggage tag was introduced at the Day of Solidarity event. This is another way to demonstrate our solidarity in the fight for our contract. Watch our Facebook group for posts on where/when you can pick up one of the tags!

Read More >

Public Support

Did you know we have a customer facing landing page on our AFA Alaska website? This page is full of information on what your friends, family, and the flying public can do to support our Flight Attendants. There are several resources on the page, we ask that you share this with your contacts! One immediate thing the public can do is sign our petition.

CBT Reminder

Do not forget to complete your CBT by the September 30 deadline. It is important to remember if you do not complete the required training, the discipline is progressive. If you are already in steps of discipline, failure to complete your CBT will move you up the steps, up to and including discharge. If you encounter any technical issues, please contact the ITS Help desk. To verify your CBT is complete, check that your Cornerstone transcript lists under “Completed” and check your email for a confirmation. 

Don’t forget, you get 1TFP for completing the CBT, and if you complete it in August, it will count towards your single month $350 PPP bonus for August!

Local Council Meeting Announcement

Please save the date for our Local Council Meeting that will take place in October. We hope to see a lot of Seattle members at the event, so mark your calendar and bid for the day off.

Date: October 3, 2023

Time: TBD

Location: TBD


We will send an update soon when the above has been finalized, but wanted to make sure everyone had the date so they can bid their schedules appropriately. 

Committee Additions

We would like to thank all the members who are expressing their interest in getting involved with your union. The committee chairs are still going through the submissions, and you should be reached out to shortly. 

We are excited to welcome the following new committee members:

Communications Committee:

Andrew Stinson

Daphne Clarkson

Laury Long

AFA International Human Rights and Equity Committee

The AFA Human Rights and Equity Committee is committed to providing the broadest possible representation of our members regardless of age, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, differently abled, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. We honor and celebrate the shared humanity of the members in our care. We shall at all times endeavor to promote the principles of tolerance, fairness, equity, justice, respect, and inclusion within our Union. It is only when we all band together and work together that we can rally against the walls of division to create a progressive culture that values social and economic justice for all working people. 

Some Important Dates to Remember:

September 4: Labor Day

September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day

September 11: 9/11 Remembrance Day

September 15-October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

September 21: International Day of Peace (UN)

September 23/September 16-23: Bisexual Visibility Day/Week

September 23: International Day of Sig Languages

 

Additional Pins available for the Month of September

In addition to your “Red” Solidarity Pin, you may wear your AFA 9/11 remembrance pin, AFA/APFA 9/11 pin or your Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month Pin! Please stop by the Seattle base to pick up either of these!

Vacation Bidding

Where does time go? It is that time of the year already, vacation bidding. If you have not already done so, it’s time to start planning your 2024 vacation. See the below timeline:

  • 9/1/23 – 9/18/23: Round one vacation bidding.
  • 9/26/23: Round one awards posted.
  • 10/3/23 -10/17/23: Round two vacation bidding.
  • 10/25/23: Round two awards posted.
  • 10/27/23 (2:00pm): Seattle vacation trading opens.

Please refer to bulletin bundle dated 8/16/2023 for more information.

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up to date information on our Council #19 Facebook Group. Click below to join our group and stay connected!

Pack the Pac Highway – Mobilization News and Council Meeting Agenda

PACK THE PAC HIGHWAY AND GET LOUD

INFORMATIONAL PICKET

As our Negotiating Committee prepares to return to the table on August 14-16, we are gearing up to boost their message to management: The time has come to do the right thing and live up to Alaska‘s promise of industry-leading pay.

Please continue to invite your fellow Flight Attendants, family and friends to come support us and let’s line the Pacific Highway/International Boulevard all the way from the HUB and Corporate to the Flag Pavilion and AFA Office where our Negotiating Committee will be meeting with management! If you plan on attending, please RSVP here. It’s not required to sign up ahead of time, but it really helps our organizers plan to make sure we have enough volunteers to help.

Meeting Point: Angle Lake Park, Shelter C
19408 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA 98188

12:30-2:00pm, picketing
(Plan to arrive early to pick up your picket sign and chant card. Those willing and able start picket march up to Flag Pavilion and AFA Office.)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

If you are a Mobilization volunteer, Ian Haywood sent a Sign-Up form for Lead Chanters and March Coordinators. If interested, sign up or let Ian know. Mobilization Volunteers should arrive at the Meeting Point by 11:00 am to help set up.

TURN UP THE HEAT, STAY HYDRATED!

We are turning up the heat on management, and Mother Nature is bringing reinforcements! Next week, temperatures are going to be in the mid-80s and will hit 90 degrees on the day of our picket! Pack sunscreen. Please bring plenty of water and liquids to stay cool and hydrated.

PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION

We highly encourage carpooling to the event. There is limited parking at Angle Lake Park. Attendees can also park at nearby Light Rail Stations and take the light rail to Angle Lake Station which is a half-mile (.5) walk to the park. For those coming from the north end, Sound Transit did issue a bulletin about service updates that could affect service if you are coming from north of SODO. Please read their bulletin for more information and plan accordingly.

SPECIAL GUESTS

We are so honored to have more special guests and amazing labor leaders to join us in solidarity! April Sims, President of Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO along with Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle City Councilmember and candidate for King County Council, will be adding their voice to our fight and standing beside us on the picket line. 

LOCAL COUNCIL MEETING

We will be holding a local council meeting immediately after the picket. All members in good-standing and guests are welcome to attend.

Date: August 15, 2023

Time: 1430 – 1500

Location: Angle Lake Park, Shelter C

RSVP: Registration Link

Agenda:

  • Call to order
  • Introduction of LEC Officers and Committee Chairs
  • Mobilization Report
    • Discussion
  • Adjournment

Thank you for continuing to support your Union brothers, sisters and siblings! Let’s all show corporate America the sheer power we hold when we lock arms and show up for each other. We can’t wait to march alongside each of you. Truly, we are stronger together, better together.

Committee Update

 Council #19 Monthly Committee Updates

The committee newsletter is meant to be published on the 2nd Wednesday of every month and the previous version was published prematurely. This version contains corrections and additions that were originally left out of the previous email.

 COMMUNICATIONS 

We are working on new ways to get information to you. As always, we want to get information to you as quickly as possible. We realize not everyone uses the same platforms as others, so if you have suggestions, please let us know by emailing sea.communications.chair@afaalaska.org, 

We have started a new Council 19 Facebook Group, you can join here. We are also scheduling regular newsletters which will be sent out the last Wednesday of every month. You will also receive a monthly committee update on the second Wednesday of every month. We will rotate committee reports, so each committee will report back to members every other month. In addition to this, we will regularly make posts on our website https://afaalaska.org/sea and will link all of the updates to the Facebook page. We appreciate any feedback you give us!

 AIR, SAFETY, HEALTH & SECURITY

In April of this year our uniform policy changed and the requirements for shoes was one of the important changes. In our roles, we are on our feet for long periods of time, and proper footwear plays a critical role in our long-term wellbeing. We had the opportunity to attend a lecture on the aging workforce at a safety conference earlier this year. It was an eye opener to hear about how making smart choices about footwear really makes a difference and was a key factor in keeping an aging workforce active in a BMW plant in Germany. Our revised shoe policy is on page 20 of the Uniform Guides and it makes wearing practical shoes easier. The next time you are out shopping for shoes, remember the following advice:

  • Do not expect that footwear which is too tight will stretch with wear.
  • Have both feet measured when buying shoes. Feet normally differ in size.
  • Buy shoes to fit the larger foot.
  • Buy shoes late in the afternoon when feet are likely to be swollen to their maximum size.
  • Ask a doctor’s advice if properly fitting shoes are not available. 
  • Consider using shock-absorbing insoles

It sounds like common sense, but often we let fashion win over comfort.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The Human Rights Committee was proud to have our Local Chairperson, Yan Yan Teague as a voting delegate at the Biennial APALA Convention on August 3-5.  The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO, was founded in 1992 and is the first and only national organization of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers, most of whom are union members and our allies, building power for AAPI workers and communities.

At the convention, a new APALA Executive board was elected. Workshops included how to engage union members, creating mentorship and learning about undocumented Asian workers. You can read about the highlights of the convention here:

If any AFA member is interested in becoming an APALA Member, please reach out to Yan Yan to learn more.

HOTEL

Your Hotel committee is continuing to advocate hard for the best hotels possible. We have seen recent changes to downtown locations in SFO, ORD and JFK. We will be looking at additional downtown locations as contracts expire.

Other cities that are currently being looked at or will be soon are: TPA, RSW, BUR, SEA, SJC, ONT, KOA, CUN, RDU, BWI, EWR (short) and more to come!

We appreciate all of the Crew Care reports that come in daily. They help us when choosing or reviewing a property. Please continue to submit both negative and positive feedback.

We launched a new API tool called “My Travel” to give you the most up to date hotel layover information. You will see an icon on your IMD with the “API” logo. This is a quick link to the My Travel page. It will transition to a up to date, stand alone application in the coming weeks. 

Please reach out if you have any questions about hotels. We can be reached at sea.hotel.chair@afaalaska.org

 BENEFITS, RETIREMENT & MATERNITY

The Benefits Committee attended the first Quarterly Benefits Check-in meeting on July 18th along with representatives from the Alaska Benefits Team assigned to Inflight. We were able to discuss ongoing concerns with the team. Kathy O’Malley and Terry Taylor for Council 19 represented SEA Flight Attendants. 

Since we have changed our Workers Compensation administration company 14 months ago, we’ve had many issues and difficulties with Sedgwick. Terry Taylor met with Absence Management representatives and others, to discuss these concerns on July 21st, along with Stephanie Adams, MEC Grievance Chairperson. We are pleased that we were heard, and changes to the administration staff and processing of Worker’s Compensation leaves for SEA have been implemented. 

We also discussed some of the main pain points since the transition from Matrix to Hartford in January 2023. We seem to be making progress with Hartford, and have specific contacts with Absence Management to resolve issues with processing and administering leaves of absence.

We will be switching 401(k) Plan Administrators this fall. The Retirement committee will be attending the first meeting to prepare for the transition on August 8th. More information will be provided  by both the company, and the Committee.

We continue to support all bases with Maternity general questions & assistance with leave planning through the Alaska Airlines Maternity Connection Facebook group.

EAP & PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

Hello everyone! We hope you are enjoying the summer and getting ready for the upcoming events. Here are some updates from SEA EAP:

  • We have been working with Inflight management to educate them about our FAAS Pathway program, which helps FA’s who may be struggling with substance use or other issues to seek help in a safe, non-, non-judgemental way.
  • We have created a comprehensive list of options for counseling and mental health provider assistance, as Active Support has not been reliable or consistent for our FA’s. 

We want to remind you of some important tips when flying:

  • If you notice a FA who seems impaired, disoriented, or unwell, please check on them and contact MedAire or Global Lifeline if needed. They may be having a medical emergency or need help. 
  • If you suspect a FA may be under the influence of a substance, please urge them to call EAP, initiate a Pathway 1 through the FAAS Program, or call out sick. Do not let them fly if they are not fit for duty. Safety First!
  • EAP is a safe and confidential place to ask for support. We do not share your information with the company unless you authorize us, or it is necessary. We can work with benefits, grievances, and other AFA committees to help you with your needs. You can contact us through AFA tickets, referrals, your flying peers or directly. 
  • Professional Standards is a confidential option that allows feedback to a FA who may be violating safety or company policies, or who may have a work style or personality conflict with you. We will reach out to the reported FA confidentially and try to resolve or defuse the issue. Please do not contact the FAs who reported you or retaliate against them in any way. This could lead to discipline from the company. 
  • EAP/Professional Standards does not handle BOA Visa issues, non-payment with trip trades, or social media issues. Please be mindful of what you post on social media and avoid negative, hurtful, or inappropriate comments that could target someone by name. Doing so may result in unwanted attention and discipline from the company. Be respectful, supportive, and kind to each other online and off-line.

We are here for you, and we appreciate your feedback. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

This section contains revisions and clarifications. 


WSLC – Convention July 18-20, 2023

  • In attendance: SEA Flight Attendants Andrew Stinson, Tracy Pettit, Jerry Sinclair, Melinda Jorge
  • As delegates we voted on resolutions and declarations for labor union activities
  • There were many open Mic discussions, Guest Speakers, and Guest Candidates Running for WA State offices
  • We spoke about the Pop-Up Picket and the day of Solidarity on August 15 for Alaska FAs
  • We handed out over 500 flyers at the convention – speaking points regarding Alaska’s Flight Attendants fight for an Industry Leading Contract & Wages
  • We learned of a $5,000 grant through WSLC that we can apply for funds to assist with our mobilization strategies

Meeting with MLK Labor – 07/26/2023

  • Seattle current and future number of delegates (voting) – per capita increase

FAA bill HR 3935

  • passed 07/20/2023

Meeting with Pierce County Labor Council

  • 07/31/2023 – Beginning a new relationship with Pierce County Labor

GRIEVANCE

Revised to add CBT discipline can progress up to and including discharge.

On June 2, 2023, there was a Grievance Committee Update published for the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2022, and 1st quarter of 2023. Items discussed included:

  • Steps of Discipline
  • Subjects of most recent discipline
  • Recent Arbitration/Mediation
  • Recent grievance Settlements
  • Grievances recently filed, denied by management and currently awaiting arbitration dates. 

CBTs

In Council 19, there were over 50 disciplines issued for failure to complete the Q2 CBT. It is important to remember that discipline is progressive, so if you are already in steps of discipline, failure to complete your CBT will move you up the steps, up to and including suspension discharge. If you encounter any technical issues, please contact the ITS Help Desk. To verify that your CBT is complete, check that your Cornerstone transcript lists under “Completed” and check your email for a confirmation.

Q3 CBT curriculum has now been pushed to your device. Please make the effort to complete it  and avoid any last-minute technical issues. If necessary, have an accountability partner and set a goal to get it done by the end of the month. Don’t forget, you get 1TFP for completing the CBT, and if you complete it in August, it will count towards your single month $350 PPP bonus for August!

GET INVOLVED

We are looking to engage more young Flight Attendants in the Union. Our NextGen program is looking for a few flight attendants under 35 years old who are eager to join and gain more experience working in the union with other union sectors. To learn more about NextGen, contact Yan Yan Teague.

In Solidarity, 

Jarod, David, Kathy, Yan Yan, Andrea, Melinda & Paula

Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

On Monday, October 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement

Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes to the rules surrounding how airlines report information about passengers and crew before flights. This system is called the Advance Passenger Information System, or APIS. These changes are in response to a Presidential Executive Order. What is APIS? APIS is a system that airlines are legally […]

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