As many of you know, Seattle open time did not go smoothly~ again. Moving the date of open time to the 17^th of the month was supposed to help the on-going issues Seattle faces every month with access to the system: A system that cannot handle the amount of users on a normal day, let alone open time day. However, this month another glitch caused many of you to lose out on your ability to access open time.

I have asked Ron Calvin to address the latest technical issues with Seattle’s access to February open time, but I want you to know I have heard your frustrations and I believe it is important to address this issue with you first hand.

On the morning of February 17^th eMaestro, and your ability to access eMaestro, was affected by the release of the must read bulletin for the new manual revision. Specifically, “Alaska IT was able to track the problem to another database inflight uses when issuing bulletins.  The slowness occurred while the system was verifying that bulletins had been read.” We all know this was more than a slowness to the system. Flight Attendants were flat out denied access open time or kicked out if they were already in. Moving forward, I have requested management to take appropriate actions during periods of higher volume usage, specifically the commencement of open time, to ease the burden on this outdated and fragile system.

We did not receive any reported issues with January’s open time. So, I believe that we are on the right track, to protect your access to open time, with the decision to move Seattle open time to the 17^th. Now we need to ensure that access to open time is not impacted by other systems or IT glitches.

It is extremely frustrating that Seattle continues to experience issues with open time and that Flight Attendants are expected to deal with a substandard system. AFA continues to address these issues with management, but there is no quick fix. We have high hopes for the new JCTE system that comes on line this fall, but as with any new system, it is likely that we will experience a few hiccups along the way.

Also, I want to address some of the concerns I am receiving about the new open time rules. In reviewing the historical data since the changes to open time, AFA notes that many Flight Attendants are successfully dropping trips into open time. So successfully, in fact, that the days are closing within minutes. Remember, all days are open with the commencement of open time and only close when the Threshold Sequence Number, TSN, is met. Once the day is closed you have to be mindful of how you can trade or drop your trips. Remember, the only way the day opens back up is by Flight Attendants picking up enough sequences to drop the TSN number below the threshold~ Currently 11 for Seattle.

The closing of days on open time day is not tied to the IT glitches that plague eMaestro. Days closing in the month are directly tied to your ability to drop trips into open time. And again, Flight Attendants are successfully utilizing this new ability.

The “Open Time Trial” officially begins with February Open Time. Although Seattle experienced a rough start to the trial, it is our hope that you learn how to use the new system and maximize your ability to work your schedule. I will continue to seek your feedback, over the next year, during the open time trial, and place a vote for Seattle based this feedback.

There is a learning curve with the new trading system. We encourage you to review the language in Section 12.F and read the blast emails sent out from AFA that offers helpful hints for successful trading. Also, you can email your scheduling committee, sea.scheduling@afaalaska.org or any of your LEC Officers for advice and assistance.

Thank you for your emails~ It’s important to hear from you so we can address questions, concerns, and comments.

In Solidarity,

Laura Masserant

LEC President Council 19

Seattle

Do you have questions about your choices for Open Enrollment?

Do you need some assistance accessing the benefits website?

Members of your Council 19 AFA Benefits Committee will be hosting base sits on the following dates in the Seattle Inflight Service Center.

Please take a few extra minutes to stop by before or after your trips!

You can also contact your LEC Benefits Chair~ Kathy O’Malley at: benefitsassist@hotmail.com

Benefits can be a confusing thing to think about and this year there is a new tool to help clear up the mystery.  We encourage everyone to meet the new benefits tool,  “Alex.”  You’ll be surprised at the information Alex will share with you!  There is a link to Alex in the Benefit Information link: http://splash.alaskasworld.com/News/2015/11/02_enrollment.asp

The SEA Benefits Committee is always available to help.  Review the Open Enrollment information and make your Enrollment before 11/18/15.

November 14 – 4:30am – 11:00 am

November 16 – 8am -4 pm

November 17 – 3:00 Pm -11:00 pm

November 18 – 4:30 am – 2:00 pm

Here are minutes of the October 21, 2015 LEC Base Meeting. If you have any questions you can contact any of your LEC Officers.

AFA-CWA Base Meeting

Council 19 Seattle

October 21, 2015

1:00PM

(Agenda)

 

Call meeting to order: 1:45

1. Call for late agenda items

A. Late agenda items – none

B. Announcements – none

2. LEC Update

             A. LEC President Report: LEC P Laura Masserant

Budget 16K a month and over budget in Sept/Oct because of the training (FADAP and Advanced Grievance Training). Andy is cutting the CB pay and some of our AFA paid by Company is being reduced. Our Benefit committee appears to be first on the list and it is only a total of 30 TFP’s for all bases. Laura has asked that our committee members’ complete monthly logs to show work completed. The company will only allow 1 chair to meetings and no additional pay. Vice chair can attend but no CB pay.

The Inflight Crew Room is moving and will eventually be just outside the KCM area where the pilot room is now. That is also going to be the area that is going to be the FA area for rest.

            B. LEC VP Report: VP Jake Jones

Pretty much the same thing doing a lot of back scene issues. In office Monday thru Friday and fly on the weekends and that is the only time my phone is off. In charge of the implementation meetings and those are once a month along with scheduling once a month.

             C. LEC Secretary: Sect/Tresurer Linda Christou

Membership dues update: Check to see if it was paid because notices cross in the mail with payment updates from Alaska. First, you need to review your paystub and you look at your 20^th check for the month you were invoiced (if you get a invoice from AFA International Membership department). If you are invoiced for October you look at your October 20^th paycheck not September 20^th paycheck.

        3. Open Time Update:

The company believes it didn’t crash. Company added more servers to help offset the accessibility issues, but Seattle reports continuing concerns with log on attempts. The MEC will discuss at the next meeting, November 9-10. Seattle Open Time accessibility is added to the agenda to discuss possible changes to the December OT for January. It must be fair for all bases~ MEC is monitoring OT and Laura will send out a blast (Went out as MEC blast on 10.27.5)

December Staffing update: More flying in the back end of December so bid accordingly.

          4. BUDGET REVIEW

Went over it earlier in Laura’s report

Meeting adjourn at 2:50pm

Please remember to join your Council 19 Officers on October 21, 2015, for the local base meeting

Where: Seoul Room Sea Tac Conference Center

Time: 1:00 pm (parking is free when you park on all levels EXCEPT 4)

If you have an agenda item that you would like to add please contact LEC Secretary Linda Christou.

AFA-CWA BASE MEETING

Council 19 – Seattle

October 21, 2015

1:00 pm

Agenda

I. Call meeting to order

A. Call for late agenda items

B. Late Agenda Items

C. Announcements

II. LEC Update 

A. Officer Update

1. LEC President Report

2. LEC VP Report

3. LEC Sec/Tres and Membership Report

B. Open Time Update

C. Budget Review

Common questions answered by your SEA Scheduling Committee!

Have a question? Email sea.scheduling@afaalaska.org 

WHAT IS THE TSN AND HOW DO I FIND IT?

FAs will be restricted from trading with Open Time from the bulletin board  or multiple trades when the number of trips in Open time that count towards the Threshold Sequence Number (TSN) is greater than the minimum TSN.

The TSN number for SEA in October appears to be 11 sequences per day.  There are currently 2066 FAs on the SEA seniority list.  The minimum a domicile receives is 3 sequences per day when under 650 FAs in the domicile. Once 650 is met they receive a total of 4 per day and an additional 1 sequence for an additional 200 FAs.

SEA:

1-649 FAs: 3 sequences

650 FAs: 1 sequence

1416 additional FAs: 7

Total of TSN for SEA with 2066 FAs (650 + 1416) = 11 sequences per day

The contractual reference is Section 12.F.3.

In order to see the TSN number you must hover your mouse over the date.  In SEA it will show 11 TSN threshold per day.

If a day is dark it is closed/limited.  If the day is open it has not met the number.

WHAT CONSITUTUES BLOCK OUT/BLOCK IN?

Block out:

Period of time beginning with the earlier of

1. A) Aircraft movement (measured when all upper deck doorsare closed and the parking brake is release) OR
2. B) Engine start sequence initiated (measured by oil pressure) for the purpose of flight or repositioning.

Block in:      

1. A) Any upper deck door open
2. B) All engines shut down (measured by oil pressure)

SIT PAY:

If pairing has a scheduled sit of 2:01 or more, 1.0 tfp is paid. If 2:01 is not scheduled but occurs the 1.0 tfp is due. If your sit time appears to be 2:01, but the CSAs are fast and close the door below 2:01 no sit pay is due.

Remember, the sit time must be scheduled to receive the 1.0 if actual sit time falls below 2:01.

September Open Time Crash

The MEC is working with the company to address issues with Open Time day. On September 15, the system crashed two minutes into the SEA Open Time slot. We have determined that the current antiquated computer system cannot withstand the amount of users attempting to process trades all at once. Until the new computer is uploaded we will continue to see this problem. We are in active discussions with management and should have a temporary solution, soon!

————————————————————————————–

EARNING VACATION FOR 2016: REMINDERS

Company Seniority:

Seniority that begins to accrue from the date an employee is placed on the Company payroll and will continue to accrue during the term of employment. Company seniority will determine vacation time, and all Company benefits.

Occupational Seniority Applications:

Occupational seniority/system seniority will be used for all vacation selection, eligibility for Longevity Paid Time Off…

SECITON 14 VACATION

SECTION A:

3. Employment begins with the first day a Flight Attendant is placed on the Companypayroll.
4. Vacation accruals in A.1. and A.2., above, are based on Worked TFP credited in the

previous calendar year.

(Worked TFP: All paid TFP excluding vacation/Longevity PTO and sick leave.)

Flight Attendants who are credited with four-hundred eighty (480.0) TFP or greater will accrue the maximum days of vacation listed above for the subsequent calendar year.

Flight Attendants who are credited with greater than or equal to two-hundred forty

(240.0) TFP and less than four-hundred eighty (480.0) TFP will accrue half of the

maximum days of vacation listed above for the subsequent calendar year.

Flight Attendants who are credited with less than two-hundred forty (240.0) TFP will NOT accrue vacation for the subsequent calendar year.

Unpaid TFP credit will be applied and/or look-back period will be modified consistent with Sections 15.M. [Leaves with Coordination…] and 15.N. [Unpaid Leaves…] as applicable.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS/VACATIONS:

May I pick up Premium OT on vacation?

Yes.

Longevity Paid Time Off (PTO): Seven (7) days of PTO provided to a Flight Attendant employed twenty-five (25) years or longer who is credited with greater than or equal to nine hundred-sixty (960.0) Worked TFP inclusive of vacation in a calendar year.

Section 13- Uniforms

A Flight Attendant who is credited with fewer than four-hundred eighty (480.0) TFP

inclusive of Worked TFP, vacation and sick leave in the previous calendar year will not receive any uniform credits but will receive necessary uniform pieces upon approval of Inflight management. Unpaid TFP credit will be applied and/or the look back period will be modified consistent with Section 15.M. [Leaves with Coordination…] and 15.N. [Unpaid Leaves…] as applicable.

Q AND A SECTION 14:

Will my entitlement to vacation be reduced due to a leave of absence?

Unless a Flight Attendant has some // Worked TFP, vacation pay or sick leave in a bid month during a leave of absence, the Flight Attendant will have her/his annual vacation entitlement reduced by one-twelfth (1/12). Section 14.A.1. and 14.A.2.

[Vacation/Longevity Paid Time…].

Please let your officers and committee chairs know if you have any questions!

In solidarity,

LEC President Laura Masserant,

LEC VP/MEC Scheduling Chair Jake Jones,

LEC Sec/Tres Linda Christou,

Council Rep Stephanie Adams, and Council Rep Adam Clarey