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:
- Reassignment Flowchart (Pay): https://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AFA-Reassignment-Flow-Chart-Pay-2022.09.30.pdf
- Reassignment Flowchart: https://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AFA-Reassignment-Flow-Chart-2022.09.30.pdf
- Precancellation Flowchart: https://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AFA-Precancellation-Flow-Chart-2022.09.30.pdf
- Irregular Operations Quick Reference: http://afaalaska.org/scheduling/irops
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!
