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VOTING NOTICE AND INSTRUCTIONS MAILED TODAY!!!

We are approaching the end of term for our current Council #19 LEC Officers. In accordance with the Article VIII of the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws, all Councils in Category II must nominate and elect officers for the term beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2026 (three year term). Local Council Officers to be elected will be LEC President, LEC Vice President, LEC Secretary and two (2) Council Representatives.  

In order to be eligible to vote, you must be an active member in good standing(dues must be paid up to date). 

The first step in the process is nominating candidates for each office. Every active AFA member in good standing is eligible to nominate one Flight Attendant to each LEC Office for their respective Local Council. There is no candidate list provided for nominations since any active AFA member of a Local Council, who is inn good standing and is committed to serve, is eligible to be nominated.  

You will receive a Voting Notice and Instructions guide via postal mail which includes a personal 16-digit activation code that is required to log into the voting system in order to obtain a username and password. You will then be able to access the balloting section and cast your vote. The entire process can only be accomplished via the internet in one session, but please ensure you completely follow the instructions. 

  • March 7, 2023: Voting Notice and Voting Guide are mailed containing your personal 16- digit activation code
  • March 10, 2023: Voting (nominations) polls open (12:00PM ET) and voting begins
  • March 30, 2023: Polls close (3:00PM ET) and election count takes place

Information on the next steps after nominations will come out at a later time.  

Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Hotel Committee Update – Winter 2023

Recent Hotel Changes

Charleston: We have recently contracted with ———-. This was the AFA Hotel Committee’s choice, and we are happy the company secured this for our Flight Attendants. The hotel is right in town and is close to dining, shopping and entertainment. We hope you enjoy it. 

Guadalajara: The current hotel we have been using (the —-) is quite a drive, so a hotel closer to the airport was needed for the short layovers. Both AFA and ALPA chose the ———— by the airport because of the proximity to the airport, the fact that it is a brand new build, restaurant offerings and hours that coordinate well with our arrival times and the amenities offered. We hope our crews will be happy with this hotel for short layovers. Please note, we are not giving up the RIU downtown for the longer layovers. 

PLEASE NOTE: The above hotel names were removed for safety/security reasons, as this is public website.

Hotel Incidental Charges

We  are still getting reports of Flight Attendants making room charges or using items in the room that are not complimentary (snacks, mini bar or water). Please remember that water is NOT complimentary in all hotels, so make sure to check if there is a price attached to the bottle etc. Always remember to leave a credit card on file or pay when you check out if you are planning on making room charges or using room amenities that are not complimentary. Checking out and not paying for incidentals can lead to discipline up to and including discharge, so please be careful. 

Refrigerators and Microwaves

We would like to remind you that refrigerators and microwaves are NOT contractual, and we do not have plans on adding these to the language. When we do a site inspection, we do take this into account and we ask if they are available or if they can be made available. If we have two hotels that are comparable to choose from we take this into account when making the final decision. The reason we are not looking to add this to our language is that it could potentially lower the quality of hotels we have to choose from, including their locations. We will of course always advocate to choose properties that have the most amenities, but will take everything into account including location, etc. 

Crew Care

Do you use Crew Care? Anytime you have a contractual violation with your hotel accommodations, a Crew Care should be completed. You can find the link on the Inflight Website > Hotel & Station > Hotel Links > My Crew Care. If you have a hotel contract violation or if a hotel is having issues, please report it.  Please note, it is also nice to complete a Crew Care with compliments on hotels or for individual staff. We take these into account when selecting hotels or deciding to continue a relationship with a current property. Also, when you send in a compliment on a specific employee of a property, API will forward it to management on site and that employee will be recognized!

Upcoming Hotel Site Inspections

Site inspections are common when a contract comes up for renewal. Sometimes a current hotel is not interested in continuing the relationship, the hotel no longer meets the contractual language or we are simply re-assessing the market to see what other properties have become available.  We have site inspections coming up in the following markets:

  • SFO
  • ABQ
  • JFK (possibly)
  • CHS (short layover only, not looking to replace current DT hotel)
  • PSC/RDM
  • KOA
  • TPA/RSW
  • PHX
  • BUR
  • ORD

Hotel Etiquette

Please keep hotel etiquette and expectations in mind when on your layovers, including behavior of your guests. Even though you are on a layover, you are representing Alaska Airlines in a room paid for by them. Bad behavior will make its way back to management and will be acted on.

Hotel Shuttles

We utilize two different kinds of shuttles on our layovers. At some of our hotels we use hotel provided transportation and at others, we use a third party. When using a third party, it is at their discretion on whether they allow guests of employees or not. Please keep a few things in mind. Some of our transportation companies use an SUV that will only have enough seats for the working crew. In Charleston, the provider charges $10 per guest. The company we use is a small company and that fee covers the extra insurance they have to carry for guests. Also, in PVR a bulletin was previously issued reminding that guests cannot ride in the shuttle until further notice, as of today that bulletin has not been over turned. This is the policy of the transportation company. Please make sure if you are bringing guests to any of our layover hotels, be prepared to pay for transportation in case its not available for your guests (vehicle not large enough, etc). Also we would like to remind you that the shuttle time when leaving a hotel is the time that shuttle should be leaving the hotel, not the time you meet in the lobby. 

As always, we advocate hard for the best hotels we can possibly secure. We always appreciate your feedback, we take it to heart and use all feedback when making our recommendations on crew layover hotels. If you have questions that do not warrant a Crew Care, you can reach the Seattle Hotel Chairperson at sea.hotel.chair@afaalaska.org.

In Solidarity, 

Your Seattle Hotel Committee

Winter Scheduling Committee Update

WINTER 2023 SCHEDULING UPDATE

DECEMBER 2022 Sea Snow and Ice storm 

We saw a huge amount of OS tickets regarding scheduling and pay concerns from the December 2022 Sea Snow and Ice storm which kept us quite busy in January.  

Most popular topics included: 

  • Pay – how to calculate and request pay queries to Crew Pay – Rainmaker Pay and User Guides 
  •  Reassignment  Section 10.R., Precancellation Section 10.S. , Holiday Premium Section 21.H. 
  • Stranded Pay Section 22.N, Holiday Indicator in OT – this is a Crew Access known issue, listed in the Crew Access Known Issues document on the Inflight Webpage.

AFA and Management held a SEA Snowstorm debrief in early January to discuss relevant issues.  We appreciate and extend a big thank you to Jake Jones for his assistance overseeing tickets as we were swamped. 

RAINMAKER – PAY AND USER GUIDES 

There has been an uptick in questions about pay and Rainmaker. Questions include how to reach out to Crew Pay, pay queries, how to respond to comments, how to expand pay buckets, timelines for crew pay responses, what needs an activity claim form, and what processes are automated. 

Please continue to use these available resources as tools to assist with understanding how to use Rainmaker.  

All this Information can be found on the FA webpage  > administration > pay & benefits > rainmaker 

  • Rainmaker User Guide 
  • Rainmaker Job Aide – View Reports 
  • Rainmaker Job Aide – Commenting and Activity Claims 
  • Rainmaker FAQs 
  • Rainmaker Job Aide – Viewing Banks 

Although it may be time consuming, we recommend that all flight attendants take the time to review these guides to assist them in understanding Rainmaker and how they are paid. 

 A few highlights: 

Rainmaker User Guide (pages 4, 5, & 20) outline details of pay timelines. 

Crew Pay will not process certain trip pay concerns until the month is completed. These reports are a manual process and they pull ALL reports at month-end and then process.  FAs can expect that in these certain pay scenarios it could be up to two weeks for Crew Pay to respond, until the report is pulled and trip pay worked This typically can take up to the 10th of the month following occurrence that resulted in the query. 

CREW ACCESS FILTERS 

We continue to get tickets opened with the Crew Access filter not showing correctly (showing UTC TIME). This is a known issue. We hope to have this fixed in the March Crew Access release. 

Please continue to open IT tickets and report your concerns to management. 

WAIVING CREW REST 48/7 – 24/7  

This time of year, we get tickets from disappointed FAs who waive their Contractual Rest. Due to operational concerns (typically weather related) their waived rest falls below FAR minimums. They are removed from their trips or portion of (SIP point) without Pay Protection until their rest is restored. (Section 8.N. Waiver of Contractual Rest).  

Section 8.N. WAIVER OF CONTRACTUAL REST

A Flight Attendant who waives any contractually required rest, and who then operationally would fall below any CFR-required rest period, will be pulled from sufficient flights to resolve the CFR illegality. The Flight Attendant will not be pay protected.

SHORT LAYOVERS (10:00 – 10:40 hours duration) 

The past several months we have seen a slight increase in pairings with short layover duration at 10:10 – 10:40 minute layovers. (mostly GDL) We requested a review of the 10:40 GDL layovers.  

Continue to track short layovers with longer duty days with multiple landings. 

If you see a consistent trip with a short layover please let us know. 

We do not have statistics on Fatigue Risk Management however we do want FAs to be aware of this program. You can find the full text of the AFA LOA under Letters Of Agreement in our CBA – Fatigue Risk Management Plan – AFA LOA 2020-06-02

VACATION PAYOUT REQUEST 

Flight Attendants may request to have their  2023 vacation paid out in advance of the scheduled dates.  

There is a form for FAs to request and submit to Crew Pay. This is found at: 

  • FA Webpage 
  • Administration 
  • Pay & Benefits 
  • Vacation Payout Form  

Instructions are found within the form to explain how to request early pay for vacation. 

CARE RETREAT 

Many FAs were assigned Care Retreat in March.  

Those who have been assigned can trade their March care retreat period starting on February 17th @ 9:00 am (the day after March open time trading begins). Information is found on the PBS information page. 

If they want to pick up a day in February, they can find available dates in February open time. If they find a date that works they’ll need to call CS to manually place it on their schedule. They need to be sure the March date is removed. 

This is considered a company required training. You can access this information on the PBS website under Information – Trading Timelines at the bottom of the chart. (Trading of Recurrent and company required training). 

NEW COMMUTER FLOWCHART    

AFA has finalized a new COMMUTER FLOWCHART. 

It can be found in the Scheduling section on the AFA Website, along with the Pre-Cancellation, Reassignment, Reassignment Pay and Irregular Ops Quick Reference Sheet. 

  • AFA Website
  • Main Page 
  • Committees 
  • Scheduling 
  • Tools and Resources (right hand side) 

Click to access 2023.1.11-Commuter-Policy-Flow-chart.pdf

NEW DIRECTOR INFLIGHT CREW SCHEDULING 

Sara Cook has been promoted to Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling 

NEW SEA SCHEDULING COMMITTEE MEMBER 

We want to welcome Paula Isla-McGill to the Sea Scheduling Committee.  Paula has completed AFA 101 and will soon be trained in the OS Ticket System. Once completed she will be added to our committee list on the AFA Webpage. 

Council #19 Winter Newsletter

Winter Newsletter

Council #19 SEA

PARKING

We continue to be asked when garage parking will end, and why those who have returned from a Leave of Absence, or will be returning soon do not have garage parking restored.  The Port refuses to issue additional garage parking.  All other carriers besides Alaska have already lost garage parking.  The current estimate is ‘sometime in March.’  That said, we’ve also been advised that since Delta has left the garage, the North Parking lot is now at capacity.  Apparently Alaska will be contracting for a new parking facility only for Alaska employees, that is about 10 minutes north of the North Parking lot.  They plan to use Alaska owned buses, and McGee employees to operate the buses.

CBTs

We continue to have issues with Flight Attendants not completing CBTs timely.  Discipline is then issued.  We are aware that some have had technical issues with completion.  If you are having difficulty, please contact the IT help desk.  Several have moved through steps of discipline, up to and including suspensions for failure to complete CBTs. Until you receive an email that your CBT is complete, and verify through Cornerstone that it is no longer listed, your CBT is ‘in progress.’  

Commuter Violations

Every month the Company reviews Commuter Travel (D8Y) usage.  Violating the commuter policy, does result in discipline.  The most common issues include using D8Y status after being released from a deadhead at a city other than one’s domicile, rather than E1Y travel.  In addition, we have continuing issues resulting in disciplinary action that involve commuting to base during the reserve availability period.  Even if one has self-assigned, the reserve availability period is the required time to be in base.  Assignments (even self-assignments) can be changed.  

Pre-Board of Directors Local Council Meeting

This year is a ‘budget only’ Board of Directors meeting.  The budget for the fiscal year 2023/2024 has been prepared and will soon be sent out to all BOD delegates (the Local Council Presidents for each base.)  We have scheduled a pre-Board of Director’s meeting to review the budget, from 1-3 pm on March 15, 2023.  This meeting will take place in the Earhardt Room on the lowest level of the STOC, in the South Tower.  This building is directly across the street from the airport, in the same building that houses 13 Coins Restaurant.

Joint Council Meeting

This is a reminder for our Joint Local Council Meeting on April 21st at 1PM and we hope you can attend. This meeting will be primarily to review the agenda for the Board of Directors meeting taking place in May. 

Joint Local Council Meeting

WhenThu Apr 21, 2022 1pm – 3pmPacific Time – Los Angeles
Wherehttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/84188031648?pwd=Q0hsSkFFSGVBOWgwbjRmK0NHUHZ1UT09(map)
Who•Terry Taylor- organizer

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Joint Contract Negotiations Session 14 – April 2026

The JNC continued its thorough review of both the Alaska and Hawaiian vacation systems, engaging in productive discussions with key company stakeholders. A collaborative approach was proposed to address the complex provisions, ensuring that all parties’ needs are considered. Looking ahead, the committee is preparing to gather feedback through a Crew Meal Survey and anticipates further sessions with management from June 2 to June 4.

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States—a time to celebrate the vibrant stories, achievements, and enduring impact of these communities. Their cultures, traditions, and innovations have enriched every facet of American life, from art and science to activism and public service. What started in 1978 as a weeklong observance […]

Join The Picket Line: Support Horizon Flight Attendants on Tuesday, April 28

Since November 2023, Horizon Air Flight Attendants have been in negotiations, fighting tirelessly to secure a new contract that recognizes their work. Even after applying for mediation in January 2025, management continues to offer proposals that ignore the essential contributions Horizon Flight Attendants make to the success of Horizon Air and Alaska Air Group.  On […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – April 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, April 21, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at the Alaska Airlines Global Training Center in Renton, WA to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – April 2026

On Monday, April 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met virtually 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 pmAS), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Barry Spitzer (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), and Kanani Vallot (SAN), […]

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