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Council 35 News September 2021

Important Dates

  • September 30:  Last day of COVID Points Forgiveness-today!
  • October 1:  Vacation Round 2 opens
  • October 15: Last day to submit vaccination record for $200
  • October 18:  Vacation Round 2 closes
  • October 25:  Vacation Round 2 Awards posted
  • Various dates (see below):  How-To Series

Hotel and Reserve Committee Opportunities

Council 35 has chair openings in the Hotel and Reserve Committees.  Please review the duties and responsibilities of each position which can be found on our website. If you are interested in volunteering, please submit a letter expressing your interest to sfo@afalaska.org.  

How-To Series Starts October 1st

Council 35 is happy to announce a new learning series to help Flight Attendants navigate a variety of scheduling and reserve activities.  In collaboration with Inflight Base Managers Cierra Lewis and Benito Pasia-Garcia, our very own Virginia Fritz, SFO Scheduling Chair, is hosting these events along with PDX Reserve Chair, Anthony Eskander.  Each event will include a short lesson about a scheduling or reserve topic followed by live Q&A.  These short live events will be held throughout the month of October via Teams.  Can’t make the event you want?  No problem!  All live events will be recorded and posted for FAs unable to attend.  To view live events, past recordings or more information, visit the How-To website on Alaskasworld. Schedule and details can be found in the following links:

October 1: Personal and Management Drops
October 4:  Bidding Strategies for your Seniority
October 13:  Splitting and Advertising Reserve Days  
October 14:  Trading Reserve Days
October 15:  Posting and Shifting Reserve Days and Understanding Coverage
October 15:  TO and Non-TO Days and Open Time
October 26:  Lineholder’s Picking up Reserve Days  
October 28:  Precancellations

COVID MOU Sunsets

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiated to remove points for COVID related absences will sunset today, September 30.  AFA requested that management extend the MOU however the suggestion was not accepted and management will discontinue the COVID points forgiveness program as planned.  Please be sure to submit for COVID related absences according the guidelines in the MOU.  Flight Attendants returning from leave on October 1 have 14 days to submit documentation.  Additionally, any FA that has a continuous absence that begins in September but carries over into October will also be considered for point forgiveness if reported in a timely manner.  Please review the COVID Points Forgiveness MOU for more information.  Reminder to CA based Flight Attendants:  Please review the State Laws Part 3 communication for information on CA COVID laws.

Call to Action:  Possible Government Shutdown

Transportation is one of the many industries that will be affected by a government shutdown.  Join other AFA members and let your state’s representatives know that avoiding the shutdown is important to Flight Attendants.  For more information and how this impacts our jobs, please read No More Shutdowns and take part in this important mobilization effort.

Save the Date: California Local Council Membership Meeting

The next membership meeting for Council 35 members will be Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 1100 via Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss news and events happening in California bases at Alaska.  This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 35 (SFO), 18 (LAX) and 15 (SAN) members in good standing (up-to-date on dues).  Agenda, time and registration details will be sent in a separate communication.

AFA Membership Dues – Update

by LEC Secretary and Membership Chair, James Ikehara
Approximately 300 Council 35 members are in arrears with their monthly AFA dues based on the September 2021 report from AFA International’s Membership Services department.  Although the amount of months in arrears vary widely, a member that is only one month late ($50) can fall into a “Bad Standing” status if the amount owed is more than 90 days delinquent; there are approximately 102 members that fall into this category. A delinquency may have been caused by the following

  • A type of leave of absence you incurred in the past and were not coordinating enough sick leave or vacation to cover your dues
  • You flew low TFP’s in any given month and there was not enough money for an auto-deduction
  • When you are on any type of leave and you are completely off payroll (not coordinating any sick leave or vacation time) you are obligated to pay the first 3 months during your leave according to the AFA-CWA, Constitution & Bylaws.  Once the 3 months have been fulfilled you have met your obligation and you do not owe union dues until you return to work. 

If your delinquency is not corrected, the following is the progression of steps taken for non-payment based on AFA International’s bylaws:

  • Standing 2 (S2) – this letter indicates you are now in bad standing and this is the first stage of the AFA-CWA delinquency process.  A flight attendant goes into S2 when you have ONE or more dues billings that are over 90 days old and remain unpaid.
  • Standing 3 (S3) – this letter indicates that the FA remains delinquent after receiving the initial “Bad Standing” warning letter.  You now receive your S-3 letter via certified mail return receipt (if AFA International has an incorrect address on file, the LEC President or Secretary will put it into your co-mail file at work and it is treated as if it was sent via certified mail).  Nonpayment could result in discharge per our FA Collective Bargaining Agreement, Section 26 C & D.
  • Standing 4 (S4) – this is a pending status which means your International Membership Services department is researching your account for you.
  • Standing 5 (S5) – this is your final warning and this becomes very serious.  After receiving your S-2 and S-3 letters for nonpayment, our International AFA office in Washington, D.C. sends a letter to Alaska Airlines requesting discharge for nonpayment and a copy of this letter is also sent to your LEC President.

If you have received a text or email from me, or a letter from AFA International’s Membership Services department about your dues, it is important you contact AFA-CWA Membership Services by calling them directly at 844-232-2228, extension 3 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Eastern), or by submitting an online inquiry via this link to verify the amount owed on your account. If you were on any type of leave, ensure you note the dates of your leave in the comments section and they will investigate and make the necessary changes. Debit and credit card payments can be made via this link.  

If you need to complete a Dues Check Off (DCO) form to ensure your dues are automatically deducted from your account, you can access the form here. After printing and signing the DCO, mail it to the Washington, D.C. address at the bottom of the form. Please note the following: the paycheck you receive on the 20th of each month (Advice Date) pays you for all of your flying for the previous month. However, the AFA dues that are payroll deducted from this check pays for the month it was deducted (i.e., the $50 deduction for October 20th will be for October dues, not for the previous month). For those returning to work from one of the mitigated leaves of absence, your dues may not be deducted since you were not active in the previous month.

If you are not able to pay your balance in full, payment options are available and can be coordinated with the Membership Services office. We are here to offer assistance in ways of paying your obligation so it is very important that we work together to ensure that Section 26 C, D & E of our Collective Bargaining Agreement are not applied for non-payment of dues which could result in termination once you have reached a Standing 5 status. We want to ensure the status of your AFA membership stays current and appreciate your prompt attention to correct this issue.

In solidarity,

Melissa, James and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

Important Dates

September 30:  Last day of COVID Points Forgiveness-today!
October 1:  Vacation Round 2 opens
October 15: Last day to submit vaccination record for $200
October 18:  Vacation Round 2 closes
October 25:  Vacation Round 2 Awards posted
Various dates (see below):  How-To Series

Hotel and Reserve Committee Opportunites
Council 35 has chair openings in the Hotel and Reserve Committees.  Please review the duties and responsibilities of each position which can be found on our website. If you are interested in volunteering, please submit a letter expressing your interest to sfo@afalaska.org.  

How-To Series Starts Oct 1
Council 35 is happy to announce a new learning series to help Flight Attendants navigate a variety of scheduling and reserve activities.  In collaboration with Inflight Base Managers Cierra Lewis and Benito Pasia-Garcia, our very own Virginia Fritz, SFO Scheduling Chair, is hosting these events along with PDX Reserve Chair, Anthony Eskander.  Each event will include a short lesson about a scheduling or reserve topic followed by live Q&A.  These short live events will be held throughout the month of October via Teams.  Can’t make the event you want?  No problem!  All live events will be recorded and posted for FAs unable to attend.  To view live events, past recordings or more information, visit the How-To website on Alaskasworld. Schedule and details can be found in the following links:

October 1: Personal and Management Drops
October 4:  Bidding Strategies for your Seniority
October 13:  Splitting and Advertising Reserve Days  
October 14:  Trading Reserve Days
October 15:  Posting and Shifting Reserve Days and Understanding Coverage
October 15:  TO and Non-TO Days and Open Time
October 26:  Lineholder’s Picking up Reserve Days  
October 28:  Precancellations

COVID MOU Sunsets
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiated to remove points for COVID related absences will sunset today, September 30.  AFA requested that management extend the MOU however the suggestion was not accepted and management will discontinue the COVID points forgiveness program as planned.  Please be sure to submit for COVID related absences according the guidelines in the MOU.  Flight Attendants returning from leave on October 1 have 14 days to submit documentation.  Additionally, any FA that has a continuous absence that begins in September but carries over into October will also be considered for point forgiveness if reported in a timely manner.  Please review the COVID Points Forgiveness MOU for more information.  Reminder to CA based Flight Attendants:  Please review the State Laws Part 3 communication for information on CA COVID laws.

Call to Action:  Possible Government Shutdown
Transportation is one of the many industries that will be affected by a government shutdown.  Join other AFA members and let your state’s representatives know that avoiding the shutdown is important to Flight Attendants.  For more information and how this impacts our jobs, please read No More Shutdowns and take part in this important mobilization effort.

Save the Date: California Local Council Membership Meeting
The next membership meeting for Council 35 members will be Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 1100 via Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss news and events happening in California bases at Alaska.  This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 35 (SFO), 18 (LAX) and 15 (SAN) members in good standing (up-to-date on dues).  Agenda, time and registration details will be sent in a separate communication.

AFA Membership Dues – Update
by LEC Secretary and Membership Chair, James Ikehara
Approximately 300 Council 35 members are in arrears with their monthly AFA dues based on the September 2021 report from AFA International’s Membership Services department.  Although the amount of months in arrears vary widely, a member that is only one month late ($50) can fall into a “Bad Standing” status if the amount owed is more than 90 days delinquent; there are approximately 102 members that fall into this category. A delinquency may have been caused by the following:

  • A type of leave of absence you incurred in the past and were not coordinating enough sick leave or vacation to cover your dues
  • You flew low TFP’s in any given month and there was not enough money for an auto-deduction
  • When you are on any type of leave and you are completely off payroll (not coordinating any sick leave or vacation time) you are obligated to pay the first 3 months during your leave according to the AFA-CWA, Constitution & Bylaws.  Once the 3 months have been fulfilled you have met your obligation and you do not owe union dues until you return to work. 

If your delinquency is not corrected, the following is the progression of steps taken for non-payment based on AFA International’s bylaws:

  • Standing 2 (S2) – this letter indicates you are now in bad standing and this is the first stage of the AFA-CWA delinquency process.  A flight attendant goes into S2 when you have ONE or more dues billings that are over 90 days old and remain unpaid.
  • Standing 3 (S3) – this letter indicates that the FA remains delinquent after receiving the initial “Bad Standing” warning letter.  You now receive your S-3 letter via certified mail return receipt (if AFA International has an incorrect address on file, the LEC President or Secretary will put it into your co-mail file at work and it is treated as if it was sent via certified mail).  Nonpayment could result in discharge per our FA Collective Bargaining Agreement, Section 26 C & D.
  • Standing 4 (S4) – this is a pending status which means your International Membership Services department is researching your account for you.
  • Standing 5 (S5) – this is your final warning and this becomes very serious.  After receiving your S-2 and S-3 letters for nonpayment, our International AFA office in Washington, D.C. sends a letter to Alaska Airlines requesting discharge for nonpayment and a copy of this letter is also sent to your LEC President.

If you have received a text or email from me, or a letter from AFA International’s Membership Services department about your dues, it is important you contact AFA-CWA Membership Services by calling them directly at 844-232-2228, extension 3 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Eastern), or by submitting an online inquiry via this link to verify the amount owed on your account. If you were on any type of leave, ensure you note the dates of your leave in the comments section and they will investigate and make the necessary changes. Debit and credit card payments can be made via this link.  

If you need to complete a Dues Check Off (DCO) form to ensure your dues are automatically deducted from your account, you can access the form here. After printing and signing the DCO, mail it to the Washington, D.C. address at the bottom of the form. Please note the following: the paycheck you receive on the 20th of each month (Advice Date) pays you for all of your flying for the previous month. However, the AFA dues that are payroll deducted from this check pays for the month it was deducted (i.e., the $50 deduction for October 20th will be for October dues, not for the previous month). For those returning to work from one of the mitigated leaves of absence, your dues may not be deducted since you were not active in the previous month.

If you are not able to pay your balance in full, payment options are available and can be coordinated with the Membership Services office. We are here to offer assistance in ways of paying your obligation so it is very important that we work together to ensure that Section 26 C, D & E of our Collective Bargaining Agreement are not applied for non-payment of dues which could result in termination once you have reached a Standing 5 status. We want to ensure the status of your AFA membership stays current and appreciate your prompt attention to correct this issue.

In solidarity,

Melissa, James and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

Council 35 News August 2021

Important Dates

  • September 7:  Vacation Bidding Opens
  • September 13:  Supplemental Insurance Open Enrollment Begins
  • September 21:  Vacation Bidding Closes 
  • September 24:  Supplemental Insurance Open Enrollment Ends 
  • September 28:  Vacation 2022 Awards Posted

Never Forget

It’s hard to believe the tragedy of 9/11/01 occurred 20 years ago…an event that changed our lives and industry forever.  To commemorate the milestone, AFA and APFA (representing American Flight Attendants) collaborated to create a new 9/11 pin.  Council 35 has enough pins for everyone, so please stop by the SFO Village supervisor’s office and pick one up.  

Alone in Mexico

Did you know our JCBA provides protection to Flight Attendants flying outside the US?  The JCBA§34.A.5.a states that no F/A will travel to a hotel outside the US by themselves.  There was a recent incident involving a Flight Attendant who was left behind in SJD after a scheduling change occurred.   This F/A was aware of the contract and reached out to AFA for assistance during the event.  This is a great example of why it’s important to know your contract, and when something goes wrong, AFA is here to help!

Trending Discipline

from the Grievance Committee

Reserve Not at Base

Reviewing the JCBA§11 which defines the AS reserve rules, the company expects that a reserve Flight Attendant will be within 2 hours of base at the beginning of the assigned reserve availability period (RAP). Commuting into base or being more than 2 hours aways from base at the start of RAP would be considered time card fraud and normally results in termination with the first offense.  Lineholders picking up reserve days should be aware of the reserve rules found in JCBA§11 in order to be familiar with the expectations.  Any reserve F/A or lienholder picking up reserve days who are interested in extra support or guidance, please reach out to the SFO Reserve Committee for assistance.

Delays

When a delay is caused by a Flight Attendant, either due to tardiness or forgotten required item, management typically initiates an investigation.  If it is confirmed that the delay was caused by the FA, discipline will most likely be issued. A first offense can expect a Confirmation of an Oral Warning (COW), unless other discipline is on file, which would increase to the appropriate step based on previous occurrences.

Supplemental Insurance Open Enrollment

from the Benefits Committee
National Group Protection (NGP) announces the open enrollment period for supplemental benefit plans for AFA members.  

NGP offers services to include:

  • Accident Insurance
  • Hospital Indemnity
  • Critical Illness Coverage
  • Whole Life Insurance

NGP offers the following options:

  • Supplemental – these plans supplement any existing coverage
  • Voluntary – members choose to participate
  • Limited Underwriting – no medical or physical exams required
  • Family Coverage – available with all of the plans
  • Portable – members can continue coverage if they leave the company
  • Payroll Deduction – premiums are paid through payroll deduction

The Virtual Enrollment for Alaska AFA members is open from September 13-24, 2021.  

Reminder:  COVID-19 MOU, Section 32 and CA Law

COVID absences are still a regular event for members.  Your Council 35 officers encourage F/As to submit for points forgiveness and follow up with CA state claims to seek additional benefits.  For more information, please revisit July’s Newsletter.

Celebration of Life for Tim Krailo

A message from SFO Chief Pilot Kat Pullis

I wanted to pass along the invitation for the Celebration of Life planned for our dear Tim Krailo and his wife Karen.  Please RSVP as the family is planning on serving dinner around 6:30pm.  If you’d like to attend in uniform to show support from our Alaska family, please feel free to do so.  His family sends a huge thank you to our team for the successful Go Fund Me that we did for their children.  It has been such a challenging year for their family as Tim’s only sister also passed away last month.  Sending all our thoughts and support their way.  

Thank you Majo!

Council 35 extends a warm thank you to Majo Tanco, LAX Benefits Committee, for all the help she provided since COVID-19 emerged on the scene.  Majo was kind enough to fill in and help Council 35 members while we looked for an SFO-based committee member.  We are happy to announce that our new Benefits Chair, Julie Pearson, is now ready to take over where Majo left off.  For inquiries regarding anything benefits related, such as FMLA, medical LOAs and Worker’s Compensation, SFO-based FAs should now reach out to Julie at sfo.benefits@afaalaska.org.  And thank you Majo for letting SFO “borrow” you while we searched to fill the vacancy!

In solidarity,

Melissa, James and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

Council 35 News July 2021

Important Dates

  • August 1: Rainmaker Launch

COVID-19 Points Forgiveness Extended Through September 2021

The Section 32 Attendance Policy Points Related to COVID-19 MOU provides Flight Attendants an opportunity for points adjustment for the COVID-19 related absences with supporting documentation.

Your Council 35 officers encourage members to submit the form for any absences related to COVID-19. Please review the MOU for details on what points are eligible for adjustment.  This process is manual, so allow some time for the adjustment to show on the attendance record. To request a points review, visit:

Alaskasworld>>Inflight >>Administration>>Performance>>COVID-19 Absence Reporting Form

California COVID-19 Law and What it Means for CA-Based Flight Attendants

The state of California has recently enacted a law to protect employees from COVID -19 activities.  The basics of the law provides:

  • protection from penalties (points)
  • requires employers to offer a special COVID-19 sick leave bank (including employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement)
  • requires employers to notifiy employees of the new CA provisions

Alaska has taken a position that F/As are not eligible for these CA benefits, however AFA does not agree. Your Council 35 officers encourage all CA-based Flight Attendants that have COVID-19 related absences on their attendance to file a wage claim with the state and/or file a labor law violation. This is especially encouraged for those that have submitted for an adjustment and have been denied. For more information, please see the AFA June 2, 2021 communication.

Trending Discipline

Monthly Commuter Audit

Monthly audits of registered commuters have been performed for the last several months.  The most common violation occurs when commuters list for flights using D8Y from a non-registered city when dropping a deadhead leg.  Confirmed violations normally result in a Confirmation of Oral Warning (COW) on first offense but can escalate up the steps of discipline if multiple violations occur or other performance issues are on file.

Late to Plane

If a late to plane occurs mid-sequence, such as after a layover, and it causes a delay, steps of discipline will most likely be issued.  Mid-sequence late is considered a performance issue, however if it’s the beginning of a sequence (at check-in), late attendance points are normally assessed.  For a first offense with no previous disciplines on file, the FA can expect to receive a COW.  For more information, please review Section 32 of the JCBA.

Nonrev Issues

A recent company-wide trend has been to issue discipline to Flight Attendants that give “goodies” to nonrevs.  In most cases, passengers are the ones complaining and will trigger an investigation. When passengers see nearby nonrevs get food or beverages they aren’t able to purchase for themselves, it causes a conflict.  This was especially challenging during COVID-19 limited service when passengers got very little in the main cabin.  First offenses have resulted in a Written Warning, which is the 2nd step of discipline. 

Union Member Support Opportunity

The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act restores the right of workers to freely and fairly form a union and bargain together for changes in the workplace. It is a worker empowerment, civil rights and economic stimulus legislation, and an essential part of any plan to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the most significant worker empowerment legislation since the Great Depression and is now in the hands of the Senate (more information can be found here).  As a Union member, make sure your voice is heard by signing the petition and contacting your Senator to support this bill.  The bill provides others with the opportunity to enjoy the benefits that being part of a Union provides.  For more information please visit the AFA-CWA latest news to sign the petition and contact your state’s Senator to encourage their support.

COVID-19 Resources at SFO

Need a vaccine appointment?  Need a COVID-19 test?  SFO has both options available for travelers and employees.  Please visit FlySFO for more information.

TSA Sponsored Crew Member Self Defense Classes – Limited Availability

The TSA has reinstituted their Crew Member Self Defense classes on a limited basis. More information about the classes and a link for registration can be found here. Please note: although there are no sessions available for SFO for the rest of the year, there is one class scheduled in August and one in September for LAX, LAS, and SEA. A variety of other cities in the midwest and east coast are available for commuters residing in those locations.

Union Plus Services and Discounts for AFA-CWA Members

Your AFA-CWA membership includes discounts and services from a variety of categories offered by Union Plus. Use this link for more information on discounts and services for the following categories: Money, Home, Travel, Auto, Insurance, Health, and Education.

We’re Here to Help:  Online Support Center

\The best way to contact us for support is by submitting an online support ticket.  By selecting the type of concern you have, the best rep for your situation can assist you.  The online support ticket system is for AFA use (not management) and is confidential, so please use a personal email address to open a request.

In solidarity,

Melissa, James and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

Council 35 News June 2021

Important Dates 

  • June 30: Q2 CBT Due

COVID-19 Points Forgiveness

The Section 32 Attendance Policy Points Related to COVID-19 MOU provides Flight Attendants an opportunity for points adjustment for the following COVID-19 related activities:

  • Non-work related exposure
  • Vaccine appointments
  • Side effects of the vaccine

Management has agreed to review all points related to COVID-19 with documentation. Details of the MOU can be found on our website.  Your council 35 officers encourage members to submit the form for any absences related to COVID-19.  To request a points review, visit:

Alaskasworld>>Inflight >>Administration>>Performance>>COVID-19 Absence Reporting Form

It is recommended that F/As save all receipts and appointment confirmations.  F/As may be required to send evidence to the performance supervisor for conversion.  This process is manual, so allow some time for the adjustment to show on the attendance record.  

Call to Action: New California COVID-19 Law

The state of California has recently enacted a law to protect employees from COVID -19 activities.  The basics of the law provides.

  • Protection from penalties (points)
  • Requires employers to offer a special COVID-19 sick leave bank (including employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement)
  • Requires employers to notify employees of the new CA provisions.  

So far Alaska has taken a position that F/As are not eligible for these CA benefits, however AFA does not agree with Alaska. Your Council 35 officers encourage all CA-based Flight Attendants to file a wage claim with the state and/or file a labor law violation.  For more information, please see the AFA June 2, 2021 communication.

PBS WebApp Training

The next training sessions on Microsoft Teams are Tuesday June 8, 1pm-2pm Pacific and Wednesday, June 9, 10am-11am Pacific. Links will only be live during the training period.  If you miss these training dates, there will be more dates in July.  This is the same technology used for the all-employee webcasts. If you have any issues installing Microsoft Teams or viewing the training sessions, please contact the ITS Service Desk at 1-877-238-1077 or email ITS.Service.Desk@alaskaair.com.

Welcome New Council 35 Committee Members

Benefits Committee Chair:  Julie Pearson

Julie began her Flight Attendant career with Virgin America in April 2010, upgrading to the Inflight Team Leader position in early 2011. In October 2018, Julie joined the Council 35 Crew Systems Integration team where she took on the task of helping her teammates during the Alaska systems integration, conducting base sits and helping train flight attendants in the NavBlue PBS and Crew Access systems, as well as answering questions regarding the JCBA. Prior to becoming a flight attendant Julie received her BA in Communications from Saint Mary’s College of California. After college she moved to London, where she stayed for 5 years and worked in content licensing. In her free time you’ll find her exploring San Francisco and hiking the Bay Area with her husband and 5 year old son.

Inflight Service Committee:  Matt Voges

Coming from a long time airline family, Matt realized his passion for travel very early in life, but only fully recognized his love for the Aviation Industry in 2008 when he was hired at Virgin America.  After earning his wings, he realized he had more to offer by lending his restaurant and event catering experience with the on-board service team and moved in to a role from Inflight Team Leader to Service Coach and later Air Transportation Supervisor.  With these roles, he worked closely with the LSG kitchen and on-board Service Manager to help develop and teach the onboard experience to new hires.  He hopes to continue this path in moving forward with the AFA to help provide a better and more seamless on-board experience for both Flight Attendants and Guests.  Matt currently resides in San Francisco and spends his spare time traveling the world experiencing new cultures, food and languages.  He is also active in playing softball, learning to race cars and everything to do with cooking (including eating).  

June Pride Month

Help celebrate June Pride with an AFA pride pin or an AFA Pride luggage tag. A limited supply is available now at the supervisor’s office in the SFO Village.

Free COVID-19 Vaccinations in SFO

SFO is offering 2 free vaccination programs for the public, including arriving and departing passengers, on domestic and international flights. More information about the programs can be found here.  The J&J single-dose vaccine for people aged 18 and older is available on a walk-up, first-come, first-served basis.

Location: SFO Medical Clinic, International Terminal Departures Hall, A-Side
Days/Times:  Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm

In partnership with Safeway Pharmacy during the month of June, the J&J vaccine, for people aged 18 and older and Pfizer, for people ages 12 and older will be available.

Location: International Terminal, Level 3, Departures Hall, between Aisles 6 & 7 (at the back of the building)
Days/Times:

Tuesday, June 8, 10:00am – 6:00pm

Walk-ups are available however an appointment is recommended.

In solidarity,

Melissa, James and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

Council 35 News April 2021

Important Dates

  • May 6: CA Membership Meeting
  • May 12: Contract Extension TA Voting Closes
  • June 1:  Rainmaker Launch
  • June 30: Q2 CBT Due

CA Bases Local Council Membership Meeting

As previously communicated, our local Council meeting will be Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 1100 PDT. The meeting will be via Zoom and is open to all members of Councils 35 (SFO), 18 (LAX) and 15 (SAN) in good standing.  The primary purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the AFA Board of Director’s meeting scheduled for May 13-14, and any local council agenda items.  Please submit local council agenda items to SFO@afaalaska.org prior to May 5th, 2021.  Advance registration is required using a personal (non-company) email address. To receive confirmation to attend, please register here. 

COVID Point Forgiveness

Calling in sick for a COVID related issue, such as exposure, vaccine appointments or reaction to the vaccine may receive attendance point forgiveness.  Management has agreed to remove all points related to COVID with documentation.  It is recommended that FAs save all receipts and appointment confirmations and send evidence to performance for conversion.  This process is manual so allow some time for the adjustment to show on the attendance record.  For more information, please review the April 12 Bulletin on the inflight page of Alaskasworld.

Flight Attendant COVID Vaccination Status

AFA International is collecting data on Flight Attendant Vaccinations.  Please complete the form to help discover trends in vaccination availability in your area.  Please visit the website for more information.

Trending Discipline

Reserve Not at Base

Reviewing the JCBA§11 which defines the AS reserve rules, the company expects that a reserve Flight Attendant will be within 2 hours of base at the beginning of the assigned reserve availability period (RAP). Commuting into base or being more than 2 hours aways from base at the start of RAP would be considered time card fraud and normally results in termination with the first offense.  Lineholders picking up reserve days should be aware of the reserve rules found in JCBA§11 in order to be familiar with the expectations.  Any reserve F/A or lineholder picking up reserve days who are interested in extra support or guidance, please reach out to the SFO Reserve Committee for assistance.

Sick Leave Abuse

The focus on sick leave usage has increased again.  Actions that trigger an investigation include calling out sick after a reassignment, calling out sick after a reserve assignment, or calling out when a deadhead leg is converted to a working leg.   Sick leave is not the same as paid time off (PTO).   Company provided sick leave is a benefit that is offered with a condition.  That condition is illness.  Use of this benefit for any other reason is considered fraud.  In the event the company suspects misuse, the burden of proof is on the Flight Attendant to prove an illness.  Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t a violation of HIPAA laws, as the company is prohibited from asking the nature of the illness, but rather that illness was the cause of the call out and that the conditional benefit was used appropriately.  If misuse is confirmed (no evidence is discovered), the company has historically discharged on first offense.

A Special Note to Commuters

Commuters with a registered city have also been the focus for many investigations.  This includes sick leave and reserve violations.  When suspicion arises through the above mentioned actions that trigger a closer look,  travel records are often pulled to confirm suspected violations.  Additionally, monthly audits of registered commuters have been performed.  Violations found during the audit normally result in a Confirmation of Oral Warning on first offense, but can escalate up the steps of discipline if multiple violations occur.

TA Extension Info

Questions about the TA and voting?  Please visit the AFA Alaska dedicated TA Extension webpage to find answers!  All roadshows have been uploaded and the Q&A section has been added to the blog.  Questions not already addressed may be sent to: extension@afaalaska.org.  Reminder: voting ends May 12!

Catering Update

by Raymond Ramirez, SFO ISC Chair

With all the catering updates that went into effect on April 13, please utilize B2B to provide feedback with regards to food quality, missing items, new equipment, etc. Also, if you happen to make a note of a catering issue but forget to submit it on B2B before the flight disappears from your IMD, I’m happy to receive feedback through my e-mail raymond.ramirez@afaalaska.org. Please remember to provide the flight # and date, and if possible the aircraft tail and a photograph if possible. Also, if you are flying on Airbus and encounter a FC oven without an insert, that should be written up on B2B and not through the aircraft logbook. Speaking of the aircraft logbook, please write up tray tables that have the appearance of looking brown and stained. The cleaning chemicals over the last 12 months are causing these to look dirtier than they actually are. Although the company is aware, we can help bring more awareness by asking the pilots to write it up.

Uniform Update

by Lisa Mueller, SFO Uniform Chair

Our new uniforms have been on the line for about a year now. Since the new custom uniform was released during COVID, many Flight Attendants returning from furlough will be wearing it for the first time.

Wondering what the guidelines and policy are for the new uniform? Here is a link to the uniform page for guidelines, ordering, the fit center, etc: https://splash.alaskasworld.com/es/uniforms/

Need different uniform pieces? Different sizes? Here are some options to help if it is past the 90 day return policy:

  • Inquire with the Seattle Fit Center.  They have limited pieces that you may possibly (not guaranteed) be able to exchange your pieces for if they have the size you need. These are pieces from flight attendants who have quit, retired etc.  Phone:  206-392-7730,  email: fitcenter@alaskaair.com
  • Trade your uniform pieces with other flight attendants. There are private groups on Facebook that may be a good resource for finding other FAs willing to trade
  • You can also to order new pieces via the Uniform Webpage

In case no one told you today…You look marvelous! See you on the line! 

Updating Personal Information and Membership Dues

by James Ikehara, Council 35 Secretary
Have you recently moved to another city or changed your email address? Please use this link to update your personal details  to ensure the Membership Services department of AFA International has the most current contact information in their database. If you are coming back from a leave and need to inquire about the amount of dues owed on your account, use this link and someone from the Membership Services will contact you with details on the status of your account. Payments on your account can be made using this link.

How do I contact Council 35 Officers?

Using a personal email address, the preferred methods of contact are:

  • Open an Online Support Request ticket
  • Officer group email sfo@afaalaska.org (if one officer is flying /unavailable other officers can respond)
  • Individual officer emails (if information is for a specific officer)
  • Calls/text (if situation requires more urgent attention)

When contacting Council 35 officers please avoid the following methods:

  • Sending to/from alaskaair email (subject to company audits and therefore not private)
  •  Officer personal Facebook/social media accounts (not actively monitored for AFA concerns)
  • Excessively lengthy texts (please use email for important information as it’s easier to respond and forward to appropriate resource-texts should be reserved for alerts to an issue that requires a timely response)

Please allow at least one business day for a response to any method of contact (email, phone, text).  

In solidarity,

Melissa, James and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

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