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        You are here: Home / Archives for Council 35 SFO

        Council 35 News

        January 11, 2018 16:45

        Good-bye IFM, Hello IMD

        As of January 5th, Virgin America Flight Attendants are no longer required to carry the paper version of our manual (IFM) which has now been replaced by the Flight Attendant Manual (FAM) on the Inflight Mobile Device (IMD).  For many, this a welcome change, as it lightens our load significantly and brings pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants current with technology of the times.  The IMD is a great tool and a welcome improvement, and has many features that F/As may enjoy.  AFA would like to remind all Flight Attendants, that although the IMD has the capability of being personalized, please do not download any personal information to the device.  Any and all activity on the IMD is monitored by the company, and apps or personal emails, should not be added to its content.

        “Could this conversation lead to discipline?”

        Council 35 officers have been made aware of many occasions where investigatory conversations between Flight Attendants and management have occurred without the presence of AFA.  As a reminder, if you are ever asked to discuss a situation or explain an incident to a member of management, your supervisor, or regulatory compliance/safety managers, an opportunity to obtain AFA representation must be offered.  AFA recommends that if you find yourself in a situation where you are being questioned and if you feel uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation, then please stop the discussion and ask, “Could this conversation lead to discipline?” If the answer is “Yes” or “Maybe,” then request AFA representation. The grievance Letter of Agreement (LOA) provides protection for every pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendant in the event management chooses to investigate an incident. AFA highly recommends that you do not resume the conversation until after you have obtained AFA representation.

        Down-gauge/Up-gauge of Aircraft

        Crew planning and inflight management has developed new procedures for dealing with DRA and DRL resulting from down-gauges of aircraft.  This new amendment to the Virgin America Work Rules defines more clearly what to expect in the event of a down-gauge.  If you have any questions regarding the new DRA/DRL procedure, or if you have experienced a deviation to the newly created process, please contact your Council 35 officers for assistance.

        ASAP for Pre-merger Virgin America F/As

        As previously mentioned in a communication from the AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC), pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants are now participating in the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP).  ASAP is an FAA program that allows Flight Attendants to self-disclose unintentional violations of CFRs or company safety policy without fear of disciplinary action from management or enforcement action from the FAA.  The intent of the program is to improve procedure, processes, and training through increased reporting of safety-related incidents that might otherwise go unreported.  As of now, ASAP can only be reported online, however plans to launch the IMD application are in the works and should be announced within the next couple of weeks.  If you have any questions about ASAP for Virgin America, please reach out to Brad Young, the ASAP AFA representative for pre-merger Virgin America at bradley.young@afaalaska.org.

        Commuter Policy

        The Master Executive Council (MEC) has agreed to the continuation of the Virgin America Commuter Policy. The Commuter Policy will remain in effect until pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants are covered under a merged agreement with Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.  For questions about the Commuter Policy please refer to the Commuter Policy FAQ for more details, or contact your Council 35 officers.

        CSS and AFA

        If you have any challenges with your schedule that requires review or adjustment, please make every effort to find a solution with CSS to manage your schedule.  In the event a resolution cannot be met, please forward to AFA for assistance.  Keep in mind most scheduling issues may not be addressed immediately, and may have to be resolved after the fact.  It is recommended that you keep a record of all correspondence and take notes of all phone conversations to provide the most accurate information regarding the incident for follow up.  In the event a scheduling concern is determined to be a work rule or LOA violation, AFA can address the situation with CSS directly and if necessary, file a contractual grievance on behalf of the Flight Attendants involved.

        Save the Date—Membership Meeting

        The next Council 35 membership meeting is scheduled for April 3, 2018 and will be co-hosted by United Airlines Council 11.  The agenda will be the AFA Board of Directors meeting scheduled April 9-11, 2018.  Please stay tuned for more information.

        AFA Membership Applications Needed

        Every pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendant must complete and submit a membership application to become an official member of AFA.  Please be aware that this form cannot be completed online.  The hard copy form must be submitted directly to an AFA representative or mailed to the AFA International Office in Washington, DC. Completing an application ensures that you have the right to participate in voting activities and to attend membership meetings.

        Grievances and AFA Representation at Meetings

        Council 35 has been in attendance for over 100 meetings with pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants since June 1, 2017, when the Grievance Letter of Agreement went into effect.  These meetings have been for investigations and issuance of discipline.  To date, we have filed 36 grievances on behalf of Flight Attendants to dispute discipline issued and for contractual violations.  If you want to know more about the grievance process please review the Letter of Agreement and the July 5 Council 35 News for an explanation of the just cause employment relationship.  If you need representation for a meeting with management, please contact your Council 35 officers.

        FAQs and Rumor Control

        Will we get paid the same as Alaska Flight Attendants now that we have achieved Single Operating Certificate (SOC)?

        Single Operating Certificate is the process that the company experiences to bring systems together to create a single airline recognized by the FAA.  Today is the day we achieved SOC, however this does not mean that all the work groups will be fully merged and integrated at this time. There has been no airline merger in recent history in which labor automatically received pay rates based on the SOC date. Pay rates come solely with a labor agreement, which is a negotiated item.  Pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants will see some benefit changes through the process of achieving SOC, however anything connected to the Flight Attendant contract will not be enjoyed until it’s negotiated and ratified.

        For the Flight Attendant work group to be fully merged, we must have an Integrated Seniority List (ISL) and be covered under a single contract.  We do not have a date set for either of these two items to be completed.  Negotiations are proceeding on schedule and AFA is hopeful that significant progress is being made towards an agreement.

        How do I contact Council 35 officers?

        The best way to contact Council 35 officers is via email.  Emails are easier to forward for follow up and to have a record of information.  All emails and concerns received by Council 35 are held in confidence, and will not be shared for follow up without the permission of the original sender.  To get the fastest and most thorough response, please email your concerns to vx@afaalaska.org.  All officers can respond to emails sent to that address which facilitates a more efficient use of resources.

        Please let us know if you have any questions or thoughts!  You can reach us at vx@afaalaska.org.

        In Solidarity,

        Your Council 35 Officers – Melissa & Jamie

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO

        Commuter Policy

        January 2, 2018 12:00

        Commuter Policy Survey Results

        AFA received 183 complete responses to the survey, which resulted in the following outcome:

         

        51.4% FOR

        34.4% AGAINST

        14.2% UNDECIDED

         

        As a result, the Master Executive Council (MEC) has agreed to the continuation of the Virgin America Commuter Policy. The Commuter Policy will remain in effect until Virgin America Flight Attendants are covered under a merged agreement with Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.  For questions about the Commuter Policy please refer to the Commuter Policy FAQ for more details, or contact your Council 35 officers.

        FAQs

        What will happen to the Stuff Happens Pass (SHP)?

        AFA recently advocated to management for the SHP program to remain in effect concurrently with the Commuter Policy, but management was not interested in doing so.  The Commuter Policy, without black-out dates and usage limits, is a more liberal program, and management does not want to offer both.  Therefore, the SHP program will sunset (i.e. be phased out) beginning January 31, 2018, after which the SHP will no longer accrue.  The SHP will be available for use concurrently with the Commuter Policy through the sunset period, and Flight Attendants will be able to use previously accrued passes until January 31, 2019.

        Does this policy cover ground transportation issues?

        Yes.  This policy covers both ground and air commuting challenges.

        How many times may I use this policy?

        There are no limits to the number of occurrences an F/A can use the Commuter Policy to cover transportation challenges.

        Are there any black-out dates?

        Unlike the SHP program, there are no black-out days for using the Commuter Policy.

        What type of documentation is required?

        Documentation is required for both air and ground transportation challenges.  Please refer to the Commuter Policy FAQ for more details.

        Please let us know if you have any questions. You can reach us at vx@afaalaska.org.

        In Solidarity,

        Your Council 35 Officers – Melissa & Jamie

         

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO

        More About ASAP

        December 26, 2017 12:00

        As previously mentioned in a communication from the AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC), pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants will soon be participating in the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP).  ASAP is an FAA program that allows Flight Attendants to self-disclose unintentional violations of CFRs or company safety policy without fear of disciplinary action from management or enforcement action from the FAA.  The intent of the program is to improve procedure, processes, and training through increased reporting of safety-related incidents that might otherwise go unreported.

        Management will soon be putting out more information about ASAP, including a required computer based training (CBT) and information about the start date of the program for pre-merger VX Flight Attendants

        Your AFA ASAP Representative

        As part of the program, all ASAP reports received are de-identified (names and identifying information removed) and then reviewed by an Event Review Committee (ERC) made up of one representative each from AFA, the Company, and the FAA. Brad Young has been appointed as the AFA ASAP ERC Representative for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants.

        About Brad

        Brad has been a San Francisco-based Flight Attendant with Virgin America for 8 years.

        In 2012 and again in July of 2013, Brad assisted with a handful of fellow Flight Attendants in approaching, educating, signing and achieving enough cards for a successful vote to help bring representation to the Virgin America Flight Attendants.

        “The Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) is a critical component in the success of the Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants and there is no better time to be involved in this unique and successful program to involve the Virgin America Flight Attendants.   With the assistance of AFA, my role in the ASAP will take us all to the next level of airline safety and security out on the line for our workgroup,” says Brad.

        Brad graduated from Sierra College with a degree in Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement and Psychology.  Prior to joining Virgin America, Brad worked for the State outside Sacramento, California.  Brad is currently studying several degree courses at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Aviation Security and Safety Management.

        Brad currently resides in San Jose, California where he enjoys being outdoors, being an aviation history nerd, landscape photography, cooking and studying to get his Private Pilots License (PPL) for recreation.

        Learn More About ASAP

        In addition to the company’s CBT that will be released soon, you can find more information about the program on the ASAP page of the AFA Alaska website.  ASAP resources are also available on the FAA website.

        Questions?

        ASAP-related questions can be directed to pmVX ASAP ERC Representative Brad Young at bradley.young@afaalaska.org

        In Solidarity,

        Melissa, Jamie, and Brad

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO Tagged With: 2017, ASAP, Council 35, Virgin America, VX

        Commuter Policy Survey

        December 11, 2017 18:27

        Reminder-Commuter Policy Survey Now Available

        On December 5th, the Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council (MEC) sent VX membership a survey to determine the effectiveness of the VX Commuter Policy.  Flight Attendants, and especially commuters, are strongly encouraged to participate in the survey to determine the future of the program for VX Flight Attendants. The survey will close Wednesday, December 13 at 9AM Pacific time.  If you did not receive the email containing the link to the survey, please contact your Council 35 officers for a new link at vx@afaalaska.org.

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO

        Council 35 News

        December 6, 2017 11:00

        Good-bye Seatbelts!

        A nice start to the holiday season began December 1 when management released the requirement for Flight Attendants to cross seat-belts and clean the aircraft after each flight.  Since April, AFA has been advocating for this minor but highly impactful improvement to the duties and responsibilities of Virgin America F/As.  Happy Holidays!

        Amnesty Program for IFM Compliance

        Council 35 officers have been strongly advocating for amnesty for Flight Attendants that self-disclose IFM compliance issues.  Management has indicated they will be allowing Flight Attendants that self-disclose a reprieve from discipline under certain circumstances.  If you have any questions regarding your IFM and maintaining currency, please contact your Council 35 officers for assistance.

        Social Media

        Management has indicated that they will be enforcing the current Virgin America social media policy to mitigate perceived undesirable behavior on social media sites. Many members have expressed to Council 35 that they are unclear which social media policy applies to Virgin America.  Management has clarified that Virgin America is still under the VX social media policy found on VX Connect. This policy will be in effect until we transition to AS company policies early 2018.  After the transition, VX employees will fall under the AS social media policy.  If you have any questions about any social media activity, please feel free to contact your Council 35 officers for assistance and guidance.

        Commuter Policy Survey Now Available

        Yesterday, the Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council (MEC) sent VX membership a survey to determine the effectiveness of the VX Commuter Policy.  Flight Attendants, and especially commuters, are strongly encouraged to participate in the survey to determine the future of the program for VX Flight Attendants. If you did not receive the email containing the link to the survey, please contact your Council 35 officers for a new link.

        Down-gauge/Up-gauge of Aircraft

        It was brought to AFA’s attention over Thanksgiving week that Crew Scheduling has implemented new procedures to handle aircraft changes involving the 321 aircraft (A/C).  It appears that this procedure was developed in response to situations when A/C swaps created additional crew members. Management has agreed to include AFA in discussions to find a solution to managing this procedure and how to mitigate the negative impact on Flight Attendants.

        Save the Date—Membership Meeting

        The next Council 35 membership meeting is scheduled for April 3, 2018 and will be co-hosted by United Airlines Council 11.  The agenda will be the AFA Board of Directors meeting scheduled April 9-11, 2018.  Please stay tuned for more information.

        AFA Membership Applications Needed

        Every VX Flight Attendant must complete and submit a membership application to become an official member of AFA.  Please be aware that this form cannot be completed online.  The hard copy form must be submitted directly to an AFA representative or mailed to the AFA International Office in D.C. Completing an application ensures that you have the right to participate in voting activities and to attend membership meetings.

        Grievances and AFA Representation at Meetings

        Council 35 has been in attendance for over 100 meetings with VX Flight Attendants since June 1, when the Grievance Letter of Agreement went into effect.  These meetings have been for investigations and issuance of discipline.  To date, we have filed 34 grievances on behalf of Flight Attendants to dispute discipline issued and for contractual violations.  If you want to know more about the grievance process please review the Letter of Agreement and the July 5 Council 35 News for an explanation of the just cause employment relationship.  If you need representation for a meeting with management, please contact your Council 35 officers.

        FAQs and Rumor Control

        Will we get paid the same as Alaska Flight Attendants when we achieve Single Operating Certificate (SOC)?

        Single Operating Certificate is the process that the company experiences to bring systems together to create a single airline recognized by the FAA and DOT.  Currently Alaska Airlines is scheduled to achieve this in January 2018.  This does not mean that all the work groups will be fully merged and integrated at that time.  For the Flight Attendant work group to be fully merged, we must have an Integrated Seniority List (ISL) and be covered under a single contract.  We do not have a date set for either of these two items to be completed.  VX teammates will see some benefit changes through the process of achieving SOC, however anything connected to the Flight Attendant contract will not be enjoyed until it’s negotiated and ratified.

        Can we use carts to block during Flight Deck door opening procedures?

        Having to maneuver a cart unnecessarily in the already tight first class galley space adds to possible F/A injuries. There’s also the issue of possible turbulence occurring while using the cart to block and the F/A having to stow the cart and then take their jumpseat which adds an unnecessary safety risk. Therefore, AS has taken the position that it is safer to keep the carts stowed during the F/D door opening procedures.

        I’m on a leave at VX and have questions about the transition to AS benefits. Who can I contact regarding the new AS programs?

        Starting 1/1/18 all VX employees will be on the AS health and leave benefit programs.  For more information, or if you have questions regarding transitioning of leaves, please contact: myalaskabenefits.com or by phone 1-844-231-3476.

        Please let us know if you have any questions or thoughts!  You can reach us at vx@afaalaska.org.

        In Solidarity,

        Your Council 35 Officers – Melissa & Jamie

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO

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