AFA Alaska

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

Click here to report an issue to AFA
Menu
  • Local Councils
    • Anchorage (Council 30)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Honolulu (Council 43)
    • Los Angeles (Council 18/pmAS)
      • Officers
      • Committees
      • Los Angeles (Council 47/pmHA)
        • Officers
      • Portland (Council 39)
        • Officers
        • Committees
      • San Diego (Council 15)
        • Officers
        • Committees
        • Seattle (Council 19)
          • Officers
          • Committees
        • San Francisco (Council 35)
          • Officers
          • Committees

        • More About Local Councils >>
        Close
      • Master Executive Council
        • Officers
        • Close
      • Committees
          • Air Safety, Health, & Security (ASHSC)
            • Air Quality
          • Benefits
          • Communications
          • Employee Assistance Program & Professional Standards
          • Government Affairs
          • Grievance
          • Hotel
          • Human Rights & Equity
          • Inflight Service
          • Inflight Training
          • Membership
          • Membership Engagement
          • Reserve
          • Retirement
          • Scheduling
            • Pairing Construction
            • Preferential Bidding System (PBS)
          • Uniform

        • More About Committees >>
        Close
      • Contract
          • Contract Home
            • 2025 Alaska TA2 (Ratified)
            • 2018 Alaska JCBA
            • 2020 Hawaiian Contract
            • Ask Contract Questions
          • Contract Resources
          • Alaska Contract Negotiations (2022-2025)
        • Close
      • Resources
          • What To Do If You Encounter Contaminated Cabin Air
          • Issues & Campaigns
          • Newsroom
            • AFA News Now
          • Event Calendar
          • Membership Services
          • New Members
          • About
          • Links
          Close
        • Merger
          • Joint Negotiating Committee
          • Close
        • Contact Us
        You are here: Home / Archives for Council 35 SFO

        Council 35 News – June 2022

        July 1, 2022 23:11


        Important Dates

        June 30: Q2 CBT Due Today!


        SFO KCM is Back!

        Due to TSA staffing issues, the Terminal 2 Known Crewmember (KCM) entrance has returned to the D gates entrance, just past the restrooms.  Important reminders for KCM card holders:

        • Only bring your own belongings through KCM checkpoint
        • No weapons allowed through KCM (should be an obvious one!)
        • No personal international travel

        Violations of the KCM rules can result in suspension of privileges, not just for the offending FA but everyone!  TSA has issued a warning to participating airlines that a recent increase in violations has prompted them to increase random checks and to have TSA inspectors present at checkpoints. Inspectors may ask cardholders questions about the program to ensure understanding and enforce compliance. Please be aware of the rules and give extra time to go through checkpoints.  For more information visit the  KCM website.

        From the KCM website:

        Crewmember’s can utilize the KCM® access points for both business and personal use except when on personal international travel. Crewmember’s on personal international travel must use a passenger-screening checkpoint. If international travel is included on any leg of an itinerary, the entire trip is considered international and KCM may not be used for access to the sterile area. Travel from the U.S. to a destination which does not require a passport (e.g., U.S. Virgin Islands) is not considered international travel.

        Welcome to SFO!

        Council 35 members, please give our newest Flight Attendants a warm welcome and be sure to show them all that we love about SFO! If you’re a new hire or transfer to SFO, please be sure to sign up to receive Council 35 newsletters, like this one, and be sure to save links to Council 35 committee resources for future reference. 

        Committee Openings

        Committee member openings in the following committees:

        Government Affairs (chair)

        Human Rights (chair)

        Members interested in these positions may submit a letter of interest to sfo@afaalaska.org 

        Scheduling Update

        by Virginia Fritz, Council 35 Vice President-Elect and Scheduling Chair

        August ORD Turns

        Our AFA Pairing Analyst fights hard against management every month to advocate that we have ORD 4K turns built in our base. Unfortunately, Crew scheduling has requested they not be built as a turn in August because of historical issues causing delays over 14 hour duty days, thereby allowing FA’s to opt out and snowballing reserve usage. This means that we do not expect to have any 4K ORD turns in August. We will continue to advocate for their return.

        SFO 3 day Redeyes

        We’ve gotten a lot of feedback that the 3 day redeyes with 24 hour rest are not very popular and we frequently find them in our base. Many are awarded to Junior lineholders for coverage in PBS showing they are not very desirable. While we request that management attempt to build us 2 day “day sleep” Redeye Pairings the flight schedule does not always allow those to be legally built with the 10 hours necessary layover rest. We have found that the JFK schedule could allow some to be built and have asked for those flight numbers specifically to be built together when possible going forward. We have not been able to find a flight schedule on other city layovers that would allow that. Please reach out to the scheduling committee if you find specific flight examples that could create the desired 2 day Redeye pairings so that we can add those to our soft lock requests going forward!

        Hotel Wait Times

        Summer travel is upon us and we aren’t the only industry that is impacted. Hotels are selling out and management is sometimes finding itself scrambling to find us rooms. If your rooms are not ready when you are checking in please reach out to crew scheduling to let them know. Keep them updated with any changes and definitely let them know when you have finally been given a room. We have been successful in requesting compensation for Flight attendants who have had to wait more than an hour for their hotel rooms. Calling Crew Scheduling allows us to verify the time stamps in your delays and ensure we can fight to get you any compensation you may be due for the delay.

        Council 35 Grievance Update: Six-Month Stats

        The first half of 2022 has been the busiest 2 quarters since 2017!  To date we have had 33 disciplines:

        Oral Warnings: 13
        Written Warning: 5
        Suspension: 3
        Terminations: 12 

        Compared to last year we have seen discipline rates more than double.  Below is a summary of the issues that resulted in discipline YTD: 


        Issue Summary
        #Cases
        CBT9
        Job Abandonment*5
        Personal Conduct*4
        Commuter Violation3
        12+ Points*2
        Late to Plane/Delay2
        Delay2
        Uniform1
        Social Media1
        Sick Leave Abuse*1
        Reserve Out of Base*1
        Insubordination1
        Expired Leave of Absence*1
        Total33

        *termination

        This also summarizes the number of grievances filed, as the Grievance Committee files grievances on all discipline issued.

        Got a question?

        Contact information for Council 35 committee members can be found on our website.  You can also open an online support ticket and the appropriate rep will respond.

        In solidarity,

        Council 35 Officers

        Melissa Osborne, President
        Virginia Fritz, Vice-President Elect
        James Ikehara, Secretary
        Brad Young, Council Representative


        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

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO Tagged With: 4k, Council 35, Government Affairs, Human Rights Committee, KCM, Newsletter, SFO

        Council 35 News – May 2022

        May 31, 2022 18:31


        Important Dates

        June 02: Workplace Mental Health First Aid Virtual Training
        June 30: Q2 CBT Due


        Officer Elections – Thank you Council 35 Members!

        Thank you everyone that voted in the recent Council 35 Officer elections.  James, Brad and I (Melissa) are grateful for all your support and look forward to supporting our members for the next 3 years.  Council 35 is also happy to announce and welcome a new addition to our team, Virginia Fritz as Vice President!  As the SFO Scheduling Chair Virginia is no stranger to members’ needs at Council 35, and now she will be expanding her responsibility even further by supporting members in a variety of ways.  Here’s what Virginia has to say about her new role:

        I am so humbled and honored that our membership chose to elect me as their new Vice President! I have had a lot of passion in serving C35 as the Local Scheduling Chair and love that I now have more opportunities to do so. I look forward to working with the Re-Elected Team that has been serving as our base for the past 3 years and finding more ways to support C35. Thank you for your faith in me! I look forward to serving you all and ensuring that your trust has been placed in the right person!

        Workplace Mental Health First Aid Virtual Training

        Provided by AFA International EAP
        The Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program (FADAP) is offering a special in-depth virtual training opportunity to discuss workplace issues and learn best practices dealing with mental health and substance abuse concerns for Flight Attendants and their friends and family. Utilizing components of the Mental Health First Aid curriculum, a nationally used workplace training program, the program will explore the topics below. Time will be available for questions and answers. Topics to be covered include:

        • Signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety
        • Assessment, warning signs, and interventions for suicide
        • Understanding traumatic events
        • Facts and risk factors for substance abuse
        • Understanding stages of change and interventions for substance abuse

        Date: June 2. 2022
        Time: 1400-1800 Eastern
        Where: Zoom Meeting
        Meeting ID: 840 1525 7760
        Passcode: 774802
        One Tap Mobile:

        +13017158592,,84015257760# US (Washington DC)

        +13126266799,,84015257760# US (Chicago)

        Dial By Location:

            +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

            +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

            +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

            +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

            +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

            +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

        Welcome to SFO!

        As of May 1, SFO has welcomed 19 new Flight Attendants and look forward to more for the month of June!  Council 35 members, please give our newest Flight Attendants a warm welcome and be sure to show them  what we love about our SFO base. If you’re a new hire or transfer to SFO-Welcome!  Please be sure to sign up to receive Council 35 newsletters (like this one) and be sure to save the link to Council 35 committee resources for future reference.

        AFA Help for Crew Conflict

        We have all had those days…days we go to work and the crew just doesn’t click.  As professionals, we have been trained to use our communication and CRM skills to get through the trip.  But what do we do when that doesn’t work?  If you and a fellow crew member can’t resolve a disagreement and/or conflict on your own, or you find yourself uncomfortable confronting a fellow crewmember, let’s consider the options to reach a resolution:

        Contact Base/Performance Management or Human Resources/HR:

        This option is easy to begin with, however take a moment to understand what happens next when you choose this option.  Once management receives a report, they are obligated to follow through with an investigation.  This may include a series of interviews with crew members and could result in disciplinary action.  The challenge with this option is that once management is aware, there is no turning back.  Take time to consider if enduring an investigation and/or facing discipline for another and possibly yourself is the desired outcome.  Please consider whether there is a way to resolve the issue that doesn’t involve permanently impacting an FA’s personnel file.

        File an ASAP Report (Compliance and/or Safety Concern)

        This option is perfect for reporting possible safety and compliance issues that cause a disagreement.  The Aviation Action Safety Program (ASAP) Event Review Committee (ERC) includes AFA, Alaska (AS) management and the FAA. The ERC evaluates reports that are  scrubbed of all identifying features so the issue is considered, not the individual who caused it.  This provides a fair and discipline-free option to resolve an issue without involving a performance investigation.  Keep in mind that the ASAP program has exceptions for reports involving alcohol and intentional disregard for policy and procedure.  Please review the ASAP webpage for more details.

        EAP Professional Standards (Our Favorite!)

        Professional Standards (PS) is a division of the AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) committee.  Committee representatives are specially trained in mediation and have many options available to offer Flight Attendants that find themselves in a conflict with another FA. The beauty of this program is that it does not involve AS management at all.  It is completely confidential and avoids the stressful investigation process that would be the result from contacting management alone.  Keep in mind, once management is involved, EAP/PS cannot step in to help.  Therefore your Council 35 officers strongly recommend that FAs consider Professional Standards first, before any other option.  Any Flight Attendant who has endured an investigation due to being “turned in” by another FA would agree that avoiding management’s involvement is always a better option.

        To contact SFO EAP Professional Standards, please reach out to sfo.eap@afaalaska.org for a consultation.

        Scheduling Quick Links

        by Virginia Fritz, VP Elect and Scheduling Chair

        Pre-cancellations

        Have a precancellation and don’t know what options you have? Please review the flow chart on our webpage to see which scenario fits your specific situation.\

        IROPs

        On a trip and experiencing an IROP situation? Save the link to the AFA Scheduling IROPs guide to understand pay and scheduling options for each scenario.

        Fly Now, Grieve Later

        Keep in mind that there will be times when there may not be time to evaluate the legalities of a situation you encounter. You may need to fly the trip and open a ticket for review after the fact.  Your SFO Scheduling Committee can help you through the resolution process if an issue is not able to be resolved at the time it occurs.  

        More questions? Contact sfo.scheduling@afalaska.org.

        New Council 35 Committee Openings:

        Government Affairs Committee Chair

        The Government Affairs (GA) committee promotes the AFA-CWA agenda by supporting legislative efforts that benefit our members or lobbying to discourage laws that will negatively impact members.  What can be achieved in legislation takes away the need for negotiation in our contracts.  If you have an interest in government issues, please visit the GA webpage on the AFA Alaska website. Submit your letter of interest to SFO@afaalaska.org for consideration. 

        Mobilization Committee Chair

        Council 35 is looking to fill the chair position for upcoming Section 6 negotiations.  The chairs from each base will compose the committee with the goal to help motivate and provide assistance to members during the negotiations process.  If you are passionate about improvements to our contract and understand the power of solidarity, please apply!  Submit your letter of interest to SFO@afaalaska.org for consideration.  For more information, please see the recent MEC communication announcing the role.

        Interested in another committee position?  Please review the duties and responsibilities on the AFA Alaska Committee website.  Please submit your letter of interest to SFO@afaalaska.org for consideration.

        Complimentary In These Times for AFA-CWA Members

        Provided by AFA International
        Each year, In These Times magazine makes a limited number of subscriptions available to valued readers – for free. This year, they’ve invited AFA-CWA members to take part. In These Times is an award-winning, monthly magazine that has covered movements for social and economic justice since 1976. With over 40 years of chronicling and informing the labor movement, they report from the perspective of workers, not the bosses. There’s no payment or credit card info required, and no strings attached. The only catch is that there is a limited number of free subscriptions available, so take advantage of this and sign up now!  To claim your free subscription, visit the In These Times website.

        SFO KCM New Location

        Effective May 12, 2022 TSA relocated the KCM entrance for SFO Terminal 2. It has been relocated to the C-gate check point (near Green Beans Coffee) where you will find a dedicated KCM crew line. This check point is open from 0400-0030 daily.

        Got a question?

        Contact information for Council 35 committee members can be found on our website.  You can also open an online support ticket and the appropriate rep will respond.

        In solidarity,

        Council 35 Officers:

        Melissa Osborne, President
        Virginia Fritz, Vice-President Elect
        James Ikehara, Secretary
        Brad Young, Council Representative


        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

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO Tagged With: ASAP, committees, Council 35, EAP, election results, elections, health and wellness, Scheduling, scheduling chair, Scheduling Committee, SFO

        AFA Council 35 (SFO) Election Results

        May 26, 2022 13:00

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Local Council Officer positions representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in San Francisco:

        LEC President: Melissa Osborne
        LEC Vice President: Virginia Fritz
        LEC Secretary: James Ikehara
        Council Representative: Brad Young

        View the certified election results here >>

        These officers will serve a term of office starting July 1, 2022 and concluding on June 30, 2025.

        Our Master Executive Council (MEC) congratulates the newly elected officers and we sincerely thank all those who stepped forward to run in the election.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Council 35 SFO Tagged With: election results, officer elections

        Council 35 News – April 2022

        May 9, 2022 15:52


        Topics

        Important Dates | CA Membership Meeting | Officer Elections | Committee Openings | Spring Incentive | Section 6 | Solidarity | Pilot Strike | TSA Self Defense | Scholarships.


        Important Dates

        • April 30: CWA Scholarship Application Due
        • May 10: CA Membership Meeting
        • May 26: C35 Officer Election Polls Close

        CA Membership Meeting

        Hosted by Councils 35, 18, and 15

        The next membership meeting for Council 35 members will be Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 1100 via Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss the upcoming AFA-CWA Annual Board of Directors Meeting.  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 can be found here.  Deadline to submit advanced agenda items is 5/6/22.  To attend, please register here.

        Officer Election Coming Soon!

        It’s election time for SFO and members will have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote for Council 35 officers.  All Council 35 voting instructions and guidelines can be found on the AFA Elections Page. The AFA-CWA Membership Services Department handles all voter questions and issues new activation codes if ballots are misplaced or never received.  The Ballot Help Line is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern time.  If you have a question or need a new 16-digit activation code, you may contact the Ballot Help Line at 800-424-2401, then press 1 and dial extension 706.

        Council 35 Election Dates

        Ballots Mailed:  4/27/22
        Polls Open:  5/5/22
        Polls Close/Results:  5/26/22, 1200 PST
        Term Date Start: 7/1/22
        Term Date End:  6/30/25

        New Council 35 Committee Openings

        Government Affairs Committee Chair

        The Government Affairs (GA) committee promotes the AFA-CWA agenda by supporting legislative efforts that benefit our members or lobbying to discourage laws that will negatively impact members.  What can be achieved in legislation takes away the need for negotiation.  If you have an interest in government issues, please visit the GA webpage on the AFA Alaska website. Submit your letter of interest to SFO@afaalaska.org for consideration.

        Government Affairs Committee Chair

        Council 35 is looking to fill the chair position for upcoming Section 6 negotiations.  The chairs from each base will compose the committee with the goal to help motivate and provide assistance to members during the negotiations process.  If you are passionate about improvements to our contract and understand the power of solidarity, please apply!  Submit your letter of interest to SFO@afaalaska.org for consideration.  For more information, please see the recent MEC communication announcing the role.

        Interested in another committee position?  Please review the duties and responsibilities on the AFA Alaska Committee website.  Please submit your letter of interest to SFO@afaalaska.org for consideration.

        Spring Incentive: Love it or Hate it?

        Section 6 negotiations are getting ready to launch, but did you know the MEC is regularly “negotiating” with management? A great example of this is the Spring Incentive.  Management couldn’t just compel us to participate, as we already have a defined incentive program (PPP) outlined in JCBA§21.R.  They approached us with the idea to help alleviate the staffing issue and the “negotiations” began.  This particular program, developed exclusively by management, was not received well by the MEC at first glance.  Right away we rejected some of the most contentious issues: threshold way too high, not enough people will benefit, won’t motivate regular flyers, not including enough pay codes (i.e. vacation).  Pretty much everything that members have expressed after launch as the unsavory aspects of the program.  In response we offered several suggestions to improve the program’s benefit and effectiveness to which the company declined and only agreed to a few of our suggestions.  We weren’t given much time to work out the details and within a couple of days the MEC had to make a decision to either support the program, or reject it altogether.  Some may disagree with the choice we made, but I can share with you why I was a reluctant yes.  

        When considering SFO specifically (the members that elected me), I came to the conclusion that the Spring Incentive would potentially benefit the SFO F/As more than not.  The program rewards high-time flyers (always been an SFO trend) and brings a little extra pay to overworked reserves.  With this in mind, I decided that it was better to say yes to the program than say no.  I made my decision based on my understanding of the base and what my members want.  The best way for me to know what members want is to hear from you!  If this program is good for you, let me know!  If you hate it, let me know!  I can make better decisions in the future if my members share with me how they feel about issues that affect their work environment. If members are curious about how I voted on a particular issue, please reach out and ask!  I am happy to share my decisions and receive feedback to better support SFO FAs.

        TSA Crew Member Self Defense Training Program – Reinstated

        The TSA Crew Member Self Defense Training Program has been reinstated and is available for all US-based flight attendants free of charge. There are 2 classes scheduled for their South San Francisco location on May 19th and June 16th, from 0800-1200. If you cannot attend these dates, additional classes for 2022 may be offered at a later date. Use this link for more information and to sign up for one of their classes.

        Scholarship Opportunities

        Provided by AFA International

        The Joe Beirne Scholarship offered by CWA is available to AFA Members and dependents. The deadline for applications is April 30.   For more information please visit the CWA website.

        Member Questions: Negotiations

        Why Do We Call Contract Negotiations “Section 6?”

        The term “Section 6” refers to the part of the Railway Labor Act (RLA) that defines the negotiations process.  In many industries, collective bargaining agreements (CBA) have an expiration date, and until a new one is negotiated, the benefits of the old contract are no longer available.  The industries that fall under the RLA have contracts that become amendable, meaning they open up for changes but don’t officially expire (unless specifically defined), and it stays in effect until a new one is ratified (voted in by members).  This was to prevent a transportation shutdown in the early days of the RLA’s existence, as it would have had (and still does have) a devastating effect on the infrastructure of the nation.  What can F/As do now to help?  Get educated and follow the progress of the Negotiating Committee!  Many SFO members haven’t experienced full Section 6 negotiations and understanding the process is crucial to our success.  For more information about negotiations please visit the AFA Alaska Negotiations website. 

        Solidarity and Why We Need It

        The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines solidarity as: unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards. Many members are frustrated with management’s decisions and policies that have rolled out recently.  It’s been rough and your Council 35 officers and committee members are united in the frustration! Going to social media to vent is a great way to chat with other members and share experiences and frustrations, however it can also hinder our progress at the negotiations table.  Please see the recent MEC communication on this topic.  Social media campaigns as well as individual emails to management expressing displeasure only show that we are a divided work group.  As your elected leaders, that is literally our job-to confront management on your behalf.  If we don’t hear from you, we can’t stand up to ask for change.  Tell us!  The best way to let them know we mean business is to stand together in solidarity.

        Alaska Pilot Strike Vote

        Council 35 has received several emails from members concerned about the pilot strike vote and how it will impact F/As lives. One of the issues that has raised the most concern is the strike vote planned for May.   Although the vote is scheduled soon, it does not mean the actual strike, if it happens, will follow immediately.  ALPA (pilot Union for AS pilots) and the company have just recently entered the mediation phase of negotiations, which could last an indefinite amount of time:  weeks, months, maybe even years.  If mediation is unsuccessful,  there will be an appeal to the National Mediation Board (NMB) to release the parties from mediation, which is followed by a cooling off period of 30 days.  The pilots follow the same process for negotiations under the RLA as we do at AFA-CWA.  To see a breakdown of steps, please visit our Negotiations website where you will find a helpful chart and breakdown of the different phases of the process. Flight Attendants can also follow ALPA’s progress by visiting the ALPA website.  

        Got a question?

        Contact information for Council 35 committee members can be found on our website.  You can also open an online support ticket and the appropriate rep will respond.

        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

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO Tagged With: April, BOD Meeting, committees, Council 35, elections, Newsletter, scholarships

        Council 35 News – March 2022

        April 8, 2022 13:37


        Important Dates

        . March 31: KCM Barcode Requirement Begins-Today!
        . April 1: Q1 CBT Due Tomorrow!
        . April 10: AFA Scholarship Application Due
        . April 27: Council 35 Officer Elections Polls Open
        . April 30:
         CWA Scholarship Application Due
        . May 10: CA Membership Meeting


        CA Membership Meeting

        Hosted by Councils 35, 18 and 15

        The next membership meeting for Council 35 members will be Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 1100 via Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss the upcoming AFA-CWA Annual Board of Directors Meeting.  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).  Deadline to submit agenda items is 5/6/22.  To attend, please register here.

        Officer Election Coming Soon!

        It’s election time for SFO and members will have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote for Council 35 officers.  All Council 35 voting instructions and guidelines can be found on the AFA Elections Page. The AFA-CWA Membership Services Department handles all voter questions and issues new activation codes if ballots are misplaced or never received.  The Ballot Help Line is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern time.  If you have a question or need a new 16-digit activation code, you may contact the Ballot Help Line at 800-424-2401, then press 1 and dial extension 706.

        Council 35 Election Dates

        . Ballots Mailed:  4/27/22
        . Polls Open:  5/5/22
        . Polls Close/Results:  5/26/22, 1200 PST
        . Term Date Start:  7/1/22
        . Term Date End:  6/30/25

        Trending Discipline

        Information provided by the Grievance Committee

        The SFO Grievance Committee has experienced a busy first quarter!  We’ve seen a record number of terminations and suspensions in such a short period of time. Here’s a brief summary of our most recent cases:

        Sick Leave Abuse

        Sick leave abuse meetings are still trending high on our list.   During a recent meeting with management the investigation process was discussed.  Your Council 35 Grievance committee would like members to be aware of the steps management takes whenever an F/A calls in sick.  Every sick leave call that is recorded in a day will be investigated by base supervisors and managers the following day.  How deep the “look” goes is dependent on the Flight Attendant’s history, or information that may be discovered through social media or conversation between management and the F/A.  Every absence is reported in a log that management keeps to track trends.  Depending on how many entries an F/A has in the log, or if the supervisor is aware of any other information will determine whether the log entry is enough or if more needs to be discovered.  Some of the Flight Attendants history may be viewed at this point:

        • Leave status
        • Employee travel with a special focus on the following:
        • Social media accounts
        • Line management: attempted drops with comments and/or money on trade requests
        • Previous years absences on same days

        This is by no means an exhaustive list, but a sample of F/A activity that can be seen by management.  In the event that this search indicates abuse, the Flight Attendant will be asked to attend a performance meeting to answer to the pattern discovered.  If the performance supervisor confirms the suspected abuse, the F/A is discharged on first offense.  As a reminder, our contract provides Flight Attendants with the benefit of paid sick leave to care for ourselves and loved ones when ill.  It is a conditional benefit and is only to be used for the purpose of treating an illness.  Flight Attendants that use the benefit in any other way are considered to have committed timecard fraud.  In the event abuse is suspected, the burden of proof is on the F/A who needs to prove to the company that they used the benefit appropriately.


        Job Abandonment/Points

        Sadly we are witnessing a large amount of Job Abandonment cases.  Many of these cases are Flight Attendants that run out of leave options and stop contacting the company about the status of their leaves.  Additionally a record number of terminations have been occurring due to points at high levels.

        Personal Conduct

        Personal Conduct can include a variety of violations.  Recent ones have included violation of company directed quarantine, crewmember disputes, and layover incidents.

        Commuter Violations

        This continues to be the number one violation.  The most common reason for a commuter violation is dropping a deadhead and commuting to/from another base.  Also we’ve seen many accidental listings, where the F/A lists as D8Y rather than E1Y for travel.

        Scholarship Opportunities

        Provided by AFA International

        AFA Scholarship

        For eligibility guidelines, information and application, please visit the AFA-CWA website.
        Applications must be postmarked by April 10, and sent to the following address:

        AFA Scholarship Fund

        P.O. Box 56

        Hartwood, VA 22471-0056

        CWA Joe Beirne Scholarship

        The Joe Beirne Scholarship offered by CWA is available to AFA Members and dependents. The deadline for applications is April 30.   For more information please visit the CWA website.

        Barcode Required for KCM Checkpoints

        Provided by AFA International

        Effective today March 31, 2022, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require the Known Crewmember (KCM) Program eligible crewmembers to scan a KCM-issued barcode card when utilizing a KCM access point. Crewmembers will no longer be permitted to manually enter their KCM data.

        Crewmembers who do not have a KCM barcode card, have a worn/unreadable barcode card, or have not completed the registration process will be referred to the passenger screening checkpoint for entry into the airport sterile area. If a crewmember does not present an active KCM barcode card and is referred for screening, then they must follow the TSO’s instructions and complete the screening process at the passenger screening checkpoint. Failure to submit to screening at the passenger screening checkpoint (e.g., using a SIDA badge to avoid screening), is considered circumvention of screening and TSA may take enforcement action in accordance with the KCM Disqualification Protocols (KCMDP). Crewmembers may request a new or replacement KCM barcode card from their airline management. For more information, please refer to the article on the AFA-CWA website.

        SFO Employee COVID Vaccines

        Information provided by FlySFO

        Flight Attendants looking for a vaccine location, SFO Airport has convenient options. Please visit the SFO website for more information:
        Vaccinations at SFO | San Francisco International Airport

        AFA Membership Links for Payment or Personal Contact Updates 

        by James Ikehara, Secretary and Membership Committee Chair

        If you are coming back from an LOA and need to catch up on dues payments, this link will take you directly to AFA’s Membership Services website to schedule an on-line payment. Should you need to update your personal contact information (e.g., address, phone number, email, etc.), use this link

        Got a question?

        Contact information for Council 35 committee members can be found on our website.  You can also open an online support ticket and the appropriate rep will respond.

        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

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO Tagged With: college scholarships, Council 35, election, elections, Membership meeting, Newsletter, points, scholarships, sick leave abuse, trends

        • « Previous Page
        • 1
        • 2
        • 3
        • 4
        • …
        • 26
        • Next Page »

        Need Help?

        Have an issue or concern to report to AFA?  Click here to access the AFA Alaska online support center.

        Latest News

        • Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution
        • AFA News in Review – September 26, 2025
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025
        • Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives
        • Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025
        • Vacation Survey Closing Soon
        • Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons
        • Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025
        • AFA News in Review – September 19, 2025
        • Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

        Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

        October 2, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Management has recently informed our Master Executive Council (MEC) that they are distributing new Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) to Flight Attendants with devices nearing the end of their lifecycle. The specific schedule for this distribution will be communicated by management separately. Flight Attendants with the oldest devices […]

        Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

        September 25, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 23, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at Alaska Airlines Corporate Headquarters to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), […]

        Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

        September 24, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the first group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that […]

        Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

        September 24, 2025

        On Thursday, September 18, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing efforts to represent our Flight Attendants and advocate for improvements in our workplace. Although our Inflight Service Committee has now merged, meetings with management continue to focus primarily on the Alaska or Hawaiian brands individually. This particular meeting was centered […]

        Vacation Survey Closing Soon

        September 23, 2025

        There’s just 1 DAY LEFT to complete the crucial vacation survey that will help shape future provisions—your insights are essential for advocating the best outcomes for all Flight Attendants. The survey is currently open and will remain available until Wednesday, September 24 at 12 PM PT.

        Recent Posts

        • Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution
        • AFA News in Review – September 26, 2025
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025
        • Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives
        • Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025
        • Vacation Survey Closing Soon
        • Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons
        • Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025
        • AFA News in Review – September 19, 2025
        • Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results
        • Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results
        • Election Notice: Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Officer Elections
        • SEA Domicile Negotiations – September 2025 Update #2
        • Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025
        • Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month

        Local Councils

        • Anchorage
        • Honolulu
        • Los Angeles (pre-merger Alaska)
        • Los Angeles (pre-merger Hawaiian)
        • Portland
        • San Diego
        • San Francisco
        • Seattle

        Master Executive Council

        • MEC

        Negotiations

        • Contract 2022 Home
        • Negotiations News
        • TA2 Information

        Contract

        • Contract Home

        Committees

        • Air Safety, Health, & Security
        • Benefits
        • Communications
        • EAP/Professional Standards
        • Government Affairs
        • Grievance
        • Hotel
        • Human Rights
        • Inflight Service
        • Mobilization
        • Reserve
        • Retirement
        • Scheduling
        • Uniform

        News By Month

        News By Category

        AFA News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) AS/HA Merger AS/VX Merger Benefits Committee Committees Communications Committee Contract Contract 2014 Negotiations Blog Council 15 SAN Council 18 LAX Council 19 SEA Council 30 ANC Council 35 SFO Council 39 PDX EAP/Professional Standards Committee Extension 2021 Blog Featured Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee Hotel Committee Human Rights & Equity Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) Membership Committee Membership Engagement Committee Message from the MEC President Mobilization Committee Negotiations Pairing Construction Preferential Bidding System (PBS) Press Releases Reserve Committee Retirement Committee Scheduling Committee Uniform Committee
        • Email
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • YouTube

        Want To Stay In The Loop?

        Stay up-to-date on AFA Alaska news and information by signing up for our email and text message updates. Click a button below to get started or update your preferences if you're already a subscriber.
        Sign Up for Emails
        Sign Up for Text Updates

        Connect With AFA

        • Contact Us
        • Online Support Center
        • AFA International
        • CWA
        • AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines
        • AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy

        Copyright © 2013-2025 Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO