AFA Alaska

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

Click here to report an issue to AFA
Menu
  • Local Councils
    • Anchorage (Council 30)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Los Angeles (Council 18)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • 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
      • Inflight Service
      • Inflight Training
      • Membership
      • Reserve
      • Retirement
      • Scheduling
        • Pairing Construction
        • Preferential Bidding System (PBS)
      • Uniform

    • More About Committees >>
    Close
  • Contract
      • Contract Home
        • Current Contract
        • Ask Contract Questions
      • Contract Resources
        • Read Contract Q&A
        • Explanatory Videos
      • Contract Negotiations
        • 2019 Open Time Tentative Agreement
        • The Negotiating Process
        • 2014 Negotiating Committee
    • Close
  • Resources
      • Issues & Campaigns
        • Flight Attendant Fatigue
      • Newsroom
        • Industry News
      • Event Calendar
      • Membership Services
      • New Members
      • About
      • Links
      Close
    • Contact Us
    You are here: Home / Committees / Benefits Committee / Changes To Workers Compensation 

    Changes To Workers Compensation 

    August 21, 2014 17:33

    Alaska Airlines has contracted a new third party vendor in Seattle to coordinate the return to work process for Flight Attendant worker’s compensation claims, as well as light or alternate duty.  J. Donley Associates began administering Seattle-based worker’s compensation claims for our group on May 1, 2014.  This has generated a lot of questions.

    Please be aware that you may be contacted within the first 48 hours of filing a claim.  

    When representatives make contact, they are advising Flight Attendants they are calling to facilitate light duty and the return to work process.  Again, this has caused a lot of concern and questions; in some cases the Flight Attendant contacted has not even had a chance to seek medical treatment.   AFA leadership has brought forward concerns to inflight management regarding the timing of the communication and the premature discussion of alternate duty and return to work.

    While worker’s compensation laws can be complicated and vary from state to state, it is important for Flight Attendants to know that there are contractual provisions that apply to all Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.  This is particularly true with respect to alternate duty, which is optional unless the leave exceeds 12 months.

    A few important provisions to keep in mind if you are contacted

    Section 16.K Alternate Duty 

    1. A Flight Attendant on worker’s compensations leave of absence will have the option of preforming alternate duty.
    2. The maximum number of days that a Flight Attendant may work alternate duty in a month will be determined by taking the average number of days that the Flight Attendant worked per month during the twelve (12) months preceding her/his injury.
    3. An alternate duty assignment may be made only when the Flight Attendant meets the skill level necessary for the position and her/his medical provider certifies that s/he is able to perform the job.
    4. Alternate duty may be performed in any domicile, co-terminal or the Flight Attendant’s registered commuter city, at her/his option.

    Please refer to entire Section 16 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Sick Leave/On The Job Injury for additional information.

    There may be benefits to performing alternate duty, especially if you are unable to use sick leave to remain insured on your leave.  However, we encourage Flight Attendants to reach out to their local AFA Worker’s Compensation/Benefit Committee member for information before making the decision.  You can find contact information at afaalaska.org/benefits.

    In addition as a reminder if you are injured while working please keep in mind it is critical that you:

    • Seek medical attention immediately.  Time loss (or worker’s compensation pay) will not begin until you seek treatment for your injury.  In addition, in each state there are waiting periods for time loss compensation, which do not begin until medical attention is sought.  Remember that attendance points will apply under Section 32 until you seek treatment.
    • Call a supervisor or on-call supervisor via crew scheduling to obtain a worker’s compensation packet.  They can fax pertinent documentation to your medical facility, if needed.
    • When you are able, call your local AFA worker’s compensation/benefits committee member for assistance with the process.  You can find contact information at afaalaska.org/benefits.

    In Solidarity,

    Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt and MEC Benefits Chairperson Terry Taylor

    MEC 5B Logo (Email)

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email

    Filed Under: Benefits Committee, Latest News

    Need Help?

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

    Connect with Us on Facebook

    Connect with Us on Facebook

    Follow Us on Twitter

    Tweets by AFAAlaska

    Latest News

    • Council 35 News February 2021
    • AFA Update – February 19, 2021
    • Presidents’ Day Weekend 2021 Pacific Northwest Snowstorm
    • AFA Special Update – February 1, 2021
    • Never Forget | Honoring Alaska Airlines Flight 261 | January 31, 2000
    • Council 35 News January 2021
    • AFA Update – January 22, 2021
    • Safety of Our Crews, Our Flights and Our Country
    • Recurrent Training 2021
    • Council 35 News December 2020

    Latest News

    AFA Update – February 19, 2021

    February 19, 2021 12:00

    In This Edition COVID Vaccine Information for Flight Attendants REMINDER: Scholarship Opportunities Free Training to Former Cabin Crew Transitioning into Job Market Relaxation Exercises – An Essential Tool for Flight Attendants COVID Vaccine Information for Flight Attendants Master Executive Council (MEC) On February 10, AFA International published an AFA Interactive e-mail newsletter with an overview […]

    Presidents’ Day Weekend 2021 Pacific Northwest Snowstorm

    February 16, 2021 19:00

    Presidents’ Day Weekend 2021 Pacific Northwest Snowstorm A Storm for the Record Books What a weekend! The recent Pacific Northwest (PNW) snowstorm was one for the record books, so the systemwide severe irregular operations were not terribly surprising. That being said, it’s clear the operation became profoundly broken at various points: Crew Scheduling “perma hold” […]

    AFA Special Update – February 1, 2021

    February 1, 2021 17:00

    In This Edition Celebrating Black History Month Celebrating Black History Month Human Rights Committee February 1st marks the first day of Black History Month in the United States.  The celebration has a long tradition that can be traced back to 1925 when Harvard trained-historian Carter G. Woodson introduced “Negro History Week”, which sought to raise awareness […]

    Never Forget | Honoring Alaska Airlines Flight 261 | January 31, 2000

    January 31, 2021 16:22

    Never Forget | Honoring Alaska Airlines Flight 261 | January 31, 2000 Photo by Susan Ewbank – From the remembrance ceremony at The Hub in SeaTac on January 29, 2021 It has been twenty one years since we lost Alaska Airlines Flight 261 PVR-SFO when it suffered a catastrophic flight control failure off the coast […]

    AFA Update – January 22, 2021

    January 22, 2021 12:00

    In This Edition Letters of Agreement and Memorandums of Understanding REMINDER: Reserve Availability & Commuting College Scholarship Opportunities Letters of Agreement and Memorandums of Understanding Grievance Committee Our Master Executive Council (MEC) occasionally enters into letters of agreement (LOAs) with management to address situations that were not anticipated or did not exist during contract negotiations.  The […]

    Top Posts & Pages

    • Contract
    • Contact Us
    • Council 19 Committees
    • Retirement Committee
    • Pass Travel: Positive Space Travel (PST) Tickets [misc]
    • Council 39 Committees
    • Seattle - Council 19
    • Latest News
    • Hotel Committee
    • Letters of Agreement (LOAs)

    Local Councils

    • Anchorage
    • Los Angeles
    • Portland
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
    • Seattle

    Master Executive Council

    • MEC

    Contract

    • Contract Home

    Committees

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

    News By Month

    News By Category

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

    Want To Stay In The Loop?

    The best way to stay connected with up-to-date AFA Alaska news and information is through a subscription to AFA Alaska emails!  Click the button below to sign up.  Already a subscriber?  You can make changes to your email by clicking below!
    Sign Up

    Connect With AFA

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

    Copyright © 2013-2020 Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO