In This Edition
- URGENT: No More Shutdowns
- Having Difficulty Working with a Fellow Crew Member?
- How AFA Dues Deductions Work
URGENT: No More Shutdowns
AFA International
Unless Congress acts before Thursday night (midnight, Friday morning), the federal government will shut down again.
We need to make it clear: federal shutdowns are unacceptable.
Aviation workers ended the shutdown of 2019/2020. Together, we ended the 35-day nightmare of two million people out of work without notice, 400,000 workers forced to come to work without pay, and an increasingly dangerous workspace for the rest of us. We’re not going to stand by while Congress puts us in danger again by failing to do their jobs now.
Call your member of Congress now and demand they fund the government and avert a shutdown and pass legislation that keeps all transportation going.
Shutdowns are dangerous.
- Transportation Security Officers and Air Traffic Controllers will be forced to work without pay, putting huge stress on workers whose attention to detail keeps us all safe.
- Investigators who build cases against unruly passengers will be furloughed. Because of the statute of limitations on these investigations, this could mean unruly passengers get off without being investigated at all.
- Key security personnel who track potential threats will be furloughed, leaving exploitable gaps in aviation security.
This is a safety issue. Flight Attendants are already on the frontlines dealing with a crisis of dangerous passenger behavior. If Congress fails to do their basic job and makes our jobs more dangerous, we will take any necessary action to keep ourselves safe.
Call your members of Congress directly or use the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 to get connected to your Representative and two Senators. Demand they do their job and avoid a shutdown.
Script: Dear Representative/Senator _____, I am a constituent and a Flight Attendant. I cannot do my job if Congress doesn’t do its job. Fund the government and avoid another government shutdown that would put us all in danger. After you fund the government, get to work to ensure we don’t default on our debts and pass the bills that give us the infrastructure we need all over our economy with living wage jobs and basic rights for everyday people. Pass the bipartisan American Jobs Act and the Build Back Better Act without delay. We need Washington to do its job so we can do our job too. Thank you.
Keeping the government open is the bare minimum, but there’s much more we need done to solve the problems in front of us today.
You’ve probably heard some of the debate about the two infrastructure bills. The process sounds complicated, but the outcomes are simple. We need Congress to pass BOTH the American Jobs Act, which you may have read about as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework or BIF, and the Build Back Better Act, which reporters are calling the “reconciliation package.”
Here are four key items in the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) for Flight Attendants and aviation:
- Voting Rights: BBBA expands early voting and other voting rights. Flight Attendants are often on trips on Election Day, and we deserve to have our voices heard in our democracy. This will ensure we—and all workers—have the chance to cast our votes.
- Labor Rights: BBBA makes it easier for workers to come together to form unions, negotiate contracts and hold bad bosses accountable.
- Creates real financial penalties for employers who retaliate against organizing.
- Bans Mandatory anti-union meetings.
- Charges executives who break labor laws so that corporate leaders have real consequences for union busting and violating workers’ rights.
- Stops companies from retaliating against workers who exercise their right to strike.
- Expands the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide every worker with up to 12 weeks of comprehensive, paid leave whether caring for themselves or a loved one.
- Makes union dues tax deductible for all workers, a benefit that was taken away for everyday people in the Trump tax cuts.
Your action today and tomorrow is urgent. We’ll keep updates coming so you have the latest on what’s happening and what we’re doing together to keep each other safe.
Call your Member of Congress now.
Having Difficulty Working with a Fellow Crew Member?
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee
Quite often, someone doesn’t realize they may have come across as bossy, rude, lazy, etc. They may in fact be experiencing issues at home, are new and unsure of the job, have just come back from a medical leave and are out of practice, or other life challenges are causing them to not be performing as expected. If you’re experiencing a similar issue, believe the issue needs to be addressed, and are not comfortable talking one-on-one with the other person, we recommend that you speak to one of our highly trained AFA EAP/Professional Standards Committee Members.
Contact AFA Professional Standards First!
AFA EAP/Professional Standards can help facilitate a conversation between the affected Flight Attendants. We can offer suggestions on dealing with each other. We can reach out to Flight Attendants and share the perceptions of their co-workers. All this is done in a safe and confidential environment.
Professional Standards Can Help with Pilots
AFA Professional Standards maintains a close working relationship with ALPA Professional Standards. If have a concern or conflict that involves a Pilot, we can refer the issue to ALPA Professional Standards. Just as AFA Professional Standards responds to every report of a concern, ALPA Professional Standards does the same.
Management Isn’t Involved
Most importantly, it’s handled without involving management. Often, when a Flight Attendant has an “off” day, it’s due to special circumstances. If you were in their shoes, you would appreciate your co-worker giving you the benefit of the doubt and leaving management out of the equation.
Who Do I Contact?
If you have a professional standards concern, please reach out to your AFA Local EAP/Professional Standards Committee or call (949) 470-0493.
How AFA Dues Deductions Work
Membership Committee
The Current Month is the Current Dues Month
The paycheck that you receive on the 20th of the month is your pay for all flying activity during the previous month. Your AFA dues that are deducted from the 20th of the month check, however, cover your dues obligation for the current month.
For Example:
- Paycheck Date (Advice Date): October 20
- Flying Pay for (Pay Begin and End Dates): September 1-30 (previous month)
- AFA Dues Deducted for: October (current 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.
Questions?
If you have any questions about dues deductions, please refer to the Membership Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.
