Your Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) has put together the following compilation of the more frequently asked questions that have been submitted to the JNC blog in order to help ensure that the most accurate information is available.
Most Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Q. Is it true there is a pay “difference” or two different pay rates?
A. There is no difference in pay, but there are two different pay scales because there are two different systems: One in TFP and one in BLOCK HOURS.
TFP is a pay rate based on distance while BLOCK HOURS pay rates are based on flight time. The conversion rate is 1.13 TFP = 1 BLOCK HOUR
The JNC has developed additional resources that help provide greater explanation into the difference between TFP and Block Hours. You can find these resources here:
Q. Does the Red Circle LOA carry over into Bidding Seniority?
A. The additional service credit does not count toward bidding for monthly schedules, Flight Attendant domiciles or vacation. It determines the initial rate of pay (if the TA is ratified) that a Flight Attendant will be held at until their occupational seniority catches up with them.
All Bidding is based on occupational (Flight Attendant service) seniority.
Q. Why can L-VX Flight Attendants vote without paying dues and L-AS Flight Attendants have to be current?
A. AFA International policy is that members at carriers without a first contract do not pay dues. L-VX Flight Attendants do not have a first contract – their Work Rules are not contractual, were not bargained over, are not enforceable, and can be changed by management.
Article XI.A.10 [Dues & Assessments: Dues-Active Members] of the AFA Constitution & Bylaws state that Flight Attendants at carriers without a first contract (e.g. Virgin America) do not pay dues until there is a ratified first agreement.
Q. If we vote this down will it keep Alaska from redeploying the Fleet?
A. It is important to remember that no base “owns” particular flying or routes. Crew Planning can move network flying around the system and has consistently done so over the years. The same is true of the aircraft. Airbus and Boeing aircraft can be shifted around the network. Can it be done as efficiently with two separate groups of Flight Attendants as opposed to one combined group? No. However, the pilot group will be combined. Other carriers have combined despite pre-merger Flight Attendant groups remaining separate (United and American Flight Attendant groups are slated to combine this October).
Q. In the Summary of the Tentative Agreement (TA) that was sent with the voting information, why are the percentage increases over the life of the TA different for each pay step and the smallest for those at the top of the scale?
A. The pay step percentage increases over the life of the TA include increases due to Flight Attendants “moving through the scale” (i.e. advancing from one pay step to the next – Year 10 → Year 11 → Year 12, etc.). This adds several dollars to a Flight Attendant’s pay rate in addition to the annual percentage increases to the entire pay scale (4.5%, 1.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%).
Flight Attendants who are at the highest pay rate, or “topped out”, receive the percentage increases to the entire pay scale (4.5%, 1.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%), but do not have additional steps. The compounded rate of all the percentage increases equals 10.35%.
Flight Attendants who are at the top pay step do receive the Longevity Premium at the appropriate years of service and that has not been included in the percentage increase calculation.
Q. What was the change with PPP and vacation?
A. If ratified the current QPP program will change to the PPP program. The new program would be based on five total blocks:
A single combined block of 8 months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, payout is $1100- worked TFP must be 40.0 TFP more than your combined PBS bid awards (Plus 40.0 TFP can be achieved in any combination of months).
Four individual blocks: Jun, Jul, Aug, Dec, payout is $350 for each month- worked TFP must be 5.0 TFP more than your PBS bid for each month.
Unlike the current QPP program, vacation is included towards achieving your totals.
More information can be found in the JNC Blog post regarding the Productivity Premium Program (PPP).
Voting Reminders
As a reminder, voting ends on Tuesday, April 3 at 9 AM Pacific time.
If you have not received your voting instructions and activation code or are having difficulty voting, please contact the AFA Ballot Helpline. The reach the Helpline, call (800) 424-2401 and choose option 1, then enter extension 706.
Flight Attendants who have dues or membership issues should call AFA Membership Services at (800) 424-2401 and choose option 7.
AFA Membership Services Closed on Friday, March 30
Please note that AFA International Membership Services will be closed on Friday, March 30 for the Good Friday holiday. Messages left on the Ballot Helpline or Membership Services voicemails will be returned the next business day.
AFA Membership Services will resume normal operating hours on Monday, April 2. Normal operating hours are 9:30 AM to 5 PM Eastern time.
In Solidarity,
Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo
