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
          • 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 / AS/VX Merger / JNC Update – Top FAQ and Voting Reminder

        JNC Update – Top FAQ and Voting Reminder

        March 29, 2018 14:30

        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:

        • JNC Webinar Video – TFP to Block Hour VX Payscale in Block Hour
        • JNC Blog Post – TFP vs. Block Hours

        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

        Print Friendly, PDF & Email

        Filed Under: AS/VX Merger, JNC Blog, Latest News Tagged With: 2018, AS/VX Merger, FAQ, JNC Blog, voting information

        Need Help?

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

        Latest News

        • AFA News in Review – July 11, 2025
        • Grievance Win For Flight Attendants: Reinforcing Our Contractual Rights Under Sections 8.M and 8.D
        • Navigating Uncertainty During Terrorism Alerts
        • AFA News in Review – July 4, 2025
        • Management’s Planned Hawaiian Airlines Seattle Flight Attendant Domicile
        • AFA News in Review – June 27, 2025
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2025
        • Take Action Now: Stop Cuts and Giveaway to Billionaires
        • When Screen Time Becomes Too Much
        • Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

        Grievance Win For Flight Attendants: Reinforcing Our Contractual Rights Under Sections 8.M and 8.D

        July 11, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants A recent arbitration ruling has brought a significant victory that strengthens our rights under Sections 8.M and 8.D of our Collective Bargaining Agreement. This decision flows from Grievance 36-99-2-38-24 (Violation of §8.M) and Grievance Settlement 36-99-2-458-22 (Violation of §8.D Check In and Release). What does this mean […]

        Navigating Uncertainty During Terrorism Alerts

        July 11, 2025

        As Flight Attendants, we are trained to stay calm in emergencies and act swiftly to protect our passengers and crew. But when terrorism alerts are raised—whether at home or abroad—the anxiety that comes with being away from your loved ones can feel overwhelming. It’s completely natural to feel unsettled or vulnerable in times like these. […]

        Management’s Planned Hawaiian Airlines Seattle Flight Attendant Domicile

        June 30, 2025

        Today, management announced plans to establish Hawaiian Airlines’ 787 Pilot and Flight Attendant bases in Seattle by early 2026. This move aims to enhance operational efficiencies for Alaska Airlines as it expands its international presence in the Seattle area. According to the terms of the Merger Transition Protocol Letter of Agreement, the Company is allowed to […]

        Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2025

        June 26, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, June 24, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons/Representatives met 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), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Virginia Fritz (SFO), Kanako Yamado […]

        Take Action Now: Stop Cuts and Giveaway to Billionaires

        June 26, 2025

        It’s time to take action! The Senate is currently reviewing its version of the federal budget already passed in the House. There are seriously harmful cuts to benefits and rights we count on as workers. Below is a brief summary of their plans to cut from programs we count on to fund and supercharge a massive […]

        Recent Posts

        • AFA News in Review – July 11, 2025
        • Grievance Win For Flight Attendants: Reinforcing Our Contractual Rights Under Sections 8.M and 8.D
        • Navigating Uncertainty During Terrorism Alerts
        • AFA News in Review – July 4, 2025
        • Management’s Planned Hawaiian Airlines Seattle Flight Attendant Domicile
        • AFA News in Review – June 27, 2025
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – June 2025
        • Take Action Now: Stop Cuts and Giveaway to Billionaires
        • When Screen Time Becomes Too Much
        • Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025
        • AFA News in Review – June 20, 2025
        • Joint Contract Negotiations Session 4 – June 2025
        • Mahalo From Your AFA Hawaiian Communications Committee
        • Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025
        • AFA News in Review – June 13, 2025

        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 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