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Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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Yesterday it came to the attention of the AFA Council 35 officers that the “Flight Locator by Crew” feature has been removed from the menu bar on Crew Web.  We brought it to the attention of CSS and Inflight management and they responded that the removal of the feature was a request from the Legal department.  Unfortunately, it appears that the feature was removed in response to a safety concern and currently there are no plans to restore the functionality of the Crew Web option.

AFA disapproves of having this feature removed without notice.  Although we acknowledge there is potential for abuse with the crew look-up feature, it is a scheduling tool that VX Flight Attendants use on a regular basis and depend upon.  It is AFA’s position that management should have made its intention known prior to the removal and provided alternatives for teammates to look up crews they are working with.  Although it is within management’s right to make these decisions, AFA believes management should have provided sufficient notice of the changes out of respect to the work group.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your Council 35 officers at vx@afaalaska.org.

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

In the “Early Push Program” membership release dated May 11, 2017, the Master Executive Council (MEC) communicated our concerns about that program. Unfortunately, the situation did not significantly improve in the weeks following that communication, so AFA filed Grievance No. 36-99-2-37-17 “Violation of §8.D.1 Early Push Program” on June 1, 2017. In fact, you provided the MEC with numerous examples of posted boarding times that had been adjusted to more than 45 minutes prior to departure, which, in our opinion, is a clear violation of §8.D.1 of the contract.

AFA requested Alaska Airlines management to investigate the circumstances surrounding when the Company altered Flight Attendants’ scheduled departures 10 minutes earlier than scheduled, thereby pressuring Flight Attendants to arrive at the aircraft 55 minutes prior to departure rather than 45 minutes. AFA received great news on Tuesday: Management sustained the grievance, which means management agreed the contract was violated.

In the grievance response addressed to MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams, management writes:

Stephanie, we have asked airport services to move from a 10-minute early boarding to 5 minutes in the case of early pushes only. By pushing this from D-50 to D-45, we will be contractually compliant. Therefore, we requested and were guaranteed that departures be posted no greater than 5 minutes early instead of 10 effective immediately.

Management affirms that you are under no contractual obligation to arrive at the aircraft earlier than 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure. AFA continues to take the position that it is acceptable to begin boarding right at 45 minutes prior to departure for “early push” flights—but only if all required safety checks and the Flight Attendant briefing have been completed and the entire Flight Attendant crew voluntarily agrees without feeling pressured. Allowing boarding to commence right at 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure adds a few extra minutes to help out the operation (as compared to regular boarding).

Now that the grievance has been sustained, contact one of your local AFA representatives or file a report at http://support.afaalaska.org as soon as possible if you believe your van time has been adjusted in anticipation of an early push, your report time is changed or if you experience pressure to board earlier than 45 minutes prior to departure.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee; MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams, MEC Grievance Committee Member Christina Frees; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Zac Weeks

AFA-CWA COUNCIL 19 LOCAL BASE MEETING

JUNE 21, 2017

1:00pm – 4:00pm

2:25 Call Meeting to Order

·  Meeting called to order by Laura Masserant (LEC President)

2:25:  Budget Review

·    BOD only and the Finance Committee

No dues increase with proposed budget. AFA is operating within our means, which is good.  But, the Finance and Budget committees believe that it is prudent to save money and prepare for upcoming costs in the future (Local Elections, for example) A contingency plan to establish a saving account and save 400k per year is proposed and this will ensure that the reserve account stays in tact. SBA is fully funded as are Negotiations budgets. This budget even allows the hiring of another staff attorney and a staff negotiator.

·  Why was the dues procedure changed for new hires?  It was voted on the past BOD that new hires will begin to pay due in their first full 4th month of service. Did away with the initiation fee and provides reserves the ability to run for office and actively participate in union elections sooner.

·  BOD Budget was unanimously voted in by Council 19 members present.

3:35 LEC Officer Reports

Report from Laura Masserant

·  Introduction of the new officers: Terry Taylor, Jake Jones, Adam Clarey, Melinda Jorge and Megan Brown

·  OS TIcketing went live and you can file a ticket via the system.

Laura would like to thank everyone for their support over the past six years. It has been her pleasure to serve the Council 19 members and

Report from Jake Jones – Vice President

·  Status Quo~ Happy to serve another term as the LEC VP

Report from Linda Christou – Secretary Treasury

·  Membership on track and declining. This is Linda’s last term as LEC Secretary-Treasurer, but she is already serving in her new role as the MEC Secretary-Treasurer.

3:40 Committee Reports

·  Reports given electronically and will be posted

3:45 Late Agenda Items

·   None

3:46 Unite Here “Fight for 15”

·  Guest Brian Mason, Unite Here, presented information about the fight for $15.00 and on-going issues with Alaska Airlines to pay workers. Seattle FAs pledge to help in any way that they can.

4:00 Call for Adjournment of Meeting

Click here for the Local Committee reports:

JUNE 2017 SEA COMMITTEE REPORTS

Crew Access Q and A

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This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

The Master Executive Council (MEC) will be conducting interviews for one (1) member to serve on the AFA System Board of Adjustment.

Scope

Members are to serve on the System Board of Adjustment for the purpose of arbitrating any disputes or grievances that may arise under the terms of the Agreement between Alaska Airlines and its Flight Attendants.

Policy/Responsibilities

  • There shall be two members selected by the MEC from active members in good standing to represent the Association. Members will be selected at-large without regard to Local Council or domicile.
  • Any person seeking a position as a System Board of Adjustment Member must submit a resume. Candidates must interview with the MEC.
  • System Board Members shall be selected for a two (2) year appointment period in accordance with the AFA Constitution and Bylaws. At least one appointment will be reviewed in June of each year.  Selection shall be made, insofar as possible, to ensure that both members will not be new at the same time.
  • The System Board Members will act in the best interest of the membership and the Association and will be consistent with the Agreement between the Flight Attendants and Alaska Airlines.
  • The MEC President shall have the ability, in the event of an emergency, to appoint a qualified member in good standing to fill an ad hoc position on the Board, should the alternate not be available.
  • The MEC on an ad hoc basis, by majority vote, may appoint an expert as a substitute for one member of the System Board of Adjustment.

Qualifications

  • Current Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant
  • Willingness to attend the requisite grievance training(s)
  • In depth knowledge of the contract
  • Understanding of the principles of just cause
  • Adherence to Grievance Committee policies, procedures, and standards of ethical conduct
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive and personal information
  • Maintenance of member-in-good-standing status
  • Ability to remain in good standing with the company
  • Ability to analyze written data and information with high attention to detail
  • Strong written and communication skills
  • Strong computer skills.

Expressing Interest and Interviewing Schedule

Interviews will be conducted during the July MEC meeting on Tuesday, July 25 at the AFA Alaska MEC office in Seattle.

To express interest for the position, please submit a declaration of interest and resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou at linda.christou@afaalaska.org no later than 5 PM Pacific Time on Friday, July 14, 2017.  Linda will be able to provide additional information regarding transportation and booking of flights if necessary.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee; LEC Presidents-Elect Terry Taylor and Mario de’Medici; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers, Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents, and many other LEC Officers and Committee Chairs will be attending the 45th Annual AFA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting this week in Phoenix, Arizona.  This annual meeting is where AFA conducts the business of our Union at the international level.

Schedule of Events

Friday June 23 Regular MEC Meeting
Saturday, June 24 Executive Board Meeting (MEC Presidents from each airline)
Board of Directors Meeting

BOD Meeting Agenda Items

Your LEC President represents you and the other members of your Local Council on the Board of Directors and will be casting votes on your behalf at the BOD meeting.  Your MEC Officers serve in an ex-officio capacity on the BOD but do not have voting privileges.

Last year, the BOD approved a change to the AFA constitution and bylaws (C&B) making the AFA annual budget the only advanced agenda item for the BOD meeting in odd numbered years.  As such, the only advance agenda item for consideration at this year’s BOD is the AFA annual budget.  Each LEC held a Local Council meeting over the past several weeks to discuss the proposed AFA budget and gain your feedback.  You can more information at http://afa-bod.org/index-of-agenda-items.

MEC Meeting

In conjunction with the BOD meeting, the regular June MEC meeting is being held on Friday, June 23.

Questions?

If you have any questions or thoughts about the BOD meeting or proposed AFA annual budget, please contact your LEC President.

 

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee and LEC Presidents-Elect Terry Taylor and Mario de’Medici

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) concluded negotiations training followed by two days of discussions with management’s team this week. Representing management were Vice President of Inflight & Call Center Services Andy Schneider, Vice President of Labor Relations Greg Mays and Managing Director of Labor Relations Elizabeth Ryan. This week’s meetings focused solely on issues that must be addressed in order to integrate the two Flight Attendant groups. Improvements to the Alaska Contract will be addressed downline.

This first session focused on working with management to create an initial list of items that both sides agree will require further discussion in the months ahead. Representatives from the Human Resources department joined the meeting, bringing their expertise to the discussion. Some issues are complex and will require negotiations, such as integrating both groups into the 401(k) and medical plans, translating points for the Attendance Policy and working through the differences in vacation programs. This is not an exhaustive list by any means.

The JNC will hold an additional preparatory meeting in July just for the committee. Meeting dates with management have been scheduled through the end of the year, with meetings at least once per month starting in August.

We will update you further after the next meeting, August 8-10.

In Solidarity,

Your JNC – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Jamie Cogen, Lindsey Steele and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

In accordance with the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, your new Local Council will soon nominate and elect Flight Attendants as your AFA Leaders.  The two (2) positions being elected for Council 35 (Virgin America–JFK/LAX/SFO) are Local Council President and Local Council Secretary.  The current Local Council Officers who were appointed when the Local Council was created will transition responsibilities to the Flight Attendants who are elected to these two positons.

The Council 35 Election page can be found at http://afacwa-elections.org/councils/ala-council-35-sfo-lax-jfk/.

Within AFA, Local Council Officer elections are a two-part process.  The first step is to nominate candidates for office from amongst the Flight Attendants at your Local Council and the second step is to elect officers from the nominated candidates.  This communication will focus on the first step, the upcoming nomination process.

Nomination Schedule

Mail Date 06/19/2017 Voting packets are mailed to each Flight Attendant. This contains your personal 16-digit activation code.
Polls Open 06/22/2017
12:00 PM EDT		 The polls are open and voting begins.
Polls Close 07/12/2017
12:00 PM EDT		 The polls close and the count takes place.

Electronic Balloting Information

Both the nomination process and election ballots are conducted through Votenet Solutions, a third-party vendor. The direct web address is https://eballotuv.votenet.com/afa/.  The AFA Election site at http://www.afacwa-elections.org/ will address additional questions and provide information regarding the ballot.

For the nomination ballot, the process is conducted completely online.  You will be nominating your elected leaders from a list of all Flight Attendants in your Local Council.  For the election process where you will be selecting leaders from those nominated, ballots may be cast either online or by telephone.

Voting Instructions for Nomination Ballots

All Council 35 Flight Attendants will receive a voting packet by mail. This packet contains the instructions for casting your ballot along with a 16-digit activation code which allows you to access the ballot. If you have already completed an AFA membership application, you will be able to log into the ballot, select your choices for the two positions and cast your vote.

If you have not completed an AFA membership application, you will not be able to cast your vote right away.  You will need to contact AFA Membership Services in order to complete your application and have your ballot activated.

The 16-Digit Authorization Code

The voting packet includes a 16-digit authorization code. This code allows you to obtain a username and password which is your voting credentials for that ballot only.  This ensures that no one at Votenet or AFA has access to your voting credentials. New activation codes are sent for each and every ballot.

To Activate

  1. Enter the 16-digit code you received on the front page of the Votenet website
  2. The site will generate a username and ask you to create a password.
  3. Write the username and password down

Once a Flight Attendant obtains their username and password they may proceed to vote.

Ballot Help Line

The AFA-CWA Membership Services Department handles all voter questions and issues new activation codes should you misplace yours.  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.

If your call goes to voicemail, please leave a message and someone will call you back.

Count Day

The ballot will end and no additional votes may be cast after the end date and time listed on the Voting Instructions.  The time will always be listed as Eastern time, NOT your local time.  The opening and closing dates of the ballot are set in accordance with the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws.

The counting of the electronic ballots is conducted in accordance with the AFA Constitution & Bylaws by the Ballot Certification Committee.

Each person who has completed a Commitment to Serve and received at least 2 nominations will appear on the election ballot.

Commitment to Serve

Each Flight Attendant who wishes to run for office must complete a Commitment to Serve (http://afacwa-elections.org/commitment-to-serve-form/) in order to be eligible to appear on the election ballot.  If a Flight Attendant receives two nominations and has not completed a Commitment to Serve, AFA Membership Services will contact those people on the count day and allow them to complete the form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who receives the Voting Notice and Instructions (Ballot Packet)?

A: All Flight Attendants in your Local Council will receive the voting packet including Flight Attendants who have not completed a membership application.

Q: If I change my mind after I cast my ballot, can I revote?

A: No, once you cast your ballot your credentials are separated from your vote. This way no one can see how anyone casts a ballot.

Q: Can a person who has not completed a membership application vote?

A: No. They will receive a voting packet but if their membership application is not on file then they will be stopped from casting a ballot.  However, you may contact AFA-CWA Membership Service to complete a membership application and once completed you will be eligible to vote.

Q: Who do Flight Attendants call if they did not receive the Voting Notice with the 16-digit authorization code?

A: The AFA Ballot Help Line at 800-424-2401, press 1 and dial extension 706.  The Ballot Help Line is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern time.

 

The following is a message from your AFA Government Affairs Committee

The Senate is drafting their version of the FAA Reauthorization Bill and we need them to make combating Flight Attendant fatigue a top priority.

Tell Senators to include our 10 hours minimum rest provision along with a Fatigue Risk Management Plan (FRMP) in the base bill.

Call your Senator TODAY at (855) 534-1774 and tell them Flight Attendants need 10 hours minimum rest and not a minute less!

Congressional fatigue studies confirm we need more rest. This is about safety, health and equality – the flight deck has 10 hours minimum rest and so should we!

Call your Senator TODAY at (855) 534-1774! Calling is easy: When you dial the number, you will automatically be connected to one of your Senator’s offices after a brief message. It may take several attempts to reach both your Senators, so keep calling!

Here’s what you can say when you are connected:

“I’m your constituent and a Flight Attendant. Studies show I can become fatigued at work. I’m calling to urge the Commerce Committee to include 10-hour, non-reducible minimum rest for Flight Attendants and a Fatigue Risk Management Plan in the FAA Reauthorization Bill. Thank you.”

For more information on our #Fightfor10 Campaign visit afacwa.org.

 

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee and MEC Government Affairs Committee Chairperson Krystle Berry

Seattle Local Base Meeting

Wednesday~June 21, 2017 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Hampton Inn 

(18850 28TH Ave South-across from Flight Ops Building)

SeaTac, WA

  Agenda

1:00 PM Andy Schneider (VP of Inflight) and Ron Moyer (Manager JCTE) – Q & A
2:00 PM Call Meeting to Order
2:05 PM Budget Review for AFA Board of Directors Meetings
2:30 PM LEC Officer Reports

§ LEC President

§ Introduction of your new Council 19 Local Officers

§ LEC Vice President

§ LEC Secretary-Treasurer
3:00 PM Committee Reports

§ ASHSC

§ Benefits

§ Communications

§ EAP

§ Government Affairs

§ Hotel

§ Inflight Service

§ Reserve

§ Retirement

§ Uniform
3:30 PM Final Call for Late Agenda Items
3:30 PM Unite Here “Fight for 15” Brian Mason
4:00 PM Adjourn

Members in Good Standing are invited to attend the meeting. Parking is free at the hotel and shuttle service is available from the airport via Hampton Inn or MVP Shuttle (to AS Flight Ops building only).

In solidarity,

Laura, Jake, Linda, Adam, and Stephanie

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Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026

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