Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian
Upcoming February Maternity Roundtable
Your Council 19 Maternity Chairs, Beth Hogger and Danni K Peterson, are proud to offer another Maternity Roundtable in February!
Mark you calendars for:
February 11, 2015
Time: 12:30pm-3:30pm
Where: Flight Ops Building Room 230C
What goes into effect today?
Any flight(s) touching January 1 are now paid at 2x the trip rate. Deadhead and surface deadhead are also included, as well as Airport Standby credit. [Section 21.H. Holiday Pay]
Flight Attendants who have completed sixteen (16) years of service as an Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant are paid Longevity Premium on all Worked TFP (all TFP exclusive of Sick Leave and Vacation pay). [Section 21.C. Longevity Premium]
Longevity Premium replaces the Profitability Bonus (aka the “COLA”) starting in 2015. Flight Attendants eligible for the COLA in 2014 will receive their payout as scheduled on April 20, 2015. [2010 CBA Section 21.P.]
Performance Based Pay (PBP) remains unaffected. [Section 29.A. Performance Based Pay]
Flight Attendants may start bidding for out of domicile Recurrent Training in January for the March bid month. Out of domicile preferences are processed in seniority order after in domicile Flight Attendant preferences. [Section 30.A.1.b.-c. Recurrent Training and Other Company-Required (Non-Computer Based) Training]
Contract 2014 Section 32 Attendance Policy goes into effect except bank points. Bank points are still accrued pursuant to the old contract [CBA 2010 Section 32.G.3.] through the first quarter (January, February and March) of 2015. [Section 32 all except 32.G.3.]
A Flight Attendant will receive a Quarterly Productivity Premium (QPP) if Worked TFP (exclusive of sick leave and vacation) during a calendar quarter exceeds the TFP equivalent of the Flight Attendant’s combined monthly PBS bid award in that calendar quarter. The QPP will be paid on May 5th from Q1 ($500), August 5th from Q2 ($500), November 5th from Q3 ($1000) and February 5th the following year from Q4 ($500). Taxes will be withheld at the Flight Attendant’s personal tax rate, the same as regular wages. [Section 21.R. Quarterly Productivity Premium]
All accruals tied to achieving 480 TFP in a calendar year (or 960 TFP for Longevity Paid Time Off) are now administered under the new contract.*
Section 13 Uniforms for uniform credits – Worked TFP + sick leave + vacation/PTO (no change from previous contract) = 480 TFP
Section 14 Vacation for vacation accrual – Worked TFP only = 480 TFP
Section 14 Vacation for seven (7) days Longevity Paid Time Off (Longevity PTO) – Worked TFP + vacation/PTO = 960 TFP (for Flight Attendants who have completed twenty-five (25) years of service as an Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant)
Section 23 Insurance Benefits – Worked TFP + sick leave + maximum vacation/PTO (based on years of service, no pay or flying requirement) = 480 TFP [Section 27.B Eligibility for Insurance]
Section 32 Attendance Policy for annual record improvement – Worked TFP + vacation/PTO = 480 TFP [Section 32.G.4. Record Improvement]
* All of these applications have favorable accommodations when on an unpaid leave or on a medical-related leave and coordinating sick leave in order to maintain benefits. See the individual provisions for the details.
Questions? Check out the Contract 2014 Implementation Schedule or email the Negotiating Committee at negotiations@afaalaska.org.
In solidarity,
Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo
The Contract Implementation Schedule has been updated to reflect the latest clarifications as well as to capture some of the items missed in the TA2 print version. Please use this version going forward.
The Negotiating Committee will be meeting next week with management to begin the preparations for publication of the finalized document.
In solidarity,
Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo
As part of a strategy to improve critical staffing, AFA and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to remove the limitation on the number of out of domicile pick-ups allowed for each Flight Attendant on all sequences that report in the remainder of the December 2014 bid month. The waiver also extends to all Voluntary Junior Available (VJA) and Premium VJA sequences. Because eMaestro will not process more than two out of domicile pick-ups in a bid month, such trades will need to be handled manually by Crew Scheduling.
The relevant contract language that is temporarily negated is 12.H. of the 2006/2010 Contract: “Flight Attendants are limited to two (2) out-of-domicile pick-ups in a bid month.” The relevant language temporarily negated in the 2014 Contract is also 12.H.: “Flight Attendants are limited to a combined total of two (2) out-of-domicile pick-ups (including charters) in a bid month.”
This temporary agreement is effective at midnight Pacific Time on Sunday, December 21, 2014, and will remain in force through the end of the December 2014 bid month.
In solidarity,
Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt
Premium Open Time is scheduled to go into effect along with the other changes to Junior Available (JA) on January 31, 2015. In the interim, AFA has agreed to implement “Premium Voluntary Junior Available” (“Premium VJA”). Flight Attendants will be compensated a minimum of twice the trip rate (2x) on all eligible TFP (e.g. flights flown, etc.) in a VJA sequence departing on a Premium VJA day. This is a win-win for all parties in that Flight Attendants who volunteer to assist with critical staffing will receive additional compensation and the operation benefits from the improved coverage.
AFA anticipates that management will likely utilize Premium VJA on at least some of the coming days. Premium VJA may be offered on one day, not the next and then once again on the following day. VJA will be processed and awarded using normal procedures, so there is nothing for you to do differently. Management or Crew Scheduling will notify Flight Attendants of Premium VJA via Inflight bulletins, messages on the Inflight splash page, et cetera.
The increased premium should be paid automatically but just in case AFA recommends you also submit an Activity Claim Form once you fly the sequence. This is really just a backup to ensure proper payment. A Flight Attendant who works a regular VJA sequence on a premium holiday such as Christmas will receive two and a half times (2.5x) the trip rate on eligible TFP that day. A Flight Attendant who works a Premium VJA sequence on a premium holiday such as Christmas will receive a minimum of three times (3x) the trip rate on eligible TFP that day.
Further details are in the Premium VJA Memorandum of Understanding.
In solidarity,
Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt
Junior Available (JA) and Voluntary Junior Available (VJA) are covered under the provisions of the former contract through January 2015. The only exceptions are the increased premiums—at 2.5x pay for JA—and the ability to trade or jet bridge trade a JA to another Flight Attendant. The premium follows the trade and JA trades must be processed manually until automated.
Sick Leave Make Up is now up and running. Sick Leave Make Up (SLMU) reserve days have already been placed into OT in at least one domicile (Seattle) and should be expanded soon. The SLMU reserve days are listed in Open Time coded as “AU” for AM and “PU” for PM. They are listed as individual one-day blocks that may be picked up on consecutive days and merged into a single mutl-day block. Keep in mind that Sick Leave Make Up reserve days are just like being on regular reserve days—and the new options for the Low Time First Assigned LTFA) lists are not yet in effect.
Most provisions of the new Section 32 Attendance Policy are effective on January 1, 2015.
[Note: The original post incorrectly reported that “Most provisions of the new Section 32 Attendance Policy are now in effect.” AFA regrets the error.]
Quarterly and annual record improvement as well as bank points adjustments will be based on the former agreement through the end of 2014.
All 480 TFP thresholds in 2014 for the purposes of benefits qualifications in 2015 will be calculated under the provisions of the former agreement. That is, achieving a “soft” 480 TFP credit in 2014 inclusive of sick leave and vacation pay will satisfy eligibility for all benefits (e.g. uniform allotment, vacation accrual and Company-subsidized healthcare). Those benefits may be reduced based on other existing provisions in the former contract—such as the 1/12 reduction to vacation entitlement for each month in which the Flight Attendant is not on the active payroll.
That’s all for this latest update—stand by for more in the coming days and weeks.
In solidarity,
Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo
Dear Seattle Flight Attendants,
Yesterday was an emotional day for our work group and your LEC Officers appreciate the fact that this emotion may take some time to subside. Today we can reflect on our votes, either yes or no, but we must realize the importance of moving forward. Today, the work of understanding the changes and how the apply to you begins.
Seattle Flight Attendants came out with a 90.8% turnout and illustrates your dedication to the process. You are a highly educated and smart group of individuals and we need your help communicating the changes in a factual way. The MEC will also need your understanding and patience over the next few weeks as we work through some of changes. We understand that you will have questions, management has questions, and we will do our best to respond as quickly as we can.
In the mean time it is going to be important that you stay informed and read your new collecting bargaining agreement! There are still copies available in the in flight office.
You will find the implementation schedule in the back of the agreement: Letter of Agreement #6.
You can also review the following release from the MEC that highlights the changes that are in effect:
Common questions
Crew Snacks: Effective today crew snacks will no longer be boarded on your flight. We realize that many of you did not have sufficient notification to pack accordingly, but know that you have the ability to purchase items at 50% off the price on the airplane. The new crew rates should be loaded into the POS devices.
Jet Way Trading: This is a manual process and you will have to call scheduling to process the trade
Sit time: Pay begins today and will be paid by filing an activity claim form. All other minimum pay rules begin no later than May 1, 2015.
Junior Assignment: Only 2 provisions begin today- the 2.5 pay for the assignment and the ability to trade the JA assignment.
Management Can Fly to Prevent Cancellation
Beginning next week
Sick Leave Make Up
Remember that sick leave make up replenishes tfp to your sick bank. If you called in sick for a 2-day trip worth 10.0 you can pick up 2 Reserve sick leave make up days to replenish this amount. You will be paid sick leave from your bank, but then will be able to replenish that tfp. If the 2-day reserve block provides you with a trip value that exceeds 10.0 that overage amount is paid directly to you. This overage amount will count towards your 480 thresholds.
Changes Beginning January 2015
The new 480 thresholds begin on January 1, 2015. No changes right now to the current accruals.
Medical/Maternity Leaves with Short Term Disability coordination can be 9.0 or 9.3, or between 70 and 120 TFP.
Beginning no later than May 1, 2015
Minimum Pay Rules, 4k Pairings and 15 minute debrief.
We know that there are many more questions that may arise and we hope that you come to your LEC Officers for the answers. Emailing is the best option because we are able to paste contract language into our responses. Our emails are listed below.
On behalf of your entire Seattle LEC Officer staff and all the Committee members we wish you a very Happy Holiday/Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
| Local | Voted Count | Voted % | Particpated | Eligible Voters | Base Participation % | |
| 19 SEA | FOR | 885 | 55.56 | 1593 | 1756 | 90.71 |
| AGAINST | 708 | 44.44 | ||||
| 30 ANC | FOR | 160 | 64.52 | 248 | 287 | 86.41 |
| AGAINST | 88 | 35.48 | ||||
| 39 PDX | FOR | 214 | 55.73 | 385 | 418 | 92.1 |
| AGAINST | 167 | 43.49 | ||||
| 15 SAN | FOR | 141 | 66.51 | 213 | 233 | 91.41 |
| AGAINST | 70 | 33.02 | ||||
| 18 LAX | FOR | 168 | 42.11 | 399 | 430 | 92.79 |
| AGAINST | 231 | 57.89 | ||||
| 2832 | 2838 | 3124 |
Now that TA2 has been ratified as our new Collective Bargaining Agreement, what do you need to know or to expect over the next two weeks?
More information will be forthcoming as we get deeper into the implementation process. In the meantime, you may refer to the Implementation LOA at the back of the TA2 document.
In solidarity,
Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo
For Immediate Release Contact:
December 17, 2014 Molly Sheerer 202-550-5520
Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract
Washington, D.C. (December 17, 2014) – Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, voted to accept a tentative contract agreement on Wednesday that offers significant improvements for the 3,400 Flight Attendants at Alaska. Assistance was provided through mediation by the National Mediation Board.
“Today, Alaska Flight Attendants made a collective decision that will carry us through the next five years,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA president at Alaska Airlines. “We are dedicated to advancing the Flight Attendant career for ourselves and future Flight Attendants to come.”
The new five-year agreement includes some of the top pay in the industry, built-in protections for reining in health care costs, improved job protections and work rules.
# # #
The Association of Flight Attendants is the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for 67 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Nearly 60,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.
