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January 22, 2016 14:00

PBP is 9.3% of 2015 eligible earnings

Congratulations for another generous Performance Based Pay (PBP) payout! The 2015 PBP for most employees—including flight attendants—is 9.3% of eligible earnings, which is the equivalent of nearly five weeks of pay. More information about PBP can be found on Alaska’s World at https://splash.alaskasworld.com/News/2016/01/21_pbp.asp (login required).

PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings for flight attendants

Flight attendants first received PBP in 2009, which was paid in early 2010 and incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement as part of the 2010 Contract Extension. Flight attendants previously participated in the Variable Pay Plan (VPP), which had a maximum payout of 7.0% of eligible earnings. PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings over the past seven years that flight attendants have been receiving PBP.

PBP is very competitive when compared to profit sharing plans at other carriers

If you have heard that profit sharing at another carrier is better than our PBP, know this: Profit sharing for line employees at most other carriers has been lucrative only in the last few years. When you consider that PBP has paid out an average of 8.8% of eligible earnings in every year we’ve been on the plan (since 2009), PBP is very competitive when compared with the best of other profit sharing plans in the industry.

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Thank you for all your hard work—now let’s all pull together to achieve the maximum PBP payout in 2016!

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

January 22, 2016 12:25

AFA and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to extend the provisions of 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] to Philadelphia (PHL) due to Winter Storm Jonas.

Currently covered under 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] for Winter Storm Jonas: JFK, EWR, PHL, BWI, IAD and DCA.

Questions? Contact your Local Executive Council officers or Scheduling Committee members.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Chairperson Jake Jones

January 22, 2016 10:35

AFA and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to extend the provisions of 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] to the greater New York metro area (EWR & JFK). Crew Scheduling is arranging for all crews either currently in rest or scheduled to overnight in EWR or JFK to be turned out of Newark tonight. The provisions of 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] now include BWI, IAD, DCA, JFK and EWR.

If you have any questions, contact your Local Executive Council officers or Scheduling Committee members.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Chairperson Jake Jones

January 21, 2016 17:27

Effective immediately, AFA and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to enact the provisions of Section 8.S. [Natural Disasters…] in order to remove crews laying over in the Washington, DC (DCA and IAD), and Baltimore, MD (BWI), areas due to Winter Storm Jonas 2016.

Crew Scheduling is currently working on contacting and re-routing the affected crews.

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact your LEC president.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Scheduling Chairperson Jake Jones

January 15, 2016 05:00

AFA wants to clear up any confusion regarding the open time trial. CBA §12.F.10. [Trial Period], states that, “Minimum trial period of twelve (12) months from the month of initial implementation (unless canceled earlier pursuant to F.9., above), which will be determined in the Contract Implementation Schedule. The trial period may be extended by mutual agreement.”

AFA and management agreed when all or most programming is updated the trial period will begin. AFA wants the trial period to commence when all contractual open time features are available and programmed.

The purpose of the trial is, “to create a better more equitable trading system that increases Flight Attendants’ flexibility in modifying their schedules and to improve predictability of staffing and limit the impact of sequence drops to OT on reserve coverage.” CBA §12.F.

In order to fulfill the purpose of the trial, the system must be completely programmed allowing the Flight Attendants and management to utilize it under real conditions. “If the trial creates a liability that cannot be supported, either the Association or the Company may decide to end the Open Time Trial prior to twelve months provided the parties have attempted to modify the Threshold Sequence Number pursuant to §12.F.8.” CBA §12.F.9.

During the trial period, AFA will survey Flight Attendants regarding their satisfaction with Open Time trading on a monthly basis per §12.F.8.d.5. The Master Executive Council (MEC) will continuously review all available information—including the survey—in order to determine if the Open Time trial is working for the Association. The voting members of the MEC (the LEC president of each base) will decide on behalf of the Association whether or not to end the Open Time trial pursuant to §12.F.9.

eMaestro is currently being reprogrammed with the correct contractual applications for the Open Time trial. Once the new code has been properly tested and approved, it will go live. Based on the latest estimates, we are anticipating the Open Time trial to officially begin in the next month or so.

If you have comments, concerns or suggestions please contact your LEC president.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

January 12, 2016 17:00

AFA would like to bring to your attention management’s use of Alaska Listens passenger comments. Inflight management has deemed negative comments “red flags” and has a procedure to address them.

When a red flag comes to management’s attention an Inflight manager will determine its seriousness. If the red flag is deemed to be somewhat benign or general then a base supervisor will email the Flight Attendant and copy in the other base supervisors. The Flight Attendant can contact any supervisor and have the email/Alaska Listens comment read to them over the phone or read it in person. Depending on the number of red flags for the specific Flight Attendant, the supervisor will either shred the document after the conversation or let the Flight Attendant know that s/he will now have a record of discussion (ROD) in her or his file.

A ROD is not considered discipline, but it can lead to discipline if the Flight Attendant acquires more red flags. Management decided that if a Flight Attendant receives three benign/general comments in a six-month period then that Flight Attendant would be referred to their performance supervisor.

If an Alaska Listens comment is deemed serious then the Flight Attendant will likely be referred directly to her or his performance supervisor. Depending on the severity of the allegation, the Flight Attendant could be given a ROD, an oral or written warning, and in rare cases a suspension or termination.

If a Flight Attendant is contacted to speak with management, s/he should ask if the conversation could lead to discipline. If the answer is “yes” or “maybe” (or any other permutation of that sentiment such as “I don’t know”), s/he should request union representation. In all cases s/he should request a union representative prior to writing any statement.

Questions? Contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) officers [ANC 30 | SEA 19 | PDX 39 | LAX 18 | SAN 15] or grievance reps.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; and MEC Grievance Chairperson Jennifer Wise MacColl and Committee Member Stephanie Adams

January 11, 2016 17:00

December 2015 Junior Assignment

AFA met with Inflight management last week to debrief Junior Assignment over the holidays. AFA focused on the new contractual language and explored why JA went so senior in several bases. It was a very productive meeting, and both parties were left with homework to do with regard to the JA lists. We will have a more complete report out for you once the parties compare notes this week. Be assured AFA is working diligently to ensure contractual compliance and, if appropriate, to achieve the much-improved compensation for JA out of order pursuant to Section 9.D.1.e.

Printed Contract

The “formatted” proofs came back from the printer but were unacceptable. The printer took the 8.5” x 11” document and simply shrank it down to fit into a 5.5” x 8.5” format. This reduced the font to an unreadable size.

We are now in the process of reformatting the document “in house” and expect the document to be sent to the printer next week. The printer will produce another proof and send it back to AFA and management for approval. If all looks good, then it will go to press.

You will also be receiving a durable hardcover for the contract similar to our Flight Attendant Manual but with a thinner spine. The Company is covering the cost of printing and will be distributing the contract per CBA §27.A. [Distribution of the Agreement]. The Company is picking up the cost of producing and distributing the hardcovers as well.

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In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

January 5, 2016 00:34

Click the link below to view the minutes from the December 17th Quarterly Reserve Meeting with Scheduling Management.

December 17 2015 – Reserve MTG Minutes

January 4, 2016 15:36

A message from your AFA Alaska EAP Committee

Wings of Sobriety telephonic meetings for Flight Attendants in recovery or wishing to explore their substance use concerns are scheduled for:

Wednesdays at 3 PM EST
Saturdays at 9 AM EST

Each meeting will last up to one (1) hour. The conference call in number is 1-855-544-2320. For International dialing Instructions, please hit the link below or visit our website at http://www.fadap.org/wingsofsobriety.

Flight Attendant Recovery Story

A former Flight Attendant shares her personal journey into recovery. Click here to read the story.

December 28, 2015 05:00

A message from your AFA Alaska Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

The New Year is not just a ritual. It is the celebration of new hopes and dreams. It is an opportunity to start with a clean slate. Typically, New Year resolutions tend to focus on weight, general health and finances. But, what might the new year offer us if we used it as an opportunity to commit to improvements in our emotional and mental well-being. Below are seven positive mental health resolutions that you can borrow for your new year.

“I will treat myself with respect and speak nicely about myself.” Try taping a list of positive characteristics about yourself in various places throughout the house to remind you of these affirmations.
“I will be physically active on a daily basis.” Multiple studies show a link between exercise and improved mental health.
“I will act and not react.” Many times we feel like everyone is “pushing our buttons”. When this happens, we are caught up in a reaction cycle. If you know you’ll be around someone who says negative things, plan for this and have a list in your head of disarming statements. You might even consider modifying your plans to limit exposure to negative people.
“I will learn to relax and enjoy.” Many times we become so busy we forget how or even when to take care of ourselves. Find or “re-discover” an activity that is relaxing and enjoyable to you. Dedicate time to this daily or at a minimum, weekly.
“I will be mindful.” Being mindful is about staying in the moment. We cannot change yesterday and we cannot predict tomorrow. We do, however, have control over our attentiveness in the here and now. So, commit to being aware in the moment, and enjoy that moment.
“I will work towards being the person I want to be.” When we see life as a journey and a time to continue to be the person we desire to be, we find hope and fulfillment in our tomorrows.
“I will resolve to be mentally healthy”. There is still a stigma about seeing a mental health professional. However, it is truly one of the healthiest things we can do for ourselves. A therapist gives us an unbiased ear and can also help us to understand why we do the things we do … think of seeing a therapist as a mental health oil change. If you need assistance finding a referral, give your AFA EAP a call. Your local AFA EAP committee members are listed at www.afacwa.org/eap. We are just a phone call away.

These suggestions have been adapted from an email written by Chip Coffey, the Director of Outpatient Services at St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center.

PBP is 9.3% of 2015 eligible earnings

PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings for flight attendants

PBP is very competitive when compared to profit sharing plans at other carriers

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December 2015 Junior Assignment

Printed Contract

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Flight Attendant Recovery Story

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2026

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 15 – June 2026

Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – May 2026

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – May 2026

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PBP is 9.3% of 2015 eligible earnings

PBP has averaged 8.8% of eligible earnings for flight attendants

PBP is very competitive when compared to profit sharing plans at other carriers

* * *

December 2015 Junior Assignment

Printed Contract

* * *

Flight Attendant Recovery Story

Recent Posts

Local Councils

Master Executive Council

Contract

Committees

News By Month

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Want To Stay In The Loop?

Connect With AFA