LAX Roadshow Q&A Morning Session 12/2/14

Scope 3 – Scope

Q: Do managers pay union dues?

A: No, not an AFA member, don’t receive the benefits of your contract. If they are disciplined we don’t represent them. There is no additional pay associated with them flying as an extra.

Q: Curious why management flying brought up?

A: These provisions were in TA1 with a manager replacing a Flight Attendant. Heard the provision was divisive. Insisted in manager was on plane they would be an extra to help. They are there to help, not observe. They will need to work the flight. It was brought up because this is one of their top positions. Brad gave the directive to management negotiating team to get this in the TA as other labor groups on the property have the provision.

Q: Say long term this passes, say in future we plan to strike can they take over those flights?

A: If we are in a period of self-help, they can absolutely take over your jobs, scope provisions and contract is not in force when FAs are on strike. They did that in 94’ and could do it again. The provisions in Scope don’t have impact once in self-help, as there is no contract.

Q: So did we have 1% before of managers trained before?

A: Yes, now 2%. Reason the 1% was in place was to limit the number of supervisors they could train. Makes it more difficult.

Q: What was negotiated in return for management flying?

A: Not always a tit for tat, wasn’t an even trade. Was a package deal.

Q: What was in the bundle?

A: 4k, 15 min debrief, management flying, step rates, length of scale, longevity, single sick leave bank, insurance, all remaining open items. At the end of the negotiating process you are not dealing with individual items it is being negotiated as a package.

Q: Out of the 66 managers who can fly, how many are even trained FAA certified?

A: There is around 42 FAA certified supervisors.

Q: Do the managers have to wear a uniform?

A: No.

Q: What happens if the AAG purchases Airbus, could they crew it with who they want?

A: If it wasn’t operated by Alaska Airlines, yes.

Q: Is there any way to have a protection for SkyWest?

A: Huge concern. Addressed a seat protection at the bargaining table. Our pilots did not achieve this scope. Alaska management’s business model is to use CPA flying to grow their markets and overall market share. The revenue driver with AS is with mainline.

Q: Is there a merger protection?

A: Yes, there are good merger protections in the agreement.

Section 8 – Hours of Service

Q: So really it doesn’t benefit us to give it up?

A: Contact for pre-boarding, JA and reassignments. New pairings you would be legal to fly due to 15 minute debrief. Some of the trips over midnight, that are spanning over 3 days now are 2 day trips. In ANC our 2 day KOA we are illegal to bid those back to back by 5 minutes, will change bidding.

Q: Is there a window to call CS for adjusting debrief?

A: Contractually there is no time requirement.

Q: Why wasn’t the 15 minutes on the front end?

A: There wouldn’t be the productivity gain.

Section 9 – Junior Availability and Premium Open Time

Q: Am I protected from JA if someone picks up my trip and I don’t replace the flying on those days?

A: Yes.

Q: If I post a trip in one ways can they just pick it up?

A: Yes, but they will read the comments.

Q: If I am JA’d and post the trip, how will others know the trip is a JA at 2.5x?

A: Yes, it will be coded.

Q: What is the timeline to be implement the new JA process administered by CS?

A: February 2015.

Q: Does the pay of 2.5X take effect immediately and following of the trip?

A: Yes

Section 10 – Scheduling

Q: What are the current 4K destinations?

A: Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAD) and PDX to PVR.

Q: Do you have copies of the 4k maps and sequences?

A: Yes, we have laminated copies or copies online on the negotiations blog.

Q: What has been the longest duty day on a 4k?

A: Longest 4k is PDX to PVR, 11 hours and 40 minutes.

Q: If you are erroneously assigned will bid protest protect you?

A: Yes

Q: Does this apply to Charters?

A: Charters are a separate provision. They have their own over duty protections.

Q: Does the 14-hour rule apply to 4k sequences?

A: Yes. You would be able to opt out. All of those over duty protections in Section 8 apply to 4k sequences.

Q: If another base opens how would that affect the flying?

A: The 4k flying provisions would be allowed pursuant to the contract.

Q: How was the 4k brought up at the table?

A: Company proposed as part of package deal to address their productivity concerns.

Q: When would double out rest for a 4k sequence apply?

A: End of sequence at return to domicile, same application as today.

Section 11 – Reserve

No questions

Section 12 – Exchange of Sequences

Q: How can I access this OT video online?

A: Visit us online at www.afaalaska.org. Click on negotiations, click on TA2 videos. They range from 2 – 7 minutes each. PowerPoint slides and provisions on the entire TA.

Q: Who’s idea was the limitation of the 40 TFP?

A: When we gained ability to drop trips into OT and Company wanted to cap at 20 TFP, we came to agreement on a 40 TFP limitation. This limitation was proposed by the Company.

Q: Is there a minimum flying requirement to hold onto 40 TFP?

A: No. There is no minimum flying requirements. You can give away a net 40 TFP to OT. If you had vacation in a month and only 30 TFP on your line of flying you could dump all 30 TFP into OT without taking any TFP out of OT.

Section 14 – Vacation

No Questions

Section 16 – Sick Leave and On the job Injury

Q: If you pick up make up days and don’t fly do you still get the credit?

A: Yes, 5 TFP a day for each reserve make up day not flown.

Q: When am I eligible to make up sick leave?

A: Any time you call out sick and have received paid sick leave. You are restoring your sick leave bank.

Section 21 – Compensation

Q: Any possibility to offer signing bonus as earned income?

A: No. It is illegal.

Q: Is the QPP paid as earned income?

A: Yes

Q: Were there many FAs who are receiving assistance and what are their seniorities?

A: There were hundreds of FAs receiving assistance or who maintain another job and a majority of them were under 12 years and under in seniority.

Q: Is the QPP based on the line average?

A: No, the QPP is based on your personal line award from PBS.

Q: Jan – Mar if I meet my QPP when do I receive the payout?

A: April 20^th, it is paid as earned income and qualifies for matching your 401k.

Q: Why is vacation not included in QPP?

A: Management wants to reward those who fly their schedules and didn’t want soft time included. Better to take something we don’t have today and offer an incentive. When management offered, they didn’t intend for all FAs to achieve this provision.   Initially management did not want to include Reserves in this program, however the NC negotiated provisions for all Flight Attendants to have ability to qualify.

Q: Why wasn’t QPP put into the wages?

A: Only want to give it to people who fly. Want that money to be incentive to those working. Don’t want to pay it on scale. NC asked to have put into wages and management declined.

Section 22 – Expenses

Q: Why are we not being paid at check in?

A: You are paid a credit during boarding as TFP is front loaded. You are given a credit when plane is not flying for each leg. First 243 miles is 1 TFP, each additional TFP is 400 miles. See Section 21.E. TFP Calculation in TA2.

Section 23 – Insurance

Q: Do different groups have a separate overall cost benefit?

A: No, the overall cost of the benefit is the same for each employee because Alaska Airlines is self-insured. The cost sharing and actual employee rates are negotiated and set separately by their group.

Q: Do we have contractual benefit to insurance?

A: Yes.

Section 27 – General Association

No questions

Section 32 – Attendance Policy

Q: Why did the 14 days to 10 days switch for a continuous occurrence?

A: There is no requirement to wait 14 days for a medical leave. If you have a qualifying medical condition see a physician and obtain proper documentation to take your medical leave.

Random Q and A:

Q: Is it true all contracts have implementation schedules?

A: Yes.

Q: Does the 1.333 TFP credit towards your 480 requirements still exist for unpaid leaves?

A: Yes, Section 15.N..

Q: Who called off the picketing in November?

A: The negotiating committee. Honestly did not anticipate Flight Attendants would be upset. It was with the best on intent. I, JTP, take responsibility for cancelling the picketing without consulting the MEC. It was mostly around getting the information out to allow Flight Attendants to change their bids.

Q: I am interested in your take on why the LEC Ps had a difference of opinion?

A: Always challenging when different opinions. We have very tense conversations and debate and that is ok. It is challenging as a negotiating committee to present when there are different opinions. The LEC Presidents are in charge of making decisions on behalf of their bases. There were many considerations.

Q: Have there been split votes in the past?

A: I have been here since 1999, I am not aware.

Q: Why are side letters signed outside of the TA?

A: As MEC President I am empowered to sign a side letter with agreement of the MEC. Only time we have put out side letters without ratification is when for example is live LTFA. This MEC is very reluctant to side letter without having membership ratification unless it made sense.

Q: Can the Company just change the language if they choose?

A: No. There must be agreement to change language. There is no open door or loop hole.

Q: Did the survey have our top priority as duty day?

A: It was near the top of the list. We understand there are concerns regarding the 4k flying and wanted to put that out for your consideration.

Q: Why do you think the mediator is turning on us?

A: It is not the mediator, it is the system.

Q: Why no buyout?

A: Cost of Flight Attendant and Company not interested in buy outs.

Q: Why didn’t we get more vacation?

A: We have highest vacation credit for a carrier with PBS. We were number 1.

Q: Why didn’t we get higher day value?

A: We were not successful in coming to agreement because management was not willing to agree to an increase in the provision.

Q: In your opinion what is better, block hours or TFP?

A: In my opinion TFP, paid point A to point B. However, makes things difficult to compare.

SAN Roadshow Q&A Afternoon Session

Section 3 – Scope

Q: Why did we not hold onto the provision of requiring management to ask AFA for approval?

A: This was an objective of management’s bargaining unit. Additionally, the NC had objectives as well and overall we had address the top priorities of both parties in reaching an agreement for your consideration. This specific proposal was a requirement bundled with the pay rates.

Q: Other airlines have seat protection flying for mainline, were we able to achieve a scope protection with seat limitations on aircraft?

A: No, there is no scope protection based on seat limitations.

Section 8 – Hours of Service

No questions

Section 9 – Junior Availability and Premium Open Time

Q: When will you have ability to place JA trip into OT, is that part of implementation?

A: This is right away.

Q: Does premium OT go into effect immediately?

A: Yes, the ability to pick up Premium OT will happen immediately.

Q: Can you trade a JA as a Jet Bridge trade?

A: Yes.

Section 10 – Scheduling

Q: What is the requirement for the rotation? Build one DTW turn? Put all 10% in one base?

A: There has to be quality of rotation. This was discussed at the table. The distribution flows more naturally to rotate amongst the domiciles.

Section 11 – Reserve

Q: If I have a 4k preference in LTFA will they skip to meet my preference in a trip becomes available?

A: Yes, Crew Scheduling may skip to meet a 4k preference.

Q: If I am a lineholder and pick up two reserve days may I be converted to ER?

A: Yes

Section 12 – Exchange of Sequences

Q: If I pick up a trip from another FA and dump that trip into OT, does that count towards my 40 TFP net?

A: Yes

Q: If I am dumping a trip into OT, do all the days have to be open?

A: No, only the day of departure must be open to drop the trip.

Q: Can Crew Scheduling pull trips from the Bulletin Board?

A: Yes, they may pull trips. See Section 12.D.

Section 14 – Vacation

No questions

Section 16 – Sick Leave and On the Job Injury

Q: Does it have to be a continuous block for sick leave makeup?

A: No. If you called in sick 4 days and sat 2, 2 day blocks that would be accepted.

Q: Is there point mitigation for sick leave make up?

A: No. This program is strictly for restoration of sick leave. Points will not be adjusted for sick leave make up.

Section 21 – Compensation

Q: If I was awarded 78 TFP, 28 TFP of which is vacation, do I need to work an additional 28 TFP over the quarter to meet the requirement of the QPP?

A: Yes

Q: Why does the QPP not look at the base line average?

A: The NC went back and forth on the applications, but ultimately you are setting the bar by your personal bid award. FAs who receive a bid award less than the average would have been harmed. If you need assistance with bidding, there is the option of bid groups and members of the PBS Committee are able to assist you in adjusting your bidding habits.

Q: If I was out for 3 years and didn’t move up the pay scale will I be made whole?

A: Yes, your pay scale will be reflective of your years of service as an Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant.

Section 22 – Expenses

Q: The 50% off of purchasing food during a duty period, why didn’t we negotiate those items at cost?

A: The discount is roughly equal to the cost of the items.   The NC reviewed the cost and revenue of these items.

Section 23 – Insurance

No questions

Section 27 – General Association

No questions

Section 32 – Attendance Policy

Q: If you take a medical leave how long am I covered?

A: Up to 4 years I am covered for a personal medical leave.

Q: Is medical leave or workers’ compensation run concurrent with my 12 weeks of FMLA?

A: Yes, leaves are run concurrent. However, taking a personal medical leave is a protection provided to our Flight Attendants.

Q: Is FMLA calendar year or rolling 12 months?

A: Rolling 12 months.

Q: Do bank points once accrued fall off?

A: No, bank points remain available to you and don’t have an expiration date.

Random Q & A:

Q: Is reserve self-assignment something they can do manually until implementation?

A: No.

Q: Are there penalties for not meeting the implementation schedule.

A: No, however AFA will file a grievance if the implementation schedule is not met.

Q: Why did you sign off on this agreement?

A: When we were negotiating in Chicago, mediator threatened to pull dates. Controversial provisions were introduced or discussed in last two days of negotiations. Our challenge at the time and today is that negotiations under the RLA is different then in the past. They are not releasing carriers at this time. All carriers are in load factors of 80% or better. There is no other carrier that can replace Alaska Airlines in our markets. We would not be released by NMB because of our route structure and effect on commerce per their guidelines.

Q: How close would we be to the American Airlines FAs in voting down a TA and going to binding arbitration?

A: Not close at all, they had a provision to go to Binding Arbitration. We won’t be going to arbitration.

Q: Could we go back to the table without the mediator?

A: Yes, if both AFA and Company agreed. But AFA does not believe management will agree to meeting without NMB.

Q: Is there growth in other domiciles?

A: Main focus is Seattle. They are not afraid to enter into other markets if profitable. Conservative.

In TA2 please read over Section 14.A.4. and Section 15.M. and 15.N.  These provisions discuss what occurs with leaves with or without coordination and the sections affected by those provisions.

SAN Road Show Q & A

Section 3 – Scope

Q: With managers coming on board the aircraft do they have to pay union dues?

A: No, they don’t pay dues, they don’t get the benefits of your contract. They are not union members. Don’t receive all the protections. They are flying as an extra.

Q: Will they be required to wear our uniforms?

A:   No requirement to wear uniform.

Q: Are managers in charge on the flight?

A: No, managers/supervisors will be the individuals with lowest seniority and directed by the “A” FA.

Q: Why don’t we have enough numbers, we are running very lean? Why is that burden on the Flight Attendant group?

A: Management has the right to run operation as lean as they want. We were unable to achieve any restrictions or provisions regarding restrictions how the company manages their operations. This will afford management the ability to cover flights without having to ask AFA when due to a cancellation. We did attempt to negotiate something different and didn’t achieve it.

Q: What was the discussion around management flying at the table?

A: During the discussions at the table AFA was adamant that managers/supervisors were not going to be part of the minimum crew. Executive management were not willing to have a TA without allowing them to compliment our crew as an extra.

Q: Why is Andy in a video discussing management flying?

A: We asked Andy to participate in the video regarding management flying. Since this was an integral part of their bargaining objectives we required that they have a video discussing their intent. We didn’t edit or add content to their video, it was all done at their discretion.

Section 8 – Hours of Service

Q: I just worked a trip and had 100 people on 800, it took 28 minutes to deplane, what do I do to get paid the difference?

A: Contact Crew Scheduling to have your debrief adjusted. If one crew member contacts CS to make the adjustment, the adjustment is made for all crew members with debrief.

Q: How is block in determined?

A: Parking break set and L1 door open.

Section 9 – Junior Availability and Premium Open Time

Q: How far out can they JA you?

A: No earlier than the calendar day prior. See Section 9.D.2.a.

Q: Does this allow scheduling to hold onto trips?

A: No. Today they do hold trips and there is no penalty.

Q: Is there a penalty for JA out of order?

A: Yes, Two and one-half times (2.5X) the trip rate plus additional one-half times (0.5X) the trip rate for the error for the Flight Attendant who actually flies the JA. The Flight Attendant who should have been JA’d to the sequence will be pay protected at two and one-half times (2.5X) the trip rate for the sequence. See Section 9.D.1.e..

Q: Is there a penalty for Crew Scheduling holding a trip?

A: Yes, if CS withholds a trip and you find the trip then subsequently fly the trip you will be paid an additional 1 TFP. See Section 12.E.1.d..

Section 10 – Scheduling

Q: Do I have to opt out of 4k sequences during bidding?

A: No, it is an instruction to opt in, in you don’t opt in you are opting out of 4k and can’t be assigned one.

Q: Are you allowed to drop the 4k sequences into OT, if awarded?

A: Yes, just like any other trip.

Section 11 – Reserve

Q: If lineholder picks up single reserve day does it still convert to ER?

A: Yes, just like today.

Q: Where do you see issue for our reserves on implementation?

A: Self-assignment and reserve reposition calendar. The timeline is not changing though.

Q: Why are there no implementation penalties?

A: After TA1 failed, management talked to their third party vendors and realized they wouldn’t be able to deliver immediately the improvements negotiated. There is a delay of around 1 year for implementation that is described in the implementation LOA.

Section 12 – Open Time

Q: Is it just back to book and status quo for OT?

A: We go back to book and start negotiating a new OT system. It is in the best interest of both parties to have an OT system that works.

Section 14 – Vacation

Q; Page 16 of the summary 5^th bullet point, why is it Workers’ Comp is added to 12 month look back?

A: You are not paid in TFP. This is actually an improvement. The bulk of your pay is in dollars and not a TFP amount. Typically there is zero or little TFP credit. You won’t be penalized as we don’t count those months and will look into a full 12 months prior to get full look back which will count all flying. This is a more favorable application if you are on medical leave, maternity or workers’ compensation.

Section 16 – Sick Leave and On the Job Injury

Q: Is scheduling required to give you 1 reserve day for sick leave make up?

A: No, they are not required to give you 1 day. There may be multiple or single days available at their discretion.

Section 21 – Compensation

Q: Reserves that meet the minimum for the QPP can still get it without flying the full 90 TFP?

A: Yes, they are paid their guarantee and must exceed their PBS bid award by .1 tfp. Example is 90, 90, 90 plus .1, totaling 270.1 TFP.

Section 23 – Insurance

Q: Is the increase to my insurance going to be more than my pay increase?

A: No. You must calculate your flying habits, pay and premiums to get an overall picture of how much you individually will receive when comparing compensation and insurance between the two provisions.

Section 27 – General Association

Q: Who is applying for the scheduling chair position and who hires them?

A: It would most likely be a Flight Attendant who lives in the greater Seattle area as Crew Scheduling and Crew Planning are located at Flight Ops. The Scheduling Chair serves at the pleasure of the MEC.

Section 32 – Attendance Policy

Q: Are there points related to FMLA?

A: No

Q: Is there an FMLA lifetime accrual?

A: No, it is rolling 12 months. When you qualify you receive either 12 consecutive weeks or 72 intermittent days.

Q: Does the federal requirement under FMLA include vacation and sick leave?

A: No. The federal requirement does not include vacation and sick leave. It requires 504 “duty hours” over the 12 month period.

Q: If I have questions about FMLA who am I able to contact?

A: If you need assistance please contact your local LEC or the MEC benefits chair. You can find their information on the afa website by visiting www.afaalaska.org.

Random Q&A:

Q: Will my sit time be adjusted to ensure I get the sit time pay under the minimum pay rules?

A: Yes, the sit pay MPR will be paid for scheduled or unscheduled sits in excess of 2 hours.

Q: Is OPR and PBP changing?

A: No, there are no contractual changes to those programs.

Q: How many FAs in 2013 for 2014 benefits didn’t meet the current 480 application?

A: 73 (2% overall)

Q: How many FAs in 2013 for 2014 vacation accrual would not have received the requirement with the changes to TA2?

A: 388 (12% overall)

Q: Will a buyout be offered?

A: No

Q: Worst case scenario if it doesn’t pass?

A: The Company may teach us a lesson, not willing to rush into negotiations. Attempt to pull back provisions. NMB would possibly put us on shelf. May not allocate resources to Alaska until June/July 2015 at the earliest. The NMB has said once we act on whether we ratify or decline the contract, they will react. The timeline to this process being completed in the future is unknown. A two (2) month turn around is definitely not happening.

Q: What time will we know on the Dec 17^th?

A: Polls close on 12 (noon) EST. Will know shortly after voting closes.

Each pdf is specific to each domicile and has range maps, 4K and 15 minute pairing examples separated out.

LAX map with 4k & 15 debrief pairing examples

SEA map with 4k & 15 debrief pairing examples

SAN map with 4k & 15 debrief pairing examples

PDX map with 4k & 15 debrief pairing examples

ANC map with 4k & 15 debrief pairing examples

Q: Why did the Negotiating Committee start at Step 3 in the TA2 “Progressing Through the Pay Steps” video? It seems like this video is more focused on the junior Flight Attendants and their pay raises.

A:  The video is geared towards the lower seniority steps only in the sense that it was specifically designed to explain how to read the chart if one is moving through the pay scale. It is very confusing for some Flight Attendants to understand how their pay increases across the life of the agreement–particularly if they are receiving step increases on their anniversary date as well as the annual downline 1.5% increases to the entire pay scale. 

The Negotiating Committee randomly picked a 3-year Flight Attendant for the example. However, we could have easily chosen any other step rate below Step 10 to start the walk through the scale. Why below Step 10? Because Step 10 or above is or would be topped out during the life of the agreement. 

Reading the chart is a fairly straight forward task for a Flight Attendant who is already topped out. That is because the chart can be more simply read left to right on the same line all the way across at the top of scale rate. A Flight Attendant currently at Step 17 will receive an 18% increase over the life of the agreement based on increases to the step rates alone.

The intent of the video is not to highlight the specific pay rates at any particular step. The video is intended as a general educational piece on how to read the chart in the context of moving through the step rates and in combination with the downline increases. Hopefully that explains why the NC highlighted Step 3 as a starting point for the example in the video.

Q: Why is management guest starring in some of the TA2 videos?

A: The Negotiating Committee knew there would be concerns and questions about the implementation schedule as well as changes to management flying. The NC asked management to film a video explaining the challenges that prevent us from swiftly implementing various provisions requiring automation changes. We also asked management to film a video explaining the management flying provisions and why they are so important to upper management. Both of these provisions were extremely important to management so the NC thought it would be helpful for the Membership to hear directly from management regarding their perspective on implementation and management flying.

Whenever a Tentative Agreement is out for a ratification vote, passionate opinions are inevitably going to be expressed. In general it is a time of high stress for everybody. This is normal and expected.

Unfortunately, it’s getting a little crazy out there. The Master Executive Council (MEC) has been made aware of various messages, texts, emails and social media posts that could be construed as threatening, harassing, intimidating or even just plain mean. We know tensions are high but we just can’t have this happening. The MEC is not intending to be paternalistic, but we feel this is a good opportunity to remind everybody of the AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy and AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines.

AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy and AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines

Please remember that whether TA2 passes or fails, we’re all in this together and there is always the possibility that we’ll have to share the beverage cart someday. The AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy and the AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines are posted at afaalaska.org as resources. Here are a few relevant excerpts:

“The use of language that is libelous, discriminatory, threatening, or harassing is strictly prohibited. If you would not make the statement in person to someone you respect, modify it accordingly.” [AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines]

“AFA-CWA is committed to creating and maintaining a working environment based on dignity and mutual respect.  This should apply to meetings, socializing and all the events around AFA-CWA activities. [Note from the MEC: this also applies to social media outlets.]

What we ask of you:

• To treat everybody, including all AFA-CWA members, leaders and activists, as well as AFA-CWA staff members and meeting guests, with respect and dignity.
• To make absolutely sure your own behavior does not cause offense or misunderstanding and be open to comments from others that you may have caused offense.
• To think before you make personal remarks.
• To accept responsibility for challenging all forms of unacceptable and offensive behavior, and for upholding personal dignity.” [AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy]

Be respectful of the Negotiating Committees

Regardless of your opinions of TA1 or TA2, be respectful of the hard work and countless long hours put in by our Negotiating Committees over the past few years. Although they are partially compensated for their time, this is simply to minimize the impact to their personal finances whenever they are off the line working on your behalf. Please be mindful that at the end of the day these are essentially volunteer positions and be thankful for their service.

As many of our Flight Attendants know, historically we have faced challenging negotiation periods. During those times the strain on all of our Members is significant. Just as we have persevered in the past, we will continue to do so in the future.

In solidarity,

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt