Q: What happens to my per diem and duty hours if deplaning exceeds the 15 minute debrief at domicile?

A: If deplaning exceeds the 15 minute debrief at domicile, a Flight Attendant may call Crew Scheduling to have her or his debrief adjusted to end at the time when the last customer exited the aircraft. Your duty time and per diem will be automatically adjusted and credited accordingly once Crew Scheduling modifies the conclusion of debrief.

Q: If I’m a Reserve, what happens if deplaning exceeds the 15 minute debrief at domicile? Will I receive an “Unavailable for Contact” under the Attendance Policy in Section 32 for not calling Crew Scheduling or checking my email within the debrief time?

A: As long as you check your email or call Crew Scheduling as soon as possible after deplaning ends and prior exiting the secure area, you will not be assessed points under the Attendance Policy. However, remember you should call Crew Scheduling to have your debrief adjusted so you are appropriately credited for your duty time and per diem.

Q: Let’s say I return to domicile at the conclusion of my trip and I receive a message to contact a supervisor or Crew Scheduling. The contact occurs prior to the end of my debrief period but deplaning exceeds the 15 minutes. Am I required to contact them after deplaning?

A: Yes. If the contact is made prior to the end of the debrief period at domicile, then you must return the contact as soon as possible following the conclusion of deplaning. Remember to also have Crew Scheduling adjust your debrief time in order to appropriately credit your duty hours and per diem.

Q: Let’s say I return to domicile at the conclusion of my trip and deplaning exceeds 15 minutes by 3 minutes, so it takes 18 minutes. Deplaning is compete and I am off the plane walking up the jet bridge at 19 minutes after block in. Then a supervisor comes running down the jetbridge and tells me I am needed for a Junior Assignment or to pre-board a flight. Are either of these a legal assignment?

A: No. Any contact made for the purposes of JA or pre-boarding must occur prior to the conclusion of the debrief period. Remember to call Crew Scheduling to adjust your debrief time in order to appropriately credit your duty hours and per diem for the 3 minutes.

The Negotiating Committee filmed several informational videos regarding various topics in TA2. They have been posted on the AFA Alaska Negotiations YouTube channel, on the AFA Alaska website at afaalaska.org/negotiations/ta/ta2-videos and on the AFA Alaska Facebook page.

The videos are on the following topics:

4k Sequences

15-Minute Domicile Debrief

480 TFP Provisions

Implementation (guest starring Manager of Inflight Labor and Work Performance Mike Link)

Insurance Caps*

Longevity Premium

Management Flying (guest starring Vice President of Inflight Services Andy Schneider)

Open Time

Progressing through the Pay Steps

Quarterly Productivity Premium

Sick Leave Make Up

Signing Bonus

TFP and Block Hours Conversion

*NOTE: AMFA insurance provisions are incorrect in the “Insurance Caps” video. The mechanics have a 20% cost share, a 15% annual increase cap and rates are frozen in 2016 until the next agreement is ratified.

The Negotiating Committee hopes you find this information helpful. Additional information can be found on our Negotiations blog. You can also submit questions directly to the Negotiating Committee by emailing us 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

Q:  If we receive an acars, get contacted before landing or a supervisor meets our plane, can we be required to Pre-Board a different flight?

A: Pre-boarding under TA2 is the same application as current book, but will be a 15 minute debrief period rather than a 30 minute debrief period so only the time is changing.  Under TA2, we are not required to stay past our debrief in order to pre-board a flight.  Just like today, the company can ask if you will pre-board, but if it is outside your 15 minute debrief, you can decline.

Q:  Is there a different application for JA?

A:  If you receive an acars, get contacted before landing or if there is a supervisor in the jetway prior to the end of your debrief period, then you would be required to accept the JA assignment.  However, if the last passenger has stepped off the plane and it is now 16 minutes, you are no longer on duty and can’t be JAd.

The current agreement does NOT have a provision protecting new aircraft orders and options.  In TA2 there is Letter of Agreement #1, titled “Boeing Purchase Order”.  This letter of agreement adds protections for 2012 order and options ensuring all Flight Attendant work performed on current aircraft and aircraft acquired under the 2012 Order shall be performed by the Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, so long as those aircraft are operated by an entity under the Control of AAG. None of the current aircraft or aircraft acquired under the 2012 Order shall be flown by airlines not controlled by AAG under a capacity purchase agreement with AAG or an entity under the Control of AAG. This is an important protection especially with today’s announcement of additional CPA flying by SkyWest into new markets including Milwaukee, Oklahoma City and PDX to St. Louis.

Q: I was told by another flight attendant that if I am a yes vote that I don’t need to vote because “not voting is an implied yes”. She said anyone who doesn’t vote gets counted as a yes. Is this true?

A: That information is incorrect.  The TA failing or passing is based on the number of Flight Attendants who cast their votes.

50% plus 1 of those voting yes or no.  You need to actively vote for your vote to count.

Absolutely NOT.  There is specific language for 4k pairings in Section 10.DD.  A line holding Flight Attendant will not be forced to accept 4k flying.  However, Crew Scheduling may offer and a Flight Attendant may accept a 4k sequence consistent with the process of reassignments which requires that the trip be offered in seniority order.  There are many rumors and unreliable sources distributing information, but when in doubt please contact the committee.  We appreciate those who are emailing the committee and asking for clarification. If you think your question or concern should be posted in our blog, let us know.

Here is your second weekly update highlighting posts on the Negotiations blog from November 15^th through November 22^nd.

This past week culminated with the full text release of TA2. The Negotiating Committee knows many are spending time reviewing the TA. Remember you can search in the blog using keywords to find answers to specific questions about the provisions being discussed. We are increasing the content on a daily basis as we turn your questions into posts for all Flight Attendants to access.

As you review TA2 questions will follow. If you’ve missed any of the daily posts, you will find them titled below. Once again, the Negotiating Committee is using the format of “Q&A,” “Get the facts” and “Did you know?” for the various blog posts. We’ve added a new one called “Hot Topics.”

Nov 15^th –

TA2 Provision Comparison Chart

Q&A: Why is the Longevity Premium not paid on vacation or sick leave?

Nov 16^th –

Q&A: Are Management’s NC and our AFA’s NC in separate rooms or the same room for Negotiations?

Q&A: Do I have to work 620TFP to get my vacation?

Q&A: Can You Explain how the Cost Sharing and 15% Cap Affects my Health Insurance Premium?

Q&A: What is the percentage of 4k pairings created by the optimizer?

Q&A: Did the Negotiating Committee recommend the TA?

Nov 17^th –

Q&A: What is the total # of JA’s among the domiciles combined for 2014?

Long Duty Rule Map Examples

Long Duty 3 POS Pairing examples July 2015

July 2015 example pairings including 4k and 15 min debrief

Q&A: Does the Productivity Premium replace our PBP or OPR bonus?

Nov 18^th –

Attention: Roadshow Dates and Times

Hot Topic: Open Time Update

Q&A: What is our implementation schedule for the changes in TA2?

Q&A: What are the AFA Scheduling Chair responsibilities and access?

Q&A: If TA2 ratifies when is the signing bonus paid?

Q&A: Is New Year’s Day 2015 paid at 2x if TA2 ratifies?

Q&A: If I have 35 days of vacation how much do I have to fly to accrue vacation in the following year?

Q&A: How much more money would I make in TA2?

Nov 19^th –

Q&A: When will TA2 be released?

Q&A: Longevity Premium vs COLA?

Q&A: Does the NC get a special bonus if the contract passes? If so, how much?

Full Text TA2 Now Posted!

Q&A: Mock Roadshow

Nov 20^th –

Power Point presentation with industry comparisons

Get the Facts – 4K Reassignment

Minimum Pay Rule examples

Did you know? – Negotiated Payscale

Nov 21^st –

Q&A: Why was the Productivity Premium not put into our wages?

Q&A: How does my leave impact my 480 Requirement?

Roadshow Agenda

The TA2 Calculator is now up and running

Nov 22^nd –

Negotiating Committee Will Be Posting on AFA Sites Only.

Q&A: Will the JA rules go into effect immediately if TA2 is ratified?

Q&A: Who do I contact if I have questions regarding my ballot or past dues?

Do you have questions about the TA? Would you like to see a blog post or have suggestions regarding our blog?

Q&A: Why is there two Section 12s in TA2?

Happy reading and keep the questions coming by commenting on the related topics in the Negotiations blog posts or by emailing 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

TA2 allows for FAs to cash out 25% of their available sick leave upon retirement.  However, there is no requirement to leave any certain amount in your sick leave bank until you retire.  If you need to use your sick leave while you are working, you may use 100% of all the sick leave you have available.

Example: A FA has has 500 TFP of sick leave in their sick leave bank.  We will look at two situations:

1.  The FA gets ill and goes out on a medical leave and chooses to coordinate their sick leave.  In this example, they would have 500 TFP of sick leave available to coordinate, and they can use it all for the illness.

2.  The FA does not get ill and is retiring and has the 500TFP in their sick leave bank at retirement.  In this example, they would be entitled to cash of 25% of the 500 TFP in their sick leave bank (500 x 25% = 125 TFP available to cash out at their rate of pay).

Current Book does not allow for a FA to cash out any of their available sick leave upon retirement.