Latest News

September 21, 2014 07:45

How many Sections are closed?

28 of 35 Sections are TA’d.

What Sections are open and what are major topics in each?

Section 3 – Scope (Management Flying)

Section 11 – Reserve (ER days, Reserve reposition calendar)

Section 12 – Exchange of Sequences (Open Time trial period)

Section 14 – Vacation (480 provisions, accrual, 960 tfp for extra week)

Section 16 – Sick Leave/On the job injury (Two sick leave banks, 480 provisions, 12 mo look back)

Section 21 – Compensation (Step Rates/Scale, Signing Bonus, Retro pay)

Section 29 – Retirement (401K matching increase)

Where is the next negotiation meeting being held?

Chicago, IL

If I have questions or comments for the negotiating committee where else am I able to post besides Facebook and Twitter?

The negotiating committee is looking to engage Flight Attendants by using our new website www.afaalaska.org and on the negotiations blog. If you have questions or concerns there is also the ability to visit the website and send in a feedback form or email the committee directly.

September 19, 2014 14:50

Dear Seattle Flight Attendants,

We had a fantastic RED HOT Summer and showed the company that we are Five Bases Standing Strong! Our solidarity is stronger than ever and we need to continue showing that strength!

There are several events in October and November where we can come together and demonstrate our solidarity and our strength:

October 2nd- Andy’s Town Hall Meeting and Reception
Place: TBA
Time: 3pm- 6pm
Seattle LEC Officers will host a meeting prior to this event- Details to follow

October 9th- Seattle Employee Reception
SEA Employee Meeting & Reception
Intended Audience:
All AS & QX employees
Event Date:
10/9/2014
Event Time:
3:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Event Location:
Seattle
Event Address:
TBD
Get map and driving directions
Additional Information:
3:00pm – 4:30pm Employee Meeting
4:30pm – 6:30pm Employee Reception with light appetizers

Join your co-workers as you hear senior leaders talk about the Company’s progress and where we are heading.

As always, RED HOT AFA t-shirts are provided at the venues! If you do not have one and plan on attending please send one of you LEC Officers an email with your shirt size.

October 16th- Maternity Roundtable

Seattle LEC Maternity Co-Chairs, Beth Hogger and Danni Peterson, are hosting a maternity roundtable!
When: October 16th
Where: Flight Ops Building Room 230C (upstairs near the lunchroom)
Time: 12:30pm- 3:30pm

October 24th- Council 19 Meet and Greet
Where: Seoul Room (SEA TAC Conference Center, Mezzanine Level)
Time: 11am
Parking is paid on all levels except 4

Join your LEC Officers for discussions on:
·      Updates from the negotiating table
·      Current events recap
·      Planning for November 12th System Wide Event

November 12th Save the Date!

Please mark your calendars for the system wide AFA event on November 12th. Details to follow….

Please contact any of your LEC Officers if you have any questions on these events!

Have you checked out the new and improved AFA Alaska website? We have added a negotiations blog! Check it out: http://afaalaska.org/negotiations/blog
AFA Alaska: http://afaalaska.org/

One last reminder- if you are behind on your union dues you will not be able to vote on a Tentative Agreement. Please make sure you contact Linda Christou if you have questions on your AFA dues account so you can exercise your right to vote!

In solidarity,

LEC President-Laura Masserant, LEC Vice President- Jake Jones, LEC Secretary- Linda Christou, Council Rep- Stephanie Adams, and Council Rep- Adam Clarey

September 19, 2014 14:48

How does Sick Leave Make-up work?

A Flight Attendant who calls in sick, whether line holder or reserve, who accessed their sick leave bank will have the ability to restore the sick leave by picking up Sick Leave Reserve Days.

Who will designate Sick Leave Make-up Days and the number of days?

Crew Scheduling will designate the number of days available which will be 1, 2, 3, or 4 days AM/PM blocks.

How many times will there be an opportunity to make up sick leave?

There will be no fewer than four (4) days designated per month. These four (4) days will be designated with at least 24hrs notice. Additional days, if designated, may be declared at any time.

May I choose to sit fewer days of reserve than what I called in for sick ?

Yes. There is a formula and calculation to determine that maximum number of days allowed and you will be able to sit less days to make up your sick leave.

May I pick up Sick Leave Reserve Days on the same day(s) as the trip/reserve day(s) for which I called in sick ?

No, you may not. A Flight Attendant may not pick up available Sick Leave Reserve Day(s) within 24 hrs of reporting sick. If you call in sick and subsequently are able to fly, you will call in well and the provisions of calling in well will apply. For any sick leave used prior to calling in well you will have the opportunity if you choose to utilize the sick leave make-up provisions.

How much time do I have to make up the sick leave?

A Flight Attendant will have the current bid month and up to the next two (2) bid periods to restore sick leave.

What if I am given an assignment which is in excess of my sick leave make-up?

A Flight Attendant who makes up sick leave shall have their sick leave restored to their sick leave bank on a TFP for TFP basis. You shall receive pay and credit for any time flown as sick leave make-up in excess of sick leave restored.

If I pick up Sick Leave Make-up Reserve day am I considered a lineholder or reserve?

Any Flight Attendant who sits Sick Leave Reserve Day(s) shall be considered a Reserve Flight Attendant on that day.

How does this program benefit my sick leave accrual?

In the contract you accrue sick leave based on tfp which is 1tfp sick leave for 10 tfp flown or credited during the month, sick leave will not be accrued on TFP credited for sick leave. If you were to call in sick for a trip that required use of 20 tfp, it would take you 200 tfp to restore it. This rapid accrual allows you to sit 4 days of reserve (in this example) to make up sick leave in a few days what could potentially require months of flying or credit.

Which Section of TA2 will I find provisions regarding Sick Leave Make-up?

Section 16, Sick Leave/On The Job Injury

September 19, 2014 11:42

What are some of the changes in Section 32 during the last session? I am hearing different things on the line…..

Do we still have to fly a leg prior to calling in sick online at domicile for check-in?

In the last negotiating session the committee told management that many changes were required to meet our Flight Attendants expectations. The committee brought forward concerns regarding the requirement to fly the first leg of a sequence to call out “sick online”. We were able to remove the requirement, however there is a .5 point associated with calling out sick online at domicile prior to flying the first leg of a sequence. An example is if you had a 4 day trip, it would be 2 points total for the sick call plus the .5 point for calling out sick at domicile prior to flying a leg for a total of 2.5 points. Points for the sick online could be mitigated by calling in well. If you have a FMLA on file or you are injured in the workplace (workers compensation) you will be exempt from the additional .5 point.

Do we still have black out dates attached with our quarterly doctors note?

No, the committee was able to remove all black out dates!

Is there a quarterly or year-end (annual) flying requirement to receive record improvement?

For quarterly improvement there is no flying requirement. In TA1 there was a 120 tfp requirement which is now eliminated.

Year-end record improvement does require on December 31st that you meet your 480 tfp (including vacation, excluding sick leave) for the calendar year. You must avoid any occurrences in the months of Nov/Dec as described in TA1 and if you have 4 points or under will have your points reduced back to zero.

How many bank points will I be able to accrue?

The committee was able to maintain the improvement of 6 bank points from TA1.

Under the current contract I am penalized when I call in sick using my doctors note because I have bank points, is anything being done about this?

Yes, under TA2 you will not be penalized. You will have the ability to choose whether you use your bank points for the occurrence or the quarterly note which will remove the points and continue to maintain your banked points.

With the provisions of TA2, what are the changes regarding a Single Continuous Occurrence?

A Single Continuous Occurrence will be valid for ten (10) consecutive days beginning from the day of the sick call. If you are going to be out for any length of time and qualify you should consider taking a medical leave. The medical leave handbook is currently being revised to reflect the current practice. If you have questions or concerns regarding medical leaves please contact your AFA Benefits Representatives by visiting us online at http://afaalaska.org/benefits.

September 19, 2014 10:45

Did the negotiating committee review Section 23 and achieve a cap on our insurance?

Yes, we achieved a 15% year on year cap on health care contribution and maintained the annual cost share caps from TA1.

September 19, 2014 09:52

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-17/southwest-airlines-plan-to-keep-costs-low-saying-no-to-pay-raises

September 17, 2014 05:00

Recently, we’ve become aware of inaccurate information contained in several Flight Attendant personnel files. It was discovered that several personnel files contained documents that were incorrect or out-of-date.

The information contained in your personnel file chronicles your career at Alaska Airlines. It contains routine administrative documents, kudos from customers and coworkers, and disciplinary records and reprimands. Though it is likely that the information contained in your personnel file is accurate, there’s always the slight possibility that information that is inaccurate or no longer applicable (in the case of discipline older than 18 months).

It’s Always a Good Idea to Look Inside

According to our collective bargaining agreement, you’re entitled to a complete copy of your personnel file with at least seven calendar days’ notice (section 24.G). We recommend that every Flight Attendant take advantage of this contractual right and review your personnel file on a regular basis.

Just Ask Your Performance Supervisor

To make a request for your copy of your personnel file, contact your performance supervisor. We recommend doing so in writing, using FirstClass email. You’ll find contact information for your performance supervisor below.

ANC

Natasha Kemp (natasha.kemp@alaskaair.com)

SEA

Last Name A-G: Michelle Kirschbaum (michelle.kirschbaum@alaskaair.com) and/or Rachael Mattioli (rachael.mattioli@alaskaair.com)
Last Name H-P: Candy Donaldson (candy.donaldson@alaskaair.com)
Last Name Q-Z: Natasha Kemp (natasha.kemp@alaskaair.com)

In Solidarity,

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

September 12, 2014 05:00

The Master Executive Council (MEC) has recently become aware of situations involving Inflight management discouraging new hires from exercising their contractual ability to trade, reposition, or give away trips or reserve days. This kind of pressure violates our contract.

Have You Been Pressured Not To Trade?

When you were on probation, did a member of Inflight management discourage you from exercising your contractual rights to trade? We’re looking for first-hand examples of Inflight supervisors or managers discouraging you from:

Asking for personal drops
Trading or giving away pairings (either on your line or picked up)
Repositioning, trading, or giving away reserve days or block

Share Your Example With Us

If you have a first-hand example of an Inflight supervisor or manager pressuring you not to exercise your contractual right, we’re looking for your feedback. Flight Attendants currently on probation: please participate! However, be assured that AFA will hold any responses from probationary Flight Attendants in strict confidence until the completion of probation.

Click here to complete a response form

Questions?

Send an email to probation@afaalaska.org

In Solidarity,

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

September 11, 2014 05:46

September 10, 2014 09:42

From Your AFA EAP

As we approach the thirteenth anniversary of September 11^th, many of us will begin to plan how we’ll recognize this day. Anniversaries offer an opportunity to acknowledge our memories and experiences, to connect with others who share in them, and to pay tribute to our individual and collective journeys. Anniversaries can also serve as personal and professional milestones of our healing and resiliency. For some, September 11th will be marked with private personal gestures such as observing a moment of silence, spending quiet time reflecting, or dedicating our flying to our profession. For others, it will be marked with collective activities such as ceremonies and memorial services.

There is no right way or better way to recognize the anniversary; but, there are some suggestions that may prove helpful as we approach the anniversary of September 11^th.

Observe the anniversary in a way that’s comfortable for you. Say “no” to events or activities that you sense may flood you with too many feelings.

Don’t compare yourself to how others around you appear to be dealing with the September 11^th

Acknowledge that we all heal at different rates, in different ways, and with different outcomes.

Give yourself permission and time to be affected. Though uncomfortable, anticipate and plan for having a stress reaction as the anniversary approaches. Trust that if you have moments of difficulty, you’ll be able to pull yourself back together.

Try not to isolate. Isolation can often amplify difficult feelings. Pre-plan now to be with family or friends if you know you have this tendency.

Think through in advance how much and the type of anniversary media coverage you can comfortably absorb. Actively monitor and control what news coverage enters your personal space.

If you are interested in attending scheduled anniversary events, check local community websites or voicesofsept11.org.

Ask for help, support, and opportunities to talk. Your AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here to listen. Telephone numbers of your local EAP committee members are listed at afanet.org under the EAP Section or at http://afaalaska.org/eap. You can also call the AFA International EAP at 1-800-424-2406 or the AFA Alaska EAP at 1-949-470-0493.

In solidarity,

Your AFA International and AFA Alaska EAP