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.

If TA2 is ratified there will be a trial period of 12 months.  Section 12 “Exchange of Sequences” discusses many provisions but most importantly the Open Time Trial.  The 12-month trial period with AFA and management will evaluate whether the new system works and becomes permanent.  If either party determines the new OT system is not working, we will go back to current book as amended by the OT arbitration award and will immediately begin renegotiating a new OT system.

If the OT trial is canceled, Section 12, “Back to Book” will take effect while a new OT system is negotiated.  For your convenience we have included the OT Arbitration Award in the back of TA2 titled AFA Grievance No 36-99-02-18-11, “Withholding Open Time”.

We hope this information is helpful.  In the back of TA2 you will find the implementation side letter of agreement that discusses when the OT system will be available.

Do you have questions about the T/A?  Would you like us to post a specific blog post? Is there language you would like clarified or need more information about?  Email the Negotiating Committee at negotiations@afaalaska.org to get your answers from the source and give us suggestions!

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

Flight Attendants who do not receive their voting instructions with the 16 digit activation code must call the AFA Ballot Helpline at (800) 424-2401, option 1 then extension 706.

Flight Attendants who have dues or membership issues must call AFA Membership Services at (800) 424-2401,  option 7.

The office is staffed Monday through Friday 930AM EST to 5PM EST.

Voting Instructions: Flight Attendants will receive a ballot packet containing the voting instructions including a 16-digit activation code and the voting guide. These will be mailed from the mail house in Maryland on 11-18-14. The activation code is specific to each Member therefore new instruction or voting guides will not and cannot be mailed. If a Flight Attendant did not receive their ballot packet they must contact the AFA Ballot Helpline. A new activation code with instructions will be emailed from the voting system directly to the member.

No.  The JA provisions will not take effect until 2015.  We understand that changing the provisions immediately would not allow you the ability to adjust your schedules.  We are looking at an implementation of the new JA rules after January 1st, 2015.  Once we have an exact date of JA implementation we will communicate that for your consideration.

 

It is extremely challenging to beneficially channel social media without allocating significant resources

 

Social media is an extremely powerful communication tool. As such the Negotiating Committee has attempted to acknowledge the importance of social media by interacting on various outlets in order to reach the greatest number of our members. However, it is also extremely challenging for an institution such as AFA Alaska to beneficially channel social media without allocating significant resources. Some may have agreed or disagreed with our approach at times but our intent has always been to use social media simply as a supplementary source of information. Any controversies that have resulted from our presence on social media have been unintentional.

 

Recent changes to secret Facebook groups

 

Earlier today, administrators of one of the private secret Facebook groups called “Voice the Vote” announced a name change to “Voice the Yes Vote.” Obviously the name change is indicative of taking a particular stance on TA2, a position that AFA cannot support. Our understanding is that the name may have been changed back to “Voice the Vote” and with new administrators.

 

Negotiating Committee will no longer be redirecting from private social media outlets

 

Rather than taking sides or continuing to navigate the rapidly shifting sands of social media, the Negotiating Committee will no longer be redirecting to the official channels from “Voice the Yes Vote,” “TA Talk,” “Almost Open,” or any other social media outlet not officially sanctioned by AFA. We are taking this unilateral action on all private social media outlets out of fairness to all their members and administrators. We sincerely regret if this will cause misunderstandings or hurt feelings.

 

Going forward the Negotiating Committee will be posting exclusively on the AFA outlets

 

Going forward, the Negotiating Committee will be posting exclusively on the Negotiations blog or on the AFA Alaska Facebook page or the individual council Facebook pages. You can also contact the Negotiating Committee via email at negotiations@afaalaska.org.

Roadshows

 

The Negotiating Committee will continue to focus on our preparations for the upcoming Roadshows starting December 1^st (see http://afaalaska.org/negotiations/ta for the full Roadshow schedule). We hope to see you soon!

 

 

In solidarity,

 

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

 

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo