August 1, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

Back in early June, AFA and Alaska Airlines management settled Grievance No. 36-99-2-03-13. The grievance alleged that management violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement (“Contract”) by allowing Flight Attendants to give check-rides to probationary Flight Attendants. The grievance was somewhat complex in the sense that it encompassed several concerns for AFA:

• Was it appropriate for a Flight Attendant (non-management employee) to conduct check-rides for probationary Flight Attendants;
• If so, under what circumstances would be acceptable for these duties while ensuring the Flight Attendant conducting the check-ride did not determine another Flight Attendant’s (probationary or otherwise) employment status;
• How would such a Flight Attendant be selected and compensated (including wages and benefits) for the check-rides; and
• If a Flight Attendant transferred into management in order to accomplish these check-rides and then returned to the collective-bargaining unit shortly thereafter, how would that transfer be accomplished?

During the months of discussions leading up to the settlement, Flight Attendant trainers presented a very compelling case advocating the benefit to all parties if they were allowed to conduct probationary check-rides. AFA and Alaska Airlines management ultimately agreed, which resulted in the June settlement. A sideletter of agreement amending the Contract was part of the settlement. Most provisions of the settlement dealt with administrative concerns and were effective immediately upon date of signing in June. However, the accompanying sideletter went into effect today.

The language of the sideletter does not directly affect the vast majority of Flight Attendants, but in order to be as transparent as possible AFA is providing a public version of the settlement agreement and the sideletter for review, linked below. Please note that going forward AFA will draw a distinction between a “check-ride” and a “probationary observation.” A check-ride is a performance audit conducted by Inflight management while observing a probationary or non-probationary Flight Attendant performing her or his duties on the aircraft. The practice defined by the settlement will henceforth be known as a probationary observation and shall be conducted by a Flight Attendant trainer (or “probationary observer”). Probationary observers are not supervisory personnel and do not have the ability to discipline another Flight Attendant. In order to minimize confusion amongst the customers and crew, a probationary observer will not wear the Flight Attendant uniform while conducting a probationary observation. However, all probationary observers will remain Flight Attendants and shall retain the ability to bid for a schedule and fly in addition to all the other rights afforded them under the Contract.

The Master Executive Council (MEC) officers wish to thank the Flight Attendant trainers who have performed probationary observations while the grievance was active. It is an understatement to say that it was not always easy for these probationary observers while AFA and Alaska Airlines management worked through the issues. The MEC lodged a contractual grievance with management in order to reach clarity regarding the practice of probationary observations by collective-bargaining unit members. The grievance was never about those who chose to perform this valuable function for probationary Flight Attendants. The MEC officers have been and remain fully supportive of our Flight Attendant trainer sisters and brothers—whether performing probationary observations or other training-related work.

AFA acknowledges Megan Brown, Robyn Garner, Chris Ratowski, Lyn Montague, Maya Anderson, and Sally Rudolphi for their dedication and patience. AFA also wishes to highlight Megan Brown’s invaluable assistance with negotiating the settlement. Megan, Robyn, Chris, Lyn, Maya, and Sally have laid a very solid and now contractually-supported foundation for future probationary observers. Thank you, ladies!

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

“Five Bases, One Voice”

alaskamec.org

2013-06-06 Probationary Observation Settlement Agreement public

2013 Probationary Observation Sideletter

July 29, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

Although the Master Executive Council (MEC) is extremely pleased with management’s decision to replace the TwinHill uniform with an interim Land’s End uniform, we are still several months out from implementation. For those of you who experience adverse reactions to the TwinHill uniform, please be assured that the same procedures prior to the announcement are still in effect and will remain so until the rollout of the interim uniform.

If you are currently wearing the TwinHill uniform and experiencing an adverse reaction, please click on the following link to the document “Your Uniform, Your Health” (http://alaskamec.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/YOUR-UNIFORM_YOUR-HEALTH-1.pdf) which walks you through the process of transitioning into the M&H alternate uniform.

Approximately three months ago AFA posted the uniform database with identifying information redacted as well as a statistical summary of reported symptoms. We have since received a significant number of new cases and will be posting an updated database and statistics shortly. For those of you who may have missed the broadcast, KING 5 news in Seattle ran a story on July 26^th, 2013, at 6:30pm “Alaska Air replaces uniforms after attendants say it sickened them” (http://www.king5.com/news/aerospace/Alaska-Airs-new-uniforms-are-for-more-than-just-looks-217173661.html) . AFA Alaska MEC President Jeffrey Peterson and Alaska Airlines Vice President of Inflight Services Andy Schneider were both interviewed for the piece.

If you are based in Seattle and have any questions or concerns regarding the current uniform contact:

Shannon Hyde at sbrown1982@gmail.com / 206-850-6371, or

Susan Lee at slee@alaskamec.org.

If you are based in ANC/PDX/LAX/SAN contact:

Yvette Gesch at ygesch@alaskamec.org / 562-209-3473.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

“Five Bases, One Voice”

alaskamec.org

July 29, 2013 @ 0930 PT

Dear Flight Attendants,

Alaska Airlines is taking precautionary measures by canceling a number of flights to and from Hawaii due to the approach of Tropical Storm Flossie. The island of greatest impact is projected to be Maui. As a result of the cancellations, several crews will be left on the ground throughout the Islands. It is our understanding that some flights are departing Hawaii this morning but no flights are leaving the mainland until later this afternoon or evening. Extra sections are planned once Hawaii operations resume to minimize the impact to customers.

The Master Executive Council (MEC) has expressed concern that crewmembers are being stranded in Hawaii. However, we have been assured by Alaska Airlines management the cancellations are a precautionary measure only and the affected crews are not in any danger. We will update you as more information is known or if the situation changes.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

“Five Bases, One Voice”

alaskamec.org

July 10, 2013

Dear Flight Attendants,

The AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) is very pleased to report that Alaska Airlines intends to replace the TwinHill uniform with an interim Land’s End uniform by late fourth quarter 2013 or early first quarter 2014. All Flight Attendants will be out of the TwinHill uniform much earlier than the originally anticipated date of late 2014! It has been a long, long road to get to this point but AFA is thrilled that Alaska Airlines management is taking this bold action to restore confidence in our uniform. AFA representatives have been involved in the selection of Land’s End—including an extensive vetting process with safety as a primary driver.  We are highly confident that Land’s End will be able to deliver a product that is free from the issues many have reported while in or around the current stock uniform. The transition to the interim uniform will happen all on the same day and AFA has been informed that there will be an overnight effort to resolve safety concerns from potential contact transfer on the jumpseats during that transition.

However, please keep in mind that this is only a temporary uniform from Land’s End Business Outfitters stock catalog. Flight Attendants will eventually be transitioned to a custom Land’s End uniform once the “brand refresh” review has been completed—up to two years from now. With all the new Flight Attendant uniforms going public lately, we do not want anybody to be disappointed as a result of thinking that this new Land’s End uniform–which will probably lack many of the more exciting elements in other airline uniforms—will be with us for any length of time. Again, it is just an interim uniform until a more permanent and presumably more exciting uniform is in place.

AFA knows there will be a lot of questions and we will continue to update you along the way through MEC communications or the AFA Uniform Committee. You will also find more information on Alaska’s World, the Inflight webpage and in First Class. Also, the MEC would be remiss if we did not thank AFA International Air Safety and Health Industrial Hygienist Judith Murawski for her determined advocacy on behalf of our affected members.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

“Five Bases, One Voice”

www.alaskamec.org

Dear Flight Attendants,

It was too good to be true, well, for some of us!

There appears to be continuing issues with eMaestro. The problem is not specific to any browser, but Internet Explorer and Chrome are the top culprits. Depending on your preferred browser, IT has provided what they believe will fix the issue.

Please remember that Crew Scheduling cannot fix the issue and we ask that you refrain from calling them unless you need to report a sick call or an operational situation.

First thing in the morning the MEC will determine if the issue continues to exist and if we need to address the closing time for bids, again. 

 The IT fix addresses clearing your browsing history. Please refer to the following helpful tips for your specific browser:

INTERNET EXPLORER

Tools: Delete Browsing History. Everything needs to be checked- Delete

Close browser and reopen

FIREFOX

Tools: Options/Privacy/Clear your recent history for the last 24hours

Details: Top 4 options must be checked- Clear now

Close browser and reopen

GOOGLE CHROME

Click on the three-line box in the upper right corner, go to History and click on Clear Browsing History. Set the amount of time you want to clear and then click on Clear Browsing History again.

Drop down must be changed to past day/clear browsing history. 

Close browser and reopen

We will continue to update you with information as soon as we receive it-

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

“Five Bases, One Voice”