Your AFA Negotiating Committee will go back to the table with management on August 25 in San Diego, CA for our next mediation session. As a show of support and solidarity for the Negotiating Committee, we will be conducting informational picketing on Wednesday, August 27 in each of our five bases. The Negotiating Committee is counting on you to show management and the public how serious we are about getting a contract with the improvements we deserve!
Sign Up Now And Show Your Support!
Click here to sign up now to participate in the August 27th event
Are you ready to turn up the heat? Your support is vital to help make the event successful. Help to turn the airport RED in solidarity! Click on your base below for times and details.
Already Working?
Show your solidarity by proudly wearing your RED AFA pin and RED Five Bases Standing Strong lanyard!
Specific Questions?
If you have specific questions about the event at your base, please contact your Local Mobilization Chairperson for assistance. You’ll find contact information at afaalaska.org/mobilization. You can also see the information below for more details.
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
Angle Lake Park
19408 International Blvd
SeaTac, WA 98188
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM (PDT)
Get Ready for a RED Hot Summer Picnic!
You’re invited for a day of food, fun, and solidarity at Angle Lake Park. Angle Lake Park is conveniently located next to Alaska Airlines corporate headquarters in SeaTac, WA. This is a family-friendly event, so be sure to bring the kids!
On The Menu
Hamburgers, hot dogs, and soda will be provided by AFA Council 19. We’re counting on you to bring along some tasty side dishes and desserts to share (see below). Due to City of SeaTac regulations, no alcoholic beverages are permitted.
What To Bring
- If you’re coming from the Seattle area, please bring a side dish or dessert to share family-style with your fellow AFA members and their families.
- Lawn chairs and blankets will help to make you more comfortable as you enjoy the event
- Be sure to wear your new RED AFA t-shirt. If you don’t have one already, we’ll have plenty on hand at the event!
Coming From Out of Town?
Even if you don’t live in the Seattle area, we hope that you’ll join us for the event. The use of non-revenue standby travel is permitted for the event.
Let Us Know You’re Coming!
Questions?
Contact the Council 19 Seattle LEC Officers or email us at events@afaalaska.org
As you may be aware, Hurricanes Iselle and Julio are rapidly approaching the Hawaiian Islands. According to the National Weather Service, hurricane conditions are expected to develop on the Big Island by this afternoon. As the path continues moving up the Hawaiian island chain, the storm is expected to lose some strength with tropical storm conditions spreading to Maui tonight and Oahu and Kauai on Friday. You can read the current statement from the National Weather Service at http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/pages/HLS.php.
Inflight management has repeatedly assured us that there is no danger to our crew members flying to the Hawaiian islands or laying over there at this time. Regardless of these assurances, your MEC and LEC Officers are continuing to closely monitor the situation. Purely as a precaution, we are offering a list of tips to help crew members in the affected area be prepared should conditions deteriorate. You can view these tips at http://afaalaska.org/hotel/safety/hurricane.
As always, your LEC Officers and EAP representatives are standing by and available to assist you. You can find LEC Officer contact information at afaalaska.org under “Local Councils”. EAP contact information is at afaalaska.org/eap.
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt
Report to AFA MEC Chairs
Legislative Issues
Knives: The Keep Knives out of our Skies Act (H.R. 4368 and S. 1008) is still active bicameral legislation. Building congressional co-sponsor support must remain a top priority.
Introduced on April 7, 2014 as bi-partisan legislation by Representatives Grimm and Gabbard, the bill has three additional co-sponsors (listed as they were added to the bill); Reps. Lipinski, Joyce and Speier. This legislation is companion to the Senate bill S. 1008 which was introduced on May 23, 2013 by Senator Schumer. This bill has three original bi-partisan co-sponsors, Sens. Gilibrand, Menendez and Murkowski and three additional co-sponsors; Sens. Markey, Schatz and Hirono.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ACTION: Follow up on any lobby visits you have made on this issue and check in with the offices you visited in the past year. Ask where the Representative or Senators are on this issue and once again encourage them to co-sponsor these bills.
Cell Phones: The Prohibiting In-Flight Voice Communications on Mobile Wireless Devices Act of 2013 H.R. 3676 directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations that prohibit the use of cell phones for voice communications during the in-flight portion of any scheduled domestic commercial flight. The bill provides an exemption for on-duty members of flight and cabin crews, as well as federal law enforcement personnel acting in an official capacity. This bill introduced by Rep. Bill Shuster has 33 co-sponsors (listed as they were added to the bill); Reps. DeFazio, Petri, Michaud, Duncan, Cohen, Capito, Miller, Bucshon, Meehan, Davis, Cooper, Eshoo, Farr, Granger, Grimm, Joyce, Marchant, Schwartz, Williams, Neal, LoBiondo, Capuano, Crawford, Bishop (Tim), Schock, Southerland, Ellison, Womack, Speier, Swallwell, McGovern and Hahn.
The House bill has been passed out of committee and is awaiting a vote by the full House.
The Commercial Flight Courtesy Act (S. 1811) was introduced on December 12, 2013 by Senator Alexander and has three original co-sponsors Sens. Feinstein, Shaheen and Begich. There are three additional co-sponsors Sens. Blumenthal, Schatz and Hirono.
The bill, as written, would amend title 49, of the United States Code, to prohibit voice communications through mobile communication devices on commercial passenger flights.
However, the Senate Appropriations Committee, in the 2014 THUD Appropriations Act directs the DOT to complete its rulemaking on voice communications expeditiously and put in place a clear rule that takes into account the full impact of inflight use of mobile wireless devices on consumers and the commercial aviation industry. This report language is similar to the House language.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ACTION: AFA continues to work with a broad coalition to keep the FCC from moving forward on lifting the current cellular ban. Please contact members of the House and Senate and urge swift action on efforts to ban voice communications inflight.
Bankruptcy Reform: On July 10, 2014, U.S. Senators Durbin, Harkin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Sherrod Brown, and Franken introduced legislation today to curb abuses that deprive employees and retirees of their earnings and retirement savings when businesses collapse. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would make several changes to Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, putting workers’ interests near the top when companies file for bankruptcy. A companion measure (H.R. 100) has been introduced in the House of Representatives by House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Conyers. This is the 5th Consecutive Congress that Sen. Durbin and Rep. Conyers have introduced this legislation to create a level playing field for employees and retirees when their companies seek protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ACTION: Encourage congressional members of the House and Senate to co-sponsor these bills.
Norwegian: Norwegian Airlines is the third largest “ultra” low cost European carrier and operates several companies flying under the Norwegian brand; Norwegian Air Shuttle, Norwegian Long Haul and Norwegian Air International
The parent company, Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS), is a Norwegian company headquartered in Oslo and has a fleet of 737 aircraft and primarily flies throughout Scandinavia, Europe. The company has a Norwegian Air Operating Certificate (AOC). At NAS the workers are employees of Norwegian, have a seniority list and are represented by Parat.
Norwegian two long-haul companies Norwegian Long Haul (NLH) and Norwegian Air International utilize 787 aircraft to fly between Scandinavia, Europe, Asia and the United States.
Norwegian Long Haul (NLH) holds a Norwegian AOC. However, their aircraft are registered in Ireland. Norwegian law permits an AOC holder to operate an aircraft registered in a foreign country for a limited period of time. Norwegian can hire and utilize foreign workers, without obtaining Norwegian work permits by flagging their aircraft in Ireland. NLH currently flies to the United States under the US/Norwegian Air Transport Agreement (ATA) – more commonly referred to as an open skies agreement.
Norwegian Air International (NAI) is an Irish company, with and Irish AOC. The NAI aircraft are registered in Ireland. The Norwegian government has no oversight over NAI. NAI doesn’t employee any flight crews, instead it uses a staffing company to hire and train crewmembers. NAI currently operates flights between Scandinavia, Europe and Asia. NAI’s goal is to provide service to the US under provision in the broader EU/US Open Skies Agreement – thereby circumventing the US/Norwegian ATA.
NAI has applied for a foreign air carrier permit to operate flights to the United States. If the DOT approves the application for service, NLH will likely be merged to the Irish AOC and cease to exist. The NAI application to fly to the US is under review by the USDOT. In addition to the NAI has also applied for an exemption authority. The exemption would allow NAI to initiate service to the US without them receiving a foreign air carrier permit.
AFA opposed the NAI application to fly the US because the Norwegian model, creating a new Irish company for the purpose of flying the US as part the EU/US open skies agreement, violates Article 17 bis EU/US Open Skies Treaty. NAI has hired Asian and US crews to lower their operational cost below what they would have to pay if they were to continue to operate under the Norwegian AOC.
AFA has been working closely allies such as ALPA, ITF/ETF, Parat, and TTD to put pressure on the US Government urging them to deny the NAI Application. NAI was created to circumvent Norwegian labor laws and therefore amounts to social dumping of corporate responsibility. If DOT allows NAI to set up a “flag of convenience” business model it will put downward pressure on US carriers to lower labor costs on Transatlantic operations in order to compete with this new “ultra” low cost carrier model.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ACTION: Get AFA members to sign the petition telling the Obama Administration to protect the U.S. aviation industry and U.S. aviation jobs.
FlightPAC UPDATE
Since March, voluntary contributions to PAC have increased by $645/month. The two largest submissions of cards came from the CWA Houston BootCamp and the AFA BOD meeting in Orlando.
Currently Councils 64, 42 and 21 are actively holding FlightPAC drives. There are plans at PSA to conduct drives in July and August.
Increasing PAC contributions should be a primary goal of each MEC/LEC chair. Please notify the office for help or assistance with a PAC drive at your domicile.
The Policy Committee is preparing a fall edition of a FlightPAC newsletter which will be sent to FlightPAC contributors.
GOTV Efforts
AFA Votes postcards were mailed to all AFA members the week of July 4. One of the primary goals is to get our members involved in the political process by encouraging them to vote. This is an important service that AFA-CWA is able to provide our members and it is one of the ways we can make AFA-CWA more relevant to them.
Our voter registration should be both non-partisan and non-threatening. Flight Attendants appreciate the information provided to them about registering and obtaining absentee ballots. Our voter information drives also increase AFA-CWA’s visibility and help create more effective Flight Attendant activists.
Before conducting voter registration drives, contact your MEC President to request the necessary approval for AFA-CWA to conduct their campaign. Depending on airport rules you may have to request the required permits.
Every voter registration drive is unique. Plans and activities should be based on the needs of your local council, as well as state and local election laws and practices.
Before starting your voter registration drives you should call or check the web site for your Secretary of State for voter registration deadlines and other information. Some states have very strict regulations guiding voter registrations.
Upcoming Voter Registration Deadlines
Arizona will hold its Primary on August 26, 2014. If an Arizona resident and needs to vote absentee, they may register and request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) found at FVAP.gov. Arizona residents must complete, sign and send the FPCA to their local election official. This form needs to be received by 7pm August 26, 2014. Detailed information is available at the following website: www.fvap.gov/arizona.
Florida will hold its primary election on August 26. If a Florida resident and needs to vote absentee, they may register and request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) found at FVAP.gov. Florida Residents must complete, sign and send the FPCA to their local election official. Forms need to be received by July 28. Detailed information is available at the following website: www.fvap.gov/florida.
Oklahoma will hold its primary runoff election on August 26. Oklahoma resident needs to vote absentee; they may register and request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) found at FVAP.gov. Oklahoma residents must complete, sign and send the FPCA to their local election official. Forms need to be received by August 1. Detailed information is available at the following website: www.fvap.gov/oklahoma.
Vermont will hold its primary election on August 26. If a Vermont resident and needs to vote absentee, they may register and request an absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) found at FVAP.gov. Vermont residents must complete, sign and send the FPCA to their local election official. Forms need to be received by August 20.
CWA BootCamps
CWA is holding political BootCamp trainings in the following Districts and locations
CWA District 6, San Antonio, TX — July 29/30
CWA District 4, Columbus, OH – August 18/19
Please contact me for additional BootCamp information.
Policy Committee Monthly Conference Call
The Political Legislative Policy Committee call on September 5, 2014 will be open to all AFA MEC Chairs.
Other NEWS
Republic Airways has hired PR/lobby firm Thorn Run Partners to work on reversing the 1,500 hour requirement for pilots.
We’re pleased to announce the launch of our new AFA Alaska website! The new site features more content, features, and an easier-to-navigate layout including a mobile layout optimized for use on smartphones. You’ll find the new site at http://afaalaska.org. Please be sure to update your bookmarks and favorites, as this is a new address for the site.
If you have any feedback or ideas to help improve the new website, please let us know by emailing them to communications@afaalaska.org.
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt
Social media, websites, and online communication have grown incredibly more important over the past decade and are now an integral part of our daily lives. Many companies and organizations have embraced these new communication mediums and use them to interact with others. AFA Alaska recognizes how important social media and online communications are and are taking steps to improve the online experience for our members.
Keeping Things Respectful
In order to help ensure that AFA Alaska social media accounts and websites remain an interactive and productive place for all of our members, the Master Executive Council (MEC) has adopted a set of Social Media Guidelines. These guidelines contain two sections—one for users of AFA Alaska social media accounts and websites and another for your AFA representatives. These guidelines, coupled with the AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy, are in place to help make sure that everyone’s voices are heard in an environment driven by solidarity and respect. Please take a few moments to review the Social Media Guidelines and AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy when you have the opportunity.
Where You’ll Find Us
Getting accurate and up-to-date information from your AFA officers and Negotiating Committee is easy! You’ll find us on our official AFA Alaska social media channels and website. On these sites, you can interact with your AFA leaders and Negotiating Committee members, ask questions, and get the answers you need in order to stay informed.
afaalaska.org • facebook.com/alaskamec • twitter.com/afaalaska
Negotiations and Social Media
Soon, you’ll have the ability to interact with your Negotiating Committee via the new Negotiations Blog. Hosted by Negotiating Committee Member Kristy Stratton and the other members of the Negotiating Committee, the blog will be your opportunity to have insight into how your Negotiating Committee is hard at work to bring you a tentative agreement with hard earned and well-deserved improvements! Look for more information about the Negotiations Blog in August.
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
It’s time to turn up the heat and show our support to the Negotiating Committee when they go back to the table August 25th through 28th. Your Master Executive Council (MEC), in coordination with the Mobilization and Negotiating Committees, are planning to share our message with the public at each of our five bases. Be on the lookout for more information from your Local Council about the details of our August 27th informational picketing events.
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
Dear Flight Attendants,
The Negotiating Committee has developed a Frequently Asked Questions forum, which is now posted here.
If you have additional questions about negotiations, see our contact information below.
In solidarity,
Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo
afaalaska.org/negotiations | negotiations@afaalaska.org | Negotiations Feedback Form
SECTION 9 – JUNIOR AVAILABLE
Q Can we have “limited immunity for trips traded off of FA’s original line” from the opener specified more thoroughly?
Sure. We are proposing that if a Flight Attendant trades away – with Open Time or another Flight Attendant – a trip and does not replace flying on those days, then any days on which s/he does not replace flying (i.e. pick up new flying) would be immune from JA. Today, a Flight Attendant could trade around her/his entire line and be immune from JA for the entire month (extreme case) even though s/he was flying a full schedule. This happens today and it sometimes forces JA very senior.
In the survey, members were very adamant that immunity from JA should still remain for days on which a trip was dropped for a special event or to extend vacation/ holiday time off.
SECTION 11 – RESERVE
Q Being on reserve for two years I feel like I can speak for the majority of reserves that ER days are not wanted. The last tentative agreement that was proposed had a lot of great changes for reserves, most importantly getting rid of awarding reserve days on lines, but still being able to convert. The biggest thing I didn’t like about the reserve portion of the contract was getting rid of the reserve premium.
Based on feedback, we are reviewing ER days vs conversions in the overall context of the TA. We have already added discussion of ER days/ conversions back onto the agenda for the next meeting. Additionally, we have secured the reinstatement of the Reserve Premium from management.
Q Another issue for reserves is not having transparency in open time for trading reserve days. My previous airline used a system for trading and reserve coverage which gave a lot of information. Each day showed the reserve coverage if it was open for drops was listed in green. The number of reserves available each day was shown as well as the threshold. Is this possible?
That is pretty much exactly what was negotiated in TA1. The OT system was completely transparent with all open/closed days, reserve thresholds, reserve usage, etc. listed. For reserves, if the reserve trade board listed the day open, you would be allowed to trade – through automation. No more submitting a request and waiting for a response. We have proposed retaining that system from TA1 and so far, management is on the same page.
SECTION 12 – EXCHANGE OF SEQUENCES (and Open Time)
Q Why would we be going back to current practice instead of what was negotiated in Sec 12 of TA1?
In the survey, Flight Attendants overwhelmingly conveyed that reverting to the current OT system would be preferential to changing to another system that they did not know. However, it is important to remember that if either party cancels the OT ‘Test’ system, AFA and management would immediately sit down to negotiate a new system – using all the information from the ‘Test.’ During that time, the OT system would revert to the current practice. Once a new system is negotiated, that new procedure would be submitted for membership vote and put in place once ratified. So the “going back to current practice” part would only last as long as negotiations for new system- which FAs would vote on.
NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE RAILWAY LABOR ACT (RLA) (including policy/procedures, solidarity activities, the National Mediation Board, etc.)
Q Why are the full survey results not being published?
The actual results of negotiations surveys done by AFA are never published to the membership. In 2011, before the opening proposals were written, the Negotiating Committee sent out the negotiations survey to all members. Those results were used by the Committee to learn your bargaining objectives and priorities. If AFA had published those results, then management would know which provision was more important than another and that would be detrimental to our bargaining strategy.
The Hart Survey was basically another negotiations survey, one scientifically done with a much lower margin of error by a very highly regarded professional polling company. Because we do not want management to know your exact priorities in negotiations, we will not be publishing those results either.
Q How was the opener for this second round of negotiations derived?
The opener was created using the priorities in the Hart Survey. When a tentative agreement fails to ratify, the subsequent negotiations for a new agreement focus on ‘fixing’ the provisions which were not acceptable. It is not about going back to the beginning and starting all over.
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