Latest News

February 18, 2023 15:33

WINTER 2023 SCHEDULING UPDATE

DECEMBER 2022 Sea Snow and Ice storm

We saw a huge amount of OS tickets regarding scheduling and pay concerns from the December 2022 Sea Snow and Ice storm which kept us quite busy in January.

Most popular topics included:

Pay – how to calculate and request pay queries to Crew Pay – Rainmaker Pay and User Guides
Reassignment Section 10.R., Precancellation Section 10.S. , Holiday Premium Section 21.H.
Stranded Pay Section 22.N, Holiday Indicator in OT – this is a Crew Access known issue, listed in the Crew Access Known Issues document on the Inflight Webpage.

AFA and Management held a SEA Snowstorm debrief in early January to discuss relevant issues. We appreciate and extend a big thank you to Jake Jones for his assistance overseeing tickets as we were swamped.

RAINMAKER – PAY AND USER GUIDES

There has been an uptick in questions about pay and Rainmaker. Questions include how to reach out to Crew Pay, pay queries, how to respond to comments, how to expand pay buckets, timelines for crew pay responses, what needs an activity claim form, and what processes are automated.

Please continue to use these available resources as tools to assist with understanding how to use Rainmaker.

All this Information can be found on the FA webpage > administration > pay & benefits > rainmaker

Rainmaker User Guide
Rainmaker Job Aide – View Reports
Rainmaker Job Aide – Commenting and Activity Claims
Rainmaker FAQs
Rainmaker Job Aide – Viewing Banks

Although it may be time consuming, we recommend that all flight attendants take the time to review these guides to assist them in understanding Rainmaker and how they are paid.

A few highlights:

Rainmaker User Guide (pages 4, 5, & 20) outline details of pay timelines.

Crew Pay will not process certain trip pay concerns until the month is completed. These reports are a manual process and they pull ALL reports at month-end and then process. FAs can expect that in these certain pay scenarios it could be up to two weeks for Crew Pay to respond, until the report is pulled and trip pay worked This typically can take up to the 10th of the month following occurrence that resulted in the query.

CREW ACCESS FILTERS

We continue to get tickets opened with the Crew Access filter not showing correctly (showing UTC TIME). This is a known issue. We hope to have this fixed in the March Crew Access release.

Please continue to open IT tickets and report your concerns to management.

WAIVING CREW REST 48/7 – 24/7

This time of year, we get tickets from disappointed FAs who waive their Contractual Rest. Due to operational concerns (typically weather related) their waived rest falls below FAR minimums. They are removed from their trips or portion of (SIP point) without Pay Protection until their rest is restored. (Section 8.N. Waiver of Contractual Rest).

Section 8.N. WAIVER OF CONTRACTUAL REST

A Flight Attendant who waives any contractually required rest, and who then operationally would fall below any CFR-required rest period, will be pulled from sufficient flights to resolve the CFR illegality. The Flight Attendant will not be pay protected.

SHORT LAYOVERS (10:00 – 10:40 hours duration)

The past several months we have seen a slight increase in pairings with short layover duration at 10:10 – 10:40 minute layovers. (mostly GDL) We requested a review of the 10:40 GDL layovers.

Continue to track short layovers with longer duty days with multiple landings.

If you see a consistent trip with a short layover please let us know.

We do not have statistics on Fatigue Risk Management however we do want FAs to be aware of this program. You can find the full text of the AFA LOA under Letters Of Agreement in our CBA – Fatigue Risk Management Plan – AFA LOA 2020-06-02

VACATION PAYOUT REQUEST

Flight Attendants may request to have their 2023 vacation paid out in advance of the scheduled dates.

There is a form for FAs to request and submit to Crew Pay. This is found at:

FA Webpage
Administration
Pay & Benefits
Vacation Payout Form

Instructions are found within the form to explain how to request early pay for vacation.

CARE RETREAT

Many FAs were assigned Care Retreat in March.

Those who have been assigned can trade their March care retreat period starting on February 17th @ 9:00 am (the day after March open time trading begins). Information is found on the PBS information page.

If they want to pick up a day in February, they can find available dates in February open time. If they find a date that works they’ll need to call CS to manually place it on their schedule. They need to be sure the March date is removed.

This is considered a company required training. You can access this information on the PBS website under Information – Trading Timelines at the bottom of the chart. (Trading of Recurrent and company required training).

NEW COMMUTER FLOWCHART

AFA has finalized a new COMMUTER FLOWCHART.

It can be found in the Scheduling section on the AFA Website, along with the Pre-Cancellation, Reassignment, Reassignment Pay and Irregular Ops Quick Reference Sheet.

AFA Website
Main Page
Committees
Scheduling
Tools and Resources (right hand side)

Click to access 2023.1.11-Commuter-Policy-Flow-chart.pdf

NEW DIRECTOR INFLIGHT CREW SCHEDULING

Sara Cook has been promoted to Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling

NEW SEA SCHEDULING COMMITTEE MEMBER

We want to welcome Paula Isla-McGill to the Sea Scheduling Committee. Paula has completed AFA 101 and will soon be trained in the OS Ticket System. Once completed she will be added to our committee list on the AFA Webpage.

February 18, 2023 15:26

Winter Newsletter

Council #19 SEA

PARKING

We continue to be asked when garage parking will end, and why those who have returned from a Leave of Absence, or will be returning soon do not have garage parking restored. The Port refuses to issue additional garage parking. All other carriers besides Alaska have already lost garage parking. The current estimate is ‘sometime in March.’ That said, we’ve also been advised that since Delta has left the garage, the North Parking lot is now at capacity. Apparently Alaska will be contracting for a new parking facility only for Alaska employees, that is about 10 minutes north of the North Parking lot. They plan to use Alaska owned buses, and McGee employees to operate the buses.

CBTs

We continue to have issues with Flight Attendants not completing CBTs timely. Discipline is then issued. We are aware that some have had technical issues with completion. If you are having difficulty, please contact the IT help desk. Several have moved through steps of discipline, up to and including suspensions for failure to complete CBTs. Until you receive an email that your CBT is complete, and verify through Cornerstone that it is no longer listed, your CBT is ‘in progress.’

Commuter Violations

Every month the Company reviews Commuter Travel (D8Y) usage. Violating the commuter policy, does result in discipline. The most common issues include using D8Y status after being released from a deadhead at a city other than one’s domicile, rather than E1Y travel. In addition, we have continuing issues resulting in disciplinary action that involve commuting to base during the reserve availability period. Even if one has self-assigned, the reserve availability period is the required time to be in base. Assignments (even self-assignments) can be changed.

Pre-Board of Directors Local Council Meeting

This year is a ‘budget only’ Board of Directors meeting. The budget for the fiscal year 2023/2024 has been prepared and will soon be sent out to all BOD delegates (the Local Council Presidents for each base.) We have scheduled a pre-Board of Director’s meeting to review the budget, from 1-3 pm on March 15, 2023. This meeting will take place in the Earhardt Room on the lowest level of the STOC, in the South Tower. This building is directly across the street from the airport, in the same building that houses 13 Coins Restaurant.

February 17, 2023 17:00

February 2023 MEC Meeting Recap

Originally posted February 17, 2023

Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, February 14, to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants. As part of the meeting, the MEC met with members of inflight, crew planning, and marketing management to discuss issues and concerns that are facing our work group and need to be addressed. The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 6, and Tuesday, March 7. Please don’t hesitate to contact your LEC President if you have any questions.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Wednesday, February 22

Quarterly Inflight Service Committee Meeting

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts. Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

February 17, 2023 09:00

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, February 14, to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.
As part of the meeting, the MEC met with members of inflight, crew planning, and marketing management to discuss issues and concerns that are facing our work group and need to be addressed.
The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 6, and Tuesday, March 7. Please don’t hesitate to contact your LEC President if you have any questions.

The February 2023 Regular MEC Meeting was held this week on Tuesday, February 14. The meeting consisted of updates from our MEC Officers, LEC Presidents, Grievance Committee, and Scheduling Committee. Our MEC also reviewed written reports submitted by other AFA MEC Committee Chairpersons about their current programs of work.

Meeting with Management

As part of most Regular MEC Meetings, our MEC meets with management to review current issues and challenges that Flight Attendants are facing. Attendees from management this month included Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Constance von Muehlen, Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Managing Director of Inflight Services Gloria Chow, Director of Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Guest Experience Sangita Woerner, Managing Director of Marketing and Advertising Eric Edge, Associate Vice President of Finance and Resource Planning Ryan St. John, Managing Director of Operation Staffing and Resource Management Brittany Audette, Director of Crew Planning Mike Ostler, and Vice President of Labor Relations Jenny Wetzel.

Some of the topics that were discussed include:

Current company marketing and advertising. Management provided an update on current marketing efforts and media campaigns in key growth markets. Our MEC brought forward questions seeking more information about why management selected some of the talent and characters they did in recent advertising.
Timing of upcoming uniform wear tests. Our MEC asked about the timing of the upcoming wear test of the new gender-neutral mock turtleneck and why it was scheduled to take place during the summer months. Management indicated they wanted to complete the wear testing process quickly to allow the new piece to be introduced as soon as possible.
Staffing and growth. Management provided a review of staffing plans for the year. The projections are constantly shifting based on anticipated aircraft deliveries and market conditions.
iPhone 13 Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) distribution. Management provided an update on the rollout of the new iPhone 13 IMDs. Our MEC brought forward Flight Attendant concerns about long wait times, even for those who have pre-scheduled appointments for pickup. There are also reports of supervisors not offering to make separate arrangements for pickup, including direct shipping, as provided in the iPhone 13 IMD Distribution Letter of Agreement.
Longevity PTO assignments. Our MEC shared frustration from Flight Attendants about how longevity PTO has been awarded during the vacation bidding process for those with eligible seniority and then subsequently removed if the 960 TFP threshold wasn’t met. Management was asked to consider a different approach that better honors seniority and preferred awarded vacation dates.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this month’s Regular MEC Meeting, please contact your LEC President.

February 10, 2023 17:00

In This Edition

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2023
Negotiation Session 9
Next Week’s Events

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2023

Originally posted February 10, 2023

Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, February 7 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are reporting related to uniform quality, wearability, and availability. If you are experiencing any issues with uniform quality or construction, please report the issues to Unisync as soon as possible. Please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so they can help track any issues or trends that might be developing.

Read More >

Negotiation Session 9

Originally posted February 10, 2023

Our Negotiating Committee tentatively agreed to Section 28: Domiciles, for a current total of 28 sections. Steady progress continues, with discussion ongoing on 10 sections. The next negotiation session is scheduled from February 27 to March 1.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, February 14 – Wednesday, February 15	Regular MEC Meeting
Thursday, February 16	Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts. Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

February 10, 2023 09:00

Uniform Committee

Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, February 7 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.
The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are reporting related to uniform quality, wearability, and availability.
If you are experiencing any issues with uniform quality or construction, please report the issues to Unisync as soon as possible. Please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so they can help track any issues or trends that might be developing.

On Tuesday, February 7, our AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Holmes (LAX), and JP Perina (SAN, and MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Kiara O’Bryant. The committee met with Interim Uniform Programs Manager Eric Phillipson, Uniform Fit Center Lead Ashley Sentner, Day of Travel Experience Manager Kelly Cuthill, PDX Base Manager Kristie Stafford.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

Updated wear test protocol and approved new processes and timelines.
Reviewed AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) recommendation sheet and made a commitment to develop a similar wear-test specific recommendation sheet that will be provided to management.
Ongoing uniform quality issues (i.e., name bars falling off of wings, pilling, holes in sweaters, seams coming undone).
Examined the need for a more diverse pool of wear testers.
Unisync sourced a possible option for a packable parka. AFA will review quality and packability and provide recommendations to management.
Requested a more robust survey and feedback form after the completion of wear testing.
Suggested a checklist sheet for wear testers.
Discussed the new “no heel” policy (sole height requirements still exist) reflected in the latest Uniform Policy Guide[AAG sign-in required] update in November 2022.
Dismissed rumors about the discontinuation of skirts and the Aura dress. These are core pieces and will remain part of the basic uniform.

The next Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

What The Committee Is Working On

Wear Testing. Wear testing for the feminine cardigan and button up shirt began on Monday, February 6th, and will run for 30 days. Wear testing for the feminine vest begins on April 26th and will run for 30 days. Wear testing for a gender neutral mock neck cardigan and a gender neutral “Aura vest” will also take place on a yet-to-be-determined timeframe. Advocating for a uniform that suits all body types requires available wear testers. The Committee is seeking volunteers who have gender neutral, petite, tall, and/or plus sizes to test uniform redesigns and additions.
Pride Scarf Redesign. Redesign is in the works and will hopefully roll out by Summer of 2024.
Warm Weather Shirt. Still in production. More information will be provided once the shirts are shipped from the manufacturer.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please email Unisync directly at alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com with any quality issues. In the email, please describe the issue in detail, include photos, if possible, and CC your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson. Please also consider opening a ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center so the Uniform Committee can track these issues.

Would you like to join the uniform wear test pool? Do you have other feedback for the Committee or items that you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management. You can find contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

February 3, 2023 17:00

In This Edition

LOSA Observations Are Underway
Never Forget: Honoring Alaska Airlines Flight 261—January 31, 2000
Celebrating Black History Month
Next Week’s Events

LOSA Observations Are Underway

Originally posted January 27, 2023

The first set of observations under the Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) program begin today (January 27) and will continue through February 28. Similar to the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), participation in LOSA is entirely voluntary and identifying information such as Flight Attendant names, dates, and flight numbers are never associated with observation data. If you have any questions about the LOSA program, please don’t hesitate to contact the AFA members of the LOSA Steering Committee.

Read More >

Never Forget: Honoring Alaska Airlines Flight 261—January 31, 2000

Originally posted January 31, 2023

Twenty-three years ago today, we tragically lost Alaska Airlines Flight 261, flying between Puerto Vallarta and San Francisco, when it went down in the Pacific Ocean between Port Hueneme and Anacapa Island off the coast of Southern California.

We will never forget Flight Attendants Kristin Mills, Craig Pulanco and Allison Shanks; Captain Ted Thompson; First Officer William Tansky; Sheri Christensen, Rachel Janosik, Ileana Ost, Sarah Pearson, Anjesh Prasad, James Ryan and Stacy Schuyler.

Read More >

Celebrating Black History Month

Originally posted February 1, 2023

February 1^st marks the first day of Black History Month in the United States. This tradition dates back to 1925 when Harvard trained-historian Carter G. Woodson first introduced a week-long event to build awareness of the contributions made by Black individuals. Read more about Black History Month, learn about the accomplishments of Black Americans, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below. Join the celebration by wearing your Black History Month AFA Pin during the month of February. If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, February 7 – Thursday, February 9	Contract Negotiations
Tuesday, February 7	Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts. Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

February 1, 2023 09:00

Human Rights Committee

February 1^st marks the first day of Black History Month in the United States. This tradition dates back to 1925 when Harvard trained-historian Carter G. Woodson first introduced a week-long event to build awareness of the contributions made by Black individuals.
Read more about Black History Month, learn about the accomplishments of Black Americans, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below.
Join the celebration by wearing your Black History Month AFA Pin during the month of February. If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

February 1st marks the first day of Black History Month in the United States. The celebration has a long tradition that can be traced back to 1925 when Harvard trained-historian Carter G. Woodson introduced “Negro History Week”, which sought to raise awareness of the contributions made by Black individuals to society and the world. It was expanded to its current form in 1976 by President Gerald R. Ford when it became Black History Month.

Learn More About Black History

You can learn more about the accomplishments of Black Americans through some of the dedicated websites and resources below.

Celebrate with a Black History Month AFA Pin

In 2019, the AFA Executive Board unanimously passed a resolution in recognition of February as Black History Month. The resolution established a special commemorative pin for AFA Members to wear throughout the month of February.

For more information about the pin, contact your Local Human Rights Committee. Also be on the lookout for a communication from your Local Council or contact your LEC Officers to determine pin availability.

January 31, 2023 16:22

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines

January 27, 2023 18:00

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

The first set of observations under the Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) program begin today (January 27) and will continue through February 28.
Similar to the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), participation in LOSA is entirely voluntary and identifying information such as Flight Attendant names, dates, and flight numbers are never associated with observation data.
If you have any questions about the LOSA program, please don’t hesitate to contact the AFA members of the LOSA Steering Committee.

As previously communicated, AFA and management agreed to conduct a Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) to help improve safety for Flight Attendants, other crewmembers, and passengers. The LOSA program is jointly administered by AFA and management as outlined in the Inflight Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) Program letter of agreement. The information collected from LOSA observations will help us better understand how Flight Attendants manage threats and errors, evaluate compliance with standard operating procedures and gain valuable insight into our day-to-day line operations from a safety perspective.

LOSA Observers are line Flight Attendants trained by an independent third party, the LOSA Collaborative. They are prohibited from recording Flight Attendant names, flight numbers, or dates, as confidentiality is critical to this process. Any data collected is sent directly to the LOSA Collaborative, which evaluates and analyzes the information. AFA and management will receive a final report outlining what went well and what can be better, identifying procedures that should be modified or re-emphasized.

Over the next month, you may have a Flight Attendant LOSA Observer ask to join your flight to conduct an observation. Participation is entirely voluntary; however, we encourage you to participate in this valuable effort. You also will have the opportunity to submit any safety-related feedback in an anonymous questionnaire during the flight.

Questions?

More information about LOSA can be found in the January 16, 2023 bulletin bundle (AAG sign-on required). If you have any other questions about the LOSA program, please reach out to the AFA members of the LOSA Steering Committee at losa@afaalaska.org.

In This Edition

February 2023 MEC Meeting Recap

Next Week’s Events