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In This Edition

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Originally posted November 1, 2022

November 1st marks the first day of Native American Heritage Month in the United States.  This tradition dates back to the early 20th century when proclamations were adopted by various organizations and state governments celebrating American Indian Day.  Read more about Native American Heritage Month, learn about the accomplishments of Native Americans, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below.  Join the celebration by wearing a Native American Heritage Month AFA Pin during the month.  If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

Read More >

MEC Officer Election Results

Originally posted November 2, 2022

As the term of office for the current MEC Officers will end on December 31, 2022, our Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted elections this week for the upcoming MEC Officer term.  In accordance with the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws, each of the six Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents is afforded one vote for each officer position.  The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Master Executive Council (MEC) Officer positions representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants:

MEC President: Jeffrey Peterson
MEC Vice President: Brian Palmer
MEC Secretary-Treasurer: Linda Christou

These officers will serve a term of office starting on January 1, 2023 and concluding on December 31, 2025.  More information about the duties and responsibilities of each officer position can be found in the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws and the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual

Our Master Executive Council (MEC) congratulates the newly elected officers and we sincerely thank all those who stepped forward to run in the election.

Read More >

November 2022 MEC Meeting Recap

Originally posted November 3, 2022

Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 2 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 payroll management to discuss issues and concerns that are facing our work group and need to be addressed.  The MEC also conducted MEC Officer elections for the term scheduled to begin on January 1, 2023.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Monday, November 7 – Wednesday, November 9Contract Negotiations
Tuesday, November 8SEA Base Safety Meeting
Thursday, November 10Council 18 (LAX) Local Council 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!

 

Master Executive Council (MEC)

  • Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 2 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 payroll management to discuss issues and concerns that are facing our work group and need to be addressed.
  • The MEC also conducted MEC Officer elections for the term scheduled to begin on January 1, 2023.

The November 2022 Regular MEC Meeting was held this week on Tuesday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 2.  The meeting consisted of updates provided by 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 Vice President of Inflight Matt Prainito, Associate Vice President of Finance and Resource Planning Ryan St. John, Managing Director of Labor Relations Carmen Williams, and Director of Payroll Leah Ables.

Some of the topics that were discussed include:

  • Pairing selection process.  Management indicated that they are open to greater collaboration with our AFA Pairing Construction Subcommittee in working to understand what is important to Flight Attendants when it comes to pairing quality.  An additional meeting between respective AFA and management representatives will be scheduled in the near future for further discussion.
  • NAVBLUE PBS performance concerns.  Flight Attendants are continuing to experience performance issues with NAVBLUE PBS.  Our AFA PBS Subcommittee, Scheduling Committee, and MEC have been bringing these issues forward continuously with every level of management and pushing for improvements and a resolution.  Management has in turn taken the issues to management at NAVBLUE and has escalated the issue to the executive level.  NAVBLUE indicates they are working to make improvements but our MEC is looking for tangible results to the ongoing problems.
  • Staffing and growth.  Management provided a review of staffing plans for next year.  The projections are constantly shifting based on anticipated aircraft deliveries and market conditions.  They are currently working to determine if staffing adjustment leaves will be offered in 2023.
  • Revised Initial Training program.  The Flight Attendant Initial Training program was recently increased in duration from 4 to 5 weeks.  Management reports that there has been a corresponding increase in student success rates.
  • IMD replacement project.  Our MEC shared Flight Attendant frustrations with the delay in replacing iPhone 8 IMDs.  The problem is compounded by a lack of replacement devices and accessories which is making it difficult for Flight Attendants to perform basic inflight service duties.  Management indicates that there are challenges in the supply chain and will follow up with more details as to when new devices can be expected.
  • California meal and rest break laws.  Our MEC again requested an update from management regarding their plan to comply with California meal and rest break laws in accordance with the decision in the Bernstein v. Virgin America case.  Management provided the same information that they did last month—they are continuing to lobby for a legislative resolution and did not have any further updates to offer.  

MEC Officer Elections

Elections for Alaska MEC Officers were conducted on first day of the meeting.  From among the eligible candidates, the voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) elected an MEC President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer for a three year term that begins on January 1, 2023 and concludes on December 31, 2025.  The newly elected MEC Officers are:

President: Jeffrey Peterson
Vice President: Brian Palmer
Secretary-Treasurer: Linda Christou

For more information about the MEC Officer election results, click here.

Upcoming MEC Committee Position Interviews & Elections

In accordance with Article VI.C of the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, the term of appointment for the MEC Committee Chairpersons is concurrent with those of the MEC Officers.  As the current MEC Officer term ends on December 31, 2022, the MEC will be conducting a review of all MEC Committee Chairperson and other MEC-level appointed positions at a Special MEC Meeting to be held November 29 through December 1, 2022.

If you’re interested in learning more about the upcoming interviews, click here.  To submit an expression of interest and resume for a position, click here.  The deadline for submissions is 9 AM Pacific time on Saturday, November 19.

Questions?

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

Local Council Meeting Reminder

Originally published October 4, 2022

November 4th, 2022

Time: 11am – 1pm 

PDX Airport, Village conference room 

Please join us for our bi-annual local Council meeting. Your LEC officers will be available to share up-to-date information pertaining to the Council and committees. We will also be joined, via conference call, by members of the Delta AFA organizing team.

Election Day is November 8th

Don’t forget to VOTE on November 8th. Next year will be critical for Flight Attendants. The FAA is up for reauthorization in 2023. We need members of Congress who will fight for our issues. We cannot sit this one out!

Voting is key to our credibility with Congress. Turning out in large numbers to vote is critically important to ensure our voice is heard. Voting — not how you vote but whether or not you exercise this constitutional right — is public record. When we’re able to say with credibility “Flight Attendants vote!” it increases our ability to move our issues.

Annual Benefits Enrollment

This year’s Annual Benefits Enrollment period is here, meaning now is the time to make changes to your 2023 benefit elections for you and your family. The deadline to enroll or make changes is November 16th, so be sure to act now before time runs out.

You can enroll at myalaskabenefits.com. REMEMBER: This is the only time you can make changes to your benefits without a qualifying life event (birth, marriage, etc.) so be sure to enroll before the November 16th deadline. 

AFA Monthly Membership Dues Obligations 

Coming out of the pandemic, and with the unprecedented number of leaves that were taken by Flight Attendants, we are seeing challenges and confusion around Union dues that are owed during that time, as well as how dues payments are owed during other leaves, such as maternity, personal injury, or long-term worker’s comp. 

If you are on a completely unpaid leave, you will still owe for the first three (3) months of that leave. Therefore, if you took a six-month COVID leave and you were not coordinating any vacation and/or sick leave to cover healthcare, life insurance, short term disability premiums, etc., then you would wind up owing $150 for those first three months. After that, you are not considered an “active” Flight Attendant and dues obligations are suspended until you return to active status.  

If you are on a leave of any kind and you coordinate sick leave and/or vacation in any given months, you are responsible for your dues for those months (“dues obligated”) because you are on payroll and considered an active Flight Attendant. Even if you don’t receive any net pay, due to insurance premiums and other voluntary deductions coming out of your gross pay, you are still dues obligated for those months. Basically, if you are benefiting from an AFA contract financially, you owe dues.

We are also seeing an increase in Flight Attendants who are not working enough TFP in each month to cover all deductions and dues. Many Flight Attendants are dropping to minimal flying and not having enough net pay (after taxes and insurance premiums, etc.) to cover their dues obligation for the month. In these cases, dues must be paid directly to International.   

How does this impact you?

We have a significant number of Flight Attendants who are currently in arrears and in bad standing. Members in bad standing will not have their votes counted in any elections, including voting on a new contract (tentative agreement.) You must be in good standing to have your vote counted. 

Please see Section 26 of the JCBA for more information regarding dues and membership standing. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to any LEC officer or the AFA International membership services department at Contact Membership Services – Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (afacwa.org)

To make an online payment to AFA, click AFA-CWA Online Dues Payment 

Stronger Together, Better Together: Join the Delta AFA Campaign 

What happens at Delta matters for all of us. Delta Air Lines has undercut our careers by billions of dollars, spoken in place of Flight Attendants on Capitol Hill and, as globalization speeds up, no contract for Flight Attendants at Delta also jeopardizes job security for all of us. Delta CEO Ed Bastian wouldn’t do his job without a contract to protect him and his interests, yet the airline he runs spends tens of millions of dollars to deny Flight Attendants the same rights.

Undercutting our worth and standing at Delta ultimately means Delta is stealing from all of us. But we can change that by supporting Delta Flight Attendants in their efforts to gain AFA representation and the means to negotiate a contract. The only way to push our careers forward is through strength in numbers and continuing to set the highest standards at every airline. 

You can do a lot to help our flying partners at Delta. Sign up to be a supporter, connect us with a Delta Flight Attendant you know, learn more about their campaign, and get tools to help organize.

Council 39 is joining the campaign. Show your support and help Delta Flight Attendants secure their Union! Sign up now >

Master Executive Council (MEC)

As the term of office for the current MEC Officers will end on December 31, 2022, our Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted elections this week for the upcoming MEC Officer term.  In accordance with the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws, each of the six Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents is afforded one vote for each officer position.  The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Master Executive Council (MEC) Officer positions representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants:

MEC President: Jeffrey Peterson
MEC Vice President: Brian Palmer
MEC Secretary-Treasurer: Linda Christou

These officers will serve a term of office starting on January 1, 2023 and concluding on December 31, 2025.  More information about the duties and responsibilities of each officer position can be found in the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws and the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual.

Our Master Executive Council (MEC) congratulates the newly elected officers and we sincerely thank all those who stepped forward to run in the election.

About Our MEC Officers

Jeffrey Peterson

Jeffrey Peterson grew up in Anchorage, AK, and graduated from A.J. Dimond High in south Anchorage.  Jeff achieved a Presidential Scholar Award in 1991 and went on to attain a BA in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego.  Prior to becoming a Flight Attendant, he spent several years in hotel management working in San Diego and San Francisco for Marriott International and a Marriott hotels franchise company.  He started out his Flight Attendant career in 1999 in the Los Angeles domicile.  Jeff has also been based in Seattle and now San Diego.  He has served as AFA-CWA Alaska MEC President since July 1, 2011.  Jeff currently splits his time between working remotely out of his family’s condo in Puerto Vallarta and the AFA Alaska office in Seattle.

Brian Palmer

Brian started his career with Alaska Airlines as a Flight Attendant in 2006.  Initially based in Anchorage, he also spent time based in Los Angeles and Portland, and is currently based in Seattle.  Brian first became involved in AFA work in 2009 as a member of the Council 39 Portland Reserve Committee when he became frustrated with the quality of life that he and other reserve Flight Attendants were experiencing.  He later served as Council 39 Reserve Chairperson and LEC Vice President.  Brian was first elected MEC Vice President in January 2014 and is honored to have been reelected.

Prior to his career as a Flight Attendant, Brian held various leadership positions in the hotel and retail banking industries.  He currently splits his time between the Philadelphia and Seattle areas.

Linda Christou

Linda has been with Alaska Airlines since 1980.  She started out as a Union volunteer and became more involved by joining the Council 19 Seattle Inflight Service Committee and was eventually appointed Local Chairperson of the committee. While serving on that committee, Linda had a desire to do more to help and subsequently ran for and was elected Council 19 LEC Secretary.  Linda served in that role, along with being a Grievance Representative, starting in July 2011.  She is very excited to continue serving as MEC Secretary-Treasurer and looks forward to serving all of our Members.

Prior to being with Alaska, Linda attended Green River Community College and had an emphasis in Political Science which is what drew her to get involved with Union work.  Outside of work, Linda enjoys spinning and gardening.  She also enjoys cooking, entertaining, and collecting wine with her husband.  Linda also enjoys volunteer work, focusing on raising money for The Eluna Foundation, which is a foundation for children in distress.

Human Rights Committee

  • November 1st marks the first day of Native American Heritage Month in the United States.  This tradition dates back to the early 20th century when proclamations were adopted by various organizations and state governments celebrating American Indian Day.
  • Read more about Native American Heritage Month, learn about the accomplishments of Native Americans, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below.
  • Join the celebration by wearing a Native American Heritage Month AFA Pin during the month.  If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

November 1 marks the first day of Native American Heritage Month in the United States.  The celebration, which is also referred to as National Native American Heritage Month, began with efforts to recognize an American Indian Day in the early 20th century.  In 1916, New York became the first state to proclaim American Indian Day after a declaration from the governor.  

The first national recognition came in 1976 when President Gerald Ford signed a proclamation designating Native American Awareness Week.  In 1990, President George H.W. Bush approved a resolution recognizing the first National American Indian Heritage Month.  This recognition has continued with similar proclamations issued each year under varying names (including Native American Heritage Month and National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month) since 1994.

Learn More About Native American History

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

Celebrate with a Native American Heritage Month AFA Pin

In 2021, the AFA Executive Board unanimously passed a resolution in recognition of Native American Heritage Month.   The resolution established a special commemorative pin for AFA Members to wear throughout the month.

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.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact your Local Human Rights Committee.

In This Edition

Election Notice: MEC Officer Candidates

Originally posted October 25, 2022

As previously communicated, the voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will conduct an election for MEC Officers at the upcoming regular November MEC meeting.  Elections will be held on the first day of the meeting which is scheduled to begin on November 1, 2022.  This notice, communicating a list of eligible candidates for MEC office, is being provided in accordance with Article III.C.3 of the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual.

Read More >

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2022

Originally posted October 27, 2022

Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, October 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling.  The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.  Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Read More >

Shared on Social

Stronger Together, Better Together: Join the Delta AFA Campaign

What happens at Delta matters for all of us. Delta Air Lines has undercut our careers by billions of dollars, spoken in place of Flight Attendants on Capitol Hill, and as globalization speeds up, no contract for Flight Attendants at Delta also jeopardizes job security for all of us. Delta CEO Ed Bastian wouldn’t do his job without a contract to protect him and his interests, yet the airline he runs spends tens of millions of dollars to deny Flight Attendants the same rights. Undercutting our worth and standing at Delta ultimately means Delta is stealing from all of us. But we can change that by supporting Delta Flight Attendants in their efforts to gain AFA representation and the means to negotiate a contract. The only way to push our careers forward is through strength in numbers and continuing to set the highest standards at every airline. 

You can do a lot to help our flying partners at Delta. Sign up to be a supporter, connect us with a Delta Flight Attendant you know, learn more about their campaign, and get tools to help organize.

AFA Alaska is joining the campaign. Show your support and help Delta Flight Attendants secure their union!

Sign up now >

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, November 1 – Wednesday, November 2Regular MEC Meeting
Thursday, November 3Scheduling Review Board (SRB)
Thursday, November 3Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Thursday, November 3Council 19 (SEA) Local Council Meeting
Friday, November 4Council 39 (PDX) Local Council 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!

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, October 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
  • Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Tuesday, October 25, our AFA Scheduling 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 Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Natalie Codd (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Adam Clarey. The committee met with Inflight Crew Scheduling Duty Manager Sara Cook, Director of Crew Staffing Nicholas Giles, and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

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:

  • CARE Retreat.  Review of the process for bidding, awarding and assigning. Crew Planning reviews who is assigned or has attended prior to and during the bid award process.  Crew Scheduling does assign approximately 5-10 reserves to a class with openings and reviews the LTFA per the letter of agreement which allows assignment to reserves.  The reserve assignments to CARE Retreat occur mostly in the Seattle domicile.
  • Charters.  If you bid for a charter it is possible for Crew Scheduling to repost the charter for bid prior to awarding.  If the charter is reposted, any previous bid that you submitted is erased.  You will receive an email indicating that you need to submit a new bid if you would still like to bid on the reposted charter.  It’s possible that charters could be reposted any time during the bidding process, so it’s imperative to regularly check and read your company email.  Recently, several Flight Attendants have read the email after the rebid and award were issued. 
  • 4 Position Pairings.  Flight Attendants continue to ask for pairings to be built with the A, B, C, and D positions together.  The Company is still operating Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-700 aircraft which requires that 3 position pairings also be constructed.  Management is committed to reviewing the suggestion if it is in line with costs and makes operational sense.
  • Crew Access Issues.  There have been recent reports of hotel notifications not coming through, rosters not appearing on schedules, and other system glitches.  If you experience a glitch or malfunction please contact the ITS Service Desk. Thorough reporting is the key to resolving these issues for a future release.  Contact information for the ITS Service Desk can be found by clicking here (AAG sign-on required) or from Alaska’s World, choose Workgroups > ITS Service Desk from the menu.
  • Staffing Levels.  The Committee discussed concerns with management about the perception of over staffing given the current flight schedule. In the future, there will be opportunities to increase the line averages.  In addition, there will be no staffing leaves offered for December.  Flexibility will still exist with the ability to drop trips into Open Time based on TSN thresholds and the awarding of Personal Drops as the operation permits.  Management reports that there is currently an 85-90% approval rate of Personal Drops at this time. 
  • Crew Hotels and Layover Transportation.  Please continue to file CrewCare reports that include positive and negative feedback.  If you experience any issues with a hotel or layover transportation that is not listed as a reporting category in CrewCare, please contact your Local Hotel Committee. 
  • December 2022 and January 2023 Bidding.  The next few months of bidding are the most difficult for coverage awards.  The first half of December is usually a lighter flight schedule with the bulk of flying in the last two weeks.  Additionally, the dates most Flight Attendants request off will fall on the weekends. The PBS Subcommittee has updated the coverage information from last year and is available to assist you with your questions/concerns. 
  • Month End Overlap.  During the bid award process trips that touch the last 5 days of the prior bid month will be restricted.  Once the awards are posted the restrictions are removed and trading resumes as normal.  
  • Crew Access Known Issues Document.  Known issues with Crew Access are tracked and are posted in a document on the Flight Attendant website.  The document was last updated on October 19, 2022.  The Committee recommends that all Flight Attendants review the document on at least a quarterly basis.  You can find the document on the Flight Attendant website > Schedule and Bidding > Crew Access Help > Crew Access Known Issues.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Scheduling a meeting with Network Planning.  The Committee would like to meet with Network Planning in 2023 to discuss our contract, legalities and suggestions. We want to provide management with the Flight Attendant perspective and in an effort to improve our quality of life. 
  2. Review of JCTE/Crew Access transaction performance.  Each month, ITS provides the Committee with data on performance and transactions within JCTE/Crew Access.  The Committee reviews these reports to ensure our service levels are maintained at the appropriate thresholds.
  3. Scheduling Quality of Life Improvements.  Reviewing ways to improve Trip Length Distribution (TLD) and other quality of life options.  Working with management to develop a quality of life survey to determine Flight Attendant scheduling priorities. 
  4. Review of user guides and links of Flight Attendant website.  Ensuring information is still accurate in existing resource materials, links are still active and working, etc.
  5. Updating Crew Access videos.  Working with management and ITS to update the Crew Access instructional videos to reflect updates and changes to the user interface.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Scheduling Committee is your voice to management.  You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

As previously communicated, the voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will conduct an election for MEC Officers at the upcoming regular November MEC meeting.  Elections will be held on the first day of the meeting which is scheduled to begin on November 1, 2022.  This notice, communicating a list of eligible candidates for MEC office, is being provided in accordance with Article III.C.3 of the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual.

Eligible Candidates

The following Flight Attendants have met the requirements outlined in Article III.C of the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual and are considered eligible candidates for MEC office:

MEC President

Jeffrey Peterson (view resume | view willingness-to-serve statement)

MEC Vice President

Brian Palmer (view resume | view willingness-to-serve statement)

MEC Secretary-Treasurer

Linda Christou (view resume | view willingness-to-serve statement)
Melissa Osborne (view resume | view willingness-to-serve statement)

Questions?

If you have any questions about MEC Officer elections, please contact your LEC President.

In This Edition

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2022

Originally posted October 19, 2022

Our AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met on Thursday, October 13 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to safety, health, and security in our workplace.  The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft.  Reporting safety concerns is more important than ever given the challenges we are currently facing as a work group.  Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Reports (ASAP), and fatigue reports can all be filed through Report It!  Please contact a member of your Local ASHSC if you need assistance.

Read More >

Third Negotiation Session

Originally posted October 20, 2022

Our Negotiating Committee met with management this week for the third negotiation session.  Discussions continued and several Tentative Agreements were reached, including agreements on section 3 (Scope of Agreement), section 4 (Status of Agreement), section 6 (Seniority), and section 33 (Charters).  The next negotiation session is scheduled for November 7-9.

Read More >

Shared on Social

Negotiating Committee Blog Update – October 17, 2022

Additional responses are now published on the Negotiating Committee Blog! Read this week’s answers for clarification on Open Time trading, starting pay rates, and contractual penalties.

Negotiating Committee Blog

Negotiation Session 3 Recap Video

The Negotiation Session 3 Recap Video is now posted! This week, hear updates from the Negotiating Committee on Charters, Seniority, Scope, and more. Watch the video recap here!

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, October 25Monthly Scheduling Committee Meeting
Wednesday, October 26ANC Base Safety Meeting
Thursday, October 27Alternate 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!

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

  • Our AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met on Thursday, October 13 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to safety, health, and security in our workplace.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft.
  • Reporting safety concerns is more important than ever given the challenges we are currently facing as a work group.  Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Reports (ASAP), and fatigue reports can all be filed through Report It!  Please contact a member of your Local ASHSC if you need assistance.

On Thursday, October 13, our AFA Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) 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 Debi Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Blair Kimball (PDX), Brad Young (SFO), Carin Meritt (LAX), and Eva Gatus (SAN).  Also present were MEC ASHSC Vice Chairperson—Air Quality Yvette Satterlee and MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple.  The committee met with Cabin Safety Manager Cari Smith-Allen, Director of Inflight Training & Standards Thomas Kaminski, Inflight Policy & Procedure Specialist Cassie Tevis, Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Director of Inflight Safety & Compliance Corey Chestnut, Interim Manager of Inflight Policy & Procedure Johanna Giese, and Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • IMD Replacement Status.  F/As hired prior to 2022 should be receiving new IMDs before 2023.
  • Trash Stowage.  A Trash Task Force (which includes a representative from both the ASHSC and AFA Inflight Service Committee) meets every other week to monitor trash reports and work on solutions.
  • Single Door Catering.  Working with other divisions to come up with a documented process for catering out of just the aft or forward galleys where dual door catering cannot be accomplished.
  • 737 MAX 9 G1 Trash Compartment: Management is reviewing process for cleaning the MAX 9 G1 trash compartment in response to Flight Attendant complaints.  Management is also looking at improving the design on future versions of the MAX. 
  • Undesirable Lavatory Odors.  Toilets cowls are being removed on regular intervals to deep clean underneath them, which should help alleviate unpleasant smells.  Flight Attendants should write up the aircraft (using a Cabin Discrepancies form) if odors are overwhelming and need immediate attention.
  • Passenger POC Batteries.  Discussed concerns about passenger’s POC battery not being charged enough to last the length of the flight.  Management reported that CSAs are trained to ask if the POC battery is charged and can last at least 1.5x the length of the flight.  All POCs should have cabin approved tag attached prior to boarding to indicated they have been verified by CSAs
  • 737-900 Seatbelts Extensions.  Not all seat belt extensions on our fleet are compatible with every aircraft type. Maintenance checks each aircraft to ensure the correct ones are boarded every 120 days.  The Committee also brought forward concerns to management that some extensions require opening the buckle 180 degrees to release, which makes performing the safety demo awkward and may be difficult for passengers to use.
  • Onboard Cleaning Products. Management is looking at removing the large bottle of cleaning spray currently boarded due to issues with leakage. They may place a smaller bottle in the UPK instead so it is still available when needed.
  • Event Follow Up Emails.  Management reported that they are trying to constantly provide information to employees about significant events.
  • MELs.  Significant discussion was had about ways to improve communication from Maintenance Technicians and Pilots when sharing information with Flight Attendants regarding MELs.  The Committee believes management can do a better job training Flight Attendants about the MEL process and how to apply safety principles (Ready, Safe, Go).  The Committee also wants to build awareness with Flight Operations and Maintenance & Engineering so that there is a better understanding of how legally applied MELs affect Flight Attendant working conditions and can lead to the perception of an unsafe work environment.
  • Recurrent Training (RT) Drills for 2023.  Review of the number and type of drills planed for RT 2023.  Management currently plans to evaluate Flight Attendants on both Boeing and Airbus drills and a new arrival procedure drill.  The Committee is concerned that the number of drills when accompanied by hands-on practice time will not fit comfortably in the RT footprint.
  • Trays.  The Committee discussed issues with trays coming out of galley compartment unexpectedly and striking Flight Attendants.  Management reports that trays should all be catered inside of beverage carts.  It is a catering error if they are found elsewhere and should be reported using the catering feedback function in Block2Block (B2B).
  • Emergency Medical Equipment.  The Committee continues to advocate that additional equipment, such as pulse oximeters, be added to onboard medical kits.
  • Layover Transportation Safety.  Reports have been received about a number of recent accidents involving layover transportation.  The Committee wants to ensure drivers are well vetted by management and encourage Flight Attendants to wear a seatbelt whenever they are available.
  • Personal Items Plugged Into Galley Power Outlets.  There have been reports of Flight Attendants plugging personal items, like tea kettles, into galley power outlets.  No personal items may be plugged into galley power outlets as they are not tested to be safe for the environment or with the 400Hz power supplied by the outlets.
  • Apple AirTags.  Lufthansa recently banned Apple AirTags on checked luggage. The Committee asked management to provide a safety assessment of Apple AirTags and similar tracking devices on checked luggage.
  • Lack of Reach Out After Significant Events. Discussed better ways to ensure that management and AFA representatives are aware of significant events which take place on the aircraft. There can be a lag time if the only notification is from a FAIR filed by the Flight Attendants involved in the event.  Flight Attendants need better information about how and when to reach out to Inflight management about an event.  
  • Change Location of “In an evacuation, leave all carry-on items behind” Announcement.  The Committee provided feedback to management that this announcement doesn’t flow well in the safety demo and suggested moving to a different location.  Management agreed and will look at improving the flow.
  • CSA Boarding Questions in B2B Teams Messaging.  Management understands that there is significant confusion among Flight Attendants and CSAs with this process. There seem to be very different expectations between CSAs and Flight Attendants about the meaning of the “ready to board” message.  Per Company policy, boarding should start at D-40, so it is expected that when answering “ready to board” that boarding will begin accordingly at D-40.  The Committee also expressed concern about the questions being asked before Flight Attendants have even reported to the aircraft and with messages not going through in a timely manner because of connectivity issues. 
  • Block2Block (B2B) Passenger Age Group Identifiers.  The Committee shared a request to have identifiers added to B2B to help Flight Attendants assess compliance related to age-related policies and regulations (under 2, 15 or over, 21 or over). Management indicates this is on the development list but a low priority.
  • Final Compliance Checks at 18,000 Feet.  After years of advocacy by the Committee, management indicates that final compliance checks will move from being conducted at 10,000 feet on descent to 18,000 feet to improve safety. This change is being made to reduce turbulence related injuries.
  • Cabin Lighting During Compliance Checks: The Committee had previously requested brighter lighting for pre-landing compliance checks.  Management recently made the change based on this request.

What the Committee is Working On

  1. Simplifying Cabin Lighting Settings.  Together with the Inflight Service Committee, working to reduce the number of cabin lighting scenes and simplify settings while ensuring a safe level of lighting whenever carts are in the aisle.
  2. 737 MAX 8 Galley Designs.  Working with the Inflight Service Committee and management to ensure the new 737 MAX 8 galleys are as safe and as Flight Attendant friendly as possible.
  3. Launching the Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) Program.  Working with the members of the LOSA Steering Committee to launch the LOSA Program.  Additional communications from management will be coming soon about the opportunity for Flight Attendants to get involved in the program as LOSA Observers. 

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please help the committee to advocate for improvement and change by filing a report.  Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) reports, and fatigue reports can all be submitted using ReportIt!  If you’re not sure what type of report to file for a particular situation or need help, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of your Local ASHSC.

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local ASHSC is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the ASHSC page of the AFA Alaska website. 

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