AFA Alaska

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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Important Dates

December 1: PING on IMD (Don’t get locked out!) 
December 2-16: Travel Open Enrollment
December 31: Q4 CBT

Due Soon!  PING required for IMD

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is a security process for authenticating users by requiring two methods to sign in – generally a password and another form of identification. Many already using this process to access sites such as online banking, and Alaska is now rolling it out to all employees for PeopleSoft and Office365 products.  The deadline to enroll in MFA is December 1, and employees that do not enroll by the deadline will be locked out of AS accounts.  Enrollment information will be sent to all employees via company email. 

Committee Update

Reserve:

Council 35 would like to offer a special thanks to Rachel Sebastian for her commitment to SFO the last few years as Reserve Chair.  As a resident of the Portland area, Rachel is now lucky to be based at home and has transferred to PDX.  With the new opening, Reserve Committee member Kyle Ogiela, has now volunteered for the chair position.  Welcome Kyle!
Get to know Kyle in his own words:

Kyle started his aviation career in April 2018.  He was born and raised in Las Vegas where he then went on to serve a mission and lived in Paraguay for 2 years. He then attended BYU and obtained his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in painting while taking advantage of several remote study programs that took him throughout Europe, Tonga, and New Zealand. Following school he went to Atlanta where he went into operations management with Pest Control companies which finally culminated with him moving to Seattle in 2007. In 2018 he turned his work experience toward aviation.  When he started as an agent he quickly moved to become a coach and then a lead. He jumped on the opportunity to transition to inflight and was the 1st graduating class of 2019.  He has loved the decision to come to inflight and even more excited having the opportunity to serve.  At the end of last year he joined the reserve committee.  He jumped right in to being a reserve buddy for the newer classes. He loves the ability to dive in and find answers.  He looks forward to learn more and of course assist in any way every day.

Human Rights:

Back in June we introduced Sejal Patel as a new HR Committee member.  We are happy to report she has accepted the chair position for Council 35.  Thank you Sejal!

End-of-Year Reminders

Record Improvement:

JCBA§32.G.4 defines the year-end record improvement process for Flight Attendants. If a Flight Attendant has no more than 4 attendance points at the end of the year, s/he achieves 480 annual TFP, and the FA does not accumulate any points for the months of November and December, then her/his point balance will be brought to zero.  The manual adjustment occurs mid-January which will be reflected on FAs attendance point records.

Guest Passes

Convert your unused companion travel passes before the end of day December 31st. Passes can be ticketed for 3 months after the conversion date.  Once converted the passes can be found in FLY:
FLY>> Guest Passes>>Manage Guest Passes

How do I contact Council 35 Officers?

Using a personal email address, the preferred methods of contact are:

  • Open an Online Support Request ticket
  • Officer group email sfo@afaalaska.org (if one officer is flying /unavailable other officers can respond)
  • Individual officer emails (if information is for a specific officer)
  • Calls/text (if situation requires more urgent attention)

When contacting Council 35 officers please avoid the following methods:

  • Sending to/from alaskaair email (subject to company audits and therefore not private)
  • Officer personal Facebook/social media accounts (not actively monitored for AFA concerns)
  • Excessively lengthy texts (please use email for important information as it’s easier to respond and forward to appropriate resource-texts should be reserved for alerts to an issue that requires a timely response)

Please allow at least one business day for a response to any method of contact (email, phone, text).  

Stay healthy and safe!

In solidarity,

Melissa, Aladrian, James and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
Aladrian Hillmon, LEC Vice President • Aladrian.hillmon@afaalaska.org •  415-991-3791
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

In This Edition

  • Grievance Committee Update

Grievance Committee Update

Grievance Committee

The Master Executive Council (MEC) has been very hard at work ensuring disciplinary due process and contractual compliance on your behalf.  The contract requires a minimum of 13 arbitration dates yearly to dispute discipline/termination cases and contractual issues.  Termination cases are typically prioritized in order to return a Flight Attendant back to work as soon as possible; however, we seek a balance between discipline and contractual cases.  AFA and management mutually decide which cases to arbitrate next based on many factors. 

Steps of discipline are confirmation of oral warning (COW), written warning (WW), suspension (varied number of days) to termination.  COWs, WWs, and suspensions remain in the FA’s file for 18 months, and then are removed.  If a Flight Attendant is in a step of discipline and gets another violation, the new violation will build on the previous violation.  Management doesn’t always progressively travel up the steps of discipline.  If management investigates a Flight Attendant for theft or abuse of sick leave, for example, management will terminate the Flight Attendant if there is evidence to support its findings; if there is no evidence, then the Flight Attendant will most likely be issued a record of discussion (ROD). A ROD is not considered discipline.  There is no middle ground for certain violations.  

Subject of Most Recent Discipline

  • Theft.  Anything other than an opened/used bottle of water, unused pilot crew meal or purchased food removed from the aircraft will result in termination.  (Temporarily there are COVID-19 exceptions).  
  • Sick leave and FMLA abuse—Terminations on the rise due to travel audits among other things.  Anything written in the comments posting of trip trades and personal drops can be seen, even if eventually deleted.  If management determines abuse it results in termination.  
  • Timecard fraud—For example: Holding the door open to obtain sit pay or picking up additional trips to inflate pay protection after notification of a COVID-19 exposure.  Management has terminated for these violations.
  • Drug/Alcohol violations
  • Harassment
  • Reserves commuting during reserve availability period even if self-assigned a trip. Management has terminated for this reason several times.
  • Social media violations, including “friending” or “following” passengers on social media from information gained from the IMD
  • Commuter Violations
    • Flight Attendant was released from deadhead and used D8Y (commuter boarding priority) to travel home from an outstation
    • Flight Attendant used D8Y when they picked up out of base
    • Flight Attendant used D8Y to/from incorrect cities
    • Flight Attendant used D8Y for pleasure travel
  • Lost IMD or other required items
  • Failing to complete CBT—even if FA just forgets to hit the close out x at the top to switch it from in process to complete.

Recent Arbitration/Mediation

ArbitrationJulyContractual Grievance
ArbitrationAugustContractual Grievance
ArbitrationSeptemberDisciplinary Grievance

Recent Arbitration Awards

None

Recent Grievance Settlements

None

Grievances Pending Final Settlement

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-144-19-Violation §13.D.1 Uniform Allotment and Optional Pieces.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §13.D.1 [Uniforms:  Uniform Allotment/Credits], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it refused to give Flight Attendants the ability to purchase Luly Yang inspired by Alaska Airlines optional uniform pieces (which are or will be available for purchase at the Alaska Airlines Company store) with their contractual uniform allotted funds.  

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-170-19-Violation of §19.A Investigatory Meetings.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement § 19.A [Grievance Procedures], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about October 29, 2019, at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), it conducted an investigatory meeting related to a slide deployment with all Flight Attendants assigned to work flight 623 (IAD-SFO) while they were on duty, without providing adequate opportunity to obtain Union representation in the form of an AFA Grievance Representative, and without providing the option of conducting the meeting on their day off with accompanying pay of four (4.0) TFP.  

Grievances Recently Granted by Management 

Grievance 36-99-2-275-20-Violation of §30.A.2 Training Hours.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §30.A.2 [Training:  Hours], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about July 23, 2020, Flight Attendants attending Recurrent Training (RT) in Seattle were released at 5:07pm, seven (7) minutes past the contractual release time of 5:00pm.    

Details:  Flight Attendants who attended in this particular class will receive an additional 1.0 TFP.

Grievance 36-99-2-279-20-Violation of §30.A.2 Training Hours.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §30.A.2 [Training:  Hours], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about August 11, 2020, Flight Attendants attending Recurrent Training (RT) in Long Beach (LGB) were released at 4:03pm, three (3) minutes past the contractual release time of 4:00pm.    

Details:  Flight Attendants who attended in this particular class will receive an additional 1.0 TFP.

Grievances Recently Filed

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-320-20-Violation of §30.C.4 Computer Based Training (CBT).  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §30.C.4 [Training:  Training Pay/Computer Based Training (CBT)], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about September 28, 2020, it added a 5th Computer Based Training for Flight Attendants to complete for 2020.  Prior to adding the 5thCBT, it issued Quarter 1 CBT, training videos CBT, Quarter 2 CBT and Quarter 3 CBT.  

Grievances Recently Filed and Denied

Grievance No.:  36-99-2-301-20-Violation of §3.D Scope of Agreement.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §3.D [Scope of Agreement:  Scope], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it announced beginning October 2020 through July 2021, it will operate flights with cargo in cabin seats; although such flying will occur without passengers, the Company intends to staff the flights with non-Flight Attendant employees, who will be trained to perform Flight Attendant duties, specifically including but not limited to:  Firefighting duties, cargo stowage in the passenger cabin and aircraft door operation in normal and emergency mode.    

More Information

For more information, including the status of previously filed grievances, please visit the Grievance Committee Activity Page.

Questions?

Please contact your Local Grievance Committee if you have any questions about the Grievance Committee update.

AFA Alaska Update – November 12, 2020

In This Edition

  • Annual Benefits Open Enrollment
  • COVID-19 Pandemic Update
  • Recurrent Training Update
  • AFA Disaster Relief – Multiple Disasters
  • Union Plus Holiday Giveback

Annual Benefits Open Enrollment

Benefits Committee

Annual Benefits Open Enrollment is underway, and you have until November 18, 2020 to make changes to your benefits for 2021.

PPO Plan

The PPO rates are frozen at the 2019 rates per JCBA §23.A.2.

Consumer Choice (High Deductible) PPO Plan

Rates significantly increased this year for the Consumer Choice (High Deductible) PPO Plan, and the various benefits have arguably been greatly diluted. AFA recommends that Flight Attendants currently on the Consumer Choice Plan should carefully consider whether this plan continues to work for your situation.

Many Flight Attendants have asked about whether the increase in rates is allowed contractually, and the answer is yes. JCBA §23.A.3: “The Company will offer a high-deductible group-insurance plan. Flight Attendants will pay no more than any other work group to participate in the plan.” The regular PPO has an annual rate increase limit, but the Consumers Choice/High Deductible PPO Plan does not.

Regional HMO Plans

Rates did not increase this year for the Regional HMO Plans. Per JCBA §23.A.4: “For Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), where offered, the Flight Attendant will pay the difference between the entire cost of the HMO and the Company contribution for the PPO plan, subject to a minimum Flight Attendant contribution of the amount charged to PPO plan participants.”

Travel Open Enrollment

You will be able to make changes to your travel dependents during Travel Open Enrollment, which is December 2-16.

COVID-19 Pandemic Update

Air Safety, Health and Security Committee (ASHSC) and Inflight Service Committee (ISC)

Management Continues to Roll Out Additional Onboard Service Over AFA’s Objections

First, coffee and tea back in July. Then, Fruit & Cheese Platters last week. Now, a second service in Premium Class is coming soon on Hawaii flights. (There have been other service additions along the way, but you get the point.) Master Executive Council (MEC) leadership has received questions from concerned members asking if we are in support of these service additions while the pandemic continues to rage.

We are not, on the basis that they are premature in our opinion. However, management strongly believes the enhancements are necessary in order to maintain guest satisfaction and that sufficient safety measures have been implemented to mitigate risk to acceptable levels.

Although the parties are agreeing to disagree on that last point, we are always attempting to find common ground. For now, management has agreed to not expand coffee and tea service to all day, to limit the second Premium Class service to Hawaii and to continue working with AFA to minimize aisle time and maximize mask compliance. Efforts continue on multiple fronts in various forums every week.

AFA COVID-19 Operational Recommendations (October 2020)

Click here for AFA Media Release “Aircraft Cabin COVID-19 Studies Affirm Safe Travel with Mask Compliance and Layered COVID-19 Safety Procedures” (October 27, 2020) >

The AFA Executive Board of Directors unanimously approved the following recommendations developed by the AFA International Air Safety, Health, Security Department working in partnership with the safety committees at all the AFA carriers. These were recently sent to the CEOs of every AFA carrier requesting action to implement the recommendations. AFA Alaska leadership is currently working through the list with executive management. We will keep you posted on the progress.

  • Continue to require that masks are worn onboard until a vaccine is widely available, and implement these onboard service policies to facilitate consistent mask-wearing:
    • Minimize onboard food and beverage service to essential items;
    • Make regular announcements: (1) for passengers to not remove their mask until the Flight Attendant has passed their row; and (2) for passengers to only “dip” their mask down momentarily to take a bite or a sip (“dip and sip”);
    • Add onboard mask protocols to flight attendant safety demos, including the requirement for everyone to wear a mask throughout the flight, to wear it over the month and nose, and to only dip it down momentarily when eating/drinking; 
    • Only serve cold food and drinks on flights less than 1,800 miles/three hours; 
    • Serve individual cans/bottles for drinks, do not pour beverages from master bottles;
    • Stop onboard alcohol sales: alcohol consumption is non-essential and can reduce mask compliance.
  • Maintain social-distancing space for flight attendants, whenever possible on the plane and transportation to/from hotel. Provide regular briefing sheet reminders about best practices in crowded spaces to reduce risk – persistent proper mask use, avoid common touch locations, use of 60% alcohol or more hand sanitizer, and wash hands for 20 seconds or more as soon as practicable after once at destination (airport or hotel).
  • Maintain employee sick leave policies with economic coverage of testing and non-punitive sick calls if experiencing COVID-like symptoms.
  • Conduct timely notification to Flight Attendants on exposure to confirmed coronavirus cases, with a 72 hours lookback to a passenger or crewmember reporting either symptoms or a positive test result, including notification to crewmembers if one or more passengers test positive post-flight. Continue company-sponsored crew testing and quarantine protocols;
  • Continue to implement and maintain sanitation and disinfection protocols; and
  • Minimize or eliminate touch points, such as hanging coats for passengers and other non-essential services.

Recurrent Training Update

Inflight Training Committee

Recurrent Training 2021: Boeing Window Exit – Ditching

Remember the very wordy Q3 Computer Based Training (CBT) Boeing Window Exit Ditching video? It’s official: As required by the FAA, we will be evaluated on that evacuation drill during Recurrent Training 2021. We do not believe this regulatory requirement will change, so start studying now!

No More Line Observation in the Special Track Training Program

The requirement for a Line Observation (which was being commonly referenced as a “check ride” in casual conversation on the line) within twelve months of a successful third or fourth competency evaluation (i.e. RT or RQ drill) has been removed from the Special Track training program. Although the Special Track continues to exist, a Line Observation is no longer part of the program.

AFA Disaster Relief – Multiple Disasters

AFA Disaster Relief Fund

We know that disasters can change lives forever.  While we can’t stop destructive events from happening, we can, as a Union, assist our members with their recovery.  AFA established the Disaster Relief Fund after September 11th to assist our members whose lives were placed in harm’s way.  AFA members and retirees, whose primary residence is in the counties listed below and who have suffered damage and/or dislocation, are eligible for $200.00 from the AFA-CWA Disaster Relief Fund.  It is a gift made possible by the generosity of your fellow union sisters and brothers with AFA.

Hurricane Laura (Louisiana):

PARISHES: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, La Salle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, Union, Vermilion, Vernon, Winn

California Wildfires:

COUNTIES: Butte, Fresno, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Medera, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Trinity, Tulare and Yolo

Oregon Wildfires:

COUNTIES: Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion

Hurricane Sally (Alabama):

COUNTIES: Baldwin, Escambia, Mobile

Hurricane Delta (Louisiana):

PARISHES: Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Vermilion  

If you would like to apply for AFA-CWA Disaster Relief Funds, visit www.afacwa.org/drf and download the Disaster Relief Fund Application and mail it to AFA-CWA EAP Department, 6th Floor, 501 Third Street NW, Washington D.C.  20001-2797.   You can also e-mail this same information requested to lfoster@afanet.org or phone in the necessary information to 1-800-424-2406. 

If you wish to make a contribution either by check or electronic payment, please visit www.afacwa.org/drf for more information on donating.

Union Plus Holiday Giveback: Nominations Are Open

Sponsor: Union Privilege

It’s official. The Union Plus Holiday Giveback Campaign is officially live! Over the next month, Union Plus is accepting nominations for extraordinary union members across the country that deserve something a little extra this holiday season. The best part? 100 winners will each receive $1,000 in appreciation of all that they do for their communities. It’s simple to enter. How simple? Three steps for three minutes simple:

1. Record a short video of yourself explaining what makes your nominee extraordinary. They can be any union member–someone from your community, a loved one, or yourself.

2. Click here to submit the video on Union Plus’s website or post the video on your personal Instagram account using the hashtags #UnionPlusGiveAGrand and #Contest

3. Click here to submit a written entry (300 words or less) on Union Plus’s website. Nominations will be accepted until December 4th, and winners will be announced throughout December. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to make a fellow union member’s holiday season extra special and wish you the best of luck!

REQUIRED DISCLOSURE: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The Contest (the “Contest”) is open to legal U.S residents 18+. See Official Rules & Appendix for complete eligibility details and eligible unions in Official Rules. The Contest is not open to the general public. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Contest begins 11/9/20 and ends 12/4/20. Click here for Official Rules.

California Membership Meeting: November 16th, 2020

The next membership meeting for Council 35 members will be Monday, November 16, 2020 at 1100 on Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss the AFA Board of Directors Meeting scheduled for November 18, 2020. This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 35, 18 and 15 members in good standing (up-to-date on dues).  

You must register to attend.  Please review the agenda prior to the meeting.

In solidarity,

Melissa, Aladrian, James and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
Aladrian Hillmon, LEC Vice President • Aladrian.hillmon@afaalaska.org •  415-991-3791
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

SAN LAX SFO Membership Meeting Nov 16

The next membership meeting for Council 15 members will be Monday, November 16, 2020 at 1100 on Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss the AFA Board of Director’s Meeting scheduled for November 18, 2020. This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 15, 18 and 35 members in good standing (up-to-date on dues).  You must register to attend.  If you have any agenda items to discuss or specific questions please submit to SAN@afaalaska.org by November 9, 2020.

Increases to High-Deductible Health Insurance Plan

Your Council 15 Officers have fielded many questions regarding increases in the consumer choice health insurance plan.  The JCBA §23.A.3 defines the option: “The Company will offer a high-deductible group-insurance plan. Flight Attendants will pay no more than any other work group to participate in the plan.” The regular PPO is limited to a 15% increase over current rates in §23.A.1 and did not increase for 2021. The PPO rates are frozen at the 2019 rates per JCBA§23.A.2 

Multi-Factor Authentication coming soon 

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is a security process for authenticating users by requiring two methods to sign in – generally a password and another form of identification. Many already using this process to access sites such as online banking, and Alaska is now rolling it out to all employees for PeopleSoft and Office365 products.  The deadline to enroll in MFA is December 1, and employees that do not enroll by the deadline will be locked out of AS accounts.  Enrollment information will be sent to all employees via company email. 

FMLA Qualifications after Staffing and Furlough Mitigations Leaves

To qualify for FMLA, FAs need to work 504 hours within a rolling 12 month period.  With so many FAs taking leaves this year, qualifying for FMLA is a struggle for many.  AFA approached management to request a waiver or exemption to qualifying hours.  Management declined to change required hours to remain consistent with other work groups in the company.  This means that if an FA doesn’t qualify for FMLA, the intermittent leave option will not be available. Continuous leaves will be offered through Matrix as a (non-FMLA) medical leave.

Trending Performance Investigations and Disciplines

CBT


Discipline for failing to complete quarterly CBTs are continue to trend.  Flight Attendants returning from leave are given 60 days to complete CBTs.  The Council 15 Grievance Committee has been successful in assisting FAs dispute discipline when evidence of technical difficulties exist.  Being busy and forgetting to complete the CBT has not been accepted as extenuating circumstances to miss a CBT deadline and the discipline will remain.  If more than one CBT deadline is missed, discipline will progress to higher steps on the discipline scale (ie 2 missed CBTs in 18 month period will escalate to a Written Warning).


Reserve Violations


Reserves that spend their reserve days out-of-base or not remaining within airport during airport standby continue to be investigated.  Violations of the reserve proximity requirements will result in termination on the first offense.  Please see JCBA§11 for rules regarding reserve availability periods.

Contacting AFA Officers

Please, Do Not call from a blocked phone number.  Blocked Calls/Voicemail are filtered out and may not be delivered.
Please, Do Not send messages via Facebook Messenger (or any 3rd party message App).

Please, Do Not email over Company servers  (@alaskaair.com).  

The company has access to all communications on company servers.   Assume every email sent or received via Co Email will be seen by management.   

Member run Facebook Pages are NOT actively monitored by AFA.  Therefore, there should be no expectation that any AFA officer will see or address any issues or complaints posted on those pages.

If you need assistance, please reach out to your AFA Reps via appropriate channels and provide details for us to assist you.  

Please contact us using the following approved platforms:

Email: SAN@afaalaska.org

Phone: (206) 457-2010 X5
OS Ticket:   https://support.afaalaska.org/
Committee Roster:  https://afaalaska.org/san/committees

Registered Commuter Status

Key reminders for F/As who are registered commuters D8Y Status:•

  •  Commuting using the D8Y boarding priority is only permitted when traveling to/from work.
  •  F/As are not eligible to use when traveling for personal reasons.

F/As must submit an update request or removal request via the Commuter Form on the Inflight Website if any of the following events have changed since originally enrolling in the Commuter program.

  • Registered commuter city, primary residential address, permanent domicile, temporary base swap

Commuting using the D8Y boarding priority is not permitted when: 

  • Beginning or completing an out of base pick up
  • When choosing to be released from a deadhead originally scheduled to return F/A to domicile,
  • F/A travels to a city that is not their registered commuter city and then flies to their domicile(exception: making a legal connection en route from the F/A’s registered commuter city to the F/A’s domicile or vice versa).

.

AFA Alaska Special Update – November 2, 2020

In this Edition

  • Vote!
  • The Jobs Crisis Does Not Stop for the Election

Vote!

Government Affairs

High voter turnout by union members helps increase the power of our solidarity. Visit vote411.org/afacwa for helpful election information. Election Day is Tuesday—please vote on or before November 3rd!

The Jobs Crisis Does Not Stop for the Election

Government Affairs

WATCH: AFA International President Sara Nelson’s most recent update >

We absolutely should have had our Payroll Support Program (PSP) extension prior to the Senate being adjourned. There is overwhelming bipartisan support for our PSP extension — because of our actions. Instead, 100,000 aviation workers are still without a paycheck, some without healthcare. 

This crisis does not stop because of an election, and we cannot wait until a new Congress for relief. We are not giving up. We are continuing to demand relief and right now our airlines are sticking with us. 

#ReliefNow #ExtendPSP #EveryDayCounts

Click here for more information about what you can do >

Important Dates

NOW: Seasonal Boots (AFA asked and management said yes!)
October 28-November 18: Benefits Open Enrollment
October 31: Halloween (stay safe!)
November 1: Fall Back-Daylight Savings Ends 
November 16: CA Membership Meeting
December 1: AS Multi-Factor Authentication Enrollment Ends (Don’t get locked out!)

California Membership Meeting Nov 16th

The next membership meeting for Council 35 members will be Monday, November 16, 2020 at 1100 on Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss the AFA Board of Directors Meeting scheduled for November 18, 2020. This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 35, 18 and 15 members in good standing (up-to-date on dues).  You must register to attend.  If you have any agenda items to discuss or specific questions please submit to sfo@afaalaska.org by November 9, 2020.

Trending Performance Investigations and Disciplines

CBT

Discipline for failing to complete quarterly CBTs are continue to trend.  Flight Attendants returning from leave are given 60 days to complete CBTs.  The Council 35 Grievance Committee has been successful in assisting FAs dispute discipline when evidence of technical difficulties exist.  Being busy and forgetting to complete the CBT has not been accepted as extenuating circumstances to miss a CBT deadline and the discipline will remain.  If more than one CBT deadline is missed, discipline will progress to higher steps on the discipline scale (ie 2 missed CBTs in 18 month period will escalate to a Written Warning).

Reserve Violations

Reserves that spend their reserve days out-of-base or not remaining within airport during airport standby continue to be investigated.  Violations of the reserve proximity requirements will result in termination on the first offense.  Please see JCBA§11 for rules regarding reserve availability periods.

Qualifying for FMLA after Staffing and Furlough Mitigations Leaves

To qualify for FMLA, FAs need to work 504 hours within a rolling 12 month period.  With so many FAs taking leaves this year, qualifying for FMLA is a struggle for many.  AFA approached management to request a waiver or exemption to qualifying hours.  Management declined to change required hours to remain consistent with other work groups in the company.  This means that if an FA doesn’t qualify for FMLA, the intermittent leave option will not be available.   Continuous leaves will be offered through Matrix as a (non-FMLA) medical leave.

MFA for AS Accounts

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is a security process for authenticating users by requiring two methods to sign in – generally a password and another form of identification. Many already using this process to access sites such as online banking, and Alaska is now rolling it out to all employees for PeopleSoft and Office365 products.  The deadline to enroll in MFA is December 1, and employees that do not enroll by the deadline will be locked out of AS accounts.  Enrollment information will be sent to all employees via company email.

IT support staff will be in the SFO Village to offer assistance during the following dates and times:

  • November 3: 0630-1500
  • November 4: 0630-1500

Increases to High-Deductible Health Insurance Plan

Your Council 35 Officers have fielded many questions regarding increases in the consumer choice health insurance plan.  The JCBA §23.A.3 defines the option: “The Company will offer a high-deductible group-insurance plan. Flight Attendants will pay no more than any other work group to participate in the plan.” The regular PPO is limited to a 15% increase over current rates in §23.A.1 and did not increase for 2021. The PPO rates are frozen at the 2019 rates per JCBA§23.A.2 

Committee Update:  Benefits and Retirement

Council 35 is happy to welcome a new volunteer for our members.  Caleb Leo is our new SFO Benefits and Retirement Chair!  As we welcome Caleb we would also like to extend a special thank you to Majo Tanco, LAX Benefits Committee member, for filling in during the last few months and helping SFO members during the COVID-19 crisis. Get to know Caleb, in his own words:

Caleb started his airline career with Virgin America in 2011. He soon learned that many Federal and State employee protection laws that he had always taken for granted no longer applied to him, because airline crew are governed by the Railway Labor Act (RLA) of 1926. The RLA only affords airline workers one federally guaranteed right, the right to band together and bargain collectively with the air carrier.  After suffering scheduling and pay abuses that previous employers, like Verizon Wireless and Apple, could never have gotten away with, Caleb joined other like-minded Flight Attendants and became a union activist and organizer. Together, after a contentious battle, they successfully voted in a union. Now at Alaska Airlines, Caleb is still passionate about fair treatment and workers’ rights. Workers’ rights are human rights.

How do I contact Council 35 Officers?

Using a personal email address, the preferred methods of contact are:

Open an Online Support Request ticket
Officer group email sfo@afaalaska.org (if one officer is flying /unavailable other officers can respond)
Individual officer emails (if information is for a specific officer)
Calls/text (if situation requires more urgent attention)

When contacting Council 35 officers please avoid the following methods:

Sending to/from alaskaair email (subject to company audits and therefore not private)
Officer personal Facebook/social media accounts (not actively monitored for AFA concerns)
Excessively lengthy texts (please use email for important information as it’s easier to respond and forward to appropriate resource-texts should be reserved for alerts to an issue that requires a timely response)

Please allow at least one business day for a response to any method of contact (email, phone, text).  

In solidarity,

Melissa, Aladrian, James and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
Aladrian Hillmon, LEC Vice President • Aladrian.hillmon@afaalaska.org •  415-991-3791
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

AFA Alaska Negotiations Update – October 24, 2020

Master Executive Council

In This Edition

  • Recap
  • Negotiations Delayed Until 2021
  • Final Full Pay Scale Increase of 2.5% Effective December 17, 2020
  • Contract and Negotiations Education

Recap

The contract is amendable in December 2021, but negotiations may start one year prior to the amendable date if notice is served by either party (AFA or management) at least 60 days prior to December 17, 2020. The Master Executive Council (MEC) completed first round interviews in March and April with potential Negotiating Committee candidates. However, it will be no surprise to anyone that the bargaining ‘landscape’ has significantly changed over the past several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Negotiations Delayed Until 2021

In consultation with AFA Collective Bargaining, the MEC and Alaska Airlines management have agreed to hold off on engaging in negotiations until 2021. Neither party believes that entering into negotiations at this time would be productive. Consequently, we are currently working on an alternative date, and the MEC will provide an updated timeline once AFA and Alaska Airlines management have formally agreed to the details.

Final Full Pay Scale Increase of 2.5% Effective December 17, 2020

As a reminder, the contract provides a 2.5% increase to the entire Step Rates of Pay scale effective December 17, 2020, which is the final scale increase scheduled to occur pursuant to Section 21.A [Step Rates of Pay]. Refer to the last (i.e. righthand) column in Section 21.A for the applicable rates.

However, Flight Attendants who are not yet at the Year 16 Step Rate (i.e. top of scale) will continue to receive a pay increase on the anniversary of their Flight Attendant Occupational Seniority Date, if applicable, pursuant to Section 21.B [Anniversary Step Increases…] and Letter of Agreement 7 (“Virgin America ‘Red Circle’ Pay Rates”). Flight Attendants will also continue to be eligible for Longevity Premium upon achieving the applicable number of years of Occupational Seniority pursuant to Section 21.C [Longevity Premium].

Contract and Negotiations Education

AFA will take the intervening time until negotiations begin to provide periodic contract and negotiations education updates. Those efforts will start as soon as we have an updated negotiations timeline.

Next Up

(Order is subject to change)

  • Updated Negotiations Timeline
  • Railway Labor Act Negotiations Overview
  • Negotiating for Our Future
  • Block hours vs. TFP
  • Block or Better vs. Block Delay
  • Incentive Pay vs. Productivity Premium Program (PPP)
  • Inflight Team Leader (ITL) Pay vs. “A” Pay

We have another Rally for the Payroll Support Program (PSP) and we need your help!  All Flight Attendants are urged to attend!

Date: October 13th, 2020 

Time:  11:30AM – 1:00PM

Where: Senator Maria Cantwell’s Office, 915 2nd Avenue Seattle WA 98174

What to Wear: Please come wearing your uniform or your Red AFA/CWA shirt!

More Information: Contact Melinda Jorge at melinda.jorge@afaalaska.org or 253.376.8642

Over 100,000 aviation workers woke up without work on October 1, 2020: 45,000 were furloughed and tens of thousands more went on ‘unpaid leave’ when the Payroll Support Program expired. There is no longer a backstop for aviation job loss; there will likely be more. The October 1 furloughs were not a notice. People woke up Thursday morning without jobs, without paychecks, and without healthcare. They are filing for unemployment as we speak — but we have a chance to reverse course if Congress acts quickly.

Flight Attendants and other essential aviation workers have spent months calling on Congress to reach a deal for a comprehensive relief package to help all workers, including an extension of the PSP. But when Congress failed to act before the Sept. 30 deadline, furloughs began immediately for Flight Attendants and other aviation workers. 

Congress must pass a PSP extension through March, 2021, to support essential aviation workers, prevent mass furloughs and protect our broader economy!

Call Congress: Extend PSP

SENATE: 888-848-4824
HOUSE: 888-907-9365

“Hello, I am a constituent calling to tell my (Senator/Representative) that aviation workers are out of time. Furloughs have begun and we only have short time to reverse course. We need relief and an extension of the Payroll Support Program TODAY. Without an extension of this successful jobs program, there is no backstop for layoffs. This is just the start. Inaction is not an option. We are out of time #ExtendPSP now. Thank you.”

Write Congress

Send a letter to your Representative and two Senators >

Tweet Your Representative and Senators (add pictures of you in uniform to each!):

We’ve made it easy to Tweet at your lawmakers. Click here to get started. Or, you can copy and paste the following Tweets into your Twitter. 

  • Massive layoffs have begun for Flight Attendants & aviation workers. We only have a short time to reverse course. Extend the Payroll Support Program TODAY, [tag your Senators/Representative]! Pass #ReliefNow to save my job & healthcare! #ExtendPSP
  • I’m one of thousands of furloughed Flight Attendants who needs [tag your Senators/Representative] to act to extend the Payroll Support Program TODAY. We need #ReliefNow! #ExtendPSP
  • Tell your personal story using the hashtags #ReliefNow and #ExtendPSP

If you do not know your Senators or Representatives’ Twitter handles you can find them here! Don’t have Twitter, set up an account today to take action. Here’s how >

Relief Now Events

Flight Attendants have rallied across the country in Washington, D.C., Newark, Chicago, Toledo, Philadelphia, Allentown, Atlanta, Seattle, Charlotte, Salt Lake, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Denver, Orlando, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, Los Angeles to demand that Congress extend our Payroll Support Program and pass #ReliefNow. Other events are being planned now and up next is:

RSVP or Plan your own #ReliefNow event >

Board of Directors Membership Meeting

The next membership meeting for members will be Monday, November 16, 2020 at 1100 on Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss the AFA Board of Directors Meeting scheduled for November 18, 2020.  This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 35, 18 and 15 members in good standing (up-to-date on dues).  

Agenda, time and registration details will be sent in a separate communication. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

-Your AFA Alaska California Council Officers-

  • Melissa, Aladrian, James and Brad (SFO@afaalaska.org)
  • Tim, Kelese, Martin and Bryan (LAX@afaalaska.org)
  • Brice, Melanie and JR (SAN@afaalaska.org)

AFA News in Review – September 19, 2025

In This Edition Celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month Originally posted September 15, 2025 Join us in celebrating Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, a time dedicated to honoring the vibrant cultures and significant contributions of Hispanic-Latinx Americans. Discover the history, participate in special events, and grab your commemorative Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month AFA Pin […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the first group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have […]

Election Notice: Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Officer Elections

The term of office for our current Alaska + Hawaiian Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers will conclude on December 31, 2025. The voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will elect new MEC Officers at the November Regular MEC meeting. This communication serves as notice of the election in accordance with the MEC Policy and Procedure Manual. […]

SEA Domicile Negotiations – September 2025 Update #2

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants Negotiations Update Our SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee met with the company on September 11 to review their response to our September 5 proposal.  We feel that it is important to acknowledge the challenges within our company as Alaska management is struggling to understand our Collective Bargaining Agreement […]

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