Boots!

Are here! Thank you to everyone for standing behind the “Boot Campaign!”  We are now able to wear our boots with not only the black dress, but all dresses and skirts!  This is a proud win for not just Council 35, but all Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants. Thanks to all of you that helped promote this great benefit and improvement to our uniform.  And thank you to inflight leadership for agreeing to the change.  Please note, that the boot policy is temporary.  It is a “test” period to see how manageable the program is for inflight. Please follow the style guidelines to provide the necessary incentive to management to renew the program next season.

ASAP it!

Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) is an FAA program that allows Flight Attendants to self-disclose unintentional violations of CFRs or company safety policy without fear of disciplinary action from management or enforcement action from the FAA.  Examples include improper door procedures, minimum crew violations and unintentional company policy/Work Rule violations. The intent of the program is to improve procedure, processes, and training through increased reporting of safety-related incidents that might otherwise go unreported.  ASAP can be reported online and through your company-issued IMD through the Report It app. For questions, please contact Bradley Young, the ASAP Event Review Committee (ERC) Observer, and the SFO Air, Safety, Health and Security Committee (ASHSC) Chair at bradley.young@afaalaska.org.

Good-bye Red, Hello Cart Service

As many of you know, service flow and standards have changed on Airbus and Boeing flights in an effort to provide the most uniform and consistent product possible for passengers.  Some of these changes haven’t been very welcome to Flight Attendants, and in many cases are difficult to accomplish.   If at any time during this transition, you believe changes do not promote safety nor is manageable for efficient service, please remember to file a report regarding the incident.  Additionally you may provide feedback to our ASHSC (Safety) Chair Brad Young and/or ISC (Service) Chair Raymond Ramirez for follow up.

AFA Professional Standards vs. “Writing it up”

Professional Standards (PS) should always be the first contact whenever Flight Attendants find it difficult to work together.  In the event you find yourself contemplating “turning someone in” to management, please consider Professional Standards as the first step in this process. Part of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) committee, PS committee members are trained to help facilitate a conflict resolution process between the affected Flight Attendants.  All this is done in a safe and confidential environment, without involving management.  PS can also facilitate conflict resolution with other Alaska Airlines work groups, such as CSAs, pilots and Tech Ops.  For a confidential consultation, please contact EAP/Professional Standards Committee, AFA@alaskaeap.org.

PBS Training Available Now

AFA and the crew systems integration (CSI) team have been available in the SFO Village to provide support to the L-VX F/As for the change to the AS PBS bidding (NavBlue) and open-time (JCTE) platforms.  Posters in the Village provide dates and times of the base sits or you may visit the Council 35 Facebook page for schedule.

TFP vs. Hours

In preparation for Full Integration, Flight Attendants should familiarize themselves with the conversion process from block hours to Trips for Pay (TFP).  TFP is a unit of pay that is based on miles and hours. To convert TFP and block hours, you will need the following formulas:

TFP = Block Hours x 1.13

Block Hours = TFP/1.13

All Alaska Flight Attendants, whether Airbus or Boeing, will be paid in TFP at Full Integration.  For more information on TFP calculations, please refer to the JCBA § 21.E.

Stuff Happens Pass (SHP) Sunset 

AFA has seen an increase in SHP inquiries and denials.  With the implementation of the L-VX Commuter Policy, the SHP program began its sunset.  The last day to use your SHP, if you have one, will be January 30, 2019 or Full Implementation, whichever comes first.  When calling to use your SHP, CSS will automatically code your line with a NSH (worth 4 Reliability points), which will be removed once approval is received from your supervisor. Keep in mind that verification of your eligibility may not occur until days later.  Therefore, AFA strongly recommends that you verify with your supervisor, in writing, that you have a pass and that you are eligible to use it before calling CSS. Additionally, pay close attention to black-out dates and usage rules that are defined in the L-VX Work Rules Chapter 2-Reliability Program and Performance Expectations, when using your SHP.

Dues Check Off Forms Still Needed!

Thank you everyone for submitting your DCO forms!  We are close to our goal of 100% participation.  If you haven’t already done so, please submit a DCO form which enables the automatic payroll deduction of dues.  As a reminder, falling into arrears for failing to pay dues could result in separation from the company, as payment of dues is a condition of employment (which can be referenced in §26 of the JCBA).  The dues requirement for AFA members is currently $50 per month.  The dues obligation for L-VX Flight Attendants began July 2018.  To verify you have submitted a form, please check your 15^thpay check for dues deductions.  For answers to your specific dues questions and to inquire about your dues status, please contact AFA Membership Services.

AFA Alaska Online Support Center

To contact AFA and the most appropriate committee for your concerns, please submit an Online Support request.  Submitting a “ticket” and designating a department ensures the fastest response from the appropriate representative.  You may also upload files to your ticket to help provide the most detailed information to the reps assigned to your case.

New Council 35 Committees Members

Please welcome the following committee members and chairs into the following Council 35 SFO committees:

Inflight Service:  Clevlon Charles

Clevlon was born and raised on the small island of Grenada, in the Southern Caribbean. After finishing secondary school, he immigrated to the United States and spent the past nine years of his life in New York. In that time, he gained employment at Sephora and climbed his way up to the role of Assistant Manager. Also, while working, he attended and eventually graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice CUNY, with a BS in Criminal Justice and the distinction of Magna Cum Laude.  Always passionate about the aviation industry, Clevlon was ecstatic when he became an Inflight Teammate with Virgin America in 2015. He has been an Inflight Team Leader, Uniforms Ambassador and more recently, he joined the Inflight Service Committee (ISC). The Service Committee intrigued him because the evolution of the onboard experience is fascinating. Although he enjoys being a Flight Attendant, his ultimate goal in life is to become a commercial airline pilot.

More Opportunities to Serve

If you are interested in participating in a committee or getting involved, please visit the volunteer page of the AFA website for more information about each committee and their responsibilities or reach out to the chairperson of the committee you are interested in to answer your questions. To see a list of committees and chair contact information, please visit the SFO Committee List.

Are You an AFA Member?

As of today, only a small percentage of L-VX F/As have not signed up to become members.  As a reminder, the Membership Application cannot be completed online.  The hard copy paper form must be submitted directly to an AFA representative or mailed to the AFA International Office in Washington D.C. You can download and print an application, or pick one up from the bag/file rooms the next time you pass through the SFO Village.   Only AFA members may attend Membership Meetings, vote for officers, hold a position as an AFA officer or committee member or vote on Tentative Agreements (TAs).  It’s important to note that at Alaska Airlines, you are obligated to pay AFA dues regardless of your membership status and becoming a member is a condition of employment, referenced in §26 of the JCBA.

New Email Address for Council 35

As of July 31, 2018, Council 35 will be representing SFO-based Flight Attendants only. All L-VX F/As based in LAX are now represented by Council 18.  Therefore, the previous email address vx@afaalaska will be retired. To contact Council 35 officers in SFO, please email us at sfo@afaalaska.org.  To contact Council 18 officers in LAX, please email lax@afaalaska.org.

FAQs

What will happen to PDays at Full Integration?

The L-VX Transition Agreement defines the process for PDays.   Upon expiration at Full Integration, remaining PDays will be “cashed out” at 3.5 hours per Pday.  To verify your Pday balance, please check your Peoplesoft account page for your available days.

When can I change bases?

The process for domicile trading is located in §28 of the JCBA. Twice a year the opportunity is provided for a permanent base change—which occurs in December for a February base change and June for an August base change.  Additionally, there is opportunity for a permanent base trade, when openings occur prior to the graduation of a new-hire class.  The first class is projected to be on the line in May, therefore this will be the first opportunity for L-VX F/As to bid for L-AS bases. The ability to temporarily base “swap” with another F/A will occur in March, the first month after integration.  AFA and management have ongoing discussions about this issue so stay tuned for any possible updates.

How do I contact Council 35 officers?

The best way to contact Council 35 officers is via email.  Emails are easier to forward for follow up and to have a record of information.  Using your personal email account, please know that concerns received by Council 35 are held in confidence and will not be shared for follow up without the permission of the original sender.  Avoid using your alaskaair.com email to share concerns as those accounts are not private and subject to audits. To get the fastest and most thorough response, please email sfo@afalaska.org.  All officers can respond to emails sent to that address which facilitates a more efficient use of resources.  Please allow at least 24 business hoursfor a response to any method of contact.

In Solidarity,

Your Council 35 Officers –

Melissa
 

Aladrian

 & James