Commuter Policy Survey Results
AFA received 128 complete responses to the survey:
57% FOR
29% AGAINST
14% UNDECIDED
As a result, the Master Executive Council (MEC) has agreed to the implementation of the Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy, starting October 1, 2017, for a duration of 4 months. AFA will send another survey out to VX F/As in November to gather feedback about whether the Commuter Policy should continue or cease. If the trial is successful, the Commuter Policy will remain in effect until Virgin America Flight Attendants are covered under a merged agreement with Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.
AFA VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA FINAL DRAFT (August 2017) >
FAQs
What will happen to the Stuff Happens Pass (SHP) during the trial period?
The SHP will be available for use concurrently with the Commuter Policy during the trial period. Flight Attendants will also be able to accrue SHP during the trial period. If the Commuter Policy is officially adopted after the trial period, the SHP program will be phased out through a sunset provision.
Does this policy cover ground transportation issues?
Yes. This policy covers both ground and air commuting challenges.
How many times may I use this policy?
There are no limits to the number of occurrences an F/A can use the Commuter Policy to cover transportation challenges.
Are there any black-out dates?
Unlike the SHP program, there are no blackout days for using the Commuter Policy.
Can you clarify that this policy does not cover recurrent training?
The Commuter Policy does not cover recurrent training, company events, or other events related to maintaining currency. Please refer to VX Work Rules Chapter 2, Section B.10 for information regarding calling in sick, missing, or rescheduling recurrent training.
If a line-holder is released to rest after being assigned RRR on the calendar day of the original report will the line-holder be provided with a hotel?
No hotel will be provided. In-base hotels are only provided if an F/A is displaced re-assignable (DRA) from a pairing.
Will a Flight Attendant on LCC be able to use the Commuter Policy on a subsequent day of a pairing if they are not able to return to base a second time?
The Commuter Policy is intended for use once per assigned pairing. Section E.3.d of the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA stipulates that corrective action will occur if an FA calls out late due to a commuting issue for the replacement assignment.
If I’m a Flight Attendant using the Commuter Policy, could I be assigned reserve in another base? For example, if I’m a commuter out of JFK and I can’t get to SFO, would I ever be asked to sit in JFK to help the operation?
It is management’s right to send one or more reserves to an outstation to help cover the operation. However, in the case of JFK, management has indicated that they will no longer be sending F/As to sit reserve in that city once the base is closed.
If a pairing originates in another city will it be up to the Flight Attendant to get her-/himself there?
Management has agreed that the company will be responsible for getting the VX F/A to the origination point of the trip. As an example, if a VX F/A is stuck in LAS and the trip assigned originates in LAX, CSS would deadhead (DHD) the F/A from LAS to LAX.
Will Flight Attendant feedback be gathered in anticipation of the trial period closing?
Yes. AFA will send another survey out to VX F/As in November to gather feedback about whether the program should continue or cease.
Can you confirm that if the Commuter Policy is not extended through January 2018, that the SHP program will remain in effect without a sunset?
The VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA stipulates that if the Commuter Policy is cancelled, the SHP program will remain in effect
Can you confirm that if the Commuter Policy is extended past January 2018, it cannot be terminated until both VX and AS F/A’s are covered under a merged agreement?
If the Commuter Policy is extended past January 2018, the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA will remain in effect until we have a merged agreement.
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Contact your Council 35 Officers Melissa or Jamie (email: vx@afaalaska.org) if you have any questions or concerns.
In Solidarity,
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee
