How many Sections are closed?
28 of 35 Sections are TA’d.
What Sections are open and what are major topics in each?
Section 3 – Scope (Management Flying)
Section 11 – Reserve (ER days, Reserve reposition calendar)
Section 12 – Exchange of Sequences (Open Time trial period)
Section 14 – Vacation (480 provisions, accrual, 960 tfp for extra week)
Section 16 – Sick Leave/On the job injury (Two sick leave banks, 480 provisions, 12 mo look back)
Section 21 – Compensation (Step Rates/Scale, Signing Bonus, Retro pay)
Section 29 – Retirement (401K matching increase)
Where is the next negotiation meeting being held?
Chicago, IL
If I have questions or comments for the negotiating committee where else am I able to post besides Facebook and Twitter?
The negotiating committee is looking to engage Flight Attendants by using our new website www.afaalaska.org and on the negotiations blog. If you have questions or concerns there is also the ability to visit the website and send in a feedback form or email the committee directly.
Ralph Holmes says
Hi.. Nice upgraded website…. Question re: 480…. I have passed the 480 tfp this year, that’s required for 2015 benefits…Is that then, (2015 benefits), grandfathered in a new TA ? ..ie… Would ANY new required quarterly flying in 2015 be for the benefits for 2016 year, NOT the 2015 year ? Thanks for your efforts ..
Jake Jones (SEA LEC Vice President/Negotiating Committee Member) says
Hi Ralph,
The negotiating committee understands the importance of this provision and the 480 requirements/grandfathering is up for negotiation. However, the committee does not believe management would pursue a more restrictive immediate application as this would be viewed as punitive. In our first TA the committee negotiated several accomodations to ensure Flight Attendants would not have various benefits or provisions pulled out from underneath them as a result of signing a new TA. We believe you are on very solid ground to not worry about it for next year if we reach a TA this year. There are no quarterly requirements for benefits, just annually. Please know the negotiating committee appreciates you posting on our blog and look forward to providing you with specifics once the 480 provision is TA’d. After our session in October we are optimistic we will be able to answer your question in more detail.
Sincerely,
Jake Jones
Negotiating Committee Member
Cat White says
Hi Jake, more needs to be addressed in SCOPE than management flying. I took the phone survey and no questions were asked about SCOPE at all. In fact my interviewer knew absolutely nothing about my job, whatsoever. We want guarantees that we won’t be replaced by contract flight attendants. We would like extra compensation for added duties, now and inthe future. Also, base protection is of paramount importance.
Jake Jones (SEA LEC Vice President/Negotiating Committee Member) says
Hi Cat, thank you for posting the comment regarding Scope. The negotiating committee believes that scope is important as well. In our recent negotiation survey our Flight Attendants rated removing management flying in Scope as a priority of the membership. The committee is preparing to meet with management October 6th-9th and will take your comment and suggestions under consideration. The negotiating committee did submit a limited opener with information regarding our survey, opener and approach as we move forward. As a reference I have included the link for review.
http://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/AFA-Alaska-2014-TA-2-Opening-Proposal.pdf
Sincerely,
Jake Jones
Negotiating Committee Member
Jake Jones (SEA LEC Vice President/Negotiating Committee Member) says
Just curious- for scope the only major topic listed is management flying…what about duties onboard the aircraft and who can do our flights besides management such as Skywest or contracted out FA’s???
In preparing the opener and returning back to the table the concerns of duties onboard and other scope protections were not a priority listed in the survey results. We used the survey results to identify the top priorities of the membership and shared the survey with our mediator. We will not be addressing concerns that were not a priority of the survey. The committee does understand the importance of being paid appropriately for the additional job duties that are being required onboard and expect compensation to reflect the new requirements.