The Master Executive Council (MEC) is canceling the Open Time Tentative Agreement 2019. Voting will be discontinued as soon as AFA Membership Services at the International Office has an opportunity to pull down the ballot.
Why?
AFA representatives and management have been collaborating on the development of “user stories” in preparation for the programming of new trading rules into Crew Access if the TA were to pass. This ‘pre-work’ was being done in order to get a head start on implementation. User stories guide the programmers by describing the various trading scenarios and expected behavior of the system.
During a review of proposed user stories, a dispute arose regarding which trips count towards the Daily Count and therefore the closing of Open Time. The parties were very close to settling the dispute by agreeing to AFA’s position. However, management was also requiring that Jeppesen take another look at the implementation timeline before management would agree to resolve the dispute.
The implementation timeline reassessment is estimated to take several weeks, which would definitely not be completed until well after the ballot closing date of May 31. Although the MEC could choose to extend the balloting period, Department of Labor rules do not allow a vote to be changed once the ballot is cast. In light of the fact that two major issues are technically unresolved while the ballot is live (which trips count towards the closing of days and the implementation timeline), the MEC strongly believes it is in the best interest of the Membership to pull the TA and voted unanimously to do so.
What’s next?
The MEC, the Negotiating Committee and management will meet to discuss next steps as soon as possible. Stay tuned for further developments.
In Solidarity
Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee
Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Attorney/Negotiator Kimberley Chaput
Victoria Adams says
Better to find out that each side had totally different understandings now then having to go to arbitration again on something that should have been done already. So frustrated with these delays. I just don’t understand how the company can keep up with all these failures. Not just talking about the the TA. IT, Jeppesen and Crew Access are substandard. There needs to be some accountability. Sure would like to see those codes gone! So does everyone need to fill out a ticket to AFA everytime there is a glitch or never ending propeller to prove this is happening ?
Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President) says
Although a dispute while the ink on the TA is still fresh is not a good place to be for either party, I agree it is better to find out now rather than later. Your frustration with all the delays/failures re: OT and Crew Access is totally justified.
AFA is doing our best to hold management accountable, but we’ve definitively had some serious headwinds with that effort:
Regarding the elimination of Open Time trading codes, we have heard that feedback loud and clear.
About the Crew Access glitches and the never-ending propeller of death, yes we’re asking everyone to fill out a trouble ticket with AFA at support.afaalaska.org and to open an ITS ticket either by calling (1-877-238-1077) or emailing (its.service.desk@alaskaair.com) the ITS service desk.
We know it’s a pain, but without the data, management thinks it is working ok and AFA needs the info for evidentiary purposes.