Seattle Flight Attendants,
Please find the attached minutes from the May 17th LEC Base Meeting.
Also, the local committee chair reports are listed below.
AFA-CWA Council 19 Base Meeting
May 17th 1-4
I. Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by Laura at 1:10pm
a. Call for late agenda items – None
b. Late agenda items – None
c. Announcements – The merger with Virgin America and Survey Results posted
II. AFA BOD Agenda Items
14 agenda items discussed and can be found on the AFA International site
Laura and Adam led in depth discussions on all 14 agenda items. Council 19 members, in attendance, provided excellent and direction to Laura on how she should vote at the BOD.
III. LEC Update
A. Officer Update
1. LEC President, Laura Masserant: It’s been busy. During time in Greece (Crete) I take phone calls, text messages, and answer emails. I am always happy to discuss my work and commute with any of the members. I am in the States through the end of June and back the middle of July through mid August.
Attending the AFA BOD in Atlanta 5/20 and returning on 5/20. Linda and Adam will also be attending. Remember that anyone can come to a BOD if in good standing.
June 12th through 15th Laura is attending the CWA President’s meeting and Legislative conference in Washington DC.
MEC meeting is June 28-30th and the MEC will be interviewing for the “Merger Integration Committee.” Over 30 Seattle FA’s applied for the “Merger Committee.” This was an amazing turn out!
Council 19’s FB page is being reignited to help address scheduling questions and concerns. Make sure you follow us on Facebook: AFA Council 19 Seattle.
Grievance work has slowed down since the holidays. We have no reports of any discipline as the result of “RED FLAG” customer comments.
2. LEC VP, Jake Jones: I am extremely busy with scheduling issues, pairing building. I am in the office most of the week dealing with scheduling issues. I am not doing as many grievances as scheduling duties and pairing work along with flying takes most of my time.
3. LEC Secretary, Linda Christou: I continue my work updating the Salsa database along with membership status. Meeting and grievances have slowed down a little and I fill in for Laura, in the AFA office, when she is in Greece.
4. Committee Reports: Sent out in an update to Council and posted on our AFA webpage.
IV. Open Time Trading Q & A
A little history~ In 2006-2012 FAs were dumping entire schedule into OT. Ann Ardizonne discovered how FAs were “downtrading” schedules and began started “checkerboarding” OT. A grievance was filed by AFA, which was denied by the company and went to arbitration. AFA won. However, as part of the arbitrator’s decision, several aspects of OT came into play, withholding trips,” checker boarding,” and a loss of transparency occurred.
As a result, FAs sought a different OT system during negotiations. Going back to book brings back Crew Scheduling control over Open Time, checkerboarding, loss of transparency, withhold trips and close/open the days after first 24hrs at their leisure. But typically, days remained closed.
The negotiation committee conducted a very thorough investigation in the back to book OpenTime system to provide something similar in nature, but ultimately different. Something FAs were adamant to achieve.
We even conducted a survey by Hart and received feedback on how FAs used open time and trading functionality.
Jake spent a great deal of time at the end of the meeting going over the functions and system mishaps of OT. He did a small presentation on how to trade with the codes. Council 19 members had some great questions and several ideas to help others learn the system came forward.
JCTE is up and running in October. Unfortunately, staffing still is a problem and we are about 80
FA’s short right now and even with new classes coming online, we still will be short.
As a result of short staffing, management moved average flying up to cover reserve numbers. Staffing based off of the 3rd quarter (high QPP flying).
V. Virgin America Q & A
FA’s asking about how the seniority would work and integration according the AFA Constitution
And By-Laws is “adjusted date of hire.” This is the task of the “integration committee.” This is something that will be discussed at the special merger meeting at the BOD on the 25th. More information will be forthcoming after this meeting.
Virgin is part of TWU and are without a contract, but do have TA’d sections.
VI. Budget Review
For information on the budget please contact LEC President, Laura Masserant
Meeting adjourned at 4:20pm
SEA Air Safety, Health and Security Committee Update
AIR QUALITY
NEW Air Quality Cards are now available in the SEA ready room. Please pick up some for your crew the next time you check in upstairs. They are in a box by the co-mail baskets.
SPACE BINS
Stephanie Garnett and Ronda Ruderman participated in a review of the Boeing Space Bins. As a result of their feedback Boeing has designed an assist mechanism similar to the ones on the BSI bins, which will provide some assistance. If a bin is extra heavy 2 F/As should close together.
CARRY ON BAGGAGE
Procedures in your manual support caution in assisting with heavy bags and you are not required to lift bags. This is still, by far, our top injury. You can assist by finding a location and directly customer to place item, lend a hand while using proper body mechanics, and implement the “Tug Test.”
MAIN CABIN SERVICE FLOW
Steve Vincent and Stephanie Garnett participated in a Main Cabin Service Flow Workshop.
SEA BASE MEETINGS
We hold a local Seattle Base Meeting twice a year and invite six Flight Attendants. These have been very popular and effective. It’s a great way to provide input to the Safety Committee and become familiar with base issues. The next meeting will be in October. Look for the invitation in your Outlook email from Carmen Williams, SEA Base Manager.
PORT OF SEA EMPLOYEE BUS
Take care when getting on and off the bus. If the bus is not lowered to the curb, feel free to ask the driver.
AFA WEBSITE
There is a lot of good information on our AFA CWA website. Click on the Safety Tab! http://www.afacwa.org/safety_health_security
Interested in air safety, health and security? We have openings on this committee! Please contact Susan Lee or Steve Vincent for more information.
SEA LEC Chair, Susan Lee and SEA Vice Chair, Steven Vincent, Ronda Ruderman, Laura Masserant
Benefits Committee: Medical Leaves, Workers’ Compensation and Maternity
Our committee is always busy with helping our fellow Flight Attendants with Leave of Absences, on the job injuries, FMLA, and many more questions. We continue to partner with Inflight, when needed, to help resolve issues. Many calls we received are basic questions regarding our medical plan, inquires on medical leaves and the process of applying for a leave, and the differences between FMLA vs Sick Family, etc.
The medical leave handbook in available online on your Flight Attendant homepage under the FORMS tab. It’s important to review the handbook, write down your questions, and contact one of your committee members PRIOR to starting your leave.
We are seeking additional members for this important committee! Contact Kathy O’Malley for more information.
SEA LEC Benefits Chair, Kathy O’Malley
Committee members: Laura Masserant and Linda Christou.
Employee Assistance Program and Professional Standards
MEC EAP Vice Chair, Jeanne McCleave, SAN LEC Secretary, Melanie Buker, and I are working closely with management on a return to cabin drug/alcohol change in policy. We are also working closely with Heather Healy and Skywest airlines to review other return to cabin policies. We are hopeful to have a rough draft of the Alaska Airlines return to cabin policy by the FADAP conference in September!
The current statistics for EAP cases, system wide for Alaska, is:
2,762 cases for 2015= 88.38%, which is the highest in the industry.
SEA: 1,510 cases = 87.10%
To register for the
6th Annual FADAP Conference:
www.fadap.org
SEA LEC EAP Chair, Lisa Haugen
Committee members: Andrea Korican, Carole Babcock, Lori Collins, Mimi Sterling, Norm Bernard, and Paula Minor
Government Affairs
Please welcome Kris Hall as the new LEC Chair for Government Affairs! Kris has been very active on this committee since joining last fall and will fill some big shoes left by Krystle Cook~ but Kris will fill those shoes just fine! Kris has spent time with Krystle attending several Legislative affairs conferences and is fully prepared to tackle this important role.
Thank you, Krystle, for your dedication and undying energy that you have provided the committee! We wish you all the best in PDX!
The committee is working extra hard with several key pieces of legislation that directly affect Flight Attendants: FAA Reauthorization Bill, 10 hrs rest, and Deny NAI.
For more information on these important issue visit our webpage: afaalaska.org.
LEC Chair, Kris Hall
Committee members: Adam Clarey, Jennifer Wise MacColl, Steve Poynter
Hotel Committee
DTW~ As of June 1st, FAs will start layovers. FAs will stay at the Doubletree. Nichole Turner is tasked with sharing information on food options. The hotel van will be available to transport crews to restaurants up to a 5-mile radius.
IAH~Currently 2 hotels being used: Marriott Woodlands and the Hilton Greenspoint.
Marriott Woodlands is the long layover hotel.
Hilton Greenspoint is for layovers less than a 13hrs. The Hilton has a van that will drive within a 5 mile radius so crews can get food.
Everyone must remember that we do not have language in our contract for short or long layover hotels.
CABO~ Unfortunately, the hotel will not negotiate a lower meal cost. Crews do receive the complimentary breakfast.
OGG~The only hotel that AFA recommends is the Marriott Wailea.
The Marriott will finish their renovations by the end of Nov’16.
AFA recommends Alaska move 10 rooms to the Maui Coast to help with room placement and Chad Koehnke agreed.
OAK~ Alaska’s new security representative, Shawn McBride, the downtown Marriott and decided the hotel is unsafe for crew. MEC Vice Chair & SEA LEC Chair, Jodi Snow, is reaching out to Shawn McBride to discus this decision with the OAK Marriott.
SLC~ FYI…new transportation: Super Shuttle.
If you are interested in the joining this committee please contact Jodi!
SEA LEC Hotel Chair, Jodi Snow
Committee members: Jimmy Alfred, Brian Palmer
Inflight Service Committee~ ISC
Please note that we have a new MEC chair for this committee, Stephanie Garnett! Stephanie’s plan is to increase inclusion with the committee members/line holders and the company.
You are going to see a lot of things happening in the next year and don’t be surprised to see your flight testing different types of service flow an equipment for our new premium service. There have been 2 workshops that both ISC members, along with Air, Safety, and Health Committee members, have participated in. They have learned a lot and have been tweaking and time testing the flow in hopes that we will offer a consistent and safe service throughout the cabin.
New POS devices should be here in July and this should help speed up our service. We are seeking a better way to address catering concerns and hoping that Lucretia can come up with some way to streamline a way to address the concerns or shortages from a particular flight in a speedy way.
Tidbits are returning~ We are seeking ideas and suggestions from our group to help streamline our service and to give a consistent experience for our customers.
Announcements are now on your IMD. It is important to get in the habit of using your IMD to make your announcements and to limit your announcements to only the required announcements.
Menus are being updated and we will soon go back to having monthly cycles of food. FC menus are being refreshed and you could possibly see a version of small plates come back in 2017.
We are seeking several flight attendants to join this important committee. Contact Linda Christou for more information!
SEA LEC Chair, Linda Christou
Committee members: Ronda Ruderman, Donnelle Porter, Rob Atterton, and Tim Roddy.
Membership
As of May 10th we have 2012 flight attendants based in Seattle and maintain an outstanding balance of dues owed of $7500.00. If you receive an invoice from AFA International it means that you owe past dues. Your dues come out of each 20th paycheck and it is likely you did not have enough pay to cover the deduction. Your deduction counts towards the current month (i.e. May 20th is for dues for the month of May). If you are in Bad Standing and in a Standing 5 for more than 90 days (Section 26 C, D & E) you can be invoked by International and face termination by Alaska.
Things that could cause you to be in arrears:
- You are on a leave and not coordinating any type of sick leave or vacation pay with your leave (according to the C&B’s you must pay your first three months of a leave if not coordinating).
- You are on a leave and coordinating sick leave or vacation but not coordinating enough to have dues auto deducted.
- You flew low TFP in a given month and not enough to auto deduct.
Changes of Address/Email/Phone Numbers
Access the AFA International change of address form
Access the AFA Alaska email update form
Changing your address in PeopleSoft or with the company does not automatically change your address with AFA. To ensure that your contact information with AFA is kept up-to-date, please submit a change of address to AFA International when you make a change in PeopleSoft.
A Special Note About Email Address Changes
If you have a change to your email address, you’ll also need to submit a separate email update to AFA Alaska, as the AFA International and AFA Alaska databases are separate systems that are not linked. Please make sure to complete both the AFA International change of address and AFA Alaska email update forms above.
Reserve Committee
We have been busy daily answering Reserve questions and helping to resolve reserve issues. On going concerns: Interruption of 9 hr Silent Rest, 4 K flying assignments and minimum rest. As summer approaches and our Reserve Numbers increase, we will have more coaching to do for those that have not been on Reserve for sometime.
We have just welcomed 11 New Hires from Class 2016-1 and are hoping for more from Class 2016-2 on July 1!!!!!
SEA LEC Reserve Committee Chair, Carole Babcock
Committee members: Julie Pinson, Dee Murphy, Judy Dybing, Phoebe Ganthman
Scheduling Committee
The SEA scheduling committee has been busy campaigning to “Voice” flight attendants concerns to management regarding the deteriorating quality of pairings, lack of flexibility, and high line averages that have particularly plagued the SEA base over the last 3 months. We seem to have their attention for the moment, but will press on if things don’t improve. We meet monthly with management.
We are pleased to add Denise Woodley to the scheduling committee. Denise has been an advocate for scheduling issues over the past few months and we are looking forward to her help on the committee.
Our next scheduling committee meeting will be held June 7th.
SEA LEC Scheduling Chair and Vice Chair, Martin Vance and Rita Tillou
Committee members: Rosalinda Chamberlin, Kelly Letourneau, Christina Frees, and Denise Woodley
Uniform Committee
Camp shirt
Feedback has not been positive and FAs complain the cut too full and does not breath well. Also, the shirt shows sweat stains.
Women’s dress
The new dress replaces the jewel neck dress it is not an addition. Both can be worn but Lands Ends is no longer carrying the jewel neck dress and inventory will not be re-stocked.
Notes from Uniform working Committee Meeting 4/14 (Attended by MEC Uniform Chair, Bob Moore.)
Group Exercise
Went around the room and asked all to share how each topic (listed below) is important to their work group.
Communications
Standards
Design
Wear test
Fit Tour
Then, we broke into five groups to work on each topic as a team and then share what each group come up with.
Reviewed Goals and expectation for the working committee.
Reviewed time line for the uniform project.
Reviewed American Airlines Uniform Ambassador Program.
Would be the wear testers to promote and inform with employees updates ( I spoke with Ron and explained the expectation that AFA committee member would be used and we need projections for how many at each base if we need to add members.)
Wear test projected to begin the first quarter of 2017
SEA LEC Chair, Dean Silva Health
Committee members: Tyler Vail, Susan Knox, Timothy Christian, AnnMarie Laura, Grace Dunning, and Sala McDaniel
