AFA Alaska

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

Click here to report an issue to AFA
Menu
  • Local Councils
    • Anchorage (Council 30)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Los Angeles (Council 18)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Portland (Council 39)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • San Diego (Council 15)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • Seattle (Council 19)
      • Officers
      • Committees
    • San Francisco (Council 35)
      • Officers
      • Committees

    • More About Local Councils >>
    Close
  • Master Executive Council
    • Officers
    • Close
  • Committees
      • Air Safety, Health, & Security (ASHSC)
        • Air Quality
      • Benefits
      • Communications
      • Employee Assistance Program & Professional Standards
      • Government Affairs
      • Grievance
      • Hotel
      • Human Rights
      • Inflight Service
      • Inflight Training
      • Membership
      • Mobilization
      • Reserve
      • Retirement
      • Scheduling
        • Pairing Construction
        • Preferential Bidding System (PBS)
      • Uniform

    • More About Committees >>
    Close
  • Contract
      • Contract Home
        • Current Contract
        • Ask Contract Questions
      • Contract Resources
        • Read Contract Q&A
        • Explanatory Videos
      • Contract Negotiations
    • Close
  • Resources
      • Issues & Campaigns
      • Newsroom
        • AFA Alaska News Now
        • Message from the MEC President
      • Event Calendar
      • Membership Services
      • New Members
      • About
      • Links
      Close
    • Negotiations
    • Contact Us
    You are here: Home / Council 19 SEA / July Junior Assignment Report

    July Junior Assignment Report

    August 5, 2013 14:32

     

    Hello Seattle Flight Attendants,

     First of all, I want to thank all of the Flight Attendants who were able to work as scheduled, VJA’d and especially the 11 Flight Attendants who were junior assigned last weekend. Junior Assignments require additional sacrifice to personal schedules and valued time off and I recognize the hardship this may cause.

    While many were able to keep their commitment to work I understand the frustration and disappointment in having your weekend plans ruined by Reassignments and Junior Availability. Each of you came to work and performed your duties with exceptional professionalism and the expectation to fulfill your commitment to the operation. We continue to show the company why we excel in the industry for customer service and operational excellence!  For those that were out sick or taking care of family members our thoughts are with you and we wish you and your family a speedy recovery.

     Junior Assignment is never an easy topic to dissect. What caused it to happen? Does the company have enough staffing? Did the junior assigning procedure follow the contract and assign in order?

    These are all valid questions that I have done my best to address this week.

     First of all, the sick calls started growing on Thursday of last week. This meant that the reserve pool that covers the weekend is taking a hit earlier than anticipated. On Thursday July, 18th the sick calls reached 83 in Seattle. Normally, Seattle averages about 74 sick calls a day for both lineholders and reserves.

     On Friday July, 19th the sick calls remained higher than normal, 80 Flight Attendants.

     On Saturday, July 20th the sick calls returned to the normal average of 74 Flight Attendants.

     To minimize the need for junior assigning the company offers VJA. On the 18th the company granted 6 VJA. On the 19th 11 VJA trips were granted and on the 20th 27 VJA trips were granted.

     Friday afternoon Crew Scheduling starts assigning trips to reserves for Saturday. When they run the number of sick calls versus available reserves it became clear that the numbers were not going to mesh and even with 27 VJA requests granted, the previous 2 days of sick higher than normal sick calls meant the average number on Saturday could not be managed with available reserves.

     Keep in mind that the company manages not only sick calls from Flight Attendants at home. They also manage sick calls from on-line illness and injury. Last weekend several Flight Attendants become sick on line which meant scrambling to cover flights out of domicile. In one instance, a PDX FA graciously offered to cover a flight out of Boston or the flight would have cancelled.

     In fact, Portland also saw 4 junior assignments last weekend.

     Reserve coverage does not only cover sick calls. The amount of reserves on any day must cover the average sick call of 74 trips and minimum staffing of an aircraft if operational issues arise.

     This does raise the question that maybe the company should evaluate the number of reserves and the reality of sick leave use. I have discussed this issue with the company on several occasions and the fact is that there is no way to anticipate a high sick call event.

     When the average sick call amount is 74 Flight Attendants the company does plan for a higher average of 74 in reserve coverage. Adding any more reserves than this number does two things: (1). It increases the overall reserve positions and (2) Means less flying for the reserves on the majority of days in the month (impacting paychecks).

     I have the JA stack of paper on my desk and I have confirmed that Crew Scheduling followed the contract and called Flight Attendants in order. They started with the most junior person available and legal to fly and went up the list from there. There are a couple of reminders I want to offer to you about this:

    1.      Reserves cannot be JA’d.

    2.      Any lineholder who traded out of a day of work cannot be JA’d.

    3.      Crew Scheduling can contact FAs who are coming in from a trip via ACARS if they are next on the list for an assignment.

    4.      If Crew Scheduling leaves a message on your cell phone, your home phone, or with one of your family members for you to call that you are NOT required to call them back if you are off duty and/or on a day off.

     Remember to reach out to any of your Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers if you have any questions on a Junior Assignment and you can refer to Section 9 of the contract for clarification and procedures that must be followed during a JA event.

    As I write this today, I have been notified that we are Junior Assinging for this weekend, too. I am actively tracking the JA assignments and have Kieran Whitney, Manager of Crew Scheduling, on speed dial to address any questions or concerns.

    I want to thank everyone, again, for their professionalism during this frustrating time.

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email

    Filed Under: Council 19 SEA

    Need Help?

    Have an issue or concern to report to AFA?  Click here to access the AFA Alaska online support center.

    Connect with Us on Facebook

    Connect with Us on Facebook

    Follow Us on Twitter

    Tweets by AFAAlaska

    Instagram

    Our Negotiating Committee just wrapped up a week-long series of listening sessions. The Committee will now shift their focus to the upcoming Negotiations Survey, which will allow all Flight Attendants the opportunity to provide input and feedback about priorities for our upcoming contract negotiations. You can also provide direct feedback to our Negotiating Committee at any time by email or online feedback form.
    Our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met on Wednesday, May 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to catering and onboard service/sales. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft. Management continues to experience challenges in many locations that are affecting the correct loading on onboard catering supplies and retail products. Please continue to report catering issues through Block2Block and safety-related issues through ReportIt!
    The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Local Council Officer positions representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in San Francisco:
    Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, May 24 to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants. As part of the meeting, our MEC joined the May 24th Negotiating Committee Listening Session to hear directly from our Flight Attendants about experiences, thoughts, and ideas for upcoming contract negotiations. The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your LEC President if you have any questions.
    The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Local Council Officer positions representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in San Diego:
    Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, May 24 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding. Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

    Latest News

    • AFA Alaska News in Review – May 27, 2022
    • Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022
    • AFA Council 35 (SFO) Election Results
    • May 2022 MEC Meeting Recap
    • AFA Council 15 (SAN) Election Results
    • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – May 2022
    • AFA Council 18 (LAX) Election Results
    • AFA Alaska News in Review – May 20, 2022
    • Tell Management: It’s Time To Make it Right!
    • AFA Alaska News in Review – May 13, 2022

    Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022

    May 26, 2022 Leave a Comment

    Our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met on Wednesday, May 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to catering and onboard service/sales. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft. Management continues to experience challenges in many locations that are affecting the correct loading on onboard catering supplies and retail products.  Please continue to report catering issues through Block2Block and safety-related issues through ReportIt!  

    AFA Council 35 (SFO) Election Results

    May 26, 2022 Leave a Comment

    Master Executive Council (MEC) The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Local Council Officer positions representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in San Francisco: LEC President: Melissa OsborneLEC Vice President: Virginia FritzLEC Secretary: James IkeharaCouncil Representative: Brad Young View the certified election results here >> These officers will serve a term of office starting July 1, 2022 and […]

    May 2022 MEC Meeting Recap

    May 25, 2022 Leave a Comment

    Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, May 24 to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants. As part of the meeting, our MEC joined the May 24th Negotiating Committee Listening Session to hear directly from our Flight Attendants about experiences, thoughts, and ideas for upcoming contract negotiations. The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your LEC President if you have any questions.

    AFA Council 15 (SAN) Election Results

    May 25, 2022 Leave a Comment

    Master Executive Council (MEC) The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Local Council Officer positions representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in San Diego: LEC President: Brice McGeeLEC Vice President: Melanie BukerLEC Secretary: Stephen Couckuyt View the certified election results here >> These officers will serve a term of office starting July 1, 2022 and concluding on […]

    Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – May 2022

    May 25, 2022 4 Comments

    Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, May 24 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling. The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding. Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

    Masks Are No Longer Required in Airports or Onboard

    April 18, 2022 By Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President)

    The CDC and TSA report the federal mask mandate is no longer in effect after today’s court ruling. Additionally, Alaska Airlines management just announced via multiple channels that the mask mandate is lifted effective immediately on all aircraft.

    December 2021 MEC Meeting Recap

    December 8, 2021 By Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President)

    December 2021 MEC Meeting Recap Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson Just wrapped up chairing our monthly MEC meeting yesterday and today. As usual, your AFA committee chairs and reps provided written reports to the MEC about the latest developments in their areas, and we received live briefings regarding dispute resolution & grievances, scheduling, […]

    Inflight Leadership Change and the Path Forward

    December 6, 2021 By Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President)

    Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson Now that is has been officially announced that Travis will be stepping away as leader of the Inflight division, I thought Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants might want to hear from their MEC president. I may not always be at liberty to communicate the details of every conversation advocating […]

    RSS Negotiations News

    • Negotiating Committee Listening Sessions Conclude
    • Boarding Pay
    • Get Involved: Seeking Local Mobilization Committee Chairpersons
    • Three Things That You Can Do to Keep Management From Getting the Upper Hand in Contract Negotiations
    • Introducing Our AFA Staff Negotiator and Staff Attorney
    • Introducing our MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson
    • Negotiating Committee Listening Sessions – Sign Up Now!
    • Introducing Our Negotiating Committee
    • MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson Interviews
    • AFA Alaska Negotiations Update – December 21, 2021

    Recent Posts

    • AFA Alaska News in Review – May 27, 2022
    • Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022
    • AFA Council 35 (SFO) Election Results
    • May 2022 MEC Meeting Recap
    • AFA Council 15 (SAN) Election Results
    • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – May 2022
    • AFA Council 18 (LAX) Election Results
    • AFA Alaska News in Review – May 20, 2022
    • Tell Management: It’s Time To Make it Right!
    • AFA Alaska News in Review – May 13, 2022

    Local Councils

    • Anchorage
    • Los Angeles
    • Portland
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
    • Seattle

    Master Executive Council

    • MEC

    Negotiations

    • Contract 2022 Home
    • Negotiating Committee
    • Negotiations Feedback
    • Negotiations News
    • Negotiations Process

    Contract

    • Contract Home

    Committees

    • Air Safety, Health, & Security
    • Benefits
    • Communications
    • EAP/Professional Standards
    • Government Affairs
    • Grievance
    • Hotel
    • Human Rights
    • Inflight Service
    • Mobilization
    • Reserve
    • Retirement
    • Scheduling
    • Uniform

    News By Month

    News By Category

    AFA Alaska News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) AS/VX Merger Benefits Committee Committees Communications Committee Contract Contract 2014 Negotiations Blog Council 15 SAN Council 18 LAX Council 19 SEA Council 30 ANC Council 35 SFO Council 39 PDX EAP/Professional Standards Committee Extension 2021 Blog Featured Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee Hotel Committee Human Rights Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) Message from the MEC President Mobilization Committee Negotiations Pairing Construction Preferential Bidding System (PBS) Press Releases Reserve Committee Retirement Committee Scheduling Committee Uniform Committee
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Want To Stay In The Loop?

    The best way to stay connected with up-to-date AFA Alaska news and information is through a subscription to AFA Alaska emails!  Click the button below to sign up.  Already a subscriber?  You can make changes to your email by clicking below!
    Sign Up

    Connect With AFA

    • Contact Us
    • Online Support Center
    • AFA International
    • CWA
    • AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines
    • AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy

    Copyright © 2013-2022 Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO