Good-bye Seatbelts!
A nice start to the holiday season began December 1 when management released the requirement for Flight Attendants to cross seat-belts and clean the aircraft after each flight. Since April, AFA has been advocating for this minor but highly impactful improvement to the duties and responsibilities of Virgin America F/As. Happy Holidays!
Amnesty Program for IFM Compliance
Council 35 officers have been strongly advocating for amnesty for Flight Attendants that self-disclose IFM compliance issues. Management has indicated they will be allowing Flight Attendants that self-disclose a reprieve from discipline under certain circumstances. If you have any questions regarding your IFM and maintaining currency, please contact your Council 35 officers for assistance.
Social Media
Management has indicated that they will be enforcing the current Virgin America social media policy to mitigate perceived undesirable behavior on social media sites. Many members have expressed to Council 35 that they are unclear which social media policy applies to Virgin America. Management has clarified that Virgin America is still under the VX social media policy found on VX Connect. This policy will be in effect until we transition to AS company policies early 2018. After the transition, VX employees will fall under the AS social media policy. If you have any questions about any social media activity, please feel free to contact your Council 35 officers for assistance and guidance.
Commuter Policy Survey Now Available
Yesterday, the Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council (MEC) sent VX membership a survey to determine the effectiveness of the VX Commuter Policy. Flight Attendants, and especially commuters, are strongly encouraged to participate in the survey to determine the future of the program for VX Flight Attendants. If you did not receive the email containing the link to the survey, please contact your Council 35 officers for a new link.
Down-gauge/Up-gauge of Aircraft
It was brought to AFA’s attention over Thanksgiving week that Crew Scheduling has implemented new procedures to handle aircraft changes involving the 321 aircraft (A/C). It appears that this procedure was developed in response to situations when A/C swaps created additional crew members. Management has agreed to include AFA in discussions to find a solution to managing this procedure and how to mitigate the negative impact on Flight Attendants.
Save the Date—Membership Meeting
The next Council 35 membership meeting is scheduled for April 3, 2018 and will be co-hosted by United Airlines Council 11. The agenda will be the AFA Board of Directors meeting scheduled April 9-11, 2018. Please stay tuned for more information.
AFA Membership Applications Needed
Every VX Flight Attendant must complete and submit a membership application to become an official member of AFA. Please be aware that this form cannot be completed online. The hard copy form must be submitted directly to an AFA representative or mailed to the AFA International Office in D.C. Completing an application ensures that you have the right to participate in voting activities and to attend membership meetings.
Grievances and AFA Representation at Meetings
Council 35 has been in attendance for over 100 meetings with VX Flight Attendants since June 1, when the Grievance Letter of Agreement went into effect. These meetings have been for investigations and issuance of discipline. To date, we have filed 34 grievances on behalf of Flight Attendants to dispute discipline issued and for contractual violations. If you want to know more about the grievance process please review the Letter of Agreement and the July 5 Council 35 News for an explanation of the just cause employment relationship. If you need representation for a meeting with management, please contact your Council 35 officers.
FAQs and Rumor Control
Will we get paid the same as Alaska Flight Attendants when we achieve Single Operating Certificate (SOC)?
Single Operating Certificate is the process that the company experiences to bring systems together to create a single airline recognized by the FAA and DOT. Currently Alaska Airlines is scheduled to achieve this in January 2018. This does not mean that all the work groups will be fully merged and integrated at that time. For the Flight Attendant work group to be fully merged, we must have an Integrated Seniority List (ISL) and be covered under a single contract. We do not have a date set for either of these two items to be completed. VX teammates will see some benefit changes through the process of achieving SOC, however anything connected to the Flight Attendant contract will not be enjoyed until it’s negotiated and ratified.
Can we use carts to block during Flight Deck door opening procedures?
Having to maneuver a cart unnecessarily in the already tight first class galley space adds to possible F/A injuries. There’s also the issue of possible turbulence occurring while using the cart to block and the F/A having to stow the cart and then take their jumpseat which adds an unnecessary safety risk. Therefore, AS has taken the position that it is safer to keep the carts stowed during the F/D door opening procedures.
I’m on a leave at VX and have questions about the transition to AS benefits. Who can I contact regarding the new AS programs?
Starting 1/1/18 all VX employees will be on the AS health and leave benefit programs. For more information, or if you have questions regarding transitioning of leaves, please contact: myalaskabenefits.com or by phone 1-844-231-3476.
Please let us know if you have any questions or thoughts! You can reach us at vx@afaalaska.org.
In Solidarity,
Your Council 35 Officers – Melissa & Jamie
