NavBlue PBS Live Bidding Opens January 5
As we prepare for the historic first live bid on the NavBlue preferential bidding system (PBS), AFA and the CSI team will be available in the SFO Village to provide support to L-VX F/As during the bid period of January 5-10. This is the first opportunity that all AS F/As, both L-AS and L-VX, will bid on the same system for the February bid period (1/31/19-3/1/19). Please set aside time to stop by the Village during the bid period for support during this major transition. This is the last milestone before full implementation, which will be January 31, 2019. For those of you that are tracking the progress of implementation, JCTE cutover milestone has been fulfilled once we bid and make schedule adjustments on the same systems, and will be followed by full implementation the month after the cutover.
SHP Denial for Probationary Flight Attendants
Recently, AFA and management came to an agreement regarding the SHP program. Management agreed to provide L-VX Flight Attendants the opportunity to “sell” a Stuff Happens Pass (SHP) and also reconcile any SHP denials associated with Grievance No. 36-35-2-122-18: Violation of AFA VX LOA Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy. Several new-hire classes from 2017 were denied use of the SHP when they passed probation which resulted in many F/As receiving 4 NSH points in their reliability report. AFA filed this contractual grievance in March 2018, which was denied, however management recently opened discussions regarding a buyback program which allowed us to negotiate the reconciliation for previously denied SHPs. If you were a probationary Flight Attendant:
- That never received an SHP and never attempted to use one, the company is offering a buyback
- That graduated in 2017 in classes 05-17 and later (graduated after August 1, 2017) and you attempted to use an SHP that was denied
Please contact your supervisor and your Council 35 officers for assistance with reconciling your reliability balance and/or facilitating your SHP buyback. The deadline for probationary reconciliation is January 18, 2019. As a reminder, the SHP program will fully sunset on January 30, 2019.
Transitioning to Section 32 Attendance Policy
Similar to the current L-VX Reliability Program, the Flight Attendant Attendance Policy as defined in § 32 of the JCBA is a no-fault absence management program. Absences are tracked by points and does not discriminate the how or why the points were assessed. The points are added to track not only sick calls, but late, NSH and NCO, as those points are associated with not following proper call-in procedures as outlined in Attendance Policy. Please review the Attendance policy to familiarize yourself with the difference as we transition in just a few weeks. In many ways the program is much more liberal for points management, with less points associated with some types of absences and many more opportunities to “bank” points for future use. Keep in mind as we transition, all points assessed under the L-VX Reliability Program will roll-off as defined in the L-VX WR in 12 months. At full implementation, all points assessed under §32 will roll off after 18 months. Additionally, when we transition to §32, all L-VX F/As will receive 2 bank points to improve their points balances. If you currently have a zero balance, you will be able to bank the points for future use. And lastly providing a doctor’s note is not supported in § 32 and the requirement will be a contract violation. Therefore, at full implementation, L-VX F/As will no longer be asked to provide a doctor’s note for normal absences, unless there is probable cause of potential sick leave abuse.
Do you need Union representation?
As a represented employee at Alaska Airlines, you are entitled to Union representation when you have a discussion or meeting with management. If the possibility of discipline exists for you, another Flight Attendant or another employee, AFA recommends that you seek representation prior to discussing any details of an event with a member of management. If you are contacted by a supervisor, you have a right to ask, “Could this conversation result in discipline?” If the answer is yes, your Council 35 officers recommend that you tell the supervisor that you would like an AFA representative before having any further discussion. You can find contact information for the Council 35 on the Council 35 Committee Page. Chances are, if you are asked by a supervisor “do you want Union representation?” the answer will always be yes! Stop the conversation and arrange to have a Council 35 Grievance Committee member with you when you resume the conversation. This may be inconvenient to your supervisor; however, be aware that it is your right and you should always feel empowered to use it.
Representation While on Probation
Probationary Flight Attendants may also request an AFA representative in a supportive (non-representational) role. As a probationary Flight Attendant, you are not eligible to participate in the JCBA §19 which defines the grievance procedures to formally dispute discipline, however you are entitled to consult with an AFA representative whenever you are asked to provide a written statement or participate in a meeting with management.
The use of Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has been the subject of scrutiny under DOT regulated positions. A recent communication from AFA International Employee Assistance Program cautioned the use of CBD oil as a liniment for aches and pains as it could affect a Flight Attendant’s drug test results. For a more information, please read the October 29 communication.C
Dues
If you haven’t already done so, please submit a DCO form which enables the automatic payroll deduction of dues. For answers to your specific dues questions and to inquire about your dues status, please contact AFA Membership Services.
Email Address for Council 35
As of July 31, 2018, Council 35 will be representing SFO-based Flight Attendants only. All L-VX F/As based in LAX are now represented by Council 18. Therefore, the previous email address vx@afaalaska will be retired January 31, 2019. To contact Council 35 officers in SFO, please email us at sfo@afaalaska.org. To contact Council 18 officers in LAX, please email lax@afaalaska.org.
FAQs
How do I contact Council 35 Officers?
The best way to contact Council 35 officers is via email. Emails are easier to forward for follow up and to have a record of information. Using your personal email account, please know that concerns received by Council 35 are held in confidence and will not be shared for follow up without the permission of the original sender. Avoid using your alaskaair.com email to share concerns as those accounts are not private and subject to audits. To get the fastest and most thorough response, please email sfo@afalaska.org. All officers can respond to emails sent to that address which facilitates a more efficient use of resources. Please allow at least 24 business hours for a response to any method of contact.
In Solidarity,
Your Council 35 Officers –
Melissa, Aladrian and James
