[Note: It has been an incredibly challenging and chaotic week for all AFA representatives since the Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) cutover. We have been working non-stop defending our contract and fielding scheduling, reserve, attendance points and pay issues–and more. Based on all that has happened, the MEC will be sending out several separate communications in a row over the next few days. We apologize in advance for flooding your inbox and/or social media newsfeeds, but we want you to have timely information.]

As AFA indicated in “AFA Requests Attendance Points Review” (February 7, 2017), representatives from the Master Executive Council (MEC) met with management yesterday morning (Wednesday, February 8, 2017) to address several topics of concern for AFA. The parties focused mostly on the continuing fallout from the Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) cutover as well as points accrued as a result of Winter Storm Maya and the inability to reach Crew Scheduling due to busy phone lines.

AFA and management agreed to a review process for accrual of points resulting from these circumstances, which AFA will detail in a separate communication to follow.

JCA cutover points review

Pursuant to the provisions of the Jeppesen Crew Access Trade Suspension Letter of Agreement (LOA), AFA and Management reviewed each situation on a case by case basis in which points were assessed for a Management Drop (MD) between January 31 and February 3, 2017, to determine if the event(s) leading to the Management Drop met the agreed-upon parameters. The LOA established points forgiveness if the parameters were met. Click here for more details >

AFA is pleased to announce that management agreed to forgive points for all MDs that were granted during that period. Management will be following up directly with the affected Flight Attendants to advise of the points adjustment.

Growing list of JCA issues

The parties reviewed a growing list of JCA issues that AFA is tracking, including recent feedback from the AFA Reserve Committee. AFA and management walked away from the productive meeting with ‘homework’ and an agreement to prioritize fixes to the system.

Help AFA in the effort to fix JCA

[Note: AFA previously published this information in “AFA’s Response to Jeppesen Crew Access Cutover” (February 7, 2017), but we errantly provided the wrong email address to communicate JCA suggestions/concerns to management (we accidentally switched the order of two letters). The correct address is CSS_SC@alaskaair.com, which has now also been corrected in the original post. We apologize for any confusion!]

How can you help fix JCA?

For troubleshooting problems:

• Open a ticket with the IT Help Desk (877-238-1077 or desk@alaskaair.com) whenever you have a JCA problem.
• If you emailed the IT Help Desk, then copy in (i.e. use the “cc:” line) your local Scheduling Committee rather than sending a separate email. If you called the IT Help Desk, then also email your local Scheduling Committee (ANC: scheduling@afaalaska.org, SEA: sea.scheduling@afaalaska.org, PDX: pdx.scheduling@afaalaska.org, LAX: lax.scheduling@afaalaska.org and SAN: san.scheduling@afaalaska.org) to advise them of the same problem for tracking purposes. Emails sent to these addresses are routed to the base-specific Scheduling Committee chairperson(s) and the respective LEC president.
• Email MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Jarod McNeill (mcneill@afaalaska.org) for reserve-specific issues.

For suggestions/concerns only:

• Email CSS_SC@alaskaair.com *

* This email address is for sharing JCA issues and suggestions. AFA is hoping responses to this address will improve our chances of action and future improvements. The JCA project group is compiling a “wish list” and keeping track of how many Flight Attendants send in the same suggestion. If there is an obvious error then allegedly it will be addressed “immediately.” If a suggestion/concern is being submitted multiple times by many different F/As, it may improve our chances for a feature upgrade in the nearer future.  Reserve-specific JCA issues

Reserve advertising and trading

Unfortunately, the ability to advertise (post) and trade reserve days/blocks has not been programmed in JCA. Additionally, the “Reserve Trade Board” in First Class cannot be viewed in the web version–only in the discontinued “classic” version that many can no longer access. AFA and management are aware of the issue, and management is actively working on an interim trade board and a longer-term fix. AFA has already filed a grievance on this issue and will continue to push management to restore the ability to post reserve blocks/days as soon as possible.

Self-assignment and trading of Airport Standby

The ability for automated self-assignment of airport standby has been “temporarily” suspended due to a programming error. However, eligible Reserves may call Crew Scheduling to self-assign APSB during the appropriate time period until the function has been restored. AFA will also be filing a separate grievance on this issue.

AFA believes that yesterday’s meeting allowed us to address serious concerns regarding the JCA cutover directly with executive Inflight management and the necessity for Inflight to advocate for swift action on high priority issues. This meeting also allowed AFA and management to establish expectations regarding communication on a go-forward basis that ensures issues are noted and addressed.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee; MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones; MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Jarod McNeill; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

As you all have experienced over the past few days, the cutover to Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) was less than seamless. In fact, the Master Executive Council (MEC) has received feedback from many of you that you believe the cutover has bordered on disastrous.

“Why did AFA allow this?”

Many of you have been asking on social media, “Why did AFA allow this?” AFA definitely did not support the roll out of the program (for more information, see “AFA Objects to January 30^th Jeppesen Crew Exchange Cutover” and Inflight management’s “Crew Scheduling Follow-up” email from February 3, 2017). There were over 400 test scenarios that AFA wanted tested, which were not completed before the roll out. AFA stated to management many times prior to the cutover that Jeppesen Crew Access was not adequately tested for the Flight Attendants and therefore not ready.

AFA has been communicating our concerns with JCA to management for well over a year now. We even made our best effort to address the very issues you are now facing directly with the programmers last autumn in Sweden. As late as 7am PT this past Thursday (the day JCA was turned on for Flight Attendant trading), MEC Scheduling Chairperson Jake Jones once again told management that JCA was not ready for the Flight Attendants. However, management made the decision to go forward even though they knew AFA was gravely concerned about basic functionality. So now here we are!

AFA is pursuing every option

Your AFA officers, committee chairpersons and committee members have heard your frustrations, and we have been working non-stop since 11am Thursday (when the trade freeze ended) to address issues with JCA. We understand the exasperation growing within the group, and we very much share in that sentiment! Please know AFA is pursuing every option to get management to fix issues with JCA as they arise, but you can also help in the effort.

Help AFA in the effort to fix JCA

How can you help fix JCA?

For troubleshooting problems:

• Open a ticket with the IT Help Desk (877-238-1077 or desk@alaskaair.com) whenever you have a JCA problem.
• Email your local Scheduling Committee (ANC: scheduling@afaalaska.org, SEA: sea.scheduling@afaalaska.org, PDX: pdx.scheduling@afaalaska.org, LAX: lax.scheduling@afaalaska.org and SAN: san.scheduling@afaalaska.org) to advise them of the same problem for tracking purposes. If you emailed the IT Help Desk, then you may copy in (i.e. use the “cc:” line) your local Scheduling Committee rather than sending a separate email. Emails sent to these addresses are routed to the base-specific Scheduling Committee chairperson(s) and the respective LEC president.
• Email MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Jarod McNeill (jarod.mcneill@afaalaska.org) for reserve-specific issues.

For suggestions/concerns:

• Email CSS_SC@alaskaair.com *

* This email address is for sharing JCA issues and suggestions. AFA is hoping responses to this address will improve our chances of action and future improvements. The JCA project group is compiling a “wish list” and keeping track of how many Flight Attendants send in the same suggestion. If there is an obvious error then allegedly it will be addressed “immediately.” If a suggestion/concern is being submitted multiple times by many different F/As, it may improve our chances for a feature upgrade in the nearer future. 

>>> Click here for the most recently updated list of JCA issues that AFA is tracking. <<<

We need all Flight Attendants to follow the procedure outlined above, as it is the best way for AFA to track the issues and for management to become aware of and to fix the problems. Please do not rely on social media to resolve JCA issues; it is not logistically possible for AFA to follow posts for all 4,000 Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants across all social media outlets. It might seem a little old fashioned, but using centralized email is the best means to track JCA issues and concerns.

Thank you for your help in moving the new trip-trading platform forward as quickly as possible!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Tim Green, Brice McGee; MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones; MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Jarod McNeill; and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams