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Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

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Before It Becomes a Grievance: Understanding ADR and SRB

Grievance Committee

  • When AFA and management disagree on a contractual issue, it doesn’t necessarily become a grievance right away.  Most times, there is an intermediate step taken to try to resolve the issue.
  • Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) brings together decision makers from AFA leadership, inflight management, and labor relations management to try to work the issue out.  Scheduling Review Board (SRB) is a similar process that involves AFA Representatives and Crew Scheduling management.  
  • If everyone can’t agree on a resolution, our AFA Grievance Committee can still file a formal grievance and address the issue through the contractual grievance process.

As we know, our collective bargaining agreement provides many protections related to our working conditions, pay, and benefits.  Our AFA Grievance Committee and other AFA Representatives work constantly to ensure that management is doing right by our Flight Attendants according to the language in the contract.  Sometimes, however, disagreements arise between AFA and management about how a particular provision in the contract should be applied or whether or not a contractual violation occurred in the first place.

Our contract provides an established process for handling disagreements such as these.  Section 19 [Grievance Procedures] and section 20 [Board of Adjustment] of our CBA, often referred to collectively as the contractual grievance process, outline the procedures for how disputes about contractual language and interpretation are handled.  But before a matter is referred to the grievance process, there is often an intermediate step taken to try to work the issue out with management.

Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process is intended to give AFA Representatives and management the opportunity to resolve issues more quickly and with more flexibility while saving on the expenses related to processing a grievance.  ADR meetings are held every two weeks and include the AFA MEC Grievance Committee and management counterparts in Inflight management and the Labor Relations department.  During these meetings, the group reviews each case and attempts to work through issues that would otherwise be forced to the grievance process directly.

Scheduling Review Board (SRB)

Alongside ADR is a parallel process that specifically addresses scheduling-related issues.  The Scheduling Review Board (SRB) meets once per month and includes representatives from our AFA MEC Grievance, Scheduling, and Reserve Committees along with Crew Scheduling management.  The goal of SRB is the same—work to resolve issues more quickly than the grievance process would allow while achieving the best possible outcome for Flight Attendants.

How Do I Know If My Issue Has Been Referred to ADR/SRB?

If you’ve reported a concern to AFA and the issue has been referred to ADR or SRB, the status of your ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center will show as “escalated to ADR” or “escalated to SRB” accordingly.  The AFA Representative assigned to your case will continue to be your point of contact and provide you with updates following ADR/SRB meetings.  Our MEC Grievance Committee also maintains a log of current and past ADR items that can be viewed on the Grievance Committee page of the AFA Alaska website (click the “view the ADR log” button under the ADR process heading).   

What If We Can’t Work it Out?

While an issue is being addressed through ADR or SRB, the time limitations outlined in the contract for when a grievance must be filed are placed on hold.  This ensures that the Flight Attendant and our contractual rights are protected as we try to resolve the issue.  If we aren’t able to reach an agreement with management that is acceptable to everyone involved, our AFA Grievance Committee maintains the right to address the issue by filing a formal grievance.

Questions?

If you have questions about the ADR process, don’t hesitate to contact your Local Grievance Committee Chairperson.  For any questions about the SRB process, contact your Local Scheduling Committee Chairperson or Local Reserve Committee Chairperson.

COVID-19 Schedule Changes

The drastic changes to April flying have resulted in an unprecedented number of ongoing systemwide disruptions to Flight Attendant schedules: pre-cancellations, flight time changes (“re-times”), flight routing changes, et cetera. Flight Attendants are often given revised flying with completely different flight numbers and/or flight routing and initial report times that are many hours earlier than their original report time.

Crew Access notifications

Multiple ‘bundled’ notifications

Multiple ‘bundled’ Crew Access notifications have made the situation even more confusing. Flight Attendants are being inadvertently stuck with unwanted alternative assignments because they acknowledged a Crew Access notification for pay protection. However, they later realize that same “good news” notification was bundled with other notifications for undesirable alternate assignments such as re-times reporting way earlier than originally scheduled. Acknowledging Crew Access notifications is “all” or “nothing.” Consequently, AFA filed a contractual grievance on this issue yesterday.

Confusing contractual citations

Additionally, AFA has become aware that Crew Access notifications have included confusing references to what appear to be contractual citations that are not related to our contract. AFA has confirmed these citations are from the pilot contract, and we have addressed this concern with management. Pilot crew schedulers have been advised by management to stop including the contractual references in the notifications effective immediately.

Disputing re-times and reassignments

AFA filed Grievance No. 36-99-2-45-17 “Violation of §10.S Pre-Cancellation and Schedule Changes” regarding re-times between 15 and 21 minutes back in June 2017 (click here for the July 2017 Grievance Report >). Management sustained the grievance (meaning they agreed the contract was violated) shortly thereafter in July 2017. However, AFA and management disagreed with the remedy (i.e. the “fix”) for the violation, and we have been in negotiations over the remedy since then.

Unfortunately, other developments and shifting priorities continually complicated our efforts: ongoing Crew Access violations, payroll issues, a merger, Open Time negotiations, Recurrent Training and management leadership changes all along the way. We know this sounds like AFA leadership is making excuses, but we want to be transparent about how long we’ve known about the issue, and why it’s still not resolved.

In the meantime, AFA also added several other contractual disputes related to reassignments to the Alternate Dispute Resolution (i.e. pre-grievance) process. The parties have continued to negotiate over a long-term remedy to all the reassignment-related disputes, including re-times. We had been making more progress towards a mutually acceptable solution lately…but then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. The parties will continue to work towards a long-term resolution to the disputes, but AFA and management agree that Flight Attendants need at least a temporary solution in place now.

COVID-19 Schedule Changes Letter of Agreement

Starting tonight at midnight Pacific Time, AFA and management have agreed to temporarily administer all Flight Attendant schedule changes that occur in advance of the day of departure of a sequence just like pre-cancellations under Section 10.S [Pre-Cancellations] with the exception of §10.S.1.c (re: cancellations reported between 8pm and midnight the day prior). This would include flight time changes (i.e. re-times), flight routing changes, etc. This temporary letter of agreement is not a permanent change to contract and will be in effect through the end of May.

Click here for the COVID-19 Schedule Changes LOA (04/17/2020-05/31/2020) >

Summary of provisions

  • Re-times, flight routing changes and other schedule changes that occur in advance of the day of departure of a sequence will be treated just like pre-cancellations except under §10.S.1c. All scheduling obligations and scheduling and pay protection options pursuant to §10.S except for §10.S.1.c apply to pre-cancellations as well as re-times, flight routing changes, et cetera. This includes but is not limited to the following:
    • The Company may offer an alternate assignment to open positions that may include multiple sequences on the same day(s) as the original assignment. The Flight Attendant may (1) accept the alternate assignment or (2) decline the alternate assignment and waive pay protection.    
    • However, if the alternate assignment contains a check-in that is more than two hours earlier and/or a release time that is more than two hours later than the original assignment (“footprint + 2 hours”), then the Flight Attendant may decline and agree to call Crew Scheduling between 6 PM and 8 PM local domicile time the night prior to the day of departure of the original assignment.
    • If the Flight Attendant calls back Crew Scheduling between 6 PM and 8 PM local domicile time the night prior to the day of departure of the original sequence, then the alternate assignment offered must operate within the check-in and release times (“exact footprint”) at domicile of the original sequence. If no such alternate assignment exists, then the Flight Attendant will be pay protected and relieved of further scheduling obligation.
  • “I didn’t mean to acknowledge the Crew Access scheduling notification and/or I don’t want the new assignment” provision
    • A Flight Attendant who acknowledges a Crew Access notification for an unwanted schedule change occurring in advance of the day of departure of the sequence may re-establish her/his scheduling obligations and scheduling and pay protection options under §10.S [Pre-Cancellations].
    • The Flight Attendant must call Crew Scheduling prior to 6 PM local domicile time on the day prior to the day of departure of the sequence in order to be eligible for this provision.
  • Extension of the “Pre-Cancellations Due To COVID-19 Schedule Changes” LOA (executed 3/28/2020) through May 31, 2020
    • Please do not call Crew Scheduling until the day prior to the day of departure of the sequence.
    • You may waive pay protection and be relieved of further scheduling obligation by emailing Crew Scheduling (“CrewSked FADesk” <CrewSked.FADesk@alaskaair.com>) no later than one day prior to the date of departure of the sequence.

We know that is a lot of information for one update. The Master Executive Council (MEC) hopes this temporary LOA will provide at least some short-term relief to all the confusion and disruption caused by the COVID-19 schedule changes. As your direct representative on the MEC, your LEC President is available to answer questions that you have about the LOA or the information above. You can find contact information for your LEC President by clicking here. 

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Matt Cook, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

[pmAS] Tracking Technical Issues with Cornerstone

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

AFA is receiving reports of increased issues related to the Cornerstone app and desktop portal.  If you are having difficulties with the system please take screenshots, log your time, contact the IT help desk for an IT ticket by email at its.service.desk@alaskaair.com or by phone at (877) 238-1077.  In addition, please report the issue to AFA at http://support.afaalaska.org/ so that the issue can be tracked.

AFA and Alaska Airlines management have established a component of the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process to review documented IT concerns on a case-by-case basis.  This process allows us to work through these issues and ensure the concerns and limitations of the system are being resolved by management in a timely manner.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

Performance Based Pay Correction

AFA Alaska recently became aware that an error occurred with respect to how Performance Based Pay (PBP) was calculated for some Flight Attendants. Flight Attendants who were coordinating sick leave with Short Term Disability (STD) and/or Long Term Disability (LTD) did not have their sick leave pay counted toward their PBP.

 

AFA Alaska brought these facts forward through the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process, and management has since corrected the error. Affected Flight Attendants received email notification of the correction, which was paid on their May 20, 2016 paycheck.

 

If you have any questions regarding the correction or if it applies to you, contact one of your Local Executive Council (LEC) officers.

 

In Solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; LEC Presidents-elect Tim Green and Brice McGee; MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Jennifer Wise MacColl and MEC Grievance Committee Representative Stephanie Adams

March 2016 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Update

AFA and management work through potential disputes prior to engaging in the arbitration process in the hopes of coming to a fair resolution. The process is called Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). To access the ADR log, which is a record of issues being addressed via ADR, click here. Alternatively, you can point your browser to www.afaalaska.org –> Committees –> Grievance Committee, then scroll down and select “View the ADR log.” AFA has diligently advocated on your behalf; here is a small highlight of issues that are resolved and pending.

 

Resolved

 

ADR 004-15A- Probationary Flight Attendants (CBA §7 & 32)—It will not be considered an unsuccessful month for a probationary Flight Attendant if his/her crew is coded with a delay provided the delay is not caused by a late report, failure to brief the exit row, etc.

 

ADR 019-15A- Appearance of Sleeping—Management instituted a new policy regarding sleeping in public view. AFA stringently objected to the original policy and after much discussion management issued a much preferred policy change.

 

ADR 024-15A- Fatigue Policy—AFA worked diligently to establish a way to assist fatigued Flight Attendants. As a response management issued a labor memorandum to inflight Crew Scheduling to advise “fatigued” Flight Attendants to call out sick if they are not fit for duty; and fatigue like any condition rendering a Flight Attendant not physically fit for duty is a legitimate reason to call out sick.

 

ADR 028-15A- Stranded and Sit Pay (CBA §21.D.5.)—Management believes that stranded and sit pay would not be included in the same pairing. AFA believes that stranded and sit shouldn’t be paid in the same stranding, but there could be more than one issue per pairing. AFA’s argument prevailed, and we added contract language for the extra pay and protection.

 

ADR 033-15A- Flight Attendants Deadheading on Flights Over 4 hours (CBA §10.X.2.d.)—Management agreed to instruct Customer Service Agents to refrain from asking Flight Attendants deadheading on flights over 4 hours to sit in the jump seat. The same courtesy is already given to Pilots and will now be extended to Flight Attendants.

 

ADR 039-15A- Jury Duty and Subpoenas (CBA §32)—After AFA brought forward some applicable laws regarding subpoenas; management agreed to treat subpoenas the same as jury duty in regards to attendance points.

 

ADR 061-15A- Overlapping Multiple Pay Rules (MPRs)(CBA §21.F.)—Management agreed that if a Flight Attendant is on a month end overlapping trip and wishes to be paid for the MPRs for the pairing during the first month’s pay period s/he can do so by filling out an activity pay form.

 

ADR 076-15A- Trading a Premium Trip with a Non-Premium Trip in Open Time (CBA §8.D.)—After many lengthy conversations management agreed to process the trading of premium with non-premium trips.

 

Pending

 

ADR 084-15A- Open Time (CBA §21.E.1.d.)—AFA alleged that Crew Scheduling is holding trips out of open time and when caught doing so is paying contractually mandated 1 TFP as a type of penalty.

 

ADR 085-15A- Crew Scheduling is Posting Premium Trips in Open Time (CBA §9.E.)—Crew Scheduling posted premium trips in open time and then revoked them and gave them to line holders as a reassignment or put them back into open time without the premium pay attached in violation of the contract. Management agreed and will take action to address this with Crew Scheduling.

 

ADR 001-16A- Coordinating Sick Leave While on Paternity Leave (CBA §15.E.2.)—Flight Attendants should be able to coordinate sick leave while on paternity leave; it should be treated like a maternity leave. Management will be reviewing this issue, and AFA will continue to pursue.

 

ADR 002-16A- Crew Duty Time (CBA §21.J.1.)—Flight Attendants given a day room after check in due to delay should be paid delay and stranded pay from check in to departure. AFA believes Flight Attendants are considered to be on duty if given a day room and not put into rest. Payroll analysts believe that when the FA is in a day room they are not on duty and do not get ground delay pay. AFA will continue to pursue this issue.

 

ADR 006-16A- Supervisors are asking Flight Attendants on a Leave why they are traveling (CBA §15.J.)—AFA believes that Supervisors are not to ask Flight Attendants on leaves of absence why they are traveling. Management agreed, and will take action to address this issue in their spreadsheet.

 

ADR 011-16A- Sick Child Online (CBA §32.C.6-7)—AFA believes Flight Attendants are allowed to call in sick child/sick family on-line per Washington Family Care Act. Management agrees and will follow up on the issue with a labor memo.

 

ADR 015-16A- Long Term Disability (LTD) (CBA 23.C.6.)—AFA believes when a Flight Attendant is receiving LTD, a Flight Attendant may continue to receive health care at active-employee rates for the duration of the benefits or 24 months. Management is investigating this issue.

 

ADR 016-16A- Insurance Issues (CBA §23.C.6.)—AFA alerted management that Flight Attendants are getting frustrated with the difficulty in resolving benefit/insurance issues. Management is looking for a solution, and AFA will continue to persist in finding a solution.

 

* * *

 

As we work through these ADR issues you will see more information on the ADR log. Until then, if you have any questions or concerns about these issues please contact your local Grievance Committee.

 

In Solidarity,

 

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Satterlee, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt; MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Jennifer Wise MacColl and MEC Grievance Committee Member Stephanie Adams

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2023

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Scheduling Committee On Tuesday, September 26, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Natalie Codd (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also […]

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2023

Uniform Committee On Tuesday, August 8th, the AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Present at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Holmes (LAX), JP Perina (SAN), and MEC Uniform […]

September 2023 MEC Meeting Recap

Master Executive Council (MEC) The September 2023 Regular MEC Meeting was held this week on Monday, September 18, and Tuesday, September 19. The meeting consisted of updates from our MEC Officers, LEC Presidents, Grievance Committee, and Scheduling Committee. Our MEC also reviewed written reports submitted by other AFA MEC Committee Chairpersons about their current programs […]

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2023

Reserve Committee On Thursday, September 14, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Brandi Urban (ANC), Conner Gallagher (SEA), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Rebecca Garcia (SAN). Also present were MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie […]

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2023

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Response to the November 18th Inflight Town Hall Webcast

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ALPA Alaska Approves Tentative Agreement for Pilot Ratification

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Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Alaska Airlines leadership recently announced they approved a tentative agreement (TA) with Alaska Airlines management for pilot ratification. Click here for the Alaska Airlines Pilots TA Quick Guide (September 2022) > At a quick glance, the TA contains impressive improvements to scope, […]

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