In This Edition

• Human Trafficking Awareness and Updated Training
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• Next Week’s Events

Human Trafficking Awareness and Updated Training

Originally posted April 1, 2022

Human trafficking is a crime that occurs when force, fraud, or coercion is used to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act from another person.  AFA has partnered with the Department of Transportation and Department of Homeland Security to bring Blue Lightning human trafficking awareness training to thousands of Flight Attendants.  The Blue Lightning Initiative has recently released updated training on human trafficking based on feedback from airline employees and human trafficking survivors.  You can access the training through the AFA Online Learning Academy.

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MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson Expression of Interest Deadline

Just one week left to submit your expression of interest to serve as our MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson! Find out more about the position or submit your expression of interest and resume on the Contract 2022 website at https://contract2022.afaalaska.org/news/mec-mobilization-committee-chairperson-interviews.  Expressions of interest will close on Tuesday, April 5 at 5 PM Pacific time.

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, April 5 5 PM PDT	MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson Expression of Interest Deadline
Thursday, April 7	ANC Base Safety Meeting
Thursday, April 7	Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

In This Edition

• COVID Exposure: Differences in Company and CDC Guidance
• Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – March 2022
• Shared on Social
• Next Week’s Events

COVID Exposure: Differences in Company and CDC Guidance

Originally posted March 22, 2022

Management has developed guidance on how to deal with COVID-19 exposure that uses different terminology, definitions, and recommendations than the guidance currently offered by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).  To most effectively manage your personal risk in the event of an exposure, it’s helpful to understand how management’s definitions and guidance equate with the CDC guidance.  More information about CDC guidance for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals can be found on the CDC website.

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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – March 2022

Originally posted March 24, 2022

Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, March 22 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!

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College Scholarship Opportunities Reminder 

REMINDER: Application deadlines for the 2022 AFA Scholarship Fund and CWA Joe Beirne Scholarship are fast approaching! More information about both scholarship opportunities, including eligibility requirements, application information, and other important details can be found via the links on this previous AFA Alaska News Now post from January 28. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity!

Next Week’s Events

Sunday, March 27 – Thursday, March 31	MEC Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee Chairperson Training
Monday, March 28	Company Annual Employee Meeting
Thursday, March 31	SAN Base Safety Meeting
Friday, April 1	Pilot Informational Picketing

See the MEC Event Calendar >

In This Edition

• Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 1^st Quarter 2022
• Management Eliminates Remaining Pay Protection and Points Reduction Related to COVID-19 Effective Today
• Spring 2022 Incentive Premium & Winter Holiday Incentive 2021 Backpay
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• Next Week’s Events

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 1^st Quarter 2022

Originally posted March 14, 2022

Our AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, March 10 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent and advocate for our Reserve Flight Attendants.  The Committee also met with management to review a number of specific concerns that were brought forward by Flight Attendants.  Your Local Reserve Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any reserve related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Management Eliminates Remaining Pay Protection and Points Reduction Related to COVID-19 Effective Today

Originally posted March 15, 2022

Management eliminated all remaining COVID pay protection and attendance points forgiveness, effective today. Going forward, Flight Attendants who experience COVID-related illnesses–even if attributed to workplace exposure—will be forced to use sick leave to replace lost income during Company-directed quarantine and will be subject to attendance points in accordance with Section 32 of our contract.  AFA leadership attempted to work with management to enter into an agreement for continued attendance points forgiveness related to COVID-19, but management declined to engage.

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Spring 2022 Incentive Premium & Winter Holiday Incentive 2021 Backpay

AFA and management have agreed to a temporary incentive program designed to encourage Flight Attendants to pick up additional flying over the next several months.  For the months of March, April, and May 2022, qualifying TFP greater than or equal to 100.1 TFP in that bid month will be paid at two times (2.0x) your trip rate.  Certain exceptions and restrictions apply.  At AFA request, management also agreed to include an additional payout for Flight Attendants who reported to work during the Winter Holiday Incentive 2021 eligibility period between December 23, 2021, and January 2, 2022; experienced a flight cancellation; and were previously pay protected at 1.0x.

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Barcode Required for KCM Checkpoints

Effective March 31, 2022, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require the Known Crewmember (KCM) Program eligible crewmembers to scan a KCM-issued barcode card when utilizing a KCM access point. Crewmembers will no longer be permitted to manually enter their KCM data.

Crewmembers who do not have a KCM barcode card, have a worn/unreadable barcode card, or have not completed the registration process will be referred to the passenger screening checkpoint for entry into the airport sterile area. If a crewmember does not present an active KCM barcode card and is referred for screening, then they must follow the TSO’s instructions and complete the screening process at the passenger screening checkpoint. Failure to submit to screening at the passenger screening checkpoint (e.g., using a SIDA badge to avoid screening), is considered circumvention of screening and TSA may take enforcement action in accordance with the KCM Disqualification Protocols (KCMDP). Crewmembers may request a new or replacement KCM barcode card from their base manager or supervisor.

This is an update from TSA and it is our responsibility to strictly follow the KCM rules in order to maintain access to this alternate screening program for crewmembers.

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, March 22	Monthly Scheduling Committee Meeting
Thursday, March 24	Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

See the MEC Event Calendar >

In This Edition

• Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 1^st Quarter 2022
• March 2022 MEC Meeting Recap
• Shared on Social
• Next Week’s Events

Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 1^st Quarter 2022

Originally posted March 9, 2022

Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Friday, March 4 to discuss their ongoing program of work to advance human rights within our workplace and community.  The Committee also met with management to receive updates on what progress has been made on concerns that had been previously brought forward and address new concerns that have come to light.  If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

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March 2022 MEC Meeting Recap

Originally posted March 10, 2022

Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week on Tuesday, March 8 to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.  The MEC was originally scheduled to meet with management and a group of union leaders from other company workgroups, but the meeting was cancelled by management due to scheduling conflicts.  The next Regular MEC Meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 12 and Wednesday, April 13.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your LEC President if you have any questions.

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Support for the People of Ukraine

More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine, according to the United Nations refugee agency and is “set to become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century.” The United Nations estimates that 12 million people will need relief and protection inside Ukraine, a country with a population of around 43 million, as Russia intensifies its military assault and targets civilian areas.

The AFA Executive Board unanimously adopted a resolution last week in support of the people of Ukraine, February 28, 2022. The resolution reads in part:

WHEREAS, a peaceful world is central to freedom, free movement, and equality – all central principles to the mission of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and directly the job security of our members;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the AFA-CWA Executive Board strongly condemns the premeditated act of aggression by the Russian government against the people of Ukraine; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, war is inherently violent, deadly, and destructive, and we stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and all those impacted by this conflict; and,

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that as a symbol of our support for the people of Ukraine and all who stand with them, we encourage AFA-CWA members to wear blue and yellow ribbons under our AFA pin and we will continue to stay closely informed on developments in Ukraine and around the world to ensure AFA members are aware of any impact to our jobs and/or threats to our world-wide security.

Next Week’s Events

Monday, March 14	AFA Presentation to Initial Training Class 2022-04
Thursday, March 17	LAX Semi-Annual Base Safety Meeting

See the MEC Event Calendar >

In This Edition

• Upcoming Pilot Informational Picketing
• Welcoming Our Newest Flight Attendants
• What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
• Next Week’s Events

Upcoming Pilot Informational Picketing

Originally posted March 2, 2022

Alaska Airlines pilots and management began negotiations in spring of 2019, and have recently entered into mediation under the authority of the National Mediation Board (NMB). Some of the pilots’ key negotiating priorities are schedule flexibility and job security improvements.  The pilots will be conducting informational picketing in a number of locations on Friday, April 1 to bring attention to the issue.  Flight Attendants in full uniform who participate in the “rules of engagement and picketing training” portion of the event are welcome and encouraged to picket with our pilots as a show of unity.

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Welcoming Our Newest Flight Attendants

Originally posted March 3, 2022

We are excited to welcome our newest Flight Attendants to the line!  Operating experience (OE) flights for the first class of 2022 are finishing up, and some of our new Flight Attendants will start flying the line as early as this week.  With new Flight Attendants joining us, now is a good opportunity to brush up on some new hire related programs that haven’t been active for a while, such as Operating Experience (OE) and job familiarization flights.  Ensuring that our newest Flight Attendants have accurate and correct information about our contract and work rules is critical to their success while on probation.  If questions come up, please refer them to an official AFA resource or their Local Reserve Committee for assistance. 

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What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? 

Originally posted March 3, 2022

Many people go through short periods of time where they feel sad or not like their usual selves. Sometimes, these mood changes begin and end when the seasons change. People may start to feel “down” when the days get shorter in the fall and winter (also called “winter blues”) and begin to feel better in the spring, with longer daylight hours.

In some cases, these mood changes are more serious and can affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities. If you have noticed significant changes in your mood and behavior whenever the seasons change, you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression. 

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Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, March 8	Regular MEC Meeting
Wednesday, March 9	Scheduling Review Board (SRB)
Thursday, March 10	Quarterly Reserve Committee Meeting
Thursday, March 10	Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)

See the MEC Event Calendar >