Council 19

November Committee Update

November 8, 2023 07:00

In this issue….

Inflight Service Committee Update
Membership Committee Update
Mobilization Committee Update
EAP Committee Update
Reserve Committee Update
Scheduling Committee Update
Uniform Committee Update

Inflight Service Committee

A few reminders from your ISC Committee:

Please remember to comp crew members dead head meals instead of swiping. To comp the meal from the pre-ordered meals list, tap on the crew member’s name and scroll to the DH Crew and tap.
Use B2B to report juice shortages in FC and MC. Management needs to hear from us when we need more supplies.
During November it is possible that you will be catered with both Starbucks and Stumptown coffee. Please use the Starbucks first.

Membership Committee

We have many Seattle Flight Attendants that are delinquent or in dues arrears. Please makesure to keep up on your union dues. Missed dues deductions will not come out of future paychecks, payments for missed deductions must be paid directly to International Membership.

If you are an active member and do not have enough money on your 20th paycheck to auto deduct union dues, you will owe dues for that month.

When a Flight Attendant is out on leave and coordinating sick leave or vacation, they are considered active and will owe dues. Depending on what other deductions you have, coordinating minimum TFP might not be enough to cover your union dues deduction. If this is the case you will have to pay your dues directly to International Membership.

Here is a link to payment options when you miss an auto deduction https://www.afacwa.org/payment_options. Flight Attendants that are delinquent would not be eligible to vote for a TA.

We will be holding a membership meeting on December 19th around our Solidarity event. More information about this will come out shortly!

If you have questions, you can reach out to our Membership Chair and Council Secretary, Adam Clarey at adam.clarey@afaalaska.org.

Mobilization Committee

The Mobilization Committee continues to be busy supporting the Negotiating Committee by getting information out to our flight attendants and building solidarity. Save the Date for a system wide Informational picket on December 19th. There will also be a membership meeting on this same day.

We’re always looking for more Mobilization Volunteers. If you’re interested, sign up at https://contract2022.afaalaska.org/mobilization/volunteer/signup/

Reserve Committee

Your Council 19 Reserve Committee will be conducting a joint in person base sit along with the Scheduling Committee on November 15th from 10:00AM-6:00PM in the north satellite village. Please come say hi, and meet your local Reserve and Scheduling Chairpersons and have all your Reserve and Scheduling related questions answered. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please continue to file tickets at https://support.afaalaska.org for contractual concerns. You can direct general inquiries to our monitored email (sea.reserve@afaalaska.org). We try to reply and provide assistance within 24 hours, but keep in mind that we all fly full schedules.

We continue to see a lot of out of order assignments. As a reminder, LTFA order must be followed in all cases, even for ER conversions and APSB assignments. You can only be assigned out of order relative to other FAs who are the same type of Reserve classification (AM/PM/ER) who are good for the same number of days. If you believe you were assigned out of order please file a ticket at https://support.afaalaska.org.

Additionally, your local Reserve Committee was successful in getting a bulletin issued to Crew Schedulers clarifying the Reserve monthly maximum LOA (118.2 TFP) and so far we are seeing less issues related to FAs being illegally scheduled beyond 118.2 flown reserve TFP.

Lastly, we are getting reports that the PPP (productivity premium program) calculator is not working properly. We have recently been informed that Crew Pay believes the issue has been resolved and is working properly at this time. If you believe your calculator is still incorrect you can email FA Crew Pay (fa.crewpay@alaskaair.com) for an accurate year to date count if you have PPP related inquiries.

Fly safe and see you out there!

Scheduling Committee

Thank you for continuing to reach out to the Sea Scheduling Committee and submitting AFA Support tickets so we can assist you with scheduling issues as they occur. We’ve included a few important year end reminders.

Know Before You Go:

We would like to give a few recommendations as we move into the Fall/Winter months, the holiday season, and possible weather related operational issues. We suggest that FAs review the following sections of the contract: 10.R. Reassignments, Section 10.S. Pre- Cancellation, and Ground Commuter Policy (Section 28.G.) (AFA SLOA 2020-05-20)

The Scheduling Committee has created several Flowcharts to assist you in understanding sections of the CBA.

They can be found in the Scheduling section on the AFA Website.

AFA Website > Main Page > Committees > Scheduling > Tools and Resources (right hand side)

Record Improvement – End of year 480/960 TFP totals and Point Reduction

We traditionally tend to see sick leave drop in November and December as FAs are trying to achieve their 480/960 TFP totals and also qualify for the point reduction (record improvement) for not calling in sick in November and December.

Record Improvement – Point Reduction – end of year Nov/Dec 4 points or less (Section 32.G.4. 480 TFP [§13.D.6.] [§16.L.4.] [§21.D.6.] [§23.B.1. – B.4.] [§23.C.6.b.] [§23.C.7.a.] [§32.G.4.] 960 TFP Longevity PTO (Section 14.A.5.)

Sit Pay Adjustment Form

We continue to get questions regarding pilot sit pay adjustments. This is currently a manual process. The requirement is for the Flight Attendant to submit the form (Sit Pay Adjustment Form) for Crew Scheduling to adjust if applicable.

The form can be found on the FA Website:

Administration > Pay & Benefits >Sit Pay Adjustment Form

If preferred, there is a QR code which can be found in Bulletin Bundle #2023-0067

***** Helpful hint: whenever there’s a change to your trip in Crew Access (JCTE) you will see a shaded triangle in the top Right corner of the Trip. You can expand that window and it will provide additional information. Typically when there’s a pilot adjustment it will show there.

Your Council 19 Scheduling Committee will be conducting a joint in person base sit along with the Reserve Committee on November 15th from 10:00AM-6:00PM in the north satellite village. Please come say hi, and meet your local Scheduling and Reserve Chairpersons and have all your Scheduling and Reserve related questions answered. We look forward to seeing you there!

Uniform Committee

Please remember to use your uniform Allotment ASAP. Any leftover funds will not roll over.
Please continue to report any quality issues for garments to alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com. It is helpful to include photos of defects and of the tag inside

World Kindness Day: November 13

One constant among our workgroup is that of kindness, woven into our innate nature, continually making an appearance throughout all our days. For this, we have much to be proud of alone as an integral foundation. This kindness glows in abundance with positive light onward to every corner we touch, to every soul we meet, bestowing an impact that ripples on to all others. We simply have the best work force.

Remember to practice kindness within all social media dwellings, too. Company policy has set forth a social media policy that we all must adhere to, for review please refer to their guidelines. Kindness, so simplistic in thought, but so sincere in nature, toward all, forever lights our way…with indelible impact, highlighting once more our very nature….

The wisdom of kindness gleams on; for there is always a hand that needs help, a kind word that needs to be spoken, a word of wisdom that needs to be heard, a kindness to be shown…the radiance of which shines on to profound depths.

In Solidarity,

Your Council 19 Committee Chairs and Officers

To view this communication in a PDF version with graphics, see below.

Council-19-November-Committee-FINAL Download

Government Affairs Special Edition

November 1, 2023 07:00

In This Edition…

Election Day
Washington State Labor Council
Why Voting Matters
Washington State Voters Guide

Election Day

This November 7th is Election Day. For those of you who live in, or are new to Washington, this is a vote-by-mail state. The website https://www.vote411.org/washington is a great site that provides all of your voter information including how to register to vote for new residents. This site also provides links to other states for those who live outside of Washington.

Voting Endorsements

We all have different political beliefs, and nobody should tell someone else how to vote, but one thing stands strong…. we all want to propel our professions, and our workplace rights. Supporting candidates that support our professions, our unions, and who are “pro-labor” is essential. If you would like information on what candidates are endorsed and/or supported by the Washington State Labor Council, you can visit: https://www.wslc.org/union-members-only-election-information/

Why Voting Matters

At its core, voting is the cornerstone of democracy. It’s a mechanism through which we, as citizens, actively participate in the decision making process Here are some key reasons why voting matters:

By casting your vote, you contribute to the selection of leaders who will represent your interests and values in government.
Voting allows us to hold elected officials accountable for their actions and decisions. It’s a way to voice approval or dissatisfaction with their performance.
Your vote directly influences the development of policies on issues that affect your daily life, from education and healthcare to the economy and environment.
Voting fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility, as it brings people together to collectively decide on the direction of their society.

The above was taken from www.caprw.org

Washington State Voters Guide

You may not have received your voters guide via mail, but they can all be accessed online. Select your county to view local candidates at: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/data-research/election-results-and-voters-pamphlets/2023-primary-election-voters-guide

In the end, the most important thing is that you exercise your right to vote.

If you have any questions about the process, current events, or any of the candidates, please reach out to your Council 19 Government Affairs Chairperson, Melinda Jorge at melinda.jorge@afaalaska.org or any member of the Council 19 Government Affairs Committee.

In Solidarity,

Your Council 19 Government Affairs Committee

See Below to view a PDF version with graphics

Government-Affairs-Update Download

October Committee Update

October 11, 2023 10:00

In this Edition

ASHSC Committee Update
Benefits Committee Update
Communications Committee Update
EAP Committee Update
Grievance Committee Update
Hotel Committee Update
Human Rights Committee Update

ASHSC Committee

The Seattle Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee has continued working towards creating a safer work environment for our workgroup. We have participated in discussions around changing processes and announcements as we continue to grow and change. The Flight Attendants that conduct our Cabin LOSA observations had their annual recurrent training and are getting ready for the audits that will begin again in October.

This year, the switch from Summer to Fall seems to have happened overnight. With this change, we are starting to see the fall storms and the days are getting shorter. It’s important to remember to review and adjust some of our habits to stay safe. With more darkness, be aware of your surroundings, especially in parking lots, on layovers, and other places that aren’t well lit. While driving during this transition period, be aware that there are still lots of people out and often they aren’t wearing clothing that’s geared towards the dark. We also deal with a lot more wind which requires additional attention while driving.

Both NOAA and the national Weather Service have lots of good information on their websites. A couple of links follow:

https://www.weather.gov/

Click to access fall_2020_presentation.pdf

https://www.noaa.gov/

https://www.noaa.gov/stories/4-safety-tips-for-fall-hazards-small-actions-can-have-big-impacts

Benefits, Retirement & Maternity

Our Benefits Committee is always very busy assisting Flight Attendants with planning their medical, maternity, and workers comp leaves.

When a staffing leave is offered, many calls are generated regarding benefits while on a staffing leave. We had many SEA based Flight Attendants that are on the October staffing leave. It is very important to double check your benefit enrollment when you return. An email will be sent from our benefits department with a link to your benefits enrollment.

The 2024 annual enrollment period is right around the corner. This year, the dates are 10/24/2023 – 11/17/2023. This is your once per year time to review your benefits and make any changes for plan year 2024. Our Benefits Committee will be doing base sits 11/9, 11/10, 11/16 & 11/17. Watch for detailed information regarding annual enrollment.

Our Benefits, Retirement and Maternity committee are committed to helping our SEA based Flight Attendants in any way we can.

Communications Committee

We launched our first newsletter since bringing on new committee members. As with any change, there will be some growing pains, and we are working to streamline our processes.

Moving forward, you will receive two regular email communications from us each month. The first will be our monthly committee update (like the one you are reading now) containing information/updates on a portion of our committees, being sent the 2^nd Wednesday of each month. The second will be a monthly newsletter, coming the 4^th Wednesday of each month.

In addition to the above communications, we will send out emails when we need to get important information out to the membership.

We are also going to focus on social media. We have already launched our new Council 19 Facebook group, and we will be launching our Instagram page soon. Moving forward, we will continue to evaluate other social media platforms to keep our members informed. As always, we will continue to make posts on our Council 19 webpage https://afaalaska.org/sea.

EAP Committee

Are you looking for a counselor? Alaska is in the process of switching to a new provider for company sponsored EAP benefits, which will be available in early 2024. In the meantime, we want to ensure that you have access to timely and quality counseling services. EAP has compiled a comprehensive list of providers that you can choose from if you need extra support. We can also assist you in finding someone who matches your needs and preferences, especially if this is your first time seeking professional help. Please visit the AFA EAP website for resources or email Andrea Korican at andrea.k@me.com or Lisa Haugen at skylis@hotmail.com and share your personal email for an updated list.

We continue to see professional standards concerns with social media misuse, unauthorized trip trades, bullying, and unprofessional behaviors on the airplane. We urge you to resolve any conflicts or issues through respectful dialogue and mutual understanding. Remember that everyone may be facing different challenges and stressors at work or in their personal lives. If you encounter a situation that you are unsure about or that makes you uncomfortable, you can always seek confidential guidance and support from an EAP Professional Standards representative or chairperson. They can help you with strategies and solutions to address or cope with your concerns.

Joint Meetup with AFA and ALPA Professional Standards Committees

Your AFA Professional Standards Committee, in coordination with ALPA’s Professional Standards Committee, invites you to coffee and snacks in the Seattle Village (i.e., the crew lounge on the first floor of the North Satellite) on October 19 from 0800 – 1100.

AFA and ALPA are making a joint effort to provide information about the committees and how they can support you on the line. The AFA and ALPA Professional Standards Committees are each part of their respective Assistance Programs available to all union members.

Your Professional Standards Committees goal is to provide you with a better understanding of who we are and how our two committees work individually and together to assist our fellow flight attendants and pilots. This is an opportunity to ask any questions you may have and gain a better understanding of how the professional standards process works. We are committed to assisting our fellow crew members by resolving situations that arise at the lowest level possible so they can continue to perform their duties professionally and safely in an increasingly challenging work environment. Please take a few minutes to stop by for coffee and snacks and meet our committee volunteers! We look forward to the opportunity to serve you!

Grievance

On September 12, 2023, there was a Grievance Committee Update published for the 3rd quarter of 2023. Items discussed included:

Steps of Discipline
Subjects of most recent discipline
Recent Arbitration/Mediation
Recent grievance Settlements
Grievances recently filed, denied by management and currently awaiting arbitration dates

Steps of Discipline

As stated in the update, the steps of discipline are:

Confirmation of Oral Warning (COW)
Written Warning (WW)
Suspension – the number of days varies
Termination

These disciplines remain in your file for 18 months and then are eligible for removal. It’s important to understand that each violation builds on another, regardless of if they are related or of a different nature. So, if a Flight Attendant is still within the 18-month period of a previous discipline, then a subsequent violation will be the next step and the 18 months starts again.

For example, a Flight Attendant receives a COW for being late to plane and causing a delay. Twelve months later, the Flight Attendant loses their IMD and is issued a WW. Eight months later, the Flight Attendant forgets to do their CBT and is suspended. Even though it’s been 20 months since the first violation and the COW will have been removed from their file, they are still in the steps of discipline for the WW, so the next step is still suspension.

For more information regarding the removal of discipline, refer to the CBA, §19.D:

DISCIPLINARY EIGHTEEN (18) MONTH REMOVAL

All letters of discipline (warning or suspension) will be expunged after eighteen (18) months after the date of issuance and, at the request of the Flight Attendant, will be removed from the Flight Attendant’s personnel file.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Not all violations follow the steps of discipline. Some violations, including but not limited to, theft or sick leave abuse is cause for termination, even if the Flight Attendant is not already in a step of discipline.

Attendance Discipline

Unlike other violations, attendance disciplines follow a separate track and are dependent on point accumulation. Refer to the CBA, §32.E.1 to learn more about the steps of discipline related to occurrences of absenteeism. It is up to the Flight Attendant to be aware of the status of their own point accumulation. Make sure that you are utilizing your Quarterly Point Reduction form to help mitigate your point accrual. You have until the end of your next sequence to designate the sequence for your point reduction form. If you don’t submit your form in time, it will be denied, and your points will stay. In other words, a Flight Attendant can’t wait until the end of the quarter and try to use their form for a sequence weeks prior if they had already returned to work and flown subsequent trips since.

For example, a Flight Attendant calls out for a 4-day trip. They are off for 3 days and then report to work for their next 4-day trip. The Flight Attendant has to submit their Quarterly Point Reduction Form prior to their release on Day 4 of their trip.

Hotel Committee

Your hotel committee continues to advocate for the best hotels possible, while maintaining the language in our CBA.

We have seen an increased number of Crew Care reports coming through which is great. Please remember to continue to send the reports for both complaints and compliments. These reports are essential when we are evaluating markets. The Crew Care reports can be accessed directly on your IMD by clicking the API Icon, or on the Inflight Website, Hotels, Hotel Links, My Crew Care.

Our committee has been busy doing site inspections the last couple of months. Members of the committee have recently conducted inspections in CUN, BWI, DEN, SJC, ONT, EWR & PIT. Upcoming inspections include NAS, RDU, GUA, ZIH, IAH, and BNA.

We have seen recent new hotels in Downtown Seattle, and Downtown Chicago, we hope you are enjoying these great new locations and properties!

We hope you have been utilizing the API quick link on your IMD for all your hotel information and needs. Important information like shuttle pick-up times/locations, hotel amenities, and more can be found via the link. The quick link will be replaced with a stand-alone app in the next couple of months. We are currently testing the app and are happy with what we see so far. More information will come on this as we get closer to the launch. We are also planning a base sit in Seattle to highlight the functions!

Human Rights

A note from Yan Yan Teague, Local Human Rights Chairperson:

Hello Council 19,

After four years as your LEC Human Rights Chairperson, I have decided to step down at the end of the year.

To quote Chris Jackson as Washington in Hamilton:

“If I say goodbye, the nation learns to move on, it outlives me when I’m gone”

While I by no means am comparing my position to that of the nation, I do believe that it is important to get a fresh new perspective in this position. I know there is still so much to tackle, but I am proud of what we were able to accomplish in the past four years.

To ensure we have an equitable process in selecting a new Chairperson, the SEA LEC will hold interviews for eligible candidates during the week of December 4, 2023. If you are interested, please plan to bid around that week. All interviews will be conducted using Google Meet video conferencing.

Visit our AFA Alaska Human Rights Committee page to learn more and download roles and responsibilities of the committee. Interested candidates should submit a resume along with a cover letter outlining your interest to sea@afaalaska.org, no later than November 1, 2023.

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up to date information on our Council #19 Facebook Group. Click below to join our group and stay connected. Also, our communication team is researching other social media platforms, more information will come soon!

AFA Council #19 Seattle September Newsletter

September 27, 2023 12:35

In This Edition

Solidarity
LAX Pop-Up Event
Workplace Wellness
Spotlight on the Contract
Parking
Best Practices
CBT Reminder
Attendance Reports
Local Council Meeting
Hispanic Heritage Month
AFA International HRE Committee
Communications Committee
Membership Dues

What Truly Is Solidarity and Why Is It Important?

We often hear the term solidarity, but what does this truly mean and why is it important? A dictionary can easily guide us to the meaning of a word, but what is a word without the feeling and essence of wisdom behind it. Packed tightly within this one word is woven our unity, our livelihoods, each other, our joint career path, our unification…as one collective force.

All for one and one for all as they say which so aptly applies, as throughout each chapter of our careers, we all will collectively encounter similar challenges and triumphs as safety professionals. Our union then embodies each one of us, all together working toward the better good…for those of today and for those of tomorrow. We march on in unison, to fight the good fight. To stand proud. To stand unified. To stand in…solidarity.

We stand as one voice to be reckoned with, improvements always to be sought, our long -fought protections to stay intact. Together we stand, together we can achieve…all within the sincerest form of the word…solidarity. We are AFA strong.

Surprise Pop-Up Picket in LAX

Much gratitude to the LAX base with help of our SAN base; they flawlessly conducted a surprise informational pop-up picket on September 13th. Picketing was done outside the Ritz-Carlton in Marina Del Rey whereby our CEO hosted a community reception. The success of this picket can be attributed to our fellow proud union members in LAX and SAN along with their elected leadership. This event had no leak of chatter prior on social media making it a surprise indeed and was planned in just a week’s time with resounding success.

Many thanks to the collaborative and dedicated efforts of the organizing LEC LAX President, Tim Martinez Green, LAX Mobilization Chair Samantha Wolff, SAN LEC President Brice McGee, as well as other duly elected leadership in attendance including our own SEA LEC President, Paula Isla-McGill.

There is such irony in a company event being hosted at a luxury high-end hotel such as the Ritz-Carlton, while our own frontline staff is treated less than monetarily in the face of massive inflation and a 9-year-old contract. All of this in stark contrast within the vast disparity of our CEO’s total compensation package of 6 million plus in 2022.

May equity be brought to us, the flight attendants, the face of the airline, as a collective we repeatedly and continuously bring a remarkable and safe experience onboard. We repeatedly bring our passengers back to fly with unwavering loyalty as we aid tremendously in making the airline lucrative. Industry leading contract now, let’s keep the pressure on…

View the Facebook post by the MEC at: https://www.facebook.com/alaskamec/posts/783793590417502

Workplace Wellness

Our career path is a symphony of rich experiences in one another and all we meet along the way. At times, we may find ourselves in need of refilling our own cup with constant travels, time changes and the occasional challenges we all can face onboard. Be kind to yourself. Practice self-care. Take the extra time to rest and to let all else go for the time being.

Studies show that simply 10 minutes of meditation a day helps calm and enhance relaxation with increased clarity, all translating to lower levels of emotional and physical stress. Or perhaps walking, as you meander through the many cities as you release all else. Any form of movement is a tremendous way to practice self-care, but if it is simply doing something just for you to enhance a calmer mind, then this is a form of helping fill your cup. Rest is always paramount, too.

We live in a fast-paced world and our job is no exception, continual flights with the traveling public, keeping on top of items and planning forward…practicing self-care will only help the everyday nuances with an effervescent fresh spirit.

If you ever feel you need additional assistance with any life matters; know that the EAP is there for you in complete confidentiality. EAP is a union-based peer to peer assistance program with many assets for your continued well-being along your path.

Spotlight On the Contract

Knowledge is wisdom and with that being aware and well-versed of one’s contract is of vast importance. As always, be sure to familiarize yourself with all of your contractual rights. Questions? Be sure to reach out to your Union officers and relevant Committee members for clarification.

There has been an uptick in Reassignments (Section 10.R) and Precancellations (Section 10.S). Please familiarize yourself with CBA Section 10.R and 10.S in its entirety.

AFA Scheduling has helpful resources to assist you on the AFA website, under Committee Resources. Below are helpful flow chart links:

Reassignment Flowchart (Pay): https://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AFA-Reassignment-Flow-Chart-Pay-2022.09.30.pdf
Reassignment Flowchart: https://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AFA-Reassignment-Flow-Chart-2022.09.30.pdf
Precancellation Flowchart: https://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AFA-Precancellation-Flow-Chart-2022.09.30.pdf
Irregular Operations Quick Reference: http://afaalaska.org/scheduling/irops

October 3rd additionally provides a great opportunity to come prepared with any questions on flow charts at our membership meeting on October 3rd, whereby chairpersons will be on hand to answer questions.

Parking Reminder

As all have experienced, parking in the NEPL has become quite challenging and at times, frustrating. We encourage you to utilize the 30-minute grace period agreed to by management. As long as you scan into the NEPL by 30 minutes prior to your scheduled report, your late points will be removed if you are unable to check in on time.

The more we are able to report and utilize the 30-minute grace period, the better picture management will have regarding how insufficient our parking and port transportation is to get us to work in a reasonable amount of time. Our time is valuable and 30 minutes is certainly a good amount of time to already give before starting our work day. Thank you for your cooperation, please utilize the policy if needed.

Helpful Tidbits and Best Practices for Screenshots (for proof)

At times, we encounter delays and at times, we have all seen where not nearly enough ground time was allotted between our delayed flight and subsequent flights. We often think to ourselves that the new ground times are quite low and quite frankly unrealistic. At times, a delayed flight is not adjusted at all to reflect a proper delay between a current flight and the next. Please take screenshots and be sure to send them to AFA if this happens to you.

Speaking of screenshots; here’s a running list we’d highly encourage to be mindful of for capturing screenshots.

Every scheduled trip prior to the start of a trip.
Crew Access trip images after each segment.
During delays.
Call logs with crew scheduling.
Check in times.
Published roster prior to each trip.
The LTFA prior to 10:00am each day.
Prior to block. Intermittent screenshots. Immediately after being assigned a trip.
All open time trips prior to 2:00pm every day. If those trips aren’t assigned to a reserve by 6:00pm, those trips need to be back in OT. If withheld, file a ticket.

When we come together and document, any potential attempt at circumventing our contractual rights becomes highlighted. Screenshots simply help document our respective scenarios.

CBT Reminder

Do not forget to complete your CBT by the September 30 deadline. It is important to remember if you do not complete the required training, the discipline is progressive. If you are already in steps of discipline, failure to complete your CBT will move you up the steps, up to and including discharge. If you encounter any technical issues, please contact the ITS Help desk. To verify your CBT is complete, check that your Cornerstone transcript lists under “Completed” and check your email for a confirmation.

Don’t forget, you get 1TFP for completing the CBT, and it will count towards your PPP bonus.

Attendance Reports

Do you regularly check your attendance report? If not, make sure to do so and check for accuracy. Login to Crew Access, Reports, Attendance Report, Generate. Make sure to check that everything on there is accurate. If you are calling out sick, do not forget to fill out a point reduction form prior to the end of your next sequence (32.D). To find the form, visit the FA Website, Administration, Performance, New Point Reduction Form. Make sure to fill out accurately and put the date that the trip or reserve block you are calling out for started on. Please remember, the point reduction form cannot be used for short sick calls. If you find an issue with your attendance report, you can bring it to the attention of your performance supervisor. Please remember, anytime you have a conversation with management, you can request a Council #19 representative to be present on the call with you. If they can’t and/or wont assist, fill out a ticket at https://support.afaalaska.org

Local Council Meeting Announcement

Please save the date for our Local Council Meeting that will take place in October. We hope to see a lot of Seattle members at the event, so mark your calendar!

Date: October 3, 2023

Time: 1:00PM – 4:00PM

Location: Earhart Room at the International Plaza (same building as 13 Coins) across from the airport.

Come get updates and meet with your Local Officers and Committee Chairpersons. We will be available to answer your questions and give updates on current issues. Parking is free in two areas. There is parking out front that is free for a few hours, or park in the rear. If you park in the rear, please make sure to bring your parking ticket with you to the meeting so we can validate it for you.

You can view the agenda for the meeting by CLICKING HERE.

If you will be attending the meeting, please REGISTER HERE.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month officially started on September 15^th and runs through October 15^th. Make sure to wear your Hispanic Heritage AFA pins with pride. If you need one, there is a supply available in the Seattle Inflight Office, just ask a supervisor.

AFA International HRE Committee

The AFA Human Rights and Equity Committee is committed to providing the broadest possible representation of our members regardless of age, disability, marital status, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and gender expression. We honor and celebrate the shared humanity of the members in our care. We shall at all times endeavor to promote the principles of tolerance, fairness, equity, justice, respect and inclusion within our Union. It is only when we all work together we can tear down the walls of division and create a progressive culture that values social & economic justice for all working people.

You will find the latest HRE Committee Newsletter below:

2023-October-HRE-Newsletter-Download

Communications Committee Update, Looking Toward the Future

Our Communications Committee Chair and new members are delighted to be working together to provide you with the latest. Our focus is on engagement and relaying pertinent topics, to you, our proud SEA Council 19 members. Keep an eye out on our newsletters; in addition, if you are on Facebook, be sure to join our SEA Council 19 Facebook page. Feel free to utilize our Facebook platform with your questions and thoughts.

Additionally, we are developing a SEA Council 19 Tik Tok as well as a new Instagram. These are simply additional ways to keep informed. We’re excited to be bringing new platforms of communication to you via social media platforms. Yet, if you’re not on social media, that’s okay, be sure to have your email address on file and with that you’ll receive our latest, too.

Most importantly, never forgetting, you are the union…each and every one of you. We are only as strong as we are together. Stay engaged, stay in unity, stay informed.

Membership Dues

We will be planning solidarity events in the near future, so it is important to make sure that you are up to date on your membership dues. Also, please remember that when a tentative agreement is reached with the company, you have to be up to date in order to vote! If you have questions about your dues status, please reach out to our Council #19 Secretary, Adam Clarey at adam.clarey@afaalaska.org.

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Council #19 September Committee Update

September 13, 2023 07:07

In this ediition

Inflight Service Committee Update
Membership Committee Update
Mobilization Committee Update
Reserve Committee Update
Scheduling Committee Update
Uniform Committee Update

Inflight Service

The Seattle ISC committee continues to receive reports of poor-quality glassware, and utensils coming from the Seattle Kitchen. The reports of dirty and spotted glassware, and utensils has been discussed with management multiple times. Management indicates that they have asked LSG for a review of their processes, and to check the dish washing equipment. Management indicates that LSG has found a faulty part in the machine, and that a fix is in process. Please continue to report dirty dishes using the Block 2 Block app.

The ISC committee is also asking management to address the shortage of FC glassware, and to find a solution as quickly as possible. We have too many reports of missing glassware and having to use paper cups in FC. This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately.

Please continue to use B2B to report all catering issues. Your report may not be responded to, but it is read and assigned to the appropriate team inside the Catering Department.

Membership

In September, we welcomed over 70 new Flight Attendants from Class 5 to Seattle. We add each new Flight Attendant to the AFA newsletter database. All Flight Attendants should be receiving email updates from AFA. If you are not receiving AFA emails, please register here. If you accidentally unsubscribed or need to update your email address, please email us, and we can update your subscription for you.

It is important to keep up with your union dues; missed dues deductions will not be taken out of a future 20^thpaycheck. Dues are owed each month you are active or for the first three months of an unpaid leave. The deductions that occur from the 20^th paycheck each month apply to that month (the September 20^th paycheck covers September dues). Please visit the AFA Membership page for more union dues information and payment options if you owe dues.

Mobilization

As you know, your mobilization committee has been hard at work this summer. We organized two highly successful informational picket events, with over 300 attendees in July and an astounding turnout of over 1,000 in August. Flight Attendants, Pilots, Agents, family, friends, and labor allies came together to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to fighting for the contract we deserve. While we don’t have any formal activities planned at the moment, we encourage you to continue wearing your red AFA pins and proudly displaying our red AFA luggage tags on your suitcases to show management that we are fired up and ready to continue the fight.

Reserve

We have been busy on the Council 19 Reserve Committee continuing to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants based in Seattle. Please reach out with questions or concerns anytime via our email sea.reserve@afaalaska.org. If you have a contractual concern, then please file a ticket at the AFA Support Center page.

We have noticed an increase in out of order assignments, so be sure to check the LTFA and take screenshots if you feel you are assigned out of order related to other Flight Attendants with the same classification reserve (AM/PM/ER)/number or days of availability.

Remember, if you experience an over duty period (duty period that exceeds 12.5 hours) you may be due double out rest. Whatever is on your line at the time of the over duty period you are obligated to complete, but scheduling should not add any new flying after an over duty period has occurred. With how busy reserves have been in Seattle, a reminder is due that you do not have to accept any assignment that causes you to exceed 118.2 TFP flown reserve TFP for a bid period. An easy way to keep track is by checking how much TFP to date you are credited with on the LTFA. If you exceed 118.2, you can ask to be released from your remaining reserve days.

We have seen an uptick in crew access trading issues, if you experience a crew access glitch, please let the reserve committee know ad we will forward it to the correct party.

Lastly, we successfully fought to have the north satellite quiet room open after hours for overnight APSB shifts. For instructions on how to leave the north satellite when the trains are not running, visit the inflight webpage, my base, SEA, SEA Base and SpotOn location information, ADVISORY, and read the message about after-hours crew room access.

Fly Safe and see you out there!

Scheduling

It has been a very busy summer for the Seattle Scheduling Committee. Thank you all who have submitted AFA Support Tickets so we may assist and document scheduling related issues.

Below are highlights of upcoming important scheduling topics:

Don’t forget to bid your 2024 Vacation.
2024 vacation bidding is now open. Refer to Inflight Bulletin for details and due dates for first and second round vacation bidding and award timelines.

As a reminder for vacation bidding:

For additional vacation bidding assistance, there is Vacation Bidding User Guide found on the Inflight webpage > Scheduling and Bidding > Vacation Trading > Vacation Bidding & Trading User Guide.

Keep in mind January, February, and March bid dates for both vacation and monthly bidding.

Section 5 – Definitions: Month: Each Calendar month will be a bid month except for January, February, and March.

January: January 1 – January 30
February: January 31 – March 1
March: March 2 – March 31

Additional information can be found in the CBA, Section 14, Vacation.

October PBS Base Sits

We will be conducting PBS base sits in Seattle in October, for November bid schedules.

October 5: 11AM – 7PM
October 6: 9AM – 5PM
October 7: 10AM – 6PM
October 8: 10AM – 6PM
October 9: No SEA Base Sit
October 7 & 9: Virtual Base Sit 11AM – 1PM

Please Note: There will be PBS base sits at ALL bases. If you are on a sit or in another base, you can participate in those base sits.

PBS Base sit schedule for all bases is posed on the PBS Information Page.

REASSIGNMENT and PRECANCELLATION

There has been an uptick in Reassignments (Section 10.R) and Precancellations (Section 10.S). Please familiarize yourself with CBA Section 10.R and 10.S in its entirety.

AFA Scheduling has helpful resources to assist you on the AFA website, under Committee Resources. Below are helpful flow chart links:

Reassignment Flowchart (Pay): https://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AFA-Reassignment-Flow-Chart-Pay-2022.09.30.pdf
Reassignment Flowchart: https://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AFA-Reassignment-Flow-Chart-2022.09.30.pdf
Precancellation Flowchart: https://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AFA-Precancellation-Flow-Chart-2022.09.30.pdf
Irregular Operations Quick Reference: http://afaalaska.org/scheduling/irops

Uniform

This is a recap from the Quarterly Meeting held on August 8, 2023.

The quarterly meeting was divided into an AFA only meeting and an AFA with management meeting. The following items were discussed:

Reported quality issues including wings/pins causing injury and holes in uniform, name bar falling off wings, hems and seams running/tearing, zipper tabs falling off feminine cardigans, holes in sweaters, and sleeves on cardigans splitting at cup.
Clarified there is no desire for management to remove the requirement for company issued lanyard due to safety concerns. Current lanyards are “snap away” feature that prevents injury.
Management will consider moving from the current approved list to “boot guidelines and requirements” for the seasonal navy boots. Updates will be made as soon as internal discussions conclude.
The committee requested management review seasonal neckwear policy to allow for year-round wear for pride, patriotic, and breast cancer awareness themes. Marketing’s initial concern is this would lose the cohesive look of the brand with so many different styles. It also lessens the impact of the seasonal neckwear during those specific months/days. Will continue discussing.
There with be an update on gender neutral collections and the Unisync website in late October. It will link back to uniform subsite to provide more information.
Management is not inclined to remove the hosiery requirement for the feminine look.
Unisync has a preferred vendor list which as limited ability to source a transition jacket. The committee has requested a list of the preferred vendors and will continue to actively assist in sourcing the best possible fit and quality.
The feminine vest wear test was a success, and the redesign will be used in the site relaunch in October.

The next quarterly Uniform Committee meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

What the Committee is Working On:

Wear Testing: Wear testing for the pride neckwear began on Monday August 7^th and will run for 14 days. Wear testing for a gender neutral “Aura Vest” has been suspended. Advocating for a uniform that suites all body types require wear testers. Seeking volunteers who have gender neutral, petite, tall, and/or plus sizes to test uniform redesigns and additions.

Mock Neck Sweater: Will be added to uniform collection and available for preorder in October. Shipping in Quarter 1.

Warm Weather Shirt: Added to the uniform collection and currently available for order. The shirt does not have any alteration guidelines; however, Flight Attendants may hem the shirt halfway up their bicep. Flight Attendants may not fold or cuff the shirts more than once.

We want to hear from you! Please email Unisync with any quality issues. In the email, please describe the issue in detail, include the “PO” number from the tag, attach photos of the issue and the tag, if possible, and CC your Local Uniform Committee chairperson (sea.uniform.chair@afaalaska.org). Please consider opening a ticket on the AFA Support page so the Uniform Committee can track these issues.

Would you like to join the wear test pool? Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you would like brought up with management, also lets us know. Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management. You can find contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA website.

Inflight Service Committee

A few reminders from your ISC Committee:

Membership Committee

Mobilization Committee

Reserve Committee

Scheduling Committee

Know Before You Go:

Record Improvement – End of year 480/960 TFP totals and Point Reduction

Sit Pay Adjustment Form

Uniform Committee

World Kindness Day: November 13

ASHSC Committee

Benefits, Retirement & Maternity

Communications Committee

EAP Committee

Grievance

Hotel Committee

Human Rights

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What Truly Is Solidarity and Why Is It Important?

Surprise Pop-Up Picket in LAX

Workplace Wellness

Spotlight On the Contract

Parking Reminder

Helpful Tidbits and Best Practices for Screenshots (for proof)

CBT Reminder

Attendance Reports

Local Council Meeting Announcement

Hispanic Heritage Month

AFA International HRE Committee

Communications Committee Update, Looking Toward the Future

Membership Dues

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Inflight Service

Membership

Mobilization

Reserve

Scheduling

October PBS Base Sits

REASSIGNMENT and PRECANCELLATION

Uniform

What the Committee is Working On:

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Master Executive Council

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