dues

AFA Update – July 2, 2020

July 2, 2020 12:00 Leave a Comment

In This Edition

Tell Congress: Extend the Payroll Support Program
Substance Use During COVID-19 Pandemic
Vanguard Retirement Webinar—Coming Soon
Union Plus Program Hardship Benefits
Updated Board of Directors Information
The Dues Pie Chart – Where Do My Dues Go?

Tell Congress: Extend the Payroll Support Program

AFA International

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556 are calling for a six-month aviation Payroll Support Program (PSP) extension through March 31, 2021, to protect our jobs, extend the restrictions on stock buybacks, dividends, and executive compensation, and maintain service to all of our communities. Tell Congress to keep our industry intact to ensure aviation can help fight the virus and contribute to economic recovery as opposed to adding to an economic depression.

Amplify Your Voice With a Call

In addition to sending a letter, you can amplify your voice by following up with a phone call to your Members of Congress. Call your Representative and Senators and say:

Hello, I am a constituent calling to ask [Representative]/[Senator] to help save my job as an essential worker. Take legislative action in July to extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program for aviation workers in order to avoid massive job loss in October. Keep us connected to our jobs, our paychecks, and our healthcare. Thank you for your urgent attention to this.

AFA COVID Relief House – (888) 907-9365
AFA COVID Relief Senate – (888) 848-4824

Substance Use During COVID-19 Pandemic

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

Historically, crisis events tend to trigger increased drug and alcohol abuse. Post 9/11, for example, the National Institutes of Health raised concerns about increased substance use by those impacted by the tragedy. Meanwhile, after Hurricane Katrina, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that hospitalization for alcohol use disorders rose by 35 percent in New Orleans. Experts fear that we will see similar trends this time, but on a national scale. People frequently self-medicate with drugs and alcohol to cope with feelings of stress and anxiety. Uncertainty about the future, loneliness, lack of routine, economic dislocation, job loss and fear of death by disease, can all be triggers for those who are vulnerable to substance abuse, including those in recovery – even after long periods of abstinence. Meanwhile, stay-at-home orders in effect for COVID-19, limit access to support systems such as friends, neighbors, therapists, church, family and recovery groups. Early indications aren’t good. Researchers are seeing spikes in alcohol sales, marijuana use, and anti-anxiety and pain medication prescriptions.

If you are concerned about substance abuse for yourself, a family member or flying partner, now is the perfect time to consider treatment, especially if you are on a voluntary leave. Your AFA EAP Committee can discuss and coordinate all treatment options while maintaining your right to privacy. If you are getting ready to return from a leave and would like to discuss preventing safety risk associated with drug and alcohol testing violations, contact your AFA EAP Committee for a confidential conversation. Contact information for your Local EAP Committee can be found at afaalaska.org/eap.

Vanguard Retirement Webinar—Coming Soon

Retirement Committee

As the company will be offering early out packages, your AFA Retirement Committee, in conjunction with Vanguard, the company’s 401(k) plan administrator, will be conducting an online webinar to provide information and answer questions about the planning process for retirement. Meeting date, time, registration information, and information about how to submit questions in advance will be posted to the Retirement Committee page of the AFA Alaska website and communicated in an AFA update email once finalized.

Retirement Plan Resources

In addition to the upcoming retirement webinar, a list of retirement plan resources and links to these online tools can be found on the retirement resources page of Alaska’s World (AAG sign-on required).

Union Plus Program Hardship Benefits

AFA International

Many of the Union Plus programs, which are an AFA Member benefit, provide hardship benefits.

Members who currently have a Union Plus Mortgage, Credit Card, Personal Loan, or Supplemental Insurance programs may be eligible for additional hardship assistance through the Mortgage Assistance Program and Union Plus Hardship Help. The Union Plus Mortgage Assistance Program provides interest-free loans and a $1000 grant to help eligible members make mortgage payments when disabled, unemployed, furloughed, locked out or on strike.

Union Plus Credit Card holders are eligible for a $300 job loss grant if they have been laid-off or furloughed for 45 days or more due to COVID-19. The eligibility criteria and application process can be found at www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/union-plus-hardship-help-benefits.

The MetLife Legal program is making available additional resources including free consultation and document review and access to a self-help library so members can get questions answered and also review and complete Wills, Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Directives and similar documents for free through July 31, 2020. Additional info, including the instructions to reach the self-help document library, is available here: https://www.unionplus.org/blog/consumer-tips/free-legal-document-review-and-consultations-through-july-31-2020.

The Free College program is making available additional financial aid to students who may need additional assistance for education-related expenses due to COVID-19. Info on Free College is here: https://www.unionplusfreecollege.org.

Updated AFA Board of Directors Information

AFA International

The Board of Directors were scheduled to meet in-person during May 2020, but due to the pandemic conditions, that meeting was cancelled. The BOD met virtually via a Zoom Meeting on May 20, 2020. The purpose of this meeting was to address the 2020-2021 Proposed Annual Budget.

Visit the AFA International Board of Directors resource page for updated meeting documentation that includes the single Agenda Item (Annual AFA Budget), the four Resolutions that were considered and other useful material.

The Dues Pie Chart – Where Do My Dues Go?

AFA International

The Dues Pie Chart depicts where all funds at AFA are budgeted. About 80% of dues dollars are directly allocated to fund the work at each airline (i.e. Local Councils, Master Executive Councils, Negotiations, and System Board). The remaining budgets at the International Office support Government Affairs, Air Safety, EAP, and Communications Departments, each of which provides expert services that are Flight Attendant focused and provide resources for the local leaders and committees of Flight Attendants at each airline. 100% of our dues dollars are allocated to priorities that provide Flight Attendant representation.

There are four distinct areas where dues money is spent:

Local and Airline-Specific

Each base has a Local Executive Council (LEC) with elected Officers who provide direct representation and deal with local grievances and other issues. These Local Officers will answer your phone calls and make sure member interests are represented in front of management. For example, in the event of discipline or a contract violation, Local Officers will address the issue where it happened and work to get swift resolution. Additionally, elected Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers provide representation at the corporate level. At both the LEC and MEC, there are committees that solve problems in areas such as safety, schedules, hotels, grievances, etc. These committees also enforce the contract specific to their area of expertise, produce newsletters, and participate in union meetings. The role of your LEC and MEC Officers and committee representatives at each airline is to ensure you are represented by Flight Attendants who know your job because they share it with you at your airline. AFA promotes this autonomy at each airline where your representatives, assisted by experts, negotiate with management and develop and maintain the relationship between airline management and the Union.

Negotiations

Bargaining for pay and working conditions is one of the core representation activities performed by the Union. We start with a membership survey, schedule meetings with management, conduct caucuses with the committee, develop contractual language, support membership engagement and information programs, and we work with AFA-CWA professional negotiators throughout the process including all direct negotiations/mediation with management. The end result is improved contractual language with higher pay, better working conditions, and improved benefits.

System Board (Grievances)

The first step in any grievance is to try to resolve the matter locally. Some airlines have negotiated an alternative dispute process for a faster, collaborative resolution. If that fails, then the final stage for resolution, whether disciplinary or contractual, is an appeal to a neutral arbitrator. An AFA-CWA attorney will work with our Grievance Committee to present our case to the neutral arbitrator. We defend the contracts we negotiate.

International Office Support

While your LEC is the face of the Union to local management and the MEC to corporate management, the International Office is the public persona and brand of the Union. Our presence and name recognition can legislate or improve federal regulations, remove obstacles from the bargaining table, better our position in negotiations and improve our experience on the job across the profession. The International Office maintains the professional staff of attorneys, negotiators, and other personnel that provide administration, accounting and membership services to members and elected leaders. We all work together to support the programs that encompasses our profession.

Questions?

If you have questions about AFA dues, please contact your LEC President.

AFA Update – May 11, 2020

May 11, 2020 10:00

In This Edition

Resources While on Reduced or Unpaid Status
AFA Dues Payments While on a Leave of Absence
Taking Control of Your Finances During a Loss of Flying

Resources While on Reduced or Unpaid Status

AFA International

The announcement of reduced flying schedules and the subsequent need for leaves of absence have many Flight Attendants feeling anxious and concerned. Local Unemployment offices are facing an unprecedented demand for information and assistance. Many states are revising their requirements to make it easier for workers to apply online.

Additional benefits for Flight Attendants can be found in the recently passed CARES Act. Because of your many calls and letters to Congress and through AFA’s advocacy on Capitol Hill interacting directly with lawmakers, we were able to secure financial relief for individual workers and airlines in a way that promotes direct support of continued paychecks, healthcare, and financial viability of the airlines. All of this was made law while placing restrictions on stock buybacks, dividends, executive bonuses and using funds in any way to undermine worker rights.

The following information has been compiled from AFA EAP and Legal departments, the AFL-CIO and Union Plus Benefits. Links to several useful flyers are contained within this section which provide additional information.

AFA EAP

We know this is a stressful time for everyone. AFA’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is also available to help you deal with the emotional toll the events of this time are taking. AFA EAP is a resource for resolving problems through an international network of over 200 professionally-trained, peer support volunteer Flight Attendants overseen by mental health professionals. AFA EAP assists members in accessing appropriate medical help around mental health issues involving family crises, work-related trauma and chemical imbalance, as well as conflict resolution services and response to critical incidents. EAP is totally confidential. If you would like to contact AFA EAP you can find contact information by clicking here.

We hope these resources will assist you with this difficult transition. We encourage you to reach out to these experts as soon as possible.

AFL-CIO: State Specific Resources

As a member union in the AFL-CIO we are pleased to direct you to a useful landing page that will allow you to search for resources by state including:

Resources and benefits to help replace lost wages
Eligibility for emergency paid leave
Housing and food assistance programs
Health insurance and public health services and guidance

https://aflcio.org/covid-19/state-resources

Unemployment Benefits

People who take a leave or experience a reduction in hours through no fault of their own may be eligible to receive unemployment. Eligibility requirements, statutory wait periods and length of time to collect benefits differ by state. However, the scale and scope of these benefits will vary depending on the state where you are based. It is strongly recommended that you review the unemployment filing requirements and determine if your personal circumstances might allow you the choice of filing with your home state or your domicile state. An important piece of any unemployment filing will be the leave paperwork you receive from your airline. If the language contains verbiage that the leave is COVID related, this will be key to securing benefits. Additionally, most airlines have taken the position they will not contest unemployment filings that are COVID related. Make sure you reference COVID as the reason for your leave when filing your unemployment claim.

As part of the COVID-19 Relief Act, Congress increased by $600 the amount of weekly Unemployment Insurance (UI) payments that laid off and furloughed workers can receive through July 31, 2020. If you’re eligible for at least $1 of state unemployment compensation, you get the full $600, according to the Labor Department. The CARES Act also extends the number of weeks of eligibility for long term unemployed people by 13 weeks to the current state term (normally 26 weeks) to a maximum of 39 weeks, temporarily eliminates work-search requirements and minimum work history (under normal rules, only those who have been employed for a year are eligible), and expands the categories of eligible workers.

Online Unemployment Information and Resources:

For more information about the changes the CARES Act made to the unemployment insurance, we recommend this guide put together by our friends at the National Employment Law Project.
Our AFA website contains up to date information, compiled by the legal department, regarding your questions and answers about unemployment: https://www.afacwa.org/increased_unemployment_covid19

Online Government Resources for Help

Information about unemployment insurance and sources of other governmental assistance programs can be found here:

Union Plus

Union Plus is another partner of the AFL-CIO. It is a consumer benefits program for union members and offers specific programs to assist members in times of financial hardship. Visit these websites for additional information:

Union Plus has partnered with Freedom Debt Relief to offer a debt settlement program designed to help union members get out of debt as quickly as possible, for one low monthly program payment.
Access Money Management International, which works with UnionPlus to provide budgeting and credit counseling assistance to union members.
Participants in the Union Plus Mortgage, Credit Card, Personal Loan, or supplemental insurance programs may be eligible for additional hardship assistance. Visit Union Plus Hardship Help for eligibility requirements at https://www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/union-plus-hardship-help-benefits

AFA Dues Payments While on a Leave of Absence

Membership Committee

As a reminder, Article II.C.1.b of the AFA Constitution & Bylaws require that AFA dues continue to be paid during any leave of absence less than 90 days. If you currently pay your dues through payroll deduction, dues payments will continue to be deducted as long as you continue to receive a paycheck with sufficient funds for all other payroll deductions plus your AFA dues. If you are no longer receiving a paycheck or your paycheck does not cover all of your payroll deductions, AFA dues will not be deducted and you will instead receive an invoice from AFA International Membership Services.

Payment Options

If you receive an invoice or statement indicating that you owe AFA dues, payment can be made in one of two ways:

Online, by credit card, at http://www.afacwa.org/payment
By mailing a check directly to AFA International Membership Services

More information about payment options can be found on the payment options page of membership services section of the AFA International website. This page also contains information about payment plan options if you have a past due account and are unable to pay your entire balance at once.

Questions?

If you have any questions about payment options for outstanding AFA dues, please contact the AFA International Membership Services Department at (800) 424-2401, extension 707. For other dues-related questions, please contact your Local Membership Committee.

Taking Control of Your Finances During a Loss of Flying

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

It is prudent for all Flight Attendants to assess their personal financial positions in anticipation of income reductions. While every Flight Attendant’s situation will vary, below are some general considerations that can help you begin strategizing how best to weather the financial impact of flying cutbacks on your household.

Assess Your Financial Status

Prepare a household budget and cut any non-essential items.
Prepare a list of all creditors and a contact person. Make minimum payments.
Place your money in a bank in which you have no debt.
Attempt to secure a loan early, so you will have a cash flow.
Assess your tax situation. You may be owed a refund or need to file an extension.
Be proactive. Assess your credit card debt. Look into a temporary reduction or abatement in payments.

Contact Your Creditors

You must communicate with your creditors before any payments become delinquent, and the sooner the better. You can negotiate a lower repayment schedule before you run out of money. Be professional, but assertive. Creditors are easier to work with if they know ahead of time that there’s a problem. Also, it shows ‘good faith’ that you are concerned about your debts and intend to pay.

The goal is to make the amount of money you’ve saved last as long as possible. Pay what you can on a regular basis, even if it is less than expected. Partial payments may keep collection agents away. Follow-up all telephone conversations with a letter and keep documentation. Even in the worst-case scenario, it takes a long time for collections, repossessions and evictions to occur. Contact credit counselors who can help you sort out your financial affairs. Be sure to remember to contact the creditors that are automatically payroll deducted.

Even if you can’t pay creditors the amount they want, make your best effort to pay something regularly. This holds arrears as low as possible and lets the creditor know that you are doing all you can. Partial payment may keep your account from being turned over to a collection agency.

Put your payments in order of importance: this will help you pay first things first when money is short. Generally, your most important payment will be the mortgage or rent payment, followed by utilities, health insurance and car payments.

And after the initial contact, it’s important that you keep in contact with creditors – every two weeks or so. This reassures the creditor, shows a responsible attitude toward your obligation and may keep the creditor from ‘hounding’ you.

Prepare a Household Budget

A budget helps you see where you spend your money and where you can save. Your budgeted expenses should include:

Fixed expenses, including: mortgage, rent, taxes, insurance, loans, installment payments, credit card payments and any other monthly payments.
Monthly expenses, including: food, gas, repairs, dues, recreation, prescriptions.
Future expenses, including: income/property tax and any other outstanding debts.

Your budgeted income should include:

Any remaining income
State disability insurance benefits
Workers’ compensation checks
Savings
Social Security
Unemployment compensation
Other pension funds

Your assets may include:

Cash value of insurance policies
Equity in your home
Prepaid burial or funeral policy
Resale value of vehicles (including boats and snowmobiles)

Now you are ready to adjust your expenses, negotiate with creditors and use assets in the most effective way possible.

Questions?

Contact your Local Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee or call (949) 470-0493.

AFA Update – February 21, 2020

February 21, 2020 12:00

In This Edition

REMINDER: Negotiating Committee Interviews
AFA Dues FAQs
Department of Transportation Warning About CBD Products

REMINDER: Negotiating Committee Interviews

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Our current Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) becomes amendable on December 17, 2021 but also contains an early opener clause for the negotiating process to begin as early as December 2020. In anticipation of early openers, the Master Executive Council (MEC) will be conducting interviews for the Negotiating Committee during the March Regular MEC Meeting, to be held March 10 and 11, 2020. All three Negotiating Committee positions are up for interview and consideration. Per the AFA Constitution & Bylaws, the MEC President is the chairperson of the Negotiating Committee and rounds out the Committee as the fourth member.

The Negotiating Committee is charged to negotiate and institute the needs and desires of the Flight Attendants into an effective collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The Committee should have a good working knowledge of the current CBA and be willing to devote their full time to the Committee during negotiations. The members of this Committee shall serve as the CBA Interpretation Committee until a new agreement is completed.

Selection of Committee Members

Any person seeking a position on the Negotiating Committee must submit a resume to the MEC
Committee Members will function until a new Committee is selected
The Chairperson of the Negotiating Committee will be the MEC President or her/his designee
Committee Members are selected by majority vote of the voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents)

Committee Member Duties & Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the Negotiating Committee shall include the following:

The Committee, with the advice of the Staff Negotiator shall have the authority to conclude an agreement, subject to the provisions of Article XII of the Constitution and Bylaws.
All members of the Committee, including alternates whenever possible, shall complete a negotiations training seminar prior to writing an “opener.”
Be familiar with Union policy and keep abreast of new developments in the industry.
Utilize the facilities and resources of the Union and the experience and knowledge of Union Officers, International Office staff and study committees of the Union. (eg., Legal, Retirement and Insurance, Wage and Working Conditions, etc.).
Maintain a current record of the:
- Financial condition of the company.
- Management lines of authority and methods of communication.
- Operations statistics and experiences of the airline which may be used in bargaining, grievances, litigation, etc.
Be familiar with the wishes of the Flight Attendant group with respect to wages, working conditions, and work rules, through, for example, system-wide distribution of contract surveys, periodic road shows, etc.
Prepare the contract opener with the advice of the Staff Negotiator
Provide regular updates to the membership on the status of negotiations
Proof CBA language and agree with the Company on implementation and effective dates
Review tentative agreement with the MEC
Prepare membership summary package and Roadshow schedule
Present the tentative agreement to the members
Proof printed agreement and prepare CBA index
Prepare CBA interpretations for new concepts
Remain available as a resource for interpretations
Maintain a complete record of the negotiations, including proposals, notes and communications, and such record is the property of AFA-CWA. A copy of this record will be forwarded to the International Office by the Negotiating Committee.
Maintain contact, through the MEC President, with IAM, ALPA, TWU, AMFA, and other applicable labor unions on property

Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

Flight pay loss (FPL) reimbursement will be provided to Negotiating Committee Members at the rate of 6 TFP at “A” pay for 8 hours of work. FPL is not reimbursed for days that solely contain travel to/from an activity.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

The MEC will hold interviews during the March Regular MEC meeting from March 10-11, 2020. Bid around the interview date or plan to arrange your schedule accordingly to accommodate.

Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume online at https://forms.gle/6vj5XPxDwv9x54eb9. The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Tuesday, March 3. After that time, MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou will contact qualified candidates to schedule a specific interview time.

Please note that in order to submit an expression of interest, you must have a Google account. If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Questions?

Any questions regarding the Negotiating Committee positions or application process should be directed to MEC President Jeffrey Peterson at jeffrey.peterson@afaalaska.org.

AFA Dues FAQs

Membership Committee

How Often Are Dues Deducted?

Dues are deducted once per month on the 20th of the month and represent that months dues.

What If I Have a Past Due Amount?

Alaska Airlines will not deduct past due amounts from your paycheck. If you have a past due amount owing, the AFA International Membership Service department will send you an invoice. All past due amounts must be paid directly to AFA.

Do I Owe Dues If I Am On a Leave of Absence?

If you are on a leave of absence and coordinating any type of pay (sick leave or vacation), you are considered on payroll and you must pay your union dues.

If you are not coordinating enough to have your dues deducted (this is the last priority for payroll deductions) then you will receive an invoice from the AFA International Membership Services department. This is a bill and the amount must be paid.

If you are not receiving any pay, you are obligated to pay dues for the first 3 months of your leave. After the three months period has passed, you do not have any further dues obligation until you return from your leave.

Where Can I Access Dues Check Off and Membership Forms?

You can access the Dues Check Off (DCO) form used for automatic payroll deduction of AFA dues and the AFA membership application on the membership page of the AFA Alaska website.

Questions?

If you have any questions about AFA dues, please contact your Local Membership Committee.

Department of Transportation Warning About CBD Products

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

On Tuesday, February 18, 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy Compliance issued a compliance notice regarding the use of cannabidiol (CBD) products for employees in safety-sensitive positions who are subject to drug testing per 49 CFR part 40 (which includes Flight Attendants). You can view the notice by clicking here.

In summary, the notice states:

The Department of Transportation requires testing for marijuana and not CBD.
The labeling of many CBD products may be misleading because the products could contain higher levels of THC than what the product label states. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently certify the levels of THC in CBD products, so there is no Federal oversight to ensure that the labels are accurate. The FDA has cautioned the public that: “Consumers should beware purchasing and using any [CBD] products.” The FDA has stated: “It is currently illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or labeling it as a dietary supplement.” Also, the FDA has issued several warning letters to companies because their products contained more CBD than indicated on the product label.
The Department of Transportation’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation, Part 40, does not authorize the use of Schedule I drugs, including marijuana, for any reason. Furthermore, CBD use is not a legitimate medical explanation for a laboratory-confirmed marijuana positive result. Therefore, Medical Review Officers will verify a drug test confirmed at the appropriate cutoffs as positive, even if an employee claims they only used a CBD product.

This information is consistent with other guidance on CBD previously communicated by AFA.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the AFA Alaska EAP Committee. You can find contact information on the EAP Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. Any contact made to AFA EAP is completely confidential.

AFA Update – January 10, 2020

January 10, 2020 20:00

In This Edition

REMINDER: Know Your Dues Obligation
Recurrent Training
Two Computer Based Trainings (CBTs) are Due in January
Uniforms
Commitments to Healthier Habits
National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

REMINDER: Know Your Dues Obligation

Membership Committee

Each of us has an obligation to ensure that our AFA dues payments are current and up-to-date. Section 26 of our collective bargaining agreement outlines the requirement for each of us to pay dues as a condition of employment. If you receive a notice that dues are past due, it is important to remedy the past due amount immediately. Failure to remedy a past due amount may result in termination of employment.

How Do I Know If I Have a Past Due Amount?

If you have a past due amount, you will receive a statement from the AFA International Membership Services Department sent to your mailing address on file with AFA. The statement will show for which month(s) dues have not been paid.

What To Do If You Receive a Past Due Notice for AFA Dues

If you receive a statement indicating that you owe dues, the easiest way to make a payment is through the AFA Membership Services website. You can also contact the Membership Services Department to discuss options for a payment plan if you are unable to pay the owed amount immediately. More information about payment options can be found here.

Final Notices

A number of Flight Attendants throughout the system are significantly past due despite multiple communications regarding the dues obligation, and many attempts have been made by AFA representatives to contact and work with them. Consequently, AFA intends to send final notices to this group late next week.

If a Flight Attendant does not pay the amount owed within 15 calendar days of receiving final notice, AFA will then notify the Company. At that point, the Company will terminate employment in accordance with Section 26.D of our collective bargaining agreement.

Flight Attendants have had or will have several supplemental income opportunities to help meet their dues obligation: the “Block of 8” Productivity Premium Program (PPP) paid on December 20, the December PPP to be paid on January 17, Performance Based Pay (PBP) to be paid out soon. Vacation cash-out is always an option as a last resort. Membership Services also accepts credit cards for dues payments.

Questions?

If you have any questions about dues, please contact your Local Membership Committee or AFA International Membership Services at (800) 424-2401, ext. 707.

Recurrent Training

Inflight Training Committee

Management has made substantial changes to the Recurrent Training (RT) program for 2020 following the shutdown of RT in October 2019 in response to findings by the FAA. The Master Executive Council (MEC) has made it a priority to examine these changes closely and push back on any that appear to be more stringent than necessary to achieve regulatory compliance. As a result of those efforts, AFA secured a number of improvements behind the scenes that had a significantly positive effect for Flight Attendants impacted by the “new” RT in 2019. AFA is working hard to attain similar improvements to RT 2020 prior to classes beginning next week.

This week, management conducted a five-day “Train-the-Trainer” session in Seattle during which the Inflight Instructors (who are also Flight Attendants) and all of the members of the AFA Inflight Training Committee (who are also Inflight Instructors) received instruction from Inflight Training management on how to deliver the 2020 Recurrent Training (RT) program. Several MEC leaders also attended as observers. There were a number of spirited conversations during the week in which the Inflight Instructors, Inflight Training Committee members and the MEC observers provided feedback to management regarding the curriculum and evaluations. The group advocated for changes that protect the interests of Flight Attendants and Flight Attendant Instructors.

Management is currently in the process of incorporating that feedback and is planning a communication about Recurrent Training to the entire Flight Attendant group early next week. AFA will release a standalone RT update in response to management’s communication once it is published.

Two Computer Based Trainings (CBTs) are Due in January

Inflight Training Committee

As of today, 2041 Flight Attendants (about a third of all FAs) have not completed the Q4 2019 CBT that is now due on January 15, 2020. There is another CBT due on January 31, 2020: Annual Compliance Training (ACT) 2019. Flight Attendants not completing the required CBTs by the deadline will be issued progressive discipline.

If you are having issues completing the training, contact the IT Help Desk at: 877-238-1077 or email Inflight Training at inflight.training@alaskaair.com. Please keep track of any time you spend working with IT to resolve the issue and collect any documentation (including IT ticket information, screenshots of telephone call history with calls to IT, etc.). Once the issue is resolved, please submit this information through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center. These issues will be referred to the IT Review Process and handled through Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) meeting and may be eligible for additional pay.

Uniforms

Uniform Committee

Custom Uniforms pieces are now arriving from Unisync. It is important to try on your pieces as soon as they arrive and send any items back for return as soon as possible so that you can place an order for replacement pieces. Exchanges must first be processed as a return and then a new order submitted for the replacement item.

Returns

Uniform returns are processed through the Unisync website at http://aag.unisync.store (login required) or by calling Unisync customer service at (833) 525-2752. Detailed instructions on how to complete a return can be found on the Unisync website. After you have processed a return (either online or through customer service), you should receive an email notification when your allotment has been credited for the return. Once you receive this notification, you’ll be able to order replacement pieces using the credit from the return as well as any unused funds.

When you complete the return process, you’ll receive a return merchandise authorization (RMA) number. You may either 1) print the return request submission page or 2) indicate your RMA number along with your name and Peoplesoft number on Section A of the return slip (or on any piece of paper if you are missing the return slip); include the return authorization information with your shipment to ensure that your allotment is properly credited.

Per a letter of agreement with management, Flight Attendants are not responsible for the cost of uniform shipping, including returns. All shipments should include a pre-paid FedEx return label to the box. If you did not receive a pre-paid label, please contact Unisync customer service. Inflight management will assist Flight Attendants with uniform returns, provide appropriate packing supplies at no cost to the Flight Attendant and ship the return upon request. Returns must be postmarked no later than 90 days from receipt of the items.

New Uniform Wear Start Date

Management will soon be announcing the date for cutover to the new uniform. Please do not wear the new uniform or any pieces or accessories until the cutover date.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the uniform return or exchange process, please contact your Local Uniform Committee.

Commitments to Healthier Habits

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

The beginning of a new year is often marked with commitments to healthier habits. One health routine that you may want to consider is to examine your alcohol use annually, if not more frequently. To help you do this, the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program (FADAP) along with researchers and experts in the field of addiction developed an alcohol screening instrument just for flight attendants.

Should you answer yes to any of the below questions, please follow up with your Flight Attendant peer assistance program at your airline. Your conversations are confidential. You can reach your FADAP peer through the FADAP toll free help line at:

1-855-33FADAP or 1-855-333-2327

Flight Attendant Alcohol Use Screening

Routinely evaluate your alcohol use just as you would other health issues. Self-assess by asking yourself the following questions:

Have you shown up for a flight hung over?
Have you bid a certain position to have easy access to alcohol in the past year?
Have you drank past the cut off time in the past year?
Felt bad or guilty about your drinking in the past year?
Do you drink alcohol 4 or more times per week?
Have you had 5 or more drinks on a typical day when you are drinking?

Should you answer yes to any of the above questions, please follow up with a call to a Flight Attendant peer with the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program (FADAP). Your conversations are confidential.

National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Human Rights Committee

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. We can take a stand against human trafficking by recommitting ourselves to end it on our planes. As Flight Attendants and aviation’s first responders, we are uniquely positioned to identify human traffickers and assist their victims.

United Against Slavery: Take the Survey

AFA is proud to collaborate with United Against Slavery to collect comprehensive data among our members to help combat all forms of human trafficking. We know that Flight Attendants are a frontline identifiers against perpetrators using air transportation to relocate victims of sex and labor trafficking.

It is important to find out what is and isn’t working on the line while we work as an industry to help combat human trafficking. We want your voices to be heard, so we invite you to participate in the National Outreach Survey for Flight Attendants, between thought April 6, 2020. This online survey is optional and allows flexibility to accommodate your schedules for any member who chooses to participate. We have an opportunity to collect much needed data in the aviation sector to help combat human trafficking.

Click here to take the survey

AFA Update – November 8, 2019

November 8, 2019 12:00

In This Edition

MEC Officer Election Results
Council 30 (ANC) LEC Officer Election Results
REMINDER: MEC Committee Chairperson & Appointed Position Interviews
Grievance Committee Update
Dues – Know Your Obligation
At Risk Drinking–How Much is Too Much?
AFA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX Hearings
We Support Delta Flight Attendant Efforts to Join AFA

MEC Officer Election Results

Master Executive Council (MEC)

As the term of office for the current MEC Officers will end on December 31, 2019, your Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews this week for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We would like to thank the candidates who expressed a willingness to serve and interviewed for the positions.

In accordance with the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws, each of the six Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents is afforded one vote for each officer position. After thorough deliberation, the LEC Presidents have elected the following candidates:

MEC President	MEC Vice President	MEC Secretary-Treasurer
Jeffrey Peterson	Brian Palmer	Linda Christou

The newly elected MEC Officers will serve a three-year term of office from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022. More information about their duties and responsibilities can be found in the AFA Constitution and Bylaws and the AFA Alaska MEC Policy Manual.

Council 30 (ANC) LEC Officer Election Results

Local Council 30 (Anchorage)

The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Local Council Officer positions representing the Flight Attendants based in Anchorage:

LEC President	LEC Vice President	LEC Secretary
Matthew Cook	Karen Ferrell	Lisa Pinkston

View the certified election results here >

These officers will serve a term of office from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022.

The Master Executive Council (MEC) congratulates the officers-elect and we sincerely thank all those who stepped forward to run in the election.

REMINDER: MEC Committee Chairperson & Appointed Position Interviews

Master Executive Council (MEC)

As a reminder, the term for those currently serving in MEC Committee Chairperson roles and other appointed positions will end on December 31, 2019. Your MEC, of which the six directly elected Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents are voting members, will be conducting interviews for these positions during the December MEC meeting. The October 4, 2019 AFA Update contained the initial announcement of these upcoming interviews including a list of positions, information about qualifications and duties, and a link to the online expression of interest form.

If you have questions about MEC Committee Chairperson or MEC-level appointed positions or the interview process, please contact MEC Vice President Brian Palmer at brian.palmer@afaalaska.org.

Grievance Committee Update

Grievance Committee

Your MEC and Local Grievance Committees have been very hard at work ensuring disciplinary due process and contractual compliance on your behalf. AFA filed several contractual grievances in response to the recent Open Time trading and Vacation Open Time trading systems crashes.

The Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) increased the number of arbitration dates from 10 to 13. Terminations are usually prioritized in order to return a Flight Attendant back to work as soon as possible. However, we seek a balance between discipline and contractual cases. AFA and management mutually decide which cases to arbitrate based on many factors.

Many of our disciplinary grievances come about from Flight Attendants writing up and/or turning in other Flight Attendants for behavior they may find undesirable. We know that many of you have friendly relationships with managers or supervisors, but if you mention an issue to a manager/supervisor, s/he has an obligation to move the concern forward. This could result in discipline or termination when that was not your intent of discussing the issue with management. Some disciplinary cases are ultimately escalated to arbitration; if you turn in someone who is suspended or terminated, you will most likely be required to testify at an arbitration hearing. A more preferential option is to utilize AFA Professional Standards, who will reach out to the Flight Attendant to try and help solve the problem without involving management and the possibility of discipline.

Rumor Control

Rumor: Around 200 to 300 Legacy Virgin America Flight Attendants have been terminated since ratification of the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA).

Truth: The rumor is false. Since we ratified our JCBA on April 3, 2018, there have been approximately 60 terminations to date including both Legacy Virgin America and Legacy Alaska Flight Attendants. This number is slightly higher than prior years, however given the increase in the overall number of Flight Attendants it isn’t entirely disproportionate.

Subject of Most Recent Discipline

In order to keep terminations low, we want to give you an idea of what areas management has recently focused on in regard to disciplining (including terminating) Flight Attendants. See below:

Sick leave and FMLA abuse. Terminations on the rise due to travel audits among other things. Anything written in the comments posting of trip trades can be seen, even if eventually deleted. If the company determines abuse, it results in termination.
Drug/Alcohol violations
Social media violations. This includes sending friend requests and/or following passengers on social media using personal information gained from Block2Block.
Required item violations. This includes lost or forgotten IMDs or other required items.
Theft. Anything other than an opened/used bottle of water, unused pilot crew meal or purchased food removed from the aircraft will result in termination.
Harassment

Recent and Upcoming Arbitration & Mediation

Arbitration	Wednesday, September 25	Disciplinary Grievance
Arbitration	Tuesday October 22	Disciplinary Grievance
Arbitration	Thursday November 14	Disciplinary Grievance
Arbitration	Tuesday December 17	Contractual Grievance

Recently Settled Grievances & Mediations

None

Grievances Recently Granted by Management

None

Grievances Recently Filed and Awaiting Response from Management

Grievance No.: 36-99-2-161-19- Violation of §12.E Withholding Trips from Open Time. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §12.E [Exchange of Sequences: Open Time], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when its Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) failed to immediately place all uncovered sequences or portions of sequences including but not limited to sick calls, Management Drop(s), Personal Drop(s), leaves of absence, jury duty, bereavement leave.

Grievance No.: 36-99-2-162-19- Violation of §12.C.1 Real-Time Trading Procedures Grievance 36-99-2-28-17 Mediated Settlement. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §12.C.1 [Exchange of Sequences: Trading Procedure], past practice, its mediated settlement of grievance 36-99-2-28-17 and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it agreed but failed to adhere to its July 5, 2017, mediated settlement of grievance 36-99-2-28-17: To have AFA and Alaska representatives meet with Jeppesen to explore the capabilities of the system and how to align the front-end with the “real time” experience of the back-end user. This is a continual violation as such meeting did not take place in a reasonably timely manner, and sufficient action was not taken to rectify the underlying system issues.

Grievance No.: 36-99-2-163-19- Violation of §12.F.9.a Cancellation of Open Time Trial and Back to Book. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §12.F.9.a [Exchange of Sequences: Open Time Trial], past practice, its sustained response of grievance 36-99-2-35-17 and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on July 7, 2017, it sustained grievance 36-99-2-35-17 Violation of §12.F.9.a Cancellation of Open Time Trial and Back to Book; however it has continually failed to provide sufficient IT resources for reverting to the Open Time System in place in the 2006-2010 Flight Attendant Agreement as modified by the arbitration award (AFA No. 36-99-2-18-11) [“Withholding Open Time” award]).

Grievance No.: 36-99-2-165-19- Violation of Vacation Trading Past Practice. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement § 14 [Vacation], an established past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when it violated an established past practice for a real-time, electronic vacation trading system and the subsequent failure of that system to allow SEA-based Flight Attendants to access and trade vacation at the established start time.

Grievance No.: 36-99-2-170-19-Violation of §19.A Investigatory Meetings. This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement § 19.A [Grievance Procedures], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about October 29, 2019, at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), it conducted an investigatory meeting related to a slide deployment with all Flight Attendants assigned to work flight 623 (IAD-SFO) while they were on duty, without providing adequate opportunity to obtain Union representation in the form of an AFA Grievance Representative, and without providing the option of conducting the meeting on their day off with accompanying pay of four (4.0) TFP.

More Information

For more information, including the status of previously filed grievances, please visit the Grievance Committee Activity Page.

Questions?

Please contact your Local Grievance Committee if you have any questions about the Grievance Committee update.

Dues—Know Your Obligation

Membership Committee

How Do I Know If I Have a Past Due Amount?

What To Do If You Receive a Past Due Notice for AFA Dues

What If I Don’t Pay The Amount I Owe?

If you don’t pay the amount you owe within 15 days of receiving final notice from AFA, AFA will provide notice to the Company that you have not made the required payment. At that point, the Company will terminate your employment in accordance with Section 26.D of our collective bargaining agreement.

Questions?

If you have any questions about dues, please contact your Local Membership Committee or AFA International Membership Services at (800) 424-2401, ext. 707.

At Risk Drinking–How Much is Too Much?

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

How much alcohol is too much? It could mean drinking too much at one time, drinking too often, or both. It’s important to be aware of how much you are drinking, whether your drinking pattern is risky, the harm that some drinking patterns can cause, and ways to reduce your risks.

Many people are surprised to learn what counts as a drink. In the United States, a “standard” drink is any drink that contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of “pure” alcohol.

What is “Low Risk” Drinking?

“Low risk” is not “no risk.” Even within these limits, alcohol can cause problems if people drink too quickly, have health problems, or are older (both men and women over 65 are generally advised to have no more than 3 drinks on any day and 7 per week). Based on your health and how alcohol affects you, you may need to drink less or not at all.

What is “at risk” or “heavy drinking”?

For healthy adults in general, drinking more than these below single-day or weekly limits is considered “at-risk” or “heavy” drinking: remember too much + too often = too risky.

Men: More than 4 drinks on any day or 14 per week

Women: More than 3 drinks on any day or 7 per week*

Remember, as safety sensitive professionals, Flight Attendants must also comply with company policy that requires no alcohol use 10 hours before duty and no BAC above a 0.00%. If at an international destination, Flight Attendants must also comply with the myriad of laws dictated by other countries. Any use of alcohol within these restricted parameters should be considered “too risky” for your personal wellness, flight safety and career retention. If you are questioning your drinking and have concerns, please contact your AFA EAP thru the confidential helpline at (800) 424-2406 or the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program at (855) 333-2327. Help is available 24/7.

*Alcohol use impacts women differently than men due to physiological differences such as lower body weight and having lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes in the stomach that help eliminate alcohol. Consuming more than one drink per day places women at risk for health concerns such as heart disease, breast cancer, and, for pregnant women or women trying to become pregnant, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. For some women, no alcohol use is recommended.

AFA Statement on Boeing 737 MAX Hearings

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) issued the following statement following hearings in the Senate and House last week with Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg:

As AFA President Sara Nelson testified in June before the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee, “Flight Attendants continue to receive questions from the traveling public about the 737 Max. There remains confusion about the progression of 737 aircraft models. It is common for crew to receive questions when working the 737NG about whether the aircraft is safe. This signals a fundamental question about the progression of the 737 aircraft models and whether or not the Max should have been designed as an entirely new aircraft type. This is an example of questions that will need to be answered within the process to safely return the 737 Max to flight and regain public confidence.”

“We have been clear throughout this process and repeatedly in public forums, that we will not work the 737 MAX until and unless we have full assurance from regulators around the world, our colleagues in the flight deck, engineers, and our airlines that the 737 MAX is safe,” Nelson said. “This week took a step backward in this process, not forward.”

We Support Delta Flight Attendant Efforts to Join AFA

Last Friday, AFA launched a new effort to help Delta Flight Attendants become AFA Members! Thousands of Flight Attendants at Delta Air Lines have asked AFA to join them in efforts to become full members of our union. Now is the time to affirm our full support of their efforts to join AFA. Watch the welcome video from AFA International President to Delta Flight Attendants by clicking here.

As long as Delta management retains control of pay, benefits and working conditions at the industry’s most profitable airline, our bargaining power at each of our airlines is cut short. As long as Delta can claim to speak for the 25,000 Flight Attendants at the airline, our efforts to achieve proper staffing, rest, job security, and safety standards through government regulations are undermined.

Right now, we can start to correct this by helping to lift the voices of Delta Flight Attendants and protect their rights under the Railway Labor Act as they organize. And, when Delta Flight Attendants vote to join AFA we will strengthen our voice, our bargaining power, and our standing in every issue that affects our jobs like never before.

AFA Endeavor Flight Attendants are a Delta wholly-owned regional airline, and this effort directly affects their representation too as we address issues like concerns about toxic uniforms and the ability to share in Delta’s success.

Already, talk of AFA at Delta has encouraged management to improve the wage scale, announce plans to implement 10 hours minimum rest by February 2020, and promise to implement certain provisions of the United contract that produce more compensation for Flight Attendants. But, as long as Delta Flight Attendants are without a contract like management at Delta has for themselves, promises can change and our ability to move our careers forward will not reached its full potential.

AFA has a long history with Delta Flight Attendants, and we have always thought of all Flight Attendants as part of our AFA family. Interestingly, over 40 percent of the seniority list has been hired at Delta since the last union vote nine years ago. The energy and excitement for our Flight Attendant union is palpable. Help us welcome Delta Flight Attendants to our union today as we work together to build power for aviation’s first responders. Visit afacwa.org/deltawelcome to learn more about how you can support Delta Flight Attendants.

Show Your Support!

It’s easy to show your support for Flight Attendants at Delta Air Lines who are working to earn representation through our Flight Attendant union. Put on your AFA pin, take a pic, and post it with a brief note of support and the hashtag #SelfiesForSolidarity

In This Edition

Tell Congress: Extend the Payroll Support Program

Amplify Your Voice With a Call

Substance Use During COVID-19 Pandemic

Vanguard Retirement Webinar—Coming Soon

Retirement Plan Resources

Union Plus Program Hardship Benefits

Updated AFA Board of Directors Information

The Dues Pie Chart – Where Do My Dues Go?

Local and Airline-Specific

Negotiations

System Board (Grievances)

International Office Support

Questions?

In This Edition

Resources While on Reduced or Unpaid Status

AFA EAP

AFL-CIO: State Specific Resources

Unemployment Benefits

Online Government Resources for Help

Union Plus

AFA Dues Payments While on a Leave of Absence

Payment Options

Questions?

Taking Control of Your Finances During a Loss of Flying

Assess Your Financial Status

Contact Your Creditors

Prepare a Household Budget

Questions?

In This Edition

REMINDER: Negotiating Committee Interviews

Selection of Committee Members

Committee Member Duties & Responsibilities

Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

Questions?

AFA Dues FAQs

How Often Are Dues Deducted?

What If I Have a Past Due Amount?

Do I Owe Dues If I Am On a Leave of Absence?

Where Can I Access Dues Check Off and Membership Forms?

Questions?

Department of Transportation Warning About CBD Products

Questions?

In This Edition

REMINDER: Know Your Dues Obligation

How Do I Know If I Have a Past Due Amount?

What To Do If You Receive a Past Due Notice for AFA Dues

Final Notices

Questions?

Recurrent Training

Two Computer Based Trainings (CBTs) are Due in January

Uniforms

Returns

New Uniform Wear Start Date

Questions?

Commitments to Healthier Habits

Flight Attendant Alcohol Use Screening

National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

United Against Slavery: Take the Survey

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