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        You are here: Home / Archives for dues

        Council 35 News – August 2020

        August 31, 2020 11:37

        Important Dates Coming Up

        • Hawaii Travel Declaration Forms (online only):  September 1
        • 2021 Vacation Bidding Opens:  September 4

        Payroll Support Program Extension

        Although Congress has technically recessed for now, work to extend the Payroll Support Program (PSP) continues in earnest during the recess. If PSP were to be extended at any point and involuntary furloughs subsequently prohibited, AFA and management would meet and confer over any necessary changes to furlough mitigations and involuntary furloughs pursuant to the October 2020 Involuntary Furlough Mitigations Letter of Agreement. Realistically, that would likely lead to discussion regarding voluntary leave programs similar to those offered over the last five months.  Want to help ensure PSP continues?  Volunteers for the AFA phone bank are needed!  Please contact your Council 35 officers for more information.

        IVF in SFO

        With 119 Flight Attendants involuntarily furloughed (IVF), SFO is second behind SEA in the number of FAs affected by the IVF.  However SFO is the largest Alaska base to have been relocated to a new domicile.  On behalf of your Council 35 officers, we are sad to see you go.  Please reach out if you have any questions or need support while adjusting to the change and moving to a new base. To ensure you get all the AFA information you need for your new base, it is recommended that FAs update their newsletter preference online.

        California Wildfires

        Our hearts go out to SFO Flight Attendants that have been impacted by the California Wildfires.  For support and more information please refer to the August 22 communication. SFO EAP is available to support those affected by the Wildfires: eap.sfo@afaalaska.org.  If you wish to donate to those affected or would like to apply for financial assistance, please visit:

        • AFA Disaster Relief
        • CWA Disaster Relief

        No OAL Travel on Leave

        As reported in the July 2020 Newsletter, AFA has been advocating for employee use of OAL travel benefits during one of the many staffing leaves.  Unfortunately your Council 35 officers are sorry to report that AFA was not successful in persuading the company to reconsider their position on OAL travel.

        Stay Informed

        Although Flight Attendants are not required to read company emails and bulletins while on leave, it is recommended that FAs keep current with all the latest information while on leave during this time of constant change.  Additionally it’s important to ensure the personal email address on file with AFA is up-to-date.  To change your contact information, please visit the AFA website to update email and/or mailing address.

        Membership Dues While on Leave

        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.  Members can pay dues online or submit invoice payment via mail.  Please contact membership services for specific account information.

        EAP is Here to Help

        These are extremely difficult and stressful times. Please remember that the SFO Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Committee is always available as a support resource.  For help, please contact sfo.eap@afaalaska.org.  

        How do I contact Council 35 Officers?

        Using a personal email address, the preferred methods of contact are:

        • Open an Online Support Request ticket
        • Officer group email sfo@afaalaska.org (if one officer is flying /unavailable other officers can respond)
        • Individual officer emails (if information is for a specific officer)
        • Calls/text (if situation requires more urgent attention)

        When contacting Council 35 officers please avoid the following methods:

        • Sending to/from alaskaair email (subject to company audits and therefore not private)
        • Officer personal Facebook/social media accounts (not actively monitored for AFA concerns)
        • Excessively lengthy texts (please use email for important information as it’s easier to respond and forward to appropriate resource-texts should be reserved for alerts to an issue that requires a timely response)

        Please allow at least one business day for a response to any method of contact (email, phone, text).  

        Stay healthy and safe!

        In solidarity,

        Melissa, Aladrian, James and Brad


        Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
        Aladrian Hillmon, LEC Vice President • Aladrian.hillmon@afaalaska.org •  415-991-3791
        James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
        Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO Tagged With: California Wildfires, Council 35, dues, EAP, extended leave of absence, Hawaii, IVF, leave of absence, Newsletter, Payroll Support Program

        Reduction in Force Part 5

        July 30, 2020 21:15

        This is the fifth in a series of “Reduction in Force” (RIF) communications from the Master Executive Council (MEC). See RIF Part 1, RIF Part 2, RIF Part 3 and RIF Part 4 for the previous editions.

        In This Edition

        • Voluntary Permanent Transfers and Temporary Base Trades
        • Furlough Mitigation Clarifications
        • Dues Obligation

        Voluntary Permanent Transfers and Temporary Base Trades

        Voluntary Permanent Transfers

        Flight Attendants may voluntarily transfer to a new domicile while on an Extended Leave of Absence (ELOA) or Enhanced Voluntary Furlough (EVF) by participating in vacancy bids pursuant to §28.C [Vacancy Bids] and §28.D [Standing Bid Awards…]. See also “October 2020 Involuntary Furlough Mitigations LOA” §II.A.3 and §II.B.4 for more information.

        Temporary Base Trades (“Swaps”)

        Flight Attendants on ELOA retain the ability to temporarily trade (“swap”) bases pursuant to §28.A.9 [Rules Governing Multiple Domiciles]. Flight Attendants on an EVF may finish out the term of an existing swap but may not renew the swap or enter into a new swap. A base swap is terminated if either of the Flight Attendants are involuntarily furloughed, and both are returned to their respective domiciles; however, Flight Attendants on involuntary furlough are not guaranteed to return to their domicile when recalled.


        Furlough Mitigation Clarifications

        Master Executive Council (MEC) representatives have been working with management to identify some lingering furlough mitigation questions. The following topics are being addressed by management in a communication issued tonight.

        • Maternity and Other Medical Leaves
        • Medical Coverage if 480 TFP is Met While on a Leave of Absence
        • Reciprocal Alaska & Horizon Jumpseat Privileges

        Dues Obligation

        In accordance with the AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws every Flight attendant on a leave of absence owes dues for the first three months of their leave of absence after their compensation from the airline ends. This obligation includes Extended Leaves of Absence and Enhanced Voluntary Furloughs. However, Flight attendants on involuntary furlough (or a military leave) do not owe this amount.

        Article XI A.6. Payment of dues shall be required of all members that are on active status during a month or any portion thereof. After the first ninety (90) days of removal from service and no longer receiving compensation through a carrier for disability leave, payment of dues shall not be required.

        AFA-CWA Constitution & Bylaws

        Example: Voluntary furlough begins on October 1. You would owe dues for October, November and December. If dues are payroll deducted for any of these months, it will be applied to this 90-day leave obligation.

        Click here for AFA-CWA Membership Services >


        Coming Soon

        • WARN Notices

        These are extremely difficult and stressful times. Please remember that your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Committee is always available as a support resource. As your direct representative on the MEC, your LEC president is available to answer questions or concerns that you may have about all the information presented here. Contact information for your respective LEC president can be found by clicking here.

        Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: 2020, dues, ELOA, enhanced voluntary furlough, EVF, extended leave of absence, furlough, involuntary furlough, IVF, reduction in force, RIF

        Council 35 News – July 2020

        July 30, 2020 14:13

        Service Survey:  Participation Needed!

        AFA recently published a survey for Flight Attendants to give feedback on the current service.  Many members have expressed their concern with the safety of the increased service levels amidst the COVID19 outbreak.  Please take a moment to complete the survey!  Additionally your Council 35 officers strongly recommend FAs file a report (FAIR) regarding passenger mask removal onboard.

        OAL Travel on Leave

        Council 35 officers have received many messages from concerned members about the loss of other airline (OAL) ZED travel while on leave coming up in October.  Policy surrounding OAL travel is determined by the participating airline.  ZED agreements require that to be eligible for travel, employees must be active.  For an employee to be active, they need to be on payroll, or have a pay event in order to remain active for a given month.  The leaves offered as furlough mitigation leaves are unpaid and FAs that are on these leaves are not considered active employees.  AFA has discussed this concern with management, and have requested that options be considered to allow employees to remain eligible for OAL.  Please stay tuned for progress on this request.

        Rumor Control:  Avoiding IV

        There is a rumor that suggests that applying for a leave will alleviate any risk of involuntary furlough (IVF).  Unfortunately this is not true.  If an FA’s seniority number is in the furlough “zone” there is no action an FA can take that would prevent furlough from happening.  The MEC has published multiple communications on what FAs can do to avoid furloughs at Alaska, which encourages FAs to reach out to Congress to vote in favor of additional support for airline employees.

        Staffing Leaves and Coordination

        Another misconception about leaves is that cashing out vacation or sick bank hours will allow an FA to “coordinate” to keep the FA on payroll and active while on a staffing leave.  The furlough mitigation leaves are unpaid, and FAs will not be able to cash out any days when on one of the upcoming staffing leaves.

        Stay Informed

        Although Flight Attendants are not required to read company emails and bulletins while on leave, it is recommended that FAs keep current with all the latest information while on leave during this time of constant change.  Additionally it’s important to ensure the personal email address on file with AFA is up-to-date.  To change your contact information, please visit the AFA website to update email and/or mailing address.

        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.  Members can pay dues online or submit invoice payment via mail.  Please contact membership services for specific account information.

        Membership Dues While on Leave

        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.  Members can pay dues online or submit invoice payment via mail.  Please contact membership services for specific account information.

        EAP is Here to Help

        With Warn Notices and leave bid awards coming soon, these are extremely difficult and stressful times. Please remember that the SFO Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Committee is always available as a support resource.  For help, please contact sfo.eap@afaalaska.org.  

        How do I contact Council 35 Officers?

        Using a personal email address, the preferred methods of contact are:

        • Open an Online Support Request ticket
        • Officer group email sfo@afaalaska.org (if one officer is flying /unavailable other officers can respond)
        • Individual officer emails (if information is for a specific officer)
        • Calls/text (if situation requires more urgent attention)

        When contacting Council 35 officers please avoid the following methods:

        • Sending to/from alaskaair email (subject to company audits and therefore not private)
        • Officer personal Facebook/social media accounts (not actively monitored for AFA concerns)
        • Excessively lengthy texts (please use email for important information as it’s easier to respond and forward to appropriate resource-texts should be reserved for alerts to an issue that requires a timely response)

        Please allow at least one business day for a response to any method of contact (email, phone, text).  

        Stay healthy and safe!

        In solidarity,

        Melissa, Aladrian, James and Brad


        Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
        Aladrian Hillmon, LEC Vice President • Aladrian.hillmon@afaalaska.org •  415-991-3791
        James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
        Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

        Filed Under: Council 35 SFO Tagged With: Council 35, COVID-19, dues, EAP, July Newsletter, leave of absence, Newsletter, staffing adjustment, survey

        AFA Update – July 2, 2020

        July 2, 2020 12:00

        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.

        Pie chart showing AFA dues allocations.

        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. 

        Filed Under: EAP/Professional Standards Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC), Retirement Committee Tagged With: 2020, BOD Meeting, COVID-19, dues, EAP, novel coronavirus, retirement, Union Plus, Vanguard

        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: 

        • www.usa.gov/unemployment
        • www.usa.gov/benefits
        • www.benefits.gov

        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.

        Filed Under: EAP/Professional Standards Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: 2020, dues, EAP, leave of absence, novel coronavirus

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