AFA Council 15 San Diego Facebook Page
Since the base opened we have been using the SANFA Facebook page. This page is used both for trip trading posts as well as AFA posts. Because it is easy for things to get lost with so many postings, your AFA Officers started a new “Official” Facebook page called AFA Council 15 San Diego click on the link and Like our page. There you can find all the latest news from AFA without having to search through numerous trip trading posts.
Text Notifications from AFA
To reach more of our base (including those who are not on social media or don’t check their email often) we are excited to announce that your LEC Officers started a new way of communicating with our members in San Diego through text message alerts. This program is completely optional, however, we feel that it’s a great tool to get information out to everyone quickly. We will not overwhelm you with texts. We do realize the possibility of text costs, therefore justifying the option. The information will be available as always on the AFAalaska.org website, emails, and on our Facebook page.
The enrollment process is simple. All you need to do is send a text message from your personal phone.
Open your text messaging application. In the send to field enter 81010 and then enter @AFALEC15 in the body of the text and press send.
You will then receive a reply asking you to enter your full name. Once you send your name, your officers will receive notification and then you are all set to receive texts.
Please ignore the 3rd question where it asks if you are student or teacher we are borrowing this technology from school districts as to save costs from designing a system or paying a company to send mass texts and you do not need to download the app.
We hope you like our new service. And as always, we welcome your feedback/questions. Please help us spread the word and get your fellow crew signed up.
Keeping Track of Trends
Data and Flight Attendant Reports
Your AFA representatives have recently started using a new program to track issues reported by our members. Our goal is to track and trend as many issues as possible. The key to this program’s success will be hearing from YOU! We need to hear from you every time you have an issue. With all five bases tracking and compiling information we will be able to present stronger cases to management.
When you report an issue, please include your personal email address, phone number and Peoplesoft number. Include as many details as possible, Trip Number, Flight Number, screenshots of phone call time stamps/trips… etc.
Send your issue to the appropriate Committee Team.
Scheduling Issues Line Holders San.Scheduling@afaalaska.org
Reserve Issues sanfa.reserve@gmail.com
Officers San@afaalaska.org
Professional Standards
Conflicts and/or issues with Coworkers
In San Diego we are lucky to have a great team of Supervisors and Management staff. Please keep in mind that many personal conflicts should be taken to your Professional Standards team and not taken immediately to management. Often AFA EAP/ Professional Standards can resolve the problems or issues without Management becoming involved. Once Management is made aware of the situation, an investigation could commence, both parties may be brought in and interviewed and any potential witness(es). The outcome could lead to discipline and or possibly even termination.
Jean Sharrock jeans4112@yahoo.com
Ava McWilliams avaeap@yahoo.com
Lisa Rhodes lisa.rhodes.alaska@gmail.com
Shari Clark ownyourlife4ever@yahoo.com
Loretta Fogle lorettafogle@gmail.com
Contacted by Management?
Know Your Rights
If you receive a call from any Inflight Supervisor, it is best to first clarify if the conversation could lead to disciplinary action. If the answer is “Yes,” at this point you can request that the union be involved in any further conversations. However, even if the supervisor states that the conversation won’t lead to any discipline, if at any time you feel the questions to be leading or uncomfortable you can once again end the conversation by saying you will only continue with a union rep present.
Having a union rep there is insurance. It is an advocate and a second set of ears to ensure that your point is understood clearly by the company and not misinterpreted.
$$ Transportation is the Company’s responsibility $$
Over the last few months we have seen a steady increase in crew schedulers pawning their responsibilities off on Flight Attendants. There has been a significant spike in the number of reports from Flight Attendants that have been told to find their own transportation.
Contractually, it is the Company’s responsibility to provide transportation to and from layover hotels and airports. That includes coordinating and paying for it. You are not required to pay upfront and then wait for reimbursement.
If you are ever asked to pay for a hotel room or transportation or a Visa required to enter a foreign country (yes, that did just happen!) by Crew Scheduling- Contact your AFA Reps immediately! SAN@afaalaska.org
Merger Update
National Mediation Board Makes Single Carrier Determination
The National Mediation Board (NMB) responded to AFA’s application to have the board investigate whether Alaska Airlines and Virgin America are operating as a single transportation system for the craft or class of Flight Attendant. The NMB ruled that the carriers are indeed a single transportation system.
The NMB will now address Flight Attendant representation at each carrier, and AFA is expecting to be declared the representing union at both carriers shortly after a 30-day waiting period.
Odds and Ends
When using the Matrix App, you must “dial in” each of the dates of the trip you will be dropping. So if your trip runs the 12, 13, 14th, you must dial the first month/day and enter, then the second month/day and enter and then the third month/day and hit enter. Please remember that you must also call scheduling!
There have been reports of phone numbers and addresses changing in Peoplesoft with the JCA switchover. It is a good idea to go in and make sure your contact information is correct. Also it is wise to check your pay, point accrual, banked points, etc. as there have been some reports of “inaccuracies” after the JCA switchover.
In Solidarity,
