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        You are here: Home / Archives for Hotel Committee

        Council #19 May Hotel Update

        May 20, 2023 02:11

        Council #19 Hotel Update – May 2023

        Recent Hotel Changes

        San Francisco: It was recently announced that we will be moving to downtown San Francisco for our longer layovers. The hotel chosen can be found in the hotel hotline (the name has been excluded from this communication for safety/security reasons). This is a 4-star hotel and is considered a level 7 (Superior, First Class) on the Travel Weekly rating board which we use for determination for our layovers. Out of the hotels inspected, this was the top AFA Choice. It is within walking distance to may dining establishments and shopping, as well as many tourist opportunities.  AFA also liked this hotel because in addition to a downtown location, each room has a coffee maker and refrigerator, and there is a microwave for use onsite (although these items are not contractual). This hotel houses many other airline crews so has experience with what we require.  We hope you enjoy it. Please make sure to submit BOTH positive and negative feedback via the crew care link, or via the link on you IMD.

        Safety Reminders

        The Seattle committee has received some concerns about the locations of some of our hotels in regard to crime and homelessness. In todays world, there is an increase to homeless populations in most  cities across the globe, we also see it in some of the suburban areas. This is something we have to deal with. It is important to keep safety in mind when out and about. Always check with the front desk to find out if there are areas to avoid. When venturing out, leave the paper sleeve your room key comes in at the hotel (the room number is usually written on this), that way if you drop your key, your room number will not be obvious to whoever picks it up. If you are going out at night and are concerned, use the buddy system. AFA, ALPA, Alaska and API research crime in the areas and we often bring corporate security on our site inspections so we can get their input as well, but its important to keep safety in mind when you are out and about. If you have any issues come up or have safety concerns, please submit them on Crew Care.

        Our Relationship with API

        We often get questions about what our relationship with API is and what exactly they do for us. Simply put, API manages our contracts with our hotel and transportation vendors. They also manage the communication between Alaska and those vendors. Alaska is their largest account, and we have an account manager who is assigned only to us. In addition, API has employees who are dedicated 100% to our operation. There is an API representative who now has a desk in the HUB building, so our schedulers and operations team have a direct contact on property. There is also one remote person strictly dedicated to Alaska Airlines. 

        It is important to remember that API does not make decisions on what hotels our crews will be staying in. This decision is made by Alaska Airlines with input from both AFA and ALPA. Once a decision is made, API negotiates the terms and then manages the contract for Alaska. 

        When a crew member files a Crew Care report, it is automatically sent to API, Alaska Management, the AFA Hotel Committee Members and the ALPA Hotel Committee Members. Once received, API then takes the concerns (or compliments) and sends them to the property or transportation committee in the report and awaits their reply. If it was a compliment that was sent in, it simply goes to that property/transportation company and the matter is closed. If you are writing about a specific employee, the property/transportation company will recognize them on the compliments given or will take action with any concerns reported. Once API hears back from the property/transportation company about your concerns, they will update the report you filed with their responses. Most of the reports received are similar, so it may feel like you are getting “cookie cutter” responses, however, EACH AND EVERY report is followed up on. If you have more information or want to reply, once the matter is “closed”, you can go back into your initial report and follow up. To do so, simply go back to the list of feedback in your account and click on the feedback ID number and it will open the report, then at the bottom of that page you can leave additional feedback/information and it will reopen your ticket. The people that respond to our feedback respond for multiple airlines, so it may take a couple of days to hear back, but they work hard to get the information needed as quickly as possible. Please remember, they also are at the mercy of the property/transportation vendor and how long it takes them to respond. 

        Thank you so much for using Crew Care, it is so important! 

        Crew Care and New Resources Coming

        Your hotel committee is in the process of testing a new tool that is coming to Crew Care that will help you closely monitor hotel assignments, van times, feedback, and more. Please stay tuned for information coming about this exciting resource. Also, we will be in the base the morning of June 6th to show it off! 

        Upcoming Hotel Site Inspections and Site Inspections Process

        Site inspections are common when a contract comes up for renewal. Sometimes a current hotel is not interested in continuing the relationship, the hotel no longer meets the contractual language, or we are simply re-assessing the market to see what other properties have become available.  We have site inspections coming up in the following markets:

        ·       TPA/RSW

        ·       KOA

        ·       PHX

        ·       SEA

        ·       BUR

        ·       ORD

        Have you been curious about the site inspection process? Have you always thought that the final determination is money? Here is a little bit of information on how the hotel selection process works. 

        First, there are a few things that “trigger” a hotel site inspection. These can include, but are not limited to:

        ·       A new market Alaska is going to serve.

        ·       A market whose contract is expiring, and the property is no longer interested in our business.

        ·       A market whose contract is expiring, and the property is significantly raising their rates.

        ·       A property that has fallen below our minimum hotel standards.

        ·       A property that receives a larger than normal amount of feedback that needs addressing.

        When an inspection is announced, API gets right to work. They reach out to ALL properties (after removing the ones that they know right away do not meet our contractual requirements) in that area to see if they are interested in our business. At this point, there is no dollar value attached, simply a request to see if they are interested. If they are, they will submit their reply with prices, hotel amenities, etc. API will determine which on the list meet our contractual requirements and remove the remainder. From an outside perspective, it’s easy to think that there are many properties in a particular city so it should not be hard to find a long list of interested properties, but not all hotels want crew business. Let’s take Miami as an example. Think about how many hotels are in the Miami area. API was able to get proposals from 90 properties in the Miami area (excluding airport areas). Out of those 90, 13 of them replied that crew did not align with their overall strategy, 10 said they didn’t want our business even if we paid the highest rack rate, 4 could not accommodate our arrival/departure times, 4 were not willing to accept our minimum requirements for placement per our contract, 11 could not accommodate the number of rooms we needed or were at the maximum number of crews they allow, and 3 were in the middle of heavy renovations. Out of the 90, we were able to look at 8 (this included 2 by the airport for irregular operations or short layovers), the remaining 37 didn’t even reply to the opportunity of crew business. This is well before nightly rates, etc. are even talked about. It is important to know this is sometimes what we are up against in today’s hotel environment, in certain markets. 

        Once the site inspection list is complete, API arranges the tours/visits. Our API Account Manager travels to the sites along with a member of Alaska Management (from the hotel team), 1 ALPA Hotel Committee Chair and 1 AFA Hotel Committee Chair. There are on occasion additional management staff present as well. For example, if it’s a new destination, or a destination that has safety concerns, a member from the Alaska Airlines security team will come along to check out the area and property. Also, there are sometimes members from the Inflight accounting team present so they can better understand what we as crew look for in a property and why certain things are so important to us, this way they are not just deciding based on a dollar amount. Once we arrive on site, we conduct back-to-back inspections of the different properties. We meet with hotel management and ask questions about their processes (check in, cleaning, etc.). We also check several things on property including, but not limited to:

        ·       HVAC vents and cleanliness

        ·       Water pressure

        ·       Black out shade effectiveness

        ·       Bed comfort

        ·       Amenities in the room (safe, ironing board/iron, refrigerator, luggage rack, door locks, etc.)

        ·       Food options

        ·       Amenities in the hotel vicinity

        ·       Hotel security and access (are there cameras, elevator key card access, etc.)

        ·       And so much more (too much to list)

        We do the above at each property we visit. At the end of site sections, both AFA and ALPA will send in their reports to management. It will include our recommended hotel, our acceptable hotels, and our unacceptable hotels. From that list, Alaska will then go to API and ask them to see what they can negotiate with the properties. This is when dollars and amenities come into play. They will negotiate our crew discounts/amenities as well as the rate Alaska will pay. Once that process is complete, Alaska will make the decision on the property. Obviously, it is nice when AFA and ALPA have the same thoughts on the properties visited, as we have a little more “pull” but that does not always happen. Financials are not always the determining factor. For example, in Miami (as used in the above example), our current hotel was chosen by AFA, however it was quite a bit more expensive than the other acceptable hotels. Alaska decided that the location of the current hotel and the amenities (gym, pool, dining, room comfort, etc.) outweighed the financial savings. 

        It is once again important to remember that API does not choose our hotels, they only manage our contracts. 

        As always, we advocate hard for the best hotels we can possibly secure. We always appreciate your feedback; we take it to heart and use all feedback when making our recommendations on crew layover hotels. If you have questions that do not warrant a Crew Care, you can reach the Seattle Hotel Chairperson at sea.hotel.chair@afaalaska.org.

        In Solidarity, 

        Your Seattle Hotel Committee

        Filed Under: Council 19 SEA Tagged With: Hotel Committee, hotels

        Council 35 News – October 2022

        November 10, 2022 22:23


        Important Dates
        November 15:  APFA Day of Action
        November 16:  Annual Benefits Open Enrollment Ends
        December 12:  C35 Membership Meeting


        Holiday Bidding Tips

        by Virginia Fritz, Council 35 Vice President

        This holiday you may not hold your first choice in pairings and days off that you may desire at your seniority but that doesn’t mean you cannot try! There are many creative ways to bid in the holiday season that can set up your bid to ensure that if you have to work a date you do not desire, you are at least still asking for the kinds of pairings you do! The company forces coverage on Pairing and Reserve lines alike to ensure that the operation is covered and in holiday months this usually goes higher than normal in the seniority list.

        Please see the attached document in regards to NAVBLUE holiday coverage and bidding examples. 

        Holiday Coverage and Bidding Examples 2022 (AAG SSO required) >

        If you still need additional assistance, please contact the AFA Joint PBS Committee which is a team of flight attendants appointed by the MEC to specifically assist with any Navblue PBS questions. pbs.qa@alaskaair.com

        Attend a Health Benefits Team Drop-In Session

        The Health Benefits team is available to answer questions and help you navigate Annual Benefits Enrollment. Join our drop-in sessions via Microsoft Teams between November 1st and November 15th on the following days and times (PT):

        Tuesdays : Nov. 8, Nov. 15
        9 :00 a.m. Link to join
        5:00 p.m. Link to join
        Thursdays : Nov. 10
        7 :00 a.m. Link to join
        3:00 p.m. Link to join

        November 15:  APFA Day of Action

        Please come out and support American Airlines APFA Flight Attendants for a day of action to bring awareness to ongoing contract negotiations:

        Date: November 15, 2022
        Time: 1100-1300

        Feel free to register for an event at an airport near you! Uniforms are encouraged.

        Save the Date: Council 35 Membership Meeting

        The next membership meeting for Council 35 members will be Thursday, December 12, 2022 at 1100 via Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss news and events happening in SFO.  The meeting is open to all Council 35 (SFO) members in good standing (up-to-date on dues). Agenda, time and registration details will be sent in a separate communication. 

        Hotel Committee Update

        by Cassie Dole, Council 35 Hotel Chair

        With the holidays approaching please be ready for any hotel issues that may arise from the busy travel season.  Here are a few tips to remember:

        • Crewcare should be used to write up any hotel or transportation issues 
        • Call scheduling if hotel rooms aren’t available after 15 minutes of arrival
        • After inspecting your hotel room, close and lock your door immediately to prevent any employee from walking in unannounced
        • Be mindful of your surroundings when out and about on layovers. 

        Questions or concerns regarding hotel issues can be directed to the C35 Hotel Chair, Cassie Dole.

        Reserve Reminders

        by the SFO Reserve Committee
        Reserve committee members have noticed recently that there might be some confusion about how line holders are paid when picking up Reserves days. Lineholders get a daily TFP of 5 TFP instead of how reserves are paid for a monthly guarantee of 90 TFP which is 5 TFP a day. 

        Example:

        If a line holder picked up a 2 day block of Reserve days and the first day they sat and the second day they worked an ANC turn they would be paid 5TFP for the day they sat and then 8TFP for the ANC turn they worked. 

        For reference please review JCBA§11.G.4.  For additional questions on reserve issues, please reach out to the Reserve Committee.

        Council 35 Committee Openings

        Committee member openings in the following committees:

        Government Affairs (chair)

        Human Rights (chair)

        Air Safety Health & Security (member x2)

        Members interested in these positions may submit a letter of interest to sfo@afaalaska.org.

        Got a question?

        Contact information for Council 35 committee members can be found on our website.  You can also open an online support ticket and the appropriate rep will respond.

        In solidarity,

        Melissa, Virginia, James and Brad


        Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
        Virginia Fritz, LEC Vice President •  virginia.fritz@afaalaska.org • 408.489.8200
        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: Benefits, committee appointments, Council 35, holidays, Hotel Committee, Membership meeting, Newsletter, Reserve

        Council 35 News – August 2022

        September 1, 2022 21:39

        Important Dates
        September 1: Vacation Bidding Round 1 Begins
        September  19: Vacation Bidding Round 1 Closes
        September 26:  Vacation Bidding Round 1 Awards
        September 30:  Q3 CBT Due


        Ticket System Back up and Running!

        We are pleased to report that the AFA Alaska Online Support Center (support.afaalaska.org) is now back online and fully operational.  AFA representatives have started the process of reviewing outstanding tickets that were filed prior to the outage occurring last Thursday, August 18.  If you filed a ticket prior to August 18th or after the system came back online today, your patience is greatly appreciated as our AFA volunteers begin to work through the backlog.

        Section 6 Negotiations

        September is here and Section 6 Negotiations for Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants are scheduled to formally begin!  Thank you everyone for sending the Negotiations Committee your ideas and for filling out the survey.  Member input is invaluable and guides the committee to prioritize needs. Please bookmark the Negotiations subsite, which can be found on the AFA Alaska website, to stay updated on the progress of negotiations.  Want to get involved?  It’s not too late!  Council 35 is looking for Mobilization Committee members to support Section 6 Negotiations in SFO.  Please reach out to Trista Vanta, the C35 Mobilization Committee chair and/or fill out the online request form to participate in events.

        Bernstein v. Virgin America Lawsuit

        For months now Council 35 officers have been asking the company for updates on possible compliance solutions to the California meal and rest break law.  Alaska maintains that the decision is forthcoming however will not commit to any possible scenarios.  Your Council 35 officers have made it clear that the delay in communicating to Flight Attendants has created a high level of anxiety in all of us, but especially with CA-based Flight Attendants. The company has recently communicated that they will host California base sits. A member of the Alaska legal team will be available to answer Flight Attendant questions, however it is unclear whether or not any new and/or helpful information will be offered.  Flight Attendants are encouraged to visit the Bernstein v. Virgin America subsite on the plaintiff’s attorney webpage to balance all information and get perspective on both sides of the issue.

        Hotel Committee Update

        by Cassie Dole, C35 Hotel Committee Chair
        The Hotel Committee committee is working through issues with rooms not being available when crew members arrive at a hotel and having to wait, sometimes for an extended period of time. It is important that Flight Attendants call Crew Scheduling upon arrival if rooms are not ready and then again when provided with a room. Management has been providing additional compensation for documented wait times of one hour or longer.  If you’ve had an unacceptable or substandard experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation provider, please report the issue!  Our AFA Hotel Committee receives a copy of every CrewCare report filed and each one is read and reviewed. Please follow up by documenting with a CrewCare report using the web app on your IMD home screen or by clicking here.

        Participation Request: Human Rights and Uniform Surveys

        by AFA International
        The Human Rights and Uniform Committees want to hear more from Flight Attendants! To better know what Flight Attendants need and what can be done to fight for FA rights, please take two important surveys:

        Human Rights and Equity Committee Survey

        Uniform and Gender Expression Survey

        Interested in joining the Human Rights Committee?  We have openings!  Please email your Council 35 officers to set up a time to discuss this opportunity.

        No Stock Buybacks in Aviation Until Problems are Fixed!

        by AFA International
        COVID relief legislation temporarily prohibited airlines from using stock buybacks that enrich executives and big investors on the backs of workers and consumers. But those prohibitions end on September 30. Now is not the time to start sending cash to Wall Street when the airlines can’t yet meet public demand or manage effectively through operational challenges. Airline workers have had contract negotiations on hold for years – delaying raises and improving working conditions needed to keep skilled workers on the job and attract new applicants.

        We call on all airline CEOs to extend the COVID relief ban on stock buybacks until:

        • operational meltdowns are not the norm
        • staffing and flight schedules are aligned to support public demand
        • labor contract negotiations are concluded.

        Stabilizing the industry must be CEOs #1 priority. Not $1 in stock buybacks until this is achieved.  Join the fight and take action by signing the petition.

        Got a question?

        Contact information for Council 35 committee members can be found on our website.  You can also open an online support ticket and the appropriate rep will respond.

        In solidarity,

        Melissa, Virginia, James and Brad


        Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
        Virginia Fritz, LEC Vice President •  virginia.fritz@afaalaska.org • 408.489.8200
        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: August, Bernstein, Council 35, Hotel Committee, Human Rights Committee, negotiations, Newsletter, SFO, ticket

        Council 35 News – September 2021

        October 1, 2021 12:44


        Important Dates

        • September 30:  Last day of COVID Points Forgiveness-today!
        • October 1:  Vacation Round 2 opens
        • October 15: Last day to submit vaccination record for $200
        • October 18:  Vacation Round 2 closes
        • October 25:  Vacation Round 2 Awards posted
        • Various dates (see below):  How-To Series

        Hotel and Reserve Committee Opportunities

        Council 35 has chair openings in the Hotel and Reserve Committees.  Please review the duties and responsibilities of each position which can be found on our website. If you are interested in volunteering, please submit a letter expressing your interest to sfo@afalaska.org.  

        How-To Series Starts October 1st

        Council 35 is happy to announce a new learning series to help Flight Attendants navigate a variety of scheduling and reserve activities.  In collaboration with Inflight Base Managers Cierra Lewis and Benito Pasia-Garcia, our very own Virginia Fritz, SFO Scheduling Chair, is hosting these events along with PDX Reserve Chair, Anthony Eskander.  Each event will include a short lesson about a scheduling or reserve topic followed by live Q&A.  These short live events will be held throughout the month of October via Teams.  Can’t make the event you want?  No problem!  All live events will be recorded and posted for FAs unable to attend.  To view live events, past recordings or more information, visit the How-To website on Alaskasworld. Schedule and details can be found in the following links:

        October 1: Personal and Management Drops
        October 4:  Bidding Strategies for your Seniority
        October 13:  Splitting and Advertising Reserve Days  
        October 14:  Trading Reserve Days
        October 15:  Posting and Shifting Reserve Days and Understanding Coverage
        October 15:  TO and Non-TO Days and Open Time
        October 26:  Lineholder’s Picking up Reserve Days  
        October 28:  Precancellations

        COVID MOU Sunsets

        The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiated to remove points for COVID related absences will sunset today, September 30.  AFA requested that management extend the MOU however the suggestion was not accepted and management will discontinue the COVID points forgiveness program as planned.  Please be sure to submit for COVID related absences according the guidelines in the MOU.  Flight Attendants returning from leave on October 1 have 14 days to submit documentation.  Additionally, any FA that has a continuous absence that begins in September but carries over into October will also be considered for point forgiveness if reported in a timely manner.  Please review the COVID Points Forgiveness MOU for more information.  Reminder to CA based Flight Attendants:  Please review the State Laws Part 3 communication for information on CA COVID laws.

        Call to Action:  Possible Government Shutdown

        Transportation is one of the many industries that will be affected by a government shutdown.  Join other AFA members and let your state’s representatives know that avoiding the shutdown is important to Flight Attendants.  For more information and how this impacts our jobs, please read No More Shutdowns and take part in this important mobilization effort.

        Save the Date: California Local Council Membership Meeting

        The next membership meeting for Council 35 members will be Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 1100 via Zoom. The purpose will be to discuss news and events happening in California bases at Alaska.  This meeting will be a combined council meeting and open to all Council 35 (SFO), 18 (LAX) and 15 (SAN) members in good standing (up-to-date on dues).  Agenda, time and registration details will be sent in a separate communication.

        AFA Membership Dues – Update

        by LEC Secretary and Membership Chair, James Ikehara
        Approximately 300 Council 35 members are in arrears with their monthly AFA dues based on the September 2021 report from AFA International’s Membership Services department.  Although the amount of months in arrears vary widely, a member that is only one month late ($50) can fall into a “Bad Standing” status if the amount owed is more than 90 days delinquent; there are approximately 102 members that fall into this category. A delinquency may have been caused by the following

        • A type of leave of absence you incurred in the past and were not coordinating enough sick leave or vacation to cover your dues
        • You flew low TFP’s in any given month and there was not enough money for an auto-deduction
        • When you are on any type of leave and you are completely off payroll (not coordinating any sick leave or vacation time) you are obligated to pay the first 3 months during your leave according to the AFA-CWA, Constitution & Bylaws.  Once the 3 months have been fulfilled you have met your obligation and you do not owe union dues until you return to work. 

        If your delinquency is not corrected, the following is the progression of steps taken for non-payment based on AFA International’s bylaws:

        • Standing 2 (S2) – this letter indicates you are now in bad standing and this is the first stage of the AFA-CWA delinquency process.  A flight attendant goes into S2 when you have ONE or more dues billings that are over 90 days old and remain unpaid.
        • Standing 3 (S3) – this letter indicates that the FA remains delinquent after receiving the initial “Bad Standing” warning letter.  You now receive your S-3 letter via certified mail return receipt (if AFA International has an incorrect address on file, the LEC President or Secretary will put it into your co-mail file at work and it is treated as if it was sent via certified mail).  Nonpayment could result in discharge per our FA Collective Bargaining Agreement, Section 26 C & D.
        • Standing 4 (S4) – this is a pending status which means your International Membership Services department is researching your account for you.
        • Standing 5 (S5) – this is your final warning and this becomes very serious.  After receiving your S-2 and S-3 letters for nonpayment, our International AFA office in Washington, D.C. sends a letter to Alaska Airlines requesting discharge for nonpayment and a copy of this letter is also sent to your LEC President.

        If you have received a text or email from me, or a letter from AFA International’s Membership Services department about your dues, it is important you contact AFA-CWA Membership Services by calling them directly at 844-232-2228, extension 3 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Eastern), or by submitting an online inquiry via this link to verify the amount owed on your account. If you were on any type of leave, ensure you note the dates of your leave in the comments section and they will investigate and make the necessary changes. Debit and credit card payments can be made via this link.  

        If you need to complete a Dues Check Off (DCO) form to ensure your dues are automatically deducted from your account, you can access the form here. After printing and signing the DCO, mail it to the Washington, D.C. address at the bottom of the form. Please note the following: the paycheck you receive on the 20th of each month (Advice Date) pays you for all of your flying for the previous month. However, the AFA dues that are payroll deducted from this check pays for the month it was deducted (i.e., the $50 deduction for October 20th will be for October dues, not for the previous month). For those returning to work from one of the mitigated leaves of absence, your dues may not be deducted since you were not active in the previous month.

        If you are not able to pay your balance in full, payment options are available and can be coordinated with the Membership Services office. We are here to offer assistance in ways of paying your obligation so it is very important that we work together to ensure that Section 26 C, D & E of our Collective Bargaining Agreement are not applied for non-payment of dues which could result in termination once you have reached a Standing 5 status. We want to ensure the status of your AFA membership stays current and appreciate your prompt attention to correct this issue.

        In solidarity,

        Melissa, James and Brad


        Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
        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, COVID-19, dues, Hotel Committee, Newsletter, vacation bidding

        Council 35 News January 2021

        January 29, 2021 12:45


        Important Dates

        January 31:  Union Plus Scholarships
        February 1:  Black History Month begins


        Union Plus Scholarship Opportunity

        Union Plus provides comprehensive information for the college-bound individual as well as a suite of scholarships.  The deadline to submit an application is January 31.  Union Plus Scholarships are open to current and retired members, spouses, and dependent children.  Information about each scholarship is available on the website.  This offer can save members thousands of dollars!

        Black History Month Pins

        Your Council 35 Officers have ordered 400 pins for SFO!  Base leadership has offered to assist with distribution of the pins.  Please stop by the supervisor’s office in the SFO Village to get your pin.

        Can I Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

        by Brad Young, ASHSC Chair and Council Representative
        Maybe.  Several Bay Area and Southern California Flight Attendants have reported that they have successfully received their first dose of the vaccination.  You may or may not be asked to show your Alaska letter and Crew ID so please be prepared–you may or may not be approved.  Please go to your Health Care provider app or website and try to book an appointment under the current criteria eligibility. To print a copy of the Alaska Vaccination Letter:  

        Alaska’s World>> Inflight Page>> Safety>> COVID-19 Resources>> Vaccine Prioritization Letter

        SFO Pairings Update

        by Virginia Fritz, Council 35 Scheduling Chair and MEC PBS Committee Member
        Flight Attendants will continue to see the pairings in SFO shift from month to month as Network Planning moves routes around, does aircraft rotation, and changes timing of certain flights we are accustomed to seeing in our SFO pairing selection. AFA Pairing Analyst Karen Ferrell and Local Scheduling chairs continue to advocate based on the feedback received from members. The most recent months of pairing selections have been the company’s solution rather than the AFA solution. While there is no guarantee that the company will always apply our desired changes, they continue to attempt to find the right balance of pairing trip length distributions that SFO prefers based on feedback. Trip Layovers, while in normal times is easy to advocate for by requesting soft locks, have been harder to apply as our route structure continues to vary. Most recently the committee has been advocating for more 4K’s, Hawaii layovers, more 2 days, less 4 days and as always, commutable productive trips as a whole. Please continue to send both positive and negative feedback each month so that we can continue to advocate for SFO and thank you for your patience while we navigate these changes.  For more information, please reach out to Virginia Fritz, Scheduling Chair.

        Hotel Committee News and Info

        by James Bozanich, Council 35 Hotel Chair

        As we round the corner from 2020 to 2021, the Hotel Committee wanted to share some information that may be helpful.  Here are some hot topics:

        Crew Transportation

        Crew vans are for assigned crew only. All of our transportation is provided to us clean and sanitized to keep us safe and healthy. Unfortunately, no family or friends are permitted to join us at this time.

        Van Drivers not Wearing a Mask

        Let someone know via REPORT IT app.  Each state and county have different rules and regulations which can cause confusion on this topic.  As a reminder, it is Alaska’s policy that all of our transportation drivers wear a mask for Flight Attendant’s safety. If this is not happening, write it up in the Report It app as a safety concern. It will then be addressed by management and shared with the AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee to drive corrections. If this issue requires urgent attention, FAs should contact the Crew Scheduling Duty Manager and request new transportation.  

        Resources

        As a reminder, the current hotel and transportation list can be found in our Flight Attendant webpage under hotels and on the IMD:  Good-Reader>>ASFA Supplemental>>Hotel Hotline.  Questions can be directed to James Bozanich, Hotel Chair. 

        ASHSC Committee Member Needed

        The SFO Air Safety Health and Security Committee (ASHSC) is looking for one additional committee member.  Please review the ASHSC webpage and review the requirements for more information.  Please email Brad Young with your expression of interest and for any additional information.

        COVID Vaccine for Flight Attendants

        Message from AFA International
        Despite their role to maintain critical industry, Flight Attendants are not in a priority tier for the COVID vaccine in most of the country.  To help bring awareness and to advocate for priority status in all states, AFA is asking that FA’s write a letter to their governor and ask that Flight Attendants be included in Tier 1B. To read the full article and for more information on how to help with his advocacy please visit AFA Interactive.

        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).  

        In solidarity,

        Melissa, James and Brad


        Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
        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: ASHSC, Black History Month, COVID-19, Hotel Committee, Newsletter, pairings, SFO, Union Plus

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