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        You are here: Home / Archives for interviews

        System Board of Adjustment Interviews

        April 28, 2022 17:00

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        Our Master Executive Council (MEC) will be conducting interviews for one (1) member to serve on the AFA System Board of Adjustment.

        Scope

        Members are to serve on the System Board of Adjustment for the purpose of arbitrating any disputes or grievances that may arise under the terms of the Agreement between Alaska Airlines and its Flight Attendants.

        Policy/Responsibilities

        • There shall be two members selected by the MEC from active members in good standing to represent the Association.  Members will be selected at-large without regard to Local Council or domicile. 
        • Any person seeking a position as a System Board of Adjustment Member must submit a resume.  Candidates must interview with the MEC.
        • System Board Members shall be selected for a two (2) year appointment period in accordance with the AFA Constitution and Bylaws.  At least one appointment will be reviewed in June of each year.  Selection shall be made, insofar as possible, to ensure that both members will not be new at the same time.  
        • The System Board Members will act in the best interest of the membership and the Association and will be consistent with the Agreement between the Flight Attendants and Alaska Airlines.
        • The MEC President shall have the ability, in the event of an emergency, to appoint a qualified member in good standing to fill an ad hoc position on the Board, should the alternate not be available.
        • The MEC on an ad hoc basis, by majority vote, may appoint an expert as a substitute for one member of the System Board of Adjustment.

        Qualifications

        • Current Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant
        • Willingness to attend the requisite grievance training(s)
        • In depth knowledge of the contract
        • Understanding of the principles of just cause
        • Adherence to Grievance Committee policies, procedures, and standards of ethical conduct
        • Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive and personal information
        • Maintenance of member-in-good-standing status
        • Ability to remain in good standing with the company
        • Ability to analyze written data and information with high attention to detail
        • Strong written and communication skills
        • Strong computer skills.

        Term of Appointment

        The selected candidate will serve the a term of appointment that begins on July 1, 2022 and concludes on June 30, 2024.

        Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

        The MEC will hold interviews of eligible candidates during the June Regular MEC Meeting on June 14 and 15, 2022.  If you’re interested in interviewing, plan to bid around this date or adjust your schedule accordingly to accommodate.  All interviews will be conducted using Google Meet videoconferencing.

        Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume using the online expression of interest form.  The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Friday, June 3, 2022.  After the submission deadline, an MEC representative will contact eligible candidates to arrange a specific interview time.

        Please note that 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 position or application process should be directed to MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams at stephanie.adams@afaalaska.org.

        Filed Under: AFA News Now, Grievance Committee, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: interviews, System Board of Adjustment

        AFA Alaska Update – October 15, 2021

        October 15, 2021 12:00

        In This Edition

        • System Board of Adjustment Interviews
        • Reminder: Zika Letter of Agreement
        • Understanding Panic Disorder

        System Board of Adjustment Interviews

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        The Master Executive Council (MEC) will be conducting interviews for one (1) member to serve on the AFA System Board of Adjustment.

        Scope

        Members are to serve on the System Board of Adjustment for the purpose of arbitrating any disputes or grievances that may arise under the terms of the Agreement between Alaska Airlines and its Flight Attendants.

        Policy/Responsibilities

        • There shall be two members selected by the MEC from active members in good standing to represent the Association.  Members will be selected at-large without regard to Local Council or domicile. 
        • Any person seeking a position as a System Board of Adjustment Member must submit a resume.  Candidates must interview with the MEC.
        • System Board Members shall be selected for a two (2) year appointment period in accordance with the AFA Constitution and Bylaws.  At least one appointment will be reviewed in June of each year.  Selection shall be made, insofar as possible, to ensure that both members will not be new at the same time.  
        • The System Board Members will act in the best interest of the membership and the Association and will be consistent with the Agreement between the Flight Attendants and Alaska Airlines.
        • The MEC President shall have the ability, in the event of an emergency, to appoint a qualified member in good standing to fill an ad hoc position on the Board, should the alternate not be available.
        • The MEC on an ad hoc basis, by majority vote, may appoint an expert as a substitute for one member of the System Board of Adjustment.

        Qualifications

        • Current Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant
        • Willingness to attend the requisite grievance training(s)
        • In depth knowledge of the contract
        • Understanding of the principles of just cause
        • Adherence to Grievance Committee policies, procedures, and standards of ethical conduct
        • Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive and personal information
        • Maintenance of member-in-good-standing status
        • Ability to remain in good standing with the company
        • Ability to analyze written data and information with high attention to detail
        • Strong written and communication skills
        • Strong computer skills.

        Term of Appointment

        The selected candidate will serve the remainder of a term of appointment that concludes on June 30, 2023.

        Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

        The MEC will hold interviews of eligible candidates during the December Regular MEC Meeting on December 7, 2021.  If you’re interested in interviewing, plan to bid around this date or adjust your schedule accordingly to accommodate.  All interviews will be conducted using Google Meet videoconferencing.

        Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume using the online expression of interest form.  The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.  After the submission deadline, MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou will contact eligible candidates to arrange a specific interview time.

        Please note that 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 position or application process should be directed to MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams at stephanie.adams@afaalaska.org.


        Reminder: Zika Letter of Agreement

        Grievance Committee

        In 2017, AFA and management signed a letter of agreement (LOA) establishing protections for Flight Attendants who are pregnant, attempting to become pregnant, or whose partner is attempting to become pregnant and are scheduled to fly to a Zika-affected area.  The LOA outlines the protective provisions and associated procedures that eligible Flight Attendants are responsible for following.

        As Alaska Airlines is beginning service to Belize in November, it is timely that we offer a reminder that this LOA is still active.  Belize is considered a Zika affected area by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) which triggers the protections outlined in the LOA.

        Questions?

        If you have any questions about the Zika LOA or the procedures associated with using the protective provisions of the LOA, please contact your Local Grievance Committee.


        Understanding Panic Disorder

        Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

        What is Panic Disorder?

        Panic disorder is a psychological condition that shows up in the form of sometimes serious physical symptoms. These symptoms, called panic attacks, can literally make the victim feel as though he or she is dying: rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, excessive sweating, dizziness, trembling, intense anxiety, a feeling of loss of control, and helplessness. Imagine what it would be like to jump out of an airplane only to find your parachute won’t open – that’s pretty close to what panic attack victims are feeling in the moment.

        When the attacks occur regularly or appear to be caused by a specific set of circumstances, then panic disorder is the cause. There is no specific treatment for a panic attack, per se. But the underlying condition, panic disorder, can be treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy.  

        What Causes Panic Disorder?

        Like many psychological conditions, panic disorder can originate in many different ways, some of them making little logical sense. A person with a phobia such as fear of heights or enclosed places might experience a panic attack if he or she is in this situation. Alcohol, drugs, and trauma can trigger it.   But the cause itself has no bearing on the reaction to it because the threat felt by the victim is one entirely of perception rather than reality.

        What to Do if You Have a Panic Attack

        The only way to stop a panic attack is to allow it to end, and the only way to do that is to diminish the underlying fear that causes the symptoms. If you allow yourself to experience the symptoms, with a clear realization that there is no real danger, then the attack may be shortened. Breathe deeply and don’t give in to dangerous impulses such as running away or jumping off something. Know that the effects will pass. The more you experience even the smallest triumph of logic over fear, the less intense your attacks will become.  If the attacks continue, seek help from a medical professional.

        What to Do if You See Someone Having a Panic Attack

        You may feel pretty helpless when encountering someone having a panic attack.  Tell them to keep breathing and assure them that there is no danger.  The problem here is that the victim will tell you that they are having a heart attack, can’t breathe, or feels like they are about to pass out, and odds are good that you aren’t qualified to assess the reality of that perception. Call for help quickly and do your best to calm the victim until help arrives. The best thing you can do when it’s over is offer comfort, assure the person that professional help is available and encourage them to seek that assistance.

        Questions or Need Help?

        Our AFA EAP Committee is available to provide assistance with referrals.  Please call (949) 470-0493 or visit afaalaska.org/eap for contact information.

        Filed Under: EAP/Professional Standards Committee, Grievance Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC) Tagged With: 2021, interviews, letter of agreement, System Board of Adjustment, Zika

        AFA Alaska Update – August 6, 2021

        August 6, 2021 12:00

        In This Edition

        • PBS Subcommittee Member Interviews
        • Let’s Talk About Eating Disorders

        PBS Subcommittee Member Interviews

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        Background

        The PBS Subcommittee, part of the MEC Scheduling Committee, works with the company and the Inflight Crew Planning Department to maintain the company’s preferential bidding system (PBS) and oversee the bidding and bid award processes.  The Subcommittee represents and advocates for the MEC position in matters pertaining to bidding and the preferential bidding system.

        The PBS Subcommittee is currently made up of the MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS and two PBS Subcommittee Members.  The MEC is seeking to fill a third PBS Subcommittee Member position at this time. 

        Qualifications

        • Robust working knowledge of hours of service, scheduling, and reserve provisions of the Flight Attendant collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
        • Knowledge of CFRs and other regulations pertaining to flight time, duty time, and crew rest guidelines.
        • Ability to work remotely and attend virtual meetings as required.
        • Strong computer skills. Excellent working knowledge of NAVBLUE PBS, Crew Access, Google email, and Microsoft Office.
        • Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external e-mail, analyze data, and prepare reports.
        • Ability to meet deadlines, take ownership of issues, and follow up on assigned tasks.

        Duties

        • Regularly communicate with and provide updates to the MEC Scheduling Chairperson on the activities of the subcommittee
        • In advance of the bidding period each month, communicate with the MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction to understand changes in pairings for upcoming months and how Flight Attendant bids might be affected
        • Keep members knowledgeable about changes to the preferential bidding system, common mistakes and errors, misunderstandings about the system, and other topics of interest through the MEC Communications Chairperson
        • Provide assistance to Flight Attendants through base sits, one-on-one training sessions, and telephone support during the monthly bidding window and as requested by the MEC or LECs
        • Communicate with the MEC Reserve Chairperson to understand the needs and challenges of Flight Attendants holding reserve schedules and provide bid assistance

        Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

        • This position is eligible for Company Business (CB) Flight Pay Loss (FPL), paid in accordance with section 27.P.1.e of the Flight Attendant CBA.  Time worked is logged on a monthly basis and paid at a rate of 0.75 TFP per hour with a 5% override at “A” pay.
        • Time commitment is approximately 30 to 40 hours per month.  Most of the workload is weighted heavily toward the first half of the calendar month during the bidding and bid awards processes.  These amounts can fluctuate.
        • Most work for this position can be performed remotely.

        Term of Appointment

        This position will serve for the remaining portion of the current MEC term of office, currently scheduled to end on December 31, 2022.

        Working Relationships

        With The Scheduling Committee

        Occasional interaction with the Local Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Local Scheduling Committee Members.

        With The Master Executive Council

        This position reports to the Master Executive Council through the MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson.

        With Alaska Airlines Management

        Constant interaction with inflight management, particularly the Crew Planning Analysts (John Bumanglag and Kelly Yeager) and Manager of Crew Planning (Mac Patterson).

        Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

        The MEC will hold interviews during the September MEC meeting on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.  Bid around the interview date or plan to arrange your schedule accordingly to accommodate.  All interviews will be conducted by Google Meet videoconferencing.

        Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume online at https://forms.gle/syy62DpL96ESQazQA.  The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Tuesday, September 7.  After that time, qualified candidates will be contacted to schedule a specific interview time.

        Please note that 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?

        Please direct any questions about the position to MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Adam Clarey at adam.clarey@afaalaska.org.


        Let’s Talk About Eating Disorders

        Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

        The way we talk about eating disorders matters. Here are some facts you can use to help shape a conversation around eating disorders with family members and friends. If you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, remember that your AFA EAP is a confidential resource for support, referrals and access to treatment.

        Eating disorders are medical illnesses.

        Genetic and environmental factors can influence eating disorders. An eating disorder is not a trend or a choice.

        Eating disorders are serious and can be fatal.

        Eating disorders often involve serious medical complications that can cause permanent damage or death. People with eating disorders also have an increased risk of dying by suicide.

        Eating disorders can affect anyone.

        Eating disorders do not discriminate. They affect people of all ages, races and ethnicities, and genders.

        You can’t tell if someone has an eating disorder by looking at them.

        People with eating disorders can be underweight, normal weight, or overweight.

        Family members can be a patient’s best ally in treatment.

        Eating disorders are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors. Family members do not cause eating disorders and can be great sources of support.

        It is possible to recover from an eating disorder.

        Complete recovery is possible with treatment and time.

        Have Questions or Need Help?

        Your Local EAP Committee contact information is available at afaalaska.org/eap or you can call (949) 470-0493.

        Filed Under: EAP/Professional Standards Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC), Preferential Bidding System (PBS), Scheduling Committee Tagged With: 2021, committee appointments, EAP, interviews, PBS

        AFA Update – March 25, 2020

        March 25, 2020 17:00

        In This Edition

        • Contacting AFA Representatives for Support
        • Pre-Cancellations (JCBA Section 10.S)
        • REMINDER: Negotiating Committee Interviews – Additional Opportunity
        • Grievance Committee Report

        Contacting AFA Representatives For Support

        As always, AFA representatives remain available to provide assistance during the current situation.  In order to provide you with the best possible support, we ask that you continue to reach out using the following methods of contact:

        AFA Online Support Center.  Contractual concerns, scheduling or reserve problems, and payroll issues can all be reported using the AFA Online Support Center.  Once you open a ticket, your concern will be assigned to a specific AFA representative who will assist you in resolving the issue.  Click here for more information about the AFA Online Support Center.

        E-Mail.  Your Local Committee Members, Chairpersons, and LEC Officers can all be contacted by email.  Please refer to your Local Council’s committee roster for contact information for each of your committees.  Your LEC Officers can also be easily be contacted as a group using by email addresses below.  Using the group email address ensures that your question or concern can be addressed as soon as possible by the first available officer.

        ANCanc@afaalaska.org
        SEAsea@afaalaska.org
        PDXpdx@afaalaska.org
        SFOsfo@afaalaska.org
        LAXlax@afaalaska.org
        SANsan@afaalaska.org

        When making contact by email, please use your personal email address and not your company-provided Outlook email account.  Company-provided email accounts are subject to monitoring by management and there is no expectation or guarantee of privacy.

        Telephone Call.  Telephone numbers for most Local Committee Members, Chairpersons, and LEC Officers can also be found on your Local Council’s committee roster.  If you receive a voicemail prompt, please leave a message that includes your full name, PeopleSoft number, and contact telephone number.  Voicemail messages will be returned as soon as possible and within 24 hours.

        In order to ensure that your request, question, or concern is properly documented and receives the appropriate follow-up, please limit contact to one of the methods outlined above when reaching out to AFA representatives.  Text messages, messages sent to personal social media accounts, and other methods of contact may not necessarily be regularly monitored for AFA-related communications and could cause a significant delay in response.


        Pre-Cancellations (JCBA Section 10.S)

        Scheduling Committee

        Pre-cancellations occur prior to your trip, while reassignments occur same day.  Currently, trips are being pre-cancelled, and you may have more than one trip that is affected.  Crew Scheduling may offer more than one alternate trip if multiple awarded trips are cancelled when you call.

        If you have a pre-cancellation, a CR code will be placed on your roster. You may acknowledge your cancellation on your roster, however the JCBA requires you to call Crew Scheduling.  If you fail to contact Crew Scheduling prior to your trip, you must report to work as scheduled.  If you are flying during your pre-cancellation, then you are required to call Crew Scheduling no later than release at domicile if the trip reports the next day.

        If you do not report at the original show time and you have not contacted Crew Scheduling, you will be subject to the attendance policy and will receive a no-show under Section 32 of the JCBA. Crew Scheduling will send you an email via Outlook and leave a message for you to call them back using your PeopleSoft phone number on file, so ensure your numbers are up to date. You may be offered an alternate assignment (the footprint of which can begin or end 2 hours beyond original footprint of the trip) or you may decline the alternate assignment and waive pay protection. If the flight you are offered has a check in and/or release time outside of the footprint described above, you will have a third option to contact Crew Scheduling the night prior to that assignment. Pay protection may apply depending on the options available at the time you contact Crew Scheduling.  Please refer to sections 10.S.2 and 10.S.3 for your contractual options prior to calling Crew Scheduling.  Please always remember you are able to decline the alternate assignments and waive pay protection. 

        The Scheduling Committee has compiled a “cheat sheet” on the pre-cancellation process and section 10.S language that you can access by clicking here.

        Questions?

        If you have any questions about pre-cancellations or reassignments, please contact your Local Scheduling Committee.


        REMINDER: Negotiating Committee Interviews – Additional Opportunity

        Master Executive Council (MEC)

        The Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted interviews with several Negotiating Committee candidates during the March Regular MEC Meeting.   The candidates interviewed in March ranged from less than one year to eight years of Flight Attendant seniority.  All candidates who met the original deadline of March 3 to express interest will be given the opportunity to interview and will be included in the candidate pool that the MEC will elect the Negotiating Committee from.

        It is important to the MEC that the candidate pool is representative of the entire Flight Attendant group.  As such, the MEC has re-opened the expression of interest process for Negotiating Committee Members.  Additional interviews will be conducted at the April Regular MEC Meeting.  The MEC is specifically seeking additional candidates with 25 years or more of Flight Attendant seniority and/or those with previous negotiating experience.  Other candidates will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

        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 April Regular MEC Meeting, to be held April 7 and 8, 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 April Regular MEC meeting from April 7-8, 2020.  Please plan to arrange your schedule accordingly to accommodate.

        Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume online at https://forms.gle/YGCUtxVETB3z9aZW7.  The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Friday, March 27.  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.


        Grievance Committee Update

        Grievance Committee

        The Master Executive Council (MEC) has been very hard at work ensuring disciplinary due process and contractual compliance on your behalf.  The contract requires a minimum of 13 arbitration dates yearly to dispute discipline/termination cases and contractual issues.  AFA typically prioritizes termination cases 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 next based on many factors. 

        Steps of discipline are confirmation of oral warning (COW), written warning (WW), suspension (varied number of days) to termination.  COWs, WWs, and suspensions remain in the Flight Attendant’s file for 18 months, and then are removed.  If a Flight Attendant is in a step of discipline and gets another violation, the new violation will build on the previous violation.  Management doesn’t always progressively travel up the steps of discipline.  If management investigates a Flight Attendant for theft or abuse of sick leave, for example, management will terminate the Flight Attendant if there is evidence to support its findings; if there is no evidence, then the Flight Attendant will most likely be issued a record of discussion (ROD). A ROD is not considered discipline.  There is no middle ground for certain violations.  

        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: 

        • 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.  (Temporarily there are Covid-19 exceptions).  
        • 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 and personal drops can be seen, even if eventually deleted.  If management determines abuse it results in termination.  
        • Timecard fraud—For example: Holding the door open to obtain sit pay.  Management has terminated for this violation.
        • Drug/Alcohol violations
        • Harassment
        • Reserves commuting during reserve availability period even if self-assigned a trip. Management has terminated for this reason several times.
        • Social media violations Including “friending” passengers on FB from information gained from the IMD
        • Commuter Violations-1. Flight Attendant released from DHD and used D8Y home; 2. Flight Attendant used D8Y when they picked up out of base; 3. Flight Attendant used D8Y to/from incorrect cities; and 4. Flight Attendant used D8Y for pleasure travel.
        • Lost IMD or other required items
        • Failing to complete CBT—even if Flight Attendant just forgets to hit the close out x at the top to switch it from in process to complete.

        Recent and Upcoming Arbitration/Mediation

        ArbitrationThursday, January 30Disciplinary Grievance
        MediationTuesday, March 3Contractual Grievance
        ArbitrationTuesday, March 31 (postponed)Disciplinary Grievance

        Recent Settled Grievances

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-5-16- Non-Negotiated Compensation.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement Section 21 [Compensation] and Section 32 [Attendance Policy], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Railway Labor Act when it awarded, without prior consistent notice, policy and application, $5 gift cards to all Anchorage based Flight Attendants for meeting the daily attendance goal.

        Settlement:  The Company will issue one $5.00 (five dollar) Starbucks gift card to Flight Attendants who were employed by Alaska Airlines as Flight Attendants as of 12/31/15, except for those based in ANC as of that date. Management agrees not to issue non-negotiated compensation related to the contractual attendance policy. This is not intended as an agreement that non-negotiated compensation is or is not permissible in other circumstances.  

        Note:  The settlement will be distributed when management can obtain the correct information regarding which FAs were based outside of ANC at that point in time.  

        Grievances Recently Granted by 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.

        Management’s Response:  On September 24th, during a scheduled JCTE release, a bug was unknowingly, and regrettably, introduced to JCTE that caused long delays (up to 10 minutes at times) in trips showing up in Open Time if a scheduler made a change to the sequence.  Although the company did not intentionally delay these trips from showing up in Open Time immediately, the bug in the system did cause a delay. For this reason, this grievance is sustained. This issue was resolved with the November 8th JCTE release.  

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-20-20-Violation of §25.C.1 Failure to Include ASHSC in Safety Meeting.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §25.C.1 [Air Safety Health and Security:  Safety Meetings], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about January 13, 2020, it failed to include the Air Safety, Health and Security Committee (ASHSC) in a reactive safety risk assessment (SRA) meeting regarding unaccompanied minors who are sent to the wrong destinations.  

        Management’s response:  After investigation, I agree with you that we did not appropriately include the ASHSC in the SRA meeting regarding unaccompanied minors who are sent to the wrong destinations.  Going forward, the ASHSC will be included in all inflight safety meetings that the Cabin Safety Manager is invited to attend.  As such, this grievance is sustained.  

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-27-20-Violation of §12.F.3 Threshold Sequence Number Determination for Seattle Domicile February 2020.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §12.F.3 [Exchange of Sequences: Threshold Sequence Number Determination], past practice and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about January 16, 2020, it was discovered Crew Planning did not review and increase the Threshold Sequence Number (TSN) for the Seattle domicile from 12 to 13 for February 2020.  

        Management’s response:  After investigation, I agree with you that we did not appropriately increase the TSN for the Seattle domicile from 12 to 13 for February 2020, prior to Open Time commencing on January 16, 2020.  For this reason, this grievance is sustained and the Director of Crew Planning and the Director of Crew Scheduling commit to working together to develop a documented process to ensure this does not happen again in the future.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-30-20-Violation of §30.C.1 Training Pay.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §30.C.1 [Training:  Training Pay/Recurrent Training], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when its 2020 Recurrent Training (RT) home study exceeded five (5) hours; per the agreed upon computer based training (CBT) run time test process, the run time was calculated to be six hours and twenty six minutes (6:26).

        Management’s response:  After investigation, I have found the above referenced information to be true and therefore the grievance is sustained.  Our agreed remedy is that each Flight Attendant that completes the 2020 Recurrent Training (RT) home study will receive a flat pay out of $125.00 versus the $75.00 flat pay out referenced in Collective Bargaining Agreement §30.C.1.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-37-20-Violation of §30.A.2 Training Hours.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §30.A.2 [Training:  Hours], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about January 24, 2020, Flight Attendants attending Recurrent Training (RT) in SEA were released at approximately 5:08pm, eight (8) minutes past the contractual release time of 5:00pm.   

        Management’s response:  After investigation, I have found that on the date referenced above, that the class did in fact release at 5:08pm.  This class ran late due to the addition of the flashlight exercise at the end of the day.  For this reason, the grievance is sustained.  The agreed upon remedy is 1 TFP for all Flight Attendants who attended this class.

        Grievance No.:  36-99-2-125-20-Violation of §30.A.2 Training Hours.  This grievance alleges the Company’s violation of Collective Bargaining Agreement §30.A.2 [Training:  Hours], past practice, and all related sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement when on or about February 14, 2020, Flight Attendants attending Recurrent Training (RT) in ANC were released at approximately 5:28pm, twenty-eight (28) minutes past the contractual release time of 5:00pm.    

        Management’s response:  After investigation, I have found that on the date referenced above, that the class did in fact release at 5:28pm.  The R2 training door was not airworthy and had to be re-built late the night before, pushing hands-on and drill evaluations to the second day.  For this reason, the grievance is sustained.  The agreed upon remedy is 6 TFP for all Flight Attendants who attended this class.

        Grievances Recently Filed and Awaiting Response from Management 

        None

        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.

        Filed Under: Grievance Committee, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC), Negotiations, Scheduling Committee Tagged With: 10.S, 2020, Grievance Committee, interviews, Negotiating Committee, pre-cancelation

        AFA Update – August 16, 2019

        August 16, 2019 12:00

        In This Edition

        • Hotel Crew Room Blocks Card Now Online
        • REMINDER: Human Rights Committee Forming
        • TAKE ACTION: Stop Toxic Fumes!
        • Cabin Air Quality Resources

        Hotel Crew Hotel Room Blocks Card Now Online

        Hotel Committee

        Your AFA Hotel Committee has succeeded in their effort to have the Crew Hotel Room Blocks card uploaded to an easily accessible location on both the Inflight website and the IMD.  The Crew Hotel Room Blocks card (commonly known as the “purple card”) is a quick reference card that provides information about appropriate hotel room features and room locations.  This card can be shown to hotel staff when you are assigned a hotel room that does not meet the requirements of the company’s contract with the hotel in order to hopefully remedy the situation on-the-spot. 

        Going forward, the Crew Hotel Room Blocks card will be published on the first page of the monthly Hotel Hotline document.  The Hotel Hotline can be found on the Flight Attendant website under Hotel, Travel & Station > Hotel Hotline.  On the IMD, you can find the Hotel Hotline under ASFASupplemental > Hotel Hotline.

        If you have any questions, please reach out to your Local Hotel Committee.

        REMINDER: Human Rights Committee Forming

        Human Rights Committee

        In 2018, the AFA Board of Directors approved the creation of Human Rights Committees across AFA, with committees to be formed at each Local Council and MEC.  Members of the Human Rights Committee will work to promote activities that foster greater understanding of one another and the diversity of our membership in order to build the strength of our Union through our common struggles and goals rather than allowing others to divide us by our differences.  This work will involve close coordination with local community and CWA allies to engage in efforts that advance both human rights and worker’s rights.

        As part of the formation of the Committee, volunteer involvement opportunities are available both at the local level (Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson) and the airline level (MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson).  If you are interested in filling the role of Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson, please refer to recent communications from your Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers or contact your LEC President.

        MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson

        Information about the MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson can be found in the August 2, 2019 AFA Update.

        The MEC will hold interviews for the position of MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson during the September MEC meeting on Tuesday, September 17.  Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume online at https://forms.gle/bns2FHqC11PLe3889.  The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Tuesday, September 10.  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.

        TAKE ACTION: Stop Toxic Fumes!

        Government Affairs Committee

        The Cabin Air Safety Act of 2019 aims to protect airline passengers and crew from the harmful effects of toxic cabin air.

        “Our workspace is the public’s travel space and in that space today, crews and passengers are breathing toxins and it has to stop,” said AFA International President Sara Nelson.

        Call your Representative and Senators today and tell them to cosponsor the Cabin Air Safety Act. The House bill is H.R. 2208 and the Senate bill is S. 1112. 

        Call Your Representative: 866-937-4359

        Call Your Senators: 877-750-7411 

        “Hi, my name is_________. As a constituent and a Flight Attendant, I am calling to ask you to cosponsor the Cabin Air Safety Act of 2019. Flight Attendants and passengers can be exposed to toxic fumes in the cabin. We need the FAA to intervene and implement protections. Support clean air onboard for passengers and Flight Attendants!”

        AFA’s efforts to improve the cabin environment span the last three decades, from advocating for smoke-free skies to stopping poisonous pesticide spraying to addressing the dangers of contaminated bleed air. We advocate that the airline industry either end the use of engine bleed air for cabin air supply like on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or mitigate the circulation of contaminated air. In 2015, AFA was an active member of the ICAO task group that published Circular 344, which advises airlines to enhance their operational procedures to minimize onboard exposure to smoke and fumes. This led to an FAA Safety Alert published in 2018. This is progress, but it doesn’t go far enough. 

        “Most Americans go to work with the expectation of breathing clean air. Flight Attendants don’t have this guarantee, and it is past time for that to change,” AFA President Sara Nelson said.

        Cabin Air Quality Resources

        Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee – Air Quality Subcommittee

        Your AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) and Air Quality Subcommittee have worked with AFA International to put together a number of tools and resources to use in the event of a cabin air fume event.  Some of the resources available are listed below.

        Air Quality Fume Event FAQs

        The Committee has compiled a comprehensive question and answer document to help provide information about many of the questions and concerns that have been received about cabin air fume events.

        You can access the Q&A document by clicking here.

        Air Quality Exposure Quick Reference Card

        The Air Quality Exposure Quick Reference Card is a wallet sized card that explains what to do in a contaminated cabin air exposure event.  The card can be kept in a badge holder behind your company ID or in your wallet.

        The card was recently updated by the Committee and now includes information about the Airbus fleet.  If you currently have an older version of the card, please destroy your old card and replace it with a newly updated one. The updated cards are currently being distributed to each domicile.

        Look for more information from your Local Council about where to pick one up at your base.  You can access and print the card on the AFA Alaska website by clicking here.

        AFA Alaska Website

        Additional air quality information, including a flow chart that describes what to do in a cabin air fume event, can be found at afaalaska.org under Committees > Air Safety, Health, & Security (ASHSC) > Air Quality.

        Questions?

        If you have additional questions about cabin air quality or the AFA resources available, please email airquality@afaalaska.org or contact a member of your Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC).  

        Filed Under: Air Quality, Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), Government Affairs Committee, Hotel Committee, Human Rights & Equity Committee, Latest News Tagged With: 2019, air quality, cabin air, committee chairperson appointment, crew rooms, Government Affairs, Hotel Committee, hotels, Human Rights Committee, interviews, MEC Committee Chairperson, toxic fumes

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