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Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

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Jeppesen Crew Access Failed. Again. (…and Again and Again…)

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Crew Access went down as SEA Open Time opened

Your Master Executive Council (MEC) is aware that Flight Attendants could not log into Jeppesen Crew Access (JCA) for approximately twenty minutes. Although access has now been restored, the outage started at 1:59 PM PT—just as Seattle Open Time trading was opening. This all went down despite a whole crew of IT personnel monitoring Open Time.

Likely not a server issue

Many of you have asked if this is related to the number of servers dedicated to Crew Access. It is too early to say whether this latest outage is a server issue, but Alaska Airlines IT and Jeppesen have sworn in the past that the number of servers is not a significant contributor to the various problems that we continue to experience.

“Real-time” trading grievance and related mediation

AFA filed a contractual grievance alleging a violation of JCBA §12.C.1 when the Company failed to provide a “real-time” trading system, and we mediated that issue in July 2017. (See “Grievance Report – July 2017” for more info.) The MEC continues to pressure management to have Jeppesen program a more “real-time” trading system as was agreed to in that mediation. Small incremental changes have been implemented in the interim, but there have been few significant fixes. Glaring system shortcomings continue to negate the various mostly cosmetic improvements so far.

Management needs to do the right thing

The MEC knows you are tired of apologies. You want accountability and action. We have asked management to provide a meaningful response to Flight Attendants. As usual, management is “looking into it.”

It is beyond time for Alaska Airlines management to provide Flight Attendants with a functional real-time trading system: Just do the right thing and fix it!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

[L-AS] Continued JCTE Open Time Programming Issues

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This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

AFA is aware of the issues that many Flight Attendants faced during the start of open time trading for August schedules on July 16, 2018.  Alaska management sent an email communication outlining that the issues were thought to include the servers. After researching, however, the origin of the errors remains unknown.  Jeppesen, Alaska management and AFA are actively working together to find a resolution and remedy.

We appreciate all of the Flight Attendants who have communicated their concerns and frustrations. The documentation that has been provided is assisting in getting closer to identifying the issues.   At this time, we don’t know the root cause of the issue and management has advised us that it could be several more Open Times before the root cause is identified.

Please know that your AFA leadership believes these continued Open Time programming errors are completely unacceptable.  We will be reviewing all options available to us under the contractual grievance process to bring this situation to an expedient and suitable resolution.  As more information becomes available, we will communicate additional updates.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

[L-AS] JCTE Contractual Waivers Not Installed

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This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

Yesterday, AFA released a communication regarding JCTE contractual 48/7 and out of base waivers that were supposed to be installed in an update to JCTE last night.  Early this morning, we were advised by management that the update to the JCTE software was not successful and these waivers have not been installed.  As of now, management has been unable to provide us with a timeframe as to when we can expect the software to be successfully updated.

Please be mindful when grabbing or trading trips that JCTE continues to lack these waiver notifications. If you have any questions about JCTE contractual waivers, please contact your Local Scheduling Committee.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

[L-AS] JCTE Contractual 48/7 and Out of Base Waivers

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This message is for pre-merger Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants

AFA was advised that JCTE will be receiving an update on the evening of May 8, 2018, that will include the contractual 48/7 waiver (Section 8.L) and out of base warnings that previously existed in eMaestro.  It is important to remember when picking up or trading, you may be required to waive or accept provisions.  If you waive a provision when processing a direct trade, you will also be waiving the contractual protections for the Flight Attendant receiving the trip.   Prior to processing a trade, it is important that you discuss any contractual waivers with the Flight Attendant who will be receiving the trip and determine whether s/he agrees to any contractual waivers.  If you choose to accept the waivers when processing a trade, this acceptance will be noted in the system and pay protection and/or rest requirements may not apply.  Refer to Section 8.N of the CBA for waiver of contractual rest.

If you have any questions about JCTE contractual waivers, please contact your Local Scheduling Committee.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green, Brice McGee; and MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones

Preparing for Jeppeson Crew Access (JCA) Cutover

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eMaestro is switching to the new

Jeppeson Crew Access “JCA” system at

8:00 PM PST on January 30th.  

Your LEC Officers have prepared the following information to help you ease into the new system. Also, your LEC Scheduling Chair Chase Vandergrift along with Jacob Rahn and Brice McGee will be hosting base sits Starting February 8th. There are classroom training sessions in other bases that you can choose to attend on layovers or if you live in those cities.

Information to sign up for the classroom training sessions is located in the January 26th weekly inflight bundle and we have listed the information below. Please make sure that if you choose to attend a training session class that you’ve watched all the videos and completed the quiz.

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0E4BABAE2FA1F58-crew6

You DO NOT have to sign up for base sits.

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February 8th, 8:30a-11:30a

Inflight Lounge

Brice

February 9th, 5:30a-9:30a

Inflight Lounge

Brice

February 15th, 8:30a-11:30a

Inflight Lounge

Jacob

February 16th, 5:30a-9:30a

Inflight Lounge

Jacob

February 17th, 11:00a-3:00p

Inflight Lounge

Chase

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What is Crew Access?

It is the new scheduling and trading system for flight attendants. It is not a replacement for NavTech PBS and does not affect bidding. However, we have also prepared helpful hints to protect your default and monthly bids.

Tips:

Watch the training videos on the Inflight Webpage

Complete the 3-question quiz to receive 1 TFP pay

Complete all trading by 8:00 PM PST on January 30th

Reserves should update LTFA preference by 8:00 pm on January 30th

After JCA launches, FAs will use PeopleSoft numbers when calling Crew Scheduling

After JCA launches, Flight Loads will no longer be available on the FA Website

You will have to search on PET for loads

After JCA launches, verify your outlook calendar is working. AFA has been told this function should work.

PBS Helpful Hints:

Navtech PBS changes related to Crew Access

Effective January 27th:

You will now use your PeopleSoft number to log into PBS…your password remains the same.  Your PeopleSoft number is located on your company I.D. card.

Any previously entered bid containing an Arctic number will be ignored (Buddy Bid, Award and/or Avoid bids). You must now use the person’s PeopleSoft number.  If needed, send an email to PBS.QA@alaskaair.com for help with PeopleSoft numbers.

Our understanding is that your Default bid will carry over in the transition to PeopleSoft numbers.  In case it does not, print out or take a screen shot of your Default bid in case you need to re-enter it.  Do this prior to 8pm on Jan 30th!

Crew Access Filters:

There are limited search filters for OT

Filters may be added in the future (i.e. TFP)

If you have filter recommendations or requests, send to san.scheduling@afaalaska.org.

You may subscribe to 5 filters for text notifications

Text will be sent if a trip is “advertised” by a FA or dropped into OT

You may save more than 5 filters, but can only receive texts for 5

Notifications & Messages:

When logging in to Crew Access, any notifications (schedule changes) will pop up

You may acknowledge ALL CHANGES and not receive a call OR

You may skip notifications and Crew Scheduling will still call you

Notifications will include hotel, roster, and assignment changes

“Notifications” ARE NOT a contractual means of contact for Reserve notification after a trip

  •      Reserves must still check email or call CS after a reserve trip
  •       You may view unacknowledged notifications from the drop-down menu
  •      Messages include Make a Wish and Military flights

Reports:

Static – your roster that was awarded from Crew Planning, with no changes

Reports should show the last 3 months of information

Reserve:

Reserve Self-Assignment, Section 11. E~ please read!

  • Even if you have self-assigned, YOU ARE STILL ON CALL AND CONTACTABLE per your reserve classification
  • You may trade a self-assigned or CS assigned trip with OT or other reserves
  • Self-Assign is 10am-2pm Domicile Time the day before a trip begins
  • At 2pm, OT trips will be pulled and assigned by CS
  • ER Reserve classifications may not self-assign any trips or APSB
  • APSB may only be self-assigned for day 1 of a 5-day block, day 1 and/or 2 of a 6-day block
  • Reserve Self-Assignment for an AM or PM Reserve with four (4) or fewer days of availability remaining in her/his block may self-assign a sequence from Open Time between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM (PT) the day prior to check-in, subject to the following restrictions:
  • The self-assignment must be within the Reserve’s domicile
  • The self-assigned sequence must commence within the Reserve’s availability period and must be for the same number of days as the Reserve has left in her/his block.
  • Sequences may not be split to accommodate a self-assignment

Your AFA Officers realize that this is a lot of information and we want to ensure that you have an easy transition to the new system. Please email us at san@afaalaska.org with any questions.

In Solidarity,

Your LEC Officers and LEC Scheduling Chairs

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Latest News

AFA Update – November 8, 2019

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Council 35 News-October 2019

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Membership Meeting November 4 Please join us for the next Council 35 membership meeting in SFO.  Please review this past communication for details. Management continues to disrespect our contractual language by failing to provide a real-time trading system.  Let them know that enough is enough!  It’s time for management to be accountable, take action to fix Crew Access, […]

Yet Another System Malfunction (This Time Vacation Trading)

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Your Master Executive Council (MEC) is aware that the vacation trading system malfunctioned for approximately 25 minutes just as vacation trading opened for Seattle around 2 PM PT. Just like with the recent Crew Access malfunction, this all went down despite a whole crew of IT personnel monitoring the vacation trading system. Access was restored immediately […]

AFA Special Update – Negotiations

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In This Edition (October 25, 2019) Open Time Negotiations – October 22 Recap Back to Book Fixing Crew Access Open Time Negotiations – October 22 Recap Your AFA Alaska Negotiating Committee resumed Open Time negotiations with management on October 22 in Seattle. The Negotiating Committee started out the day with high hopes based on the […]

AFA Special Update – Negotiations

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In This Edition (October 22, 2019) Open Time Negotiations October 9 & 10 Recap Send Your Message to Management: Fix Crew Access NOW! Block or Better vs. TFP—and Other Concerns Open Time Negotiations – October 9 & 10 Recap Your AFA Alaska Negotiating Committee resumed Open Time negotiations with management on October 9 & 10 […]

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