July Newsletter

Council 35 News – July 2022

July 31, 2022 19:46

Important Dates

August 1: Deadline for Mileage Bonus

August 2: Deadline for updating email address for AFA Negotiations Survey

August 3: AFA Negotiations Survey Launch

August 19: AFA Negotiations Survey Close

Alaska Airlines 90th Anniversary Bonus

As of today’s publication, approximately 25% of SFO Flight Attendants have not signed up to receive the 90th Anniversary Bonus. The deadline to receive the anniversary bonuses is 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. Please enter your Mileage Plan number into PeopleSoft and make your selection for either $90 to the Company Store or a $90 Yiftee gift card to take advantage of this offer. Miles can be used on other airlines and other travel perks! For more information visit Alaskasworld.

Your Personal Email Address for the Negotiations Survey

by James Ikehara, LEC Secretary
To ensure you receive an invitation to complete our Negotiations Survey, use this link to update your personal contact information directly with AFA Membership Services if you have recently changed your email address. Sign up with this link to receive AFA Alaska e-newsletters and stay in the loop with the latest negotiations news.

California COVID-19 Law: Action for Flight Attendants

The 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Effective February 19, 2022 – retroactive to January 1, 2022 was put in place to protect employees from COVID-19 absences. Management has taken a position that Flight Attendants are not eligible for these CA benefits, however AFA does not agree. Your Council 35 officers encourage all CA-based Flight Attendants that have COVID-19 related absences to file a wage claim with the state and/or report a labor law violation. AFA has received reports that some California-based F/As have had success filing a claim and potentially will be eligible for compensation if the claim is ultimately resolved in their favor.

Bernstein v. Virgin America

Many California based Flight Attendants are waiting anxiously to hear updates on Alaska’s decision regarding the Bernstein v. Virgin America lawsuit. It’s an understatement to say that Alaska caused a lot of stress to CA based F/As with their initial response to the Supreme Court’s decision to reject the case. To stay updated on what’s new and to hear “both sides of the story,” please be sure to bookmark the Bernstein v. Virgin America subsite created by the attorneys representing the class. For additional resources, Flight Attendants may also review the recent AFA Status Update from July 11.

COVID-19 Tests Provided by SFO International Airport

by James Ikehara, LEC Secretary
On August 2nd, the airport will partner with Safeway to provide 8 COVID-19 Rapid AntigenTest Kits to each employee for free, if your health plan provides for direct coverage, or by reimbursement ($10.99) by your insurance company if you are charged for your test kits (Kaiser members will receive up to 4 test kits). Be sure to bring your employee badge and your insurance card. The morning distribution is scheduled from 0700-1000 at the SFO Maintenance Building #682, and the afternoon distribution is scheduled from 1200-1700 at the Video Art Exhibit Space, near aisle 6 of the International Terminal (pre-security departure level). You can pre-register using this link but walk-ins are also accepted.

Welcome Trista!

We are happy to announce that Trista Vanta has been selected as Mobilization Chair for Council 35! Trista will be coordinating mobilization efforts in SFO as we begin our negotiations this fall. Learn a little about Trista in her own words:

“Trista graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2009 with a major in communication arts and a minor in biology. During college, she served as the webmaster Council officer of Filipino Americans Coming Together from 2006-2009, promoting and organizing events to uplift and engage action within the Filipino American community. She also played for VCU’s volleyball club team as the libero and defensive specialist.

After graduating, she pursued a career in scientific and medical illustration, working for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. It was 2011 when she decided to enter the aviation industry, inspired by her mom who’s worked for the industry since the 90s.

She briefly worked at Air Wisconsin for a little over a year before joining Virgin America in 2013, which became Alaska Airlines in 2016. She is passionate and dedicated to utilizing her past experiences and education to give our workgroup a fair, livable and safe workplace where we are provided with tools to thrive and advance our airline. She believes that unity within the workgroup will be the most valuable driving force in our upcoming negotiation. Her aim in this position is to promote enthusiasm, eagerness and Unity within our workforce to accomplish a common goal. She will strive to balance the interests of our overall workforce, line holders and reserves alike. After all, We are all in it together!”

Air Safety Health & Security Committee (ASHSC) Update

by Brad Young, Council Rep and ASHSC Chair

Meetings

Our AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met on Thursday, July 14th to discuss our ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to safety, health, and security in our workplace.The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft.

Reports

Reporting safety concerns is more important than ever given the challenges we are currently facing as a work group. Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Reports (ASAP), and fatigue reports can all be filed through Report It!

Trash Stowage

The Inflight Service Committee (ISC) and ASHSC have been working with Inflight and Catering to develop solutions for the ongoing lack of adequate trash stowage. Every departure now should have an empty cart in one of the galleys for trash. If you don’t have the required empty cart, submit both an ASAP and catering report. Catering reports are submitted via Block2Block. Please submit an ASAP & FAIR if, after following procedures and making every reasonable attempt to do so, you are unable to stow all trash in legal stowage locations. AFA continues to advocate for dedicated trash cart(s) on all flights.

Time In Motion Study

The ASHSC is coordinating with the Inflight Service Committee and Inflight on a program to assess how long it takes to perform safety and service duties on each aircraft type and flight profile. The goal is to understand what service can safely be completed in each market, and ensure we have adequate time allotted for safety duties like equipment checks and briefings.

Cabin Lighting

During Compliance Checks The ASHSC has been advocating for a brighter lighting setting prior to take off and landing compliance checks. We believe the company is willing to use our boarding light setting for compliance checks and expect the change to be implemented soon. The brighter lighting will help us see better as we complete our compliance checks and will provide a visual indicator to passengers that their attention is needed as we prepare the cabin for landing.

Committee Openings

Council 35 has 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,

Council 35 Officers

Melissa Osborne, President

Virginia Fritz, Vice-President

James Ikehara, Secretary

Brad Young, Council Representative

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

Council 35 News – July 2021

August 2, 2021 11:34

Important Dates

August 1: Rainmaker Launch

COVID-19 Points Forgiveness Extended Through September 2021

The Section 32 Attendance Policy Points Related to COVID-19 MOU provides Flight Attendants an opportunity for points adjustment for the COVID-19 related absences with supporting documentation.

Your Council 35 officers encourage members to submit the form for any absences related to COVID-19. Please review the MOU for details on what points are eligible for adjustment. This process is manual, so allow some time for the adjustment to show on the attendance record. To request a points review, visit:

Alaskasworld>>Inflight >>Administration>>Performance>>COVID-19 Absence Reporting Form

California COVID-19 Law and What it Means for CA-Based Flight Attendants

The state of California has recently enacted a law to protect employees from COVID -19 activities. The basics of the law provides:

protection from penalties (points)
requires employers to offer a special COVID-19 sick leave bank (including employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement)
requires employers to notifiy employees of the new CA provisions

Alaska has taken a position that F/As are not eligible for these CA benefits, however AFA does not agree. Your Council 35 officers encourage all CA-based Flight Attendants that have COVID-19 related absences on their attendance to file a wage claim with the state and/or file a labor law violation. This is especially encouraged for those that have submitted for an adjustment and have been denied. For more information, please see the AFA June 2, 2021 communication.

Trending Discipline

Monthly Commuter Audit

Monthly audits of registered commuters have been performed for the last several months. The most common violation occurs when commuters list for flights using D8Y from a non-registered city when dropping a deadhead leg. Confirmed violations normally result in a Confirmation of Oral Warning (COW) on first offense but can escalate up the steps of discipline if multiple violations occur or other performance issues are on file.

Late to Plane

If a late to plane occurs mid-sequence, such as after a layover, and it causes a delay, steps of discipline will most likely be issued. Mid-sequence late is considered a performance issue, however if it’s the beginning of a sequence (at check-in), late attendance points are normally assessed. For a first offense with no previous disciplines on file, the FA can expect to receive a COW. For more information, please review Section 32 of the JCBA.

Nonrev Issues

A recent company-wide trend has been to issue discipline to Flight Attendants that give “goodies” to nonrevs. In most cases, passengers are the ones complaining and will trigger an investigation. When passengers see nearby nonrevs get food or beverages they aren’t able to purchase for themselves, it causes a conflict. This was especially challenging during COVID-19 limited service when passengers got very little in the main cabin. First offenses have resulted in a Written Warning, which is the 2nd step of discipline.

Union Member Support Opportunity

The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act restores the right of workers to freely and fairly form a union and bargain together for changes in the workplace. It is a worker empowerment, civil rights and economic stimulus legislation, and an essential part of any plan to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the most significant worker empowerment legislation since the Great Depression and is now in the hands of the Senate (more information can be found here). As a Union member, make sure your voice is heard by signing the petition and contacting your Senator to support this bill. The bill provides others with the opportunity to enjoy the benefits that being part of a Union provides. For more information please visit the AFA-CWA latest news to sign the petition and contact your state’s Senator to encourage their support.

COVID-19 Resources at SFO

Need a vaccine appointment? Need a COVID-19 test? SFO has both options available for travelers and employees. Please visit FlySFO for more information.

TSA Sponsored Crew Member Self Defense Classes – Limited Availability

The TSA has reinstituted their Crew Member Self Defense classes on a limited basis. More information about the classes and a link for registration can be found here. Please note: although there are no sessions available for SFO for the rest of the year, there is one class scheduled in August and one in September for LAX, LAS, and SEA. A variety of other cities in the midwest and east coast are available for commuters residing in those locations.

Union Plus Services and Discounts for AFA-CWA Members

Your AFA-CWA membership includes discounts and services from a variety of categories offered by Union Plus. Use this link for more information on discounts and services for the following categories: Money, Home, Travel, Auto, Insurance, Health, and Education.

We’re Here to Help: Online Support Center

\The best way to contact us for support is by submitting an online support ticket. By selecting the type of concern you have, the best rep for your situation can assist you. The online support ticket system is for AFA use (not management) and is confidential, so please use a personal email address to open a request.

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

Council 35 News – July 2020

July 30, 2020 14:13

Service Survey: Participation Needed!

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

OAL Travel on Leave

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

Rumor Control: Avoiding IV

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

Staffing Leaves and Coordination

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

Stay Informed

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

As a reminder, Article II.C.1.b of the AFA Constitution & Bylaws require that AFA dues continue to be paid during any leave of absence less than 90 days. If you currently pay your dues through payroll deduction, dues payments will continue to be deducted as long as you continue to receive a paycheck with sufficient funds for all other payroll deductions plus your AFA dues. If you are no longer receiving a paycheck or your paycheck does not cover all of your payroll deductions, AFA dues will not be deducted and you will instead receive an invoice from AFA International Membership Services. Members can pay dues online or submit invoice payment via mail. Please contact membership services for specific account information.

Membership Dues While on Leave

EAP is Here to Help

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

How do I contact Council 35 Officers?

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

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

When contacting Council 35 officers please avoid the following methods:

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

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

Stay healthy and safe!

In solidarity,

Melissa, Aladrian, James and Brad

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

July Newsletter

July 18, 2018 13:30

Transition Training

Transition Training began last week. Despite recent updates to the Cornerstone Training program, we are still receiving reports of technical difficulties with both the app and the desktop version. If you experience trouble, go to https://support.afaalaska.org, and open a ticket. We would encourage you to start early, to avoid problems.

We are also aware it is taking longer than 4 hours to complete. Please make sure to include that in your trouble ticket above.

The most important thing with any computer or IMD Training, screen shot or take a picture of the completion page. Do not rely on the program to register you as completed. If it does not show you as completed, we need some sort of evidence to be able to manually process your completion.

When taking the test remember it is open book and you can take it from your IMD or from a computer. To make the test easier to complete have your Manual, Ghost Manual and Study Guide open on one device and the test open in a separate device so you don’t have to switch back and forth. In the event that you fail the test, you will receive an email advising you that you have 7 days after class ends to retake a paper version. You can take the paper version during lunch break at TT or schedule to take it at base.

You can find the Ghost Manual on the Training Tab – Transition Training Resources – “Ghost Manual”

The Ghost Manual is the combined manual we will be using starting next year.

Practice your door drills, take a deep breath and go slow. The training is very hands on, try not to stress to much.

CBT Training

The most recent CBT training was due May 11, 2018. There were 13 Flight Attendants issued discipline because of failure to complete the training. Several of these disciplines have been rescinded after AFA was able to determine why the training had not been completed. If you were issued discipline and have not responded to our attempts to reach you, or you have email or screen shots showing your technical difficulties with the program please contact San@afaalaska.org. There is a possibility of getting the discipline reversed.

Required Items

In a recent bulletin, Inflight Performance announced that forgotten required items will result in steps of discipline. We are aware of several recent instances of expired badges, as well as reporting without an IMD. Make certain that you have all required items before reporting to your flight.

EAP Committee

We recently posted openings for EAP representatives. We were overwhelmed by the number of Flight Attendants who expressed interest. We reviewed the applications and chose 3 flight attendants to join our EAP Committee. We will be looking again at the beginning of the year and will be contacting those who were not selected to gauge interest and open it to anyone interested to apply again including hopefully Flight Attendants on the Airbus side who will have been able to transfer into SAN.

Supplemental Insurance

Supplemental Insurance Enrollment, through National Group Protection, will take place during the week of 8/14-16, in SAN. The premiums for these coverages can be payroll deducted. If SAN isn’t a convenient location, drop into any base during scheduled visits.

· Seattle July 23^rd—27^th

· Anchorage July 30^th–August 1^st

· Los Angeles August 6^th—8^th

· San Diego August 14^th—16^th

· Portland August 20^th—22^nd

Accident Insurance

Critical Illness Coverage

Whole Life Insurance

There are some benefit enhancements/upgrades this year, so please take the time to sit down with a benefit counselor and review your options. This is also an excellent time to make sure you have filed for your annual health screening benefits, which are part of the accident and critical illness benefit plans.

· Supplemental – these plans supplement any existing coverage

· Voluntary – members choose to participate

· Limited Underwriting – no medical or physical exams required

· Family Coverage – available with all of the plans

· Portable – members can continue coverage if they leave the company

· Payroll Deduction – premiums are paid through payroll deduction

If you have any questions regarding the upcoming enrollment, please contact National Group Protection (NGP) at 800-344-9016.

Workers Comp Using Your Own Doctor

Non California Residents

Forms can be obtained from Base Management or from your Officers

In the event you sustain an injury or illness related to your employment, you may be treated for such injury or illness by your personal medical doctor (M.D.), doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) or medical group if:

• on the date of your work injury you have health care coverage for injuries or illnesses that are not work related;

• the doctor is your regular physician, who shall be either a physician who has limited his or her practice of medicine to general practice or who is a board-certified or board-eligible internist, pediatrician, obstetrician-gynecologist, or family practitioner, and has previously directed your medical treatment, and retains your medical records;

• your “personal physician” may be a medical group if it is a single corporation or partnership composed of licensed Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy, which operates an integrated multispecialty medical group providing comprehensive medical services predominantly for nonoccupational illnesses and injuries;

• prior to the injury your doctor agrees to treat you for work injuries or illnesses;

• prior to the injury you provided your employer the following in writing: (1) notice that you want your personal doctor to treat you for a work-related injury or illness, and (2) your personal doctor’s name and business address.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2024

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2024

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2024

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2024

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2024

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Committees

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Want To Stay In The Loop?

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