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    You are here: Home / Archives for management

    March Newsletter

    March 24, 2017 09:00 By Brice McGee (SAN LEC President)

    ​


    AFA Council 15 San Diego Facebook Page


    Since the base opened we have been using the SANFA Facebook page. This page is used both for trip trading posts as well as AFA posts. Because it is easy for things to get lost with so many postings, your AFA Officers started a new “Official” Facebook page called AFA Council 15 San Diego click on the link and Like our page. There you can find all the latest news from AFA without having to search through numerous trip trading posts.


    Text Notifications from AFA


    To reach more of our base (including those who are not on social media or don’t check their email often) we are excited to announce that your LEC Officers started a new way of communicating with our members in San Diego through text message alerts. This program is completely optional, however, we feel that it’s a great tool to get information out to everyone quickly. We will not overwhelm you with texts. We do realize the possibility of text costs, therefore justifying the option. The information will be available as always on the AFAalaska.org website, emails, and on our Facebook page.

    The enrollment process is simple. All you need to do is send a text message from your personal phone.

    Open your text messaging application. In the send to field enter 81010 and then enter @AFALEC15 in the body of the text and press send.

    You will then receive a reply asking you to enter your full name. Once you send your name, your officers will receive notification and then you are all set to receive texts.

    Please ignore the 3rd question where it asks if you are student or teacher we are borrowing this technology from school districts as to save costs from designing a system or paying a company to send mass texts and you do not need to download the app.

    We hope you like our new service. And as always, we welcome your feedback/questions. Please help us spread the word and get your fellow crew signed up.

    ​


    Keeping Track of Trends


    Data and Flight Attendant Reports

    Your AFA representatives have recently started using a new program to track issues reported by our members. Our goal is to track and trend as many issues as possible.   The key to this program’s success will be hearing from YOU!   We need to hear from you every time you have an issue. With all five bases tracking and compiling information we will be able to present stronger cases to management.

    When you report an issue, please include your personal email address, phone number and Peoplesoft number. Include as many details as possible, Trip Number, Flight Number, screenshots of phone call time stamps/trips… etc.

    Send your issue to the appropriate Committee Team.

    Scheduling Issues Line Holders         San.Scheduling@afaalaska.org

    Reserve Issues                                     sanfa.reserve@gmail.com

    Officers                                               San@afaalaska.org

    ​


    Professional Standards


    Conflicts and/or issues with Coworkers

    In San Diego we are lucky to have a great team of Supervisors and Management staff. Please keep in mind that many personal conflicts should be taken to your Professional Standards team and not taken immediately to management.  Often AFA EAP/ Professional Standards can resolve the problems or issues without Management becoming involved. Once Management is made aware of the situation, an investigation could commence, both parties may be brought in and interviewed and any potential witness(es). The outcome could lead to discipline and or possibly even termination.

    Jean Sharrock               jeans4112@yahoo.com

    Ava McWilliams          avaeap@yahoo.com

    Lisa Rhodes                lisa.rhodes.alaska@gmail.com

    Shari Clark                  ownyourlife4ever@yahoo.com

    Loretta Fogle             lorettafogle@gmail.com

     

    ​


    Contacted by Management?


    Know Your Rights

    If you receive a call from any Inflight Supervisor, it is best to first clarify if the conversation could lead to disciplinary action. If the answer is “Yes,” at this point you can request that the union be involved in any further conversations. However, even if the supervisor states that the conversation won’t lead to any discipline, if at any time you feel the questions to be leading or uncomfortable you can once again end the conversation by saying you will only continue with a union rep present.

    Having a union rep there is insurance. It is an advocate and a second set of ears to ensure that your point is understood clearly by the company and not misinterpreted.

    ​


    $$        Transportation is the Company’s responsibility       $$


    ​

    Over the last few months we have seen a steady increase in crew schedulers pawning their responsibilities off on Flight Attendants. There has been a significant spike in the number of reports from Flight Attendants that have been told to find their own transportation.

    Contractually, it is the Company’s responsibility to provide transportation to and from layover hotels and airports. That includes coordinating and paying for it. You are not required to pay upfront and then wait for reimbursement.

    If you are ever asked to pay for a hotel room or transportation or a Visa required to enter a foreign country (yes, that did just happen!) by Crew Scheduling- Contact your AFA Reps immediately! SAN@afaalaska.org

    ​


    Merger Update


    National Mediation Board Makes Single Carrier Determination

    The National Mediation Board (NMB) responded to AFA’s application to have the board investigate whether Alaska Airlines and Virgin America are operating as a single transportation system for the craft or class of Flight Attendant. The NMB ruled that the carriers are indeed a single transportation system.

    The NMB will now address Flight Attendant representation at each carrier, and AFA is expecting to be declared the representing union at both carriers shortly after a 30-day waiting period.

    ​


    Odds and Ends


    When using the Matrix App, you must “dial in” each of the dates of the trip you will be dropping. So if your trip runs the 12, 13, 14th, you must dial the first month/day and enter, then the second month/day and enter and then the third month/day and hit enter. Please remember that you must also call scheduling!

    There have been reports of phone numbers and addresses changing in Peoplesoft with the JCA switchover. It is a good idea to go in and make sure your contact information is correct. Also it is wise to check your pay, point accrual, banked points, etc. as there have been some reports of “inaccuracies” after the JCA switchover.

    ​

    In Solidarity,

    Filed Under: Council 15 SAN Tagged With: facebook, JCA, management, march, merger, Newsletter, professional standards, text, transportation, trends

    End of Year Meetings with AFA and Management

    December 26, 2016 19:00 By Brice McGee (SAN LEC President)

    Your AFA Officers invite you to join us at Sammy’s Woodfire Pizza, Liberty Station, 2401 Truxton Road tomorrow December 27th from 11:00 to 2:00 to enjoy some pizza, de-stress, decompress and visit with fellow Flight Attendants and to ask any questions or concerns you may have for the end of 2016 and for the upcoming year.

    Immediately following the AFA meeting, your 3 officers will be meeting with Shari, Sabrina, and Melissa to touch base with them and discuss operational issues.

    If you have any questions you would like addressed either during the AFA portion or the management meeting please send them to Melanie Buker, melanie.buker@gmail.com

    In Solidarity,

    Brice, Melanie, & Stephen

    Filed Under: Council 15 SAN Tagged With: management, meeting, year end

    Interactions with Management and Sick Leave Policy

    December 1, 2016 14:20 By Brice McGee (SAN LEC President)

    With 2016 coming to a rapid close, your Officers extend hearty thanks for all your hard work this year.  Your efforts to make SAN shine as a stellar base have made us the envy of the company.  Keep up the good work!

    Your Officers meet regularly with Base Management and this week we focused on sick leave, as usage tends to increase this time of year. Familiarize yourself with our sick leave policy, Section 16 in the CBA, and the resources available to you. Your very knowledgeable Benefits Chair is Sonia Quackenbush.  She is your point person for all inquiries regarding sick leave and medical benefits and medical leaves.

    Per §32.G.4, if you have 4 or fewer accumulated points and do not have any chargeable occurrences in November and December, your points will be removed and you will start 2017 with 0 points.  This is a great 4th quarter opportunity!

    A great tip is to keep all receipts related to your sick call.  This may include prescriptions, OTC medications or office visit copay and will serve as proof should you ever be questioned about your sick leave usage. You do not have to divulge the nature of your illness, but having that proof is in your best interest.

    This is a great segue to briefly discuss the handling of calls from Management. Our CBA states that they should not be calling you in before the start of a trip due to potential stress induced by the meeting. Your Officers feel that any meeting should take place on your day off with 4tfp compensation (§19.A.1.a). If for scheduling reasons, you do agree to meet at the end of a sequence, make sure you do not exceed the 10:30 duty day and you may not receive the 4tfp compensation that you would have received had you agreed to meet on a day off.  If they want to meet with you on day you are scheduled to fly, request that your trip be dropped and pay protected in lieu of the 4tfp.

    Should you receive a call from any Inflight Supervisor, you are required to respond within a reasonable amount of time. It is advised to immediately clarify if the conversation could lead to a Record of Discussion (ROD) or Disciplinary Action. If the answer is in the affirmative, you can request a Union Representative to be involved in any further conversations and end the call.  If the Supervisor indicates that the conversation will not lead to an ROD or discipline, you may opt to continue the conversation over the phone or in person.  However, if at any time, you feel the questions to be leading or make you feel uncomfortable, you may request union representation and end the conversation.

    Your Union Rep will act as your advocate and a second set of ears to ascertain that your point is received the way it was intended and not misconstrued and possibly used against you.  Should the company contact you, send us a text or email informing us of the request, since we are not always aware that you were contacted. You can reach your 3 Officers using  SAN@afaalaska.org

    Social Media –  please be aware that the company can access (and has) all social media outlets during investigations, this includes Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. etc. Please be aware and careful of what you post for ALL to see. Privacy settings and secret groups do not ensure 100% privacy

    In closing your leadership team in San Diego hopes all of you have a wonderful holiday season.

     

    In Solidarity,

    Your LEC Officers

    Filed Under: Council 15 SAN Tagged With: management, sick leave, social media

    Management Rejects AFA Recommendation for IAD Hotel

    February 27, 2015 20:00 By Brian Palmer (MEC Vice President)

    Many of us are excited to soon resume service to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), but for the crew who are laying over there, their stay in suburban Virginia may not be so exciting. Despite an official recommendation by the AFA Hotel Committee for another property, management has selected an inferior hotel for crew accommodations.

    How Hotel Selection Works

    When a layover hotel in a new city needs to be selected or a hotel contract is up for renewal in an existing city, members of management and the AFA Hotel Committee visit the prospective hotels. Each hotel is evaluated for safety, cleanliness, quality, and to ensure it will meet the needs of our Flight Attendants. The Hotel Committee issues their official recommendation to management, who makes the final decision.

    Management Isn’t Listening

    The message that has been sent to our Flight Attendants is clear: sorry, you’re just not worth it.

    Despite an official recommendation from the Hotel Committee and the urging of the MEC, management has decided to ignore the AFA recommendation for the IAD layover hotel. Under the new contract, when management selects a hotel that the Hotel Committee disagrees with, the MEC can request a written explanation from the division leader detailing the reason why the hotel was chosen (§34.A.1.c)

    In an email from the MEC, Vice President of Inflight Services Andy Schneider was asked to provide her detailed explanation in accordance with the contractual language. The response, provided by Director of Crew Strategy & Administration Chad Koehnke, cited cost savings, payment discounts, and contractual terms that favored the company as the reasons for choosing the selected hotel over the preferred hotel recommended by AFA. The message that has been sent to our Flight Attendants is clear: sorry, you’re just not worth it.

    Have Hotel Problems? Write It Up!

    If you happen to be flying an IAD trip and have feedback to provide about the new layover hotel (or any layover hotel in any city), be sure to share it by writing a feedback report in CrewCare.   Reports submitted through CrewCare are automatically routed to the ALPA and AFA Hotel Committees as well as management—they will hear what you have to say. You can access CrewCare by following the link on the main page of the Flight Attendant website or by visiting http://www.alaskaaircrew.com.

    In Solidarity,

    Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

    Note: To protect crewmember privacy, hotel names are not mentioned in this post as this article is posted on the AFA Alaska website. Information about crew hotels is available in the FA Crew Hotel Info conference in FirstClass.

    MEC 5B Logo

    Filed Under: Hotel Committee, Latest News Tagged With: 2015, February, Hotel, IAD, management

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