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Open Time TA is Canceled

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The Master Executive Council (MEC) is canceling the Open Time Tentative Agreement 2019. Voting will be discontinued as soon as AFA Membership Services at the International Office has an opportunity to pull down the ballot.

Why?

AFA representatives and management have been collaborating on the development of “user stories” in preparation for the programming of new trading rules into Crew Access if the TA were to pass. This ‘pre-work’ was being done in order to get a head start on implementation. User stories guide the programmers by describing the various trading scenarios and expected behavior of the system.

During a review of proposed user stories, a dispute arose regarding which trips count towards the Daily Count and therefore the closing of Open Time. The parties were very close to settling the dispute by agreeing to AFA’s position. However, management was also requiring that Jeppesen take another look at the implementation timeline before management would agree to resolve the dispute.

The implementation timeline reassessment is estimated to take several weeks, which would definitely not be completed until well after the ballot closing date of May 31. Although the MEC could choose to extend the balloting period, Department of Labor rules do not allow a vote to be changed once the ballot is cast. In light of the fact that two major issues are technically unresolved while the ballot is live (which trips count towards the closing of days and the implementation timeline), the MEC strongly believes it is in the best interest of the Membership to pull the TA and voted unanimously to do so.

What’s next?

The MEC, the Negotiating Committee and management will meet to discuss next steps as soon as possible. Stay tuned for further developments.

In Solidarity

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

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Attorney/Negotiator Kimberley Chaput

Open Time TA 2019: Trading on a Closed Day

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Q: I heard that in the proposed Open Time system you are locked out of all Open Time trading on a closed day. Is that true?

A: No.

In the proposed Open Time system, all Open Time trades are allowed on a closed day(s) (including the days automatically closed four days prior) except for:

  • Direct (straight) drop(s) (from a FA to Open Time) on the closed day(s), and
  • Trading out of the closed day(s).

Again, all other types of Open Time trades are allowed as long as you do not drop or trade more than 40 net TFP into Open Time (the “Net 40”) in that bid month. Day-for-day (or greater) trades are allowed on closed days either on a trip-for-trip basis or by a single transaction multiple trade. This is very similar to the trading rules in place under the previous “Back to Book” trading system (prior to late 2015).

Example: Open Time is automatically closed today (the 10th) and for the next four days (11th, 12th, 13th, 14th). You have a 4-day starting tomorrow (11-14). You may exchange your 4-day for any of the following trips in Open Time as long as you have not dropped or traded more than 40 net TFP into Open Time:

  • 2-day today (10-11) + 3-day 12-14 [day-for-day and greater via a single transaction multiple trade]
  • Different 4-day 11-14 [day-for-day]
  • Turn tomorrow on the 11th + all-nighter turn 12-13 (single duty period spanning two calendar days) + another turn on the 14th [day-for-day via a single transaction multiple trade]
  • Any combination of trips from Open Time as long the trips operate on (i.e. cover or touch) the 11th through the 14th.

Open Time Tentative Agreement Presentation

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Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Time: 9 AM ~ 11 AM PT (morning session) and 1 PM ~ 3 PM PT (afternoon session)

Location: Four Points by Sheraton Seattle Airport South, 22406 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines, WA 98198

Parking: Free parking is available at the Four Points hotel in the parking deck on the back side of the hotel and in the adjacent lot. 

Transportation: If you are attending from out-of-town, please call the hotel directly at (253) 642-0100 to arrange for free hotel shuttle service once you arrive at the airport.

Open Time TA broadcast

We will broadcast the presentation sessions live on the AFA Alaska YouTube Channel.

Link to morning session: https://youtu.be./AxHJ76cZidQ
Link to afternoon session: https://youtu.be/tYk34EZzvdk

TA information is found on the Open​ Time ​TA 2019 info page. You can ask questions using Slido during the presentation (Slido instructions). Please make sure to enter your first and last name followed by your base (e.g. Jane Doe SEA). Questions will only be answered if you follow this format. Any questions asked prior to the start of the event will be deleted. You have the ability to review other questions asked, and upvote anything you would like to see answered. We will endeavor to answer as many questions as possible during the presentation. We will recap and answer more questions on the blog.

Open Time TA video

AFA also plans to release a recorded compilation video of the two sessions so that all Flight Attendants will have access to the OpenTime TA presentation no matter where you are and whenever you have free time.​

Voting

Voting opens on Monday, May 6 at 9 AM PT and closes on Friday, May 31 at 9 AM PT. Once your ballot is cast, you may not change your vote. You must be an active member in good standing* at AFA Alaska on the day of the ballot count in order for your vote to be tallied. Please vote!

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Attorney Kimberley Chaput

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

* Active member in good standing: AFA-CWA member, actively flying or continuing to pay dues each month while on a leave of absence, and dues no more than 30 days in arrears.) For additional information or assistance regarding dues or balloting, contact AFA-CWA Membership Services at 800-424-2401, Monday through Friday (closed major holidays) from 9 AM to 5 PM ET.

Open Time Negotiations Update – Tentative Agreement

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A (not so) brief history of Open Time

Due to Flight Attendant dissatisfaction with Open Time that existed at the time, AFA and management negotiated a new Open Time trading system in the 2014-2019 Collective Bargaining Agreement. Because the parties were unsure how well the new system would work for everyone, we agreed to a trial period, in which we could try out the system before it became permanent. 

AFA heard loud and clear after several months of surveying that a majority of Flight Attendants were dissatisfied with the new system, so the Master Executive Council (MEC) cancelled the trial in July 2016. Under the terms of the contract, that meant AFA and management would start negotiating a new Open Time system, which began in November 2016. Meanwhile, management was supposed to have the trip trading system roll back to the prior Open Time trading rules (known as “Back to Book”) while the parties negotiated another system.

Flash forward to the present

If only it were that easy. The path to a new Open Time system has been challenged at nearly every turn: numerous programming delays, transition to a brand-new trip trading system, returning to a second round of negotiations with a mandate to achieve implementation guarantees, and an intervening merger. After nearly two and a half years, AFA and management have finally reached an Open Time tentative agreement (TA) that has been approved by the MEC for membership ratification.

Before starting negotiations in late 2016, AFA surveyed Flight Attendant to determine which features a new Open Time system must have and which would be unacceptable. The Negotiating Committee believes we have achieved an Open Time system that is worthy of your consideration. 

TA details

Click here for the Open Time TA 2019 info page >

This is a one-stop shop for all the resources you will need:

  • Important dates
  • Full text language of the Open Time TA 2019
  • Supplemental documents
  • Links to historical Open Time negotiations updates
  • Details about the Open Time TA presentation
  • The Negotiating Committee’s contact info
  • Voting info

Open Time TA live presentation

Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Time: 9 AM ~ 11 AM PT (morning session) and 1 PM ~ 3 PM PT (afternoon session)

Location: Four Points by Sheraton Seattle Airport South, 22406 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines, WA 98198

Parking: Free parking is available at the Four Points hotel in the parking deck on the back side of the hotel and in the adjacent lot.

Transportation: If you are attending from out-of-town, please call the hotel directly at (253) 642-0100 to arrange for free hotel shuttle service once you arrive at the airport.

Open Time TA presentation broadcast and compilation video

Although there have been local “save the date” communications regarding a presentation on April 30th, AFA understands this is the first confirmed notice. No worries if you cannot make it because we will also broadcast the presentation sessions live on the AFA Alaska YouTube Channel, which may be accessed via the Open Time TA 2019 info page. AFA also plans to release a recorded compilation video of the two sessions so that all Flight Attendants will have access to the Open Time TA presentation no matter where you are and whenever you have free time.

Voting

Voting opens on Monday, May 6 at 9 AM PT and closes on Friday, May 31 at 9 AM PT. Once your ballot is cast, you may not change your vote. You must be an active member in good standing* at AFA Alaska on the day of the ballot count in order for your vote to be tallied. Please vote!

In Solidarity, 

Your Negotiating Committee – MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Attorney Kimberley Chaput

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

* Active member in good standing: AFA-CWA member, actively flying or continuing to pay dues each month while on a leave of absence, and dues no more than 30 days in arrears.) For additional information or assistance regarding dues or balloting, contact AFA-CWA Membership Services at 800-424-2401, Monday through Friday (closed major holidays) from 9 AM to 5 PM ET.

[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

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The Master Executive Council (MEC) is canceling the Open Time Tentative Agreement 2019. Voting will be discontinued as soon as AFA Membership Services at the International Office has an opportunity to pull down the ballot. Why? AFA representatives and management have been collaborating on the development of “user stories” in preparation for the programming of […]

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