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Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

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AFA Update – January 22, 2021

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In This Edition

  • Letters of Agreement and Memorandums of Understanding
  • REMINDER: Reserve Availability & Commuting
  • College Scholarship Opportunities

Letters of Agreement and Memorandums of Understanding

Grievance Committee

Our Master Executive Council (MEC) occasionally enters into letters of agreement (LOAs) with management to address situations that were not anticipated or did not exist during contract negotiations.  The MEC also enters into memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with management in order to clarify existing contractual language.  Both LOAs and MOUs are binding agreements and are fully enforceable documents.

LOAs and MOUs are accessible on the current contract page of the AFA Alaska website and can also be accessed on the IMD through the Goodreader app (ASFA Supplemental > Collective Bargaining Agreement).

Recent LOAs and MOUs

Fatigue Risk Management Plan (FRMP) – outlines how the company’s FRMP will be structured, including how reports will be coded and handled as well as disciplinary protections.  Also guarantees AFA representation on the Fatigue Review Board (FRB).

Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) – renews the ASAP program (FAA requires that the ASAP MOU be renewed every two years).

COVID-19 Agreements Extension – Through March 2021 – extends the Temporary Waiver of Discipline Delivery Confirmation MOU (04/14/2020) and Commuter Policy and Utilizing Other Airline (OAL) Carriers During COVID-19 Schedule Disruptions LOA (04/07/2020).  Both will remain in effect through March 31, 2021. 

Boeing 737 MAX 9 Proving Activities – outlines Flight Attendant involvement in FAA-required proving activities for the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft and ensures AFA participation in the process.

Questions?

If you have questions about LOAs or MOUs, please contact your LEC President or Local Grievance Committee.

REMINDER: Reserve Availability & Commuting

Reserve Committee

There have recently been some instances where Reserve Flight Attendants were disciplined for not being physically present in their domicile during their entire availability period.  Contractually, reserve availability periods run from 00:00 to 14:00 for AM reserve, 10:00 to 23:59 for PM reserve, and 00:00 to 23:59 for ER reserve.  During these times, a Reserve Flight Attendant must be present in their domicile, contactable, and available to report for an assignment within two hours.

Even if a Reserve Flight Attendant has self-assigned or otherwise already been given an assignment, this does not relieve them of the requirement to be in their domicile during their entire reserve availability period.  There are certain circumstances when they may be removed from the assignment and given another assignment as indicated in the CBA.  Crew Scheduling has the right to utilize this contractual language and does so on a regular basis.

Example: Reserve Flight Attendant has a 4-day block of PM reserve days starting on the 20th of the month.  On the 19th, they self-assign a 4-day trip with a report time of 21:00 on the 20th.  The Reserve Flight Attendant is still required to be contactable starting at 10:00 on the 20th and be able to accept an assignment and report within two hours.  Even though the F/A has self-assigned a trip, Crew Scheduling retains the right to contact the F/A at or after 10:00, remove the self-assignment as indicated in the CBA, and give the F/A another legal assignment.

Release on Last Day of Reserve Block

Section 11.C.5 of the CBA provides Reserve Flight Attendants with the right to request release from the remainder of their reserve obligation on the last day of a reserve block after the last Company-operated flight that the Reserve would be legal to fly has departed the domicile.  In order to take advantage of this contractual provision, a Reserve Flight Attendant must call Crew Scheduling and request to be released from the remainder of their reserve availability period.  Once released by Crew Scheduling, the Reserve Flight Attendant is free from further duty and may commute home.  If a Reserve Flight Attendant does not request release, they are still considered on duty and are obligated to physically remain in domicile until the end of their reserve availability period.

Questions?

If you have questions about commuting while on reserve, please contact your Local Reserve Committee.

College Scholarship Opportunities

AFA International

As an AFA and CWA Member, you and/or certain eligible dependents have the opportunities for at least three different scholarships, and the ability to earn a degree with no out of pocket expense for tuition, fees, and e-books.  The time for applying is now!

Brought to you by our Union, these benefits of union membership have become very popular with members.  Please see the respective links for detailed information, and good luck in obtaining financial assistance.

AFA Scholarship Fund

The Association of Flight Attendants Scholarship Fund is intended to provide financial assistance to dependents of our active members who will be attending a college or university.  The deadline for applications is April 10.  Details are available on the AFA International website at http://www.afacwa.org/scholarships.

CWA Joe Beirne Scholarship

The Joe Beirne Scholarship is offered by CWA. The deadline for applications is April 30.   Details on this scholarship are on the CWA website at http://www.cwa-union.org/pages/beirne.

Union Plus Scholarship Program

Union Plus provides a suite of scholarships, educational discounts, and loans available for union members.  You can find information at https://www.unionplus.org/college-education-financing.  One additional “click” brings up the scholarship applications that may be submitted online by the deadline of January 31.

Union Plus Free College Benefit

In addition, there is a free college benefit available through Union Plus for active and retired Members and their families with the opportunity to earn an associate degree completely online – for FREE.  Details and an application are online at https://www.unionplusfreecollege.org.  This benefit can save you thousands of dollars.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact your LEC Officers

AFA Issue Reporting and Resolution

Last year, your AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) introduced the AFA Alaska online support center.  The system is designed for you to document and report scheduling and reserve concerns, situations where you might be facing discipline, potential contractual grievances, and any other issue where you might need AFA support.  The system also allows AFA representatives to better track issues that are occurring, identify trends, and address and resolve issues with management.

You can access the system using the following link:

Click here to access the AFA Alaska Online Support Center

Reporting New Issues

You can report a new issue in the system by opening a ticket, just follow these steps:

  1. Visit http://support.afaalaska.org/
  2. Click the blue “Open a New Ticket” button
  3. Fill in your personal information (including a non-company email address)
  4. Select the help topic that relates to the issue
  5. Fill in the issue-specific information and provide details

From this screen, you’ll also be able to attach pictures, PDF files, screenshots, and other information that will help your AFA representatives to have more information available about the issue.

Once you’ve opened a ticket, you’ll receive a confirmation email and with a ticket number.  Behind the scenes, your ticket will be assigned to an AFA representative who will assist you with the issue.

What Happens Next

The AFA representative assigned to your case will work with management to determine a resolution.  If management agrees, then the representative will contact you and advise you of the resolution.  If AFA and management do not agree, the AFA representative might escalate the issue.

What are SRB and ADR?

When the AFA representative assigned to your case and management are unable to come to a mutually acceptable resolution, the AFA representative might escalate the issue to Scheduling Review Board (SRB) if the issue is related to scheduling or Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for all other issues.

SRB and ADR meetings are typically held every other week. Issues can sometimes take a few months to resolve based on the work and discussion involved between management and AFA. If an issue gets resolved in SRB/ADR, the AFA representative assigned to your case will contact  you and advise you of the outcome.

Grievances

If there is no resolution in SRB or ADR and there is a contractual violation, AFA will file a grievance.  Contractual grievances must go through the grievance procedures as outlined in section 19 of the Flight Attendant Contract.  If the grievance is not resolved there, it may be escalated to the System Board of Adjustment, where the case would be heard before a neutral arbitrator.  Information about the System Board of Adjustment can be found in section 20 of the Flight Attendant Contract.

Checking on Open Issues 

With your ticket number, you can track the status of the ticket online, add additional information and attachments for your AFA representative to have available.  To check on your ticket:

  1. Visit http://support.afaalaska.org
  2. Click the green “Check Ticket Status” button
  3. Enter your email address and ticket number
  4. Click the “View Ticket” button

As always, the more information and evidence you attach to the ticket (i.e., screenshots, emails, etc.), the better your AFA representatives can assist you.

Questions?

If you have questions about reporting issues to AFA or how issues get resolved, please contact your Local Grievance 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 Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams

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