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More About ASAP

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As previously mentioned in a communication from the AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC), pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants will soon be participating in the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP).  ASAP is an FAA program that allows Flight Attendants to self-disclose unintentional violations of CFRs or company safety policy without fear of disciplinary action from management or enforcement action from the FAA.  The intent of the program is to improve procedure, processes, and training through increased reporting of safety-related incidents that might otherwise go unreported.

Management will soon be putting out more information about ASAP, including a required computer based training (CBT) and information about the start date of the program for pre-merger VX Flight Attendants

Your AFA ASAP Representative

As part of the program, all ASAP reports received are de-identified (names and identifying information removed) and then reviewed by an Event Review Committee (ERC) made up of one representative each from AFA, the Company, and the FAA. Brad Young has been appointed as the AFA ASAP ERC Representative for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants.

About Brad

Brad has been a San Francisco-based Flight Attendant with Virgin America for 8 years.

In 2012 and again in July of 2013, Brad assisted with a handful of fellow Flight Attendants in approaching, educating, signing and achieving enough cards for a successful vote to help bring representation to the Virgin America Flight Attendants.

“The Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) is a critical component in the success of the Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants and there is no better time to be involved in this unique and successful program to involve the Virgin America Flight Attendants.   With the assistance of AFA, my role in the ASAP will take us all to the next level of airline safety and security out on the line for our workgroup,” says Brad.

Brad graduated from Sierra College with a degree in Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement and Psychology.  Prior to joining Virgin America, Brad worked for the State outside Sacramento, California.  Brad is currently studying several degree courses at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Aviation Security and Safety Management.

Brad currently resides in San Jose, California where he enjoys being outdoors, being an aviation history nerd, landscape photography, cooking and studying to get his Private Pilots License (PPL) for recreation.

Learn More About ASAP

In addition to the company’s CBT that will be released soon, you can find more information about the program on the ASAP page of the AFA Alaska website.  ASAP resources are also available on the FAA website.

Questions?

ASAP-related questions can be directed to pmVX ASAP ERC Representative Brad Young at bradley.young@afaalaska.org

In Solidarity,

Melissa, Jamie, and Brad

Seniority Merger Update – October 27, 2017

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The seniority merger process is well underway.  By now, you should have received your Seniority Verification Letter (SVL) at your home address.

If you did not receive it, you may request that a duplicate be sent to you by email.  To do so, send your request to the following email address: seniority@afacwa.org.  Your request must include your Name, Employee Number, Council/Base, and your Email Address.

To help explain where we are in the seniority merger process, we have included a timeline of events.  Note that the next date is November 24, the due date to notify us of any inaccuracies.  That is followed in January 2018, when we will work on the credit for training days and how to resolve same-day seniority dates.

Timeline of Events

Click to enlarge

May 22, 2017 AFA named as union for VX.  Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) Reps named for both AS & VX
July 19, 2017 SMIC kickoff training at AFA HQ in DC. Request sent to AS HQ for necessary employment data for AS & VX FAs
September 29, 2017 AS HQ provided AS & VX seniority lists that included seniority dates and dates of birth
October 10, 2017 Seniority Verification Letter (SVL) mailed to all FAs home address to confirm pre-merger seniority bidding date and birthdate
November 24, 2017 Deadline to respond to SVL, if inaccuracies exist.
January 2018 SMIC works to resolve any issues with pre-merger seniority bidding date and/or birthdate
January 2018 SMIC determines adjustments for initial training days and method for integrating same day seniority dates
January 2018 SMIC merges AS & VX seniority bidding list and publishes methodology used to merge of the joint list
Future Single Collective Bargaining Agreement ratified and final seniority bidding list published

As we move through the process, we will provide additional updates.

In Solidarity,

Your Seniority Merger Integration Committee – Sandra Morrow (AS), Rolando Teran (VX), Lynne Voigtsberger (VX) and Marie Maxwell (AS)

[VX] Hurricane Irma

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This message is for pre-merger Virgin America Flight Attendants

Irregular operations due to Irma

In anticipation of Hurricane Irma, AFA has been in contact with the Virgin America leadership team (“management”) regarding irregular operations due to Irma. Virgin America (VX) management is actively monitoring the latest forecast models and has made a commitment to continue evaluating the storm’s path and to evacuate Flight Attendants as warranted. Reschedules and cancellations are very likely to occur in order to ensure crew and guest safety. VX management is aware that many Flight Attendants live in the areas potentially affected by Irma and will make the appropriate resources available to them. Look for additional information from management on Chatter as the situation develops.

Irma Preparedness

AFA International has developed a Hurricane Irma preparedness page for those potentially affected by the storm.

Read more >

Hurricane Harvey resources for AFA members

The AFA International Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Department has developed an informational page with details on giving help, getting help and recovery resources related to Hurricane Harvey.

Read more >

AFA Disaster Relief Fund

The AFA Disaster Relief Fund provides a means for AFA members to assist other members and retirees who have suffered significant damage and/or relocation as a result of a disaster. Since it began in the fall of 2001, the AFA Disaster Relief Fund has provided support in the aftermath of many large-scale disasters including the September 11th terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and other natural and/or man-made disasters.

AFA encourages members to donate now. Be assured 100% of your contribution will go directly to impacted Flight Attendants in the form of cash assistance.

Read more >

If you have any concerns, questions or need assistance, contact your Council 35 VX Officers Melissa or Jamie or AFA International EAP.

In Solidarity,

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

[VX] Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy

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Commuter Policy Survey Results

AFA received 128 complete responses to the survey:

57% FOR

29% AGAINST

14% UNDECIDED

As a result, the Master Executive Council (MEC) has agreed to the implementation of the Virgin America Flight Attendant Commuter Policy, starting October 1, 2017, for a duration of 4 months. AFA will send another survey out to VX F/As in November to gather feedback about whether the Commuter Policy should continue or cease. If the trial is successful, the Commuter Policy will remain in effect until Virgin America Flight Attendants are covered under a merged agreement with Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.

AFA VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA FINAL DRAFT (August 2017) >

FAQs

What will happen to the Stuff Happens Pass (SHP) during the trial period?

The SHP will be available for use concurrently with the Commuter Policy during the trial period. Flight Attendants will also be able to accrue SHP during the trial period. If the Commuter Policy is officially adopted after the trial period, the SHP program will be phased out through a sunset provision.

Does this policy cover ground transportation issues?

Yes. This policy covers both ground and air commuting challenges.

How many times may I use this policy?

There are no limits to the number of occurrences an F/A can use the Commuter Policy to cover transportation challenges.

Are there any black-out dates?

Unlike the SHP program, there are no blackout days for using the Commuter Policy.

Can you clarify that this policy does not cover recurrent training?

The Commuter Policy does not cover recurrent training, company events, or other events related to maintaining currency. Please refer to VX Work Rules Chapter 2, Section B.10 for information regarding calling in sick, missing, or rescheduling recurrent training.

If a line-holder is released to rest after being assigned RRR on the calendar day of the original report will the line-holder be provided with a hotel?

No hotel will be provided. In-base hotels are only provided if an F/A is displaced re-assignable (DRA) from a pairing.

Will a Flight Attendant on LCC be able to use the Commuter Policy on a subsequent day of a pairing if they are not able to return to base a second time?

The Commuter Policy is intended for use once per assigned pairing. Section E.3.d of the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA stipulates that corrective action will occur if an FA calls out late due to a commuting issue for the replacement assignment.

If I’m a Flight Attendant using the Commuter Policy, could I be assigned reserve in another base? For example, if I’m a commuter out of JFK and I can’t get to SFO, would I ever be asked to sit in JFK to help the operation?

It is management’s right to send one or more reserves to an outstation to help cover the operation. However, in the case of JFK, management has indicated that they will no longer be sending F/As to sit reserve in that city once the base is closed.

If a pairing originates in another city will it be up to the Flight Attendant to get her-/himself there?

Management has agreed that the company will be responsible for getting the VX F/A to the origination point of the trip. As an example, if a VX F/A is stuck in LAS and the trip assigned originates in LAX, CSS would deadhead (DHD) the F/A from LAS to LAX.

Will Flight Attendant feedback be gathered in anticipation of the trial period closing?

Yes. AFA will send another survey out to VX F/As in November to gather feedback about whether the program should continue or cease.

Can you confirm that if the Commuter Policy is not extended through January 2018, that the SHP program will remain in effect without a sunset?

The VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA stipulates that if the Commuter Policy is cancelled, the SHP program will remain in effect

Can you confirm that if the Commuter Policy is extended past January 2018, it cannot be terminated until both VX and AS F/A’s are covered under a merged agreement?

If the Commuter Policy is extended past January 2018, the VX F/A Commuter Policy LOA will remain in effect until we have a merged agreement.

* * *

Contact your Council 35 Officers Melissa or Jamie (email: vx@afaalaska.org) if you have any questions or concerns.

In Solidarity,

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

AFA Council 35 (Pre-Merger VX JFK/LAX/SFO) Election Results

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The following AFA Flight Attendants were elected to Local Council officer positions:

Local Council President: Melissa Osborne
Local Council Secretary: Jamie Cogen

View the certified election results here

These officers will serve a term of office starting immediately and concluding on June 30, 2019.  Should a joint collective bargaining agreement be ratified before that date, the election process to form a full Local Executive Council (LEC) would be triggered with 30 days of ratification (AFA Constitution & Bylaws Article III.A.2.d).

The Master Executive Council (MEC) congratulates the newly elected officers and we sincerely thank all those who stepped forward to run in the election.  The MEC would also like to offer a special thanks to outgoing Local Council Secretary James Ikehara for stepping up and helping to provide immediate representation upon the formation of Council 35.

In Solidarity,

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

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