If it is not officially reported, it appears to never have happened. And if it appears to never have happened, correcting the issue may be at stake.
A Local Council Worksheet is an important part of the contractual grievance process. It is used to report disputes involving non-disciplinary actions, Contract matters, and company policies.
Try to Resolve the Issue First
Before filing a Worksheet, Flight Attendants should first attempt to resolve the issue directly.
For example:
- Contact crew scheduling about a scheduling or legal-rest issue.
- Contact your supervisor about a possible Work History error.
- Attempt to resolve a misunderstanding or possible misapplication of the Contract or company policy.
If the issue cannot be resolved, a Local Council Worksheet should be filed.
Do Not Miss the Deadline
Under Section 23.E.1., a Worksheet must be filed with the Union within 60 days of reasonably having knowledge of the dispute.
The Worksheet begins the Local Council Dispute Resolution Process.
Include Documentation
Provide as much supporting documentation as possible, including:
- Screenshots
- Crew scheduling call logs
- Pay register screenshots
- Emails or written communications
- Photographs
- Any other records supporting what occurred
Good documentation helps your Local Grievance Representatives evaluate the dispute.
What Happens After You File?
The Union reviews and evaluates each Worksheet.
If the Union determines that the Worksheet presents a potentially valid claim, a Notice of Dispute (NOD) will be filed with designated company representatives within 30 calendar days of receipt of the Worksheet.
The Union and company then attempt to resolve the dispute through the contractual dispute-resolution process.
If the Notice of Dispute (NOD), aka Grievance, cannot be resolved, it may proceed to the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) for further review.
The Bottom Line
Report Contractual problems when they happen.
Individual Worksheets help address your specific dispute, but they also allow AFA to identify repeated or systemwide problems. Without reporting and documentation, it becomes much more difficult to establish that an issue is occurring.
Local Council Worksheet:
https://www.unitedafa.org/reports
Questions?
AFA Council 21 Main Office: (703) 260-0051
CBA Reference:
Section 23.E. – Local Council Dispute Resolution Process
