This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants
April 2026 Committee Report
Aloha Council 47 Members
Below is our monthly newsletter highlighting updates from your committees along with important reminders for the month. Mahalo to all of our committee members and chairs for the continued work you do on behalf of the membership.
📣Call for Local Volunteers📣
As a reminder, Council 47 is currently looking for chairs and committee members as we expand our representation across both LAX and SEA. Mahalo to those who have already submitted a Willingness to Serve.
Open Positions:
- Grievance Committee (SEA focus)
- EAP Co-Chair (SEA focus)
- EAP Committee (SEA focus)
- Hotel Committee
- Reserve Chair
- General Engagement **Not sure where you fit? Select General Engagement and we’ll help connect you where support is most needed.
Interested members should submit a Willingness to Serve form. On the form you will have the opportunity to schedule an optional interview with the Council 47 Officers.
Term: Through December 31, 2028
Application Timeline:
- Now–May 1: Applications open
- May 4–8: Optional interviews
- May 10: Selections announced
Review position details before applying, and reach out to your Officers with any questions.
Mahalo,
Josh, Paul and Beth
Council 47 Officers LAX/SEA
47@afahawaiian.org
EAP Committee
EAP Chair: Milo.Penarubia@afahawaiian.org
Critical Incident Response Program
The EAP Committee would like to share that Milo Penarubia, EAP Local Chair, will be presenting a Crisis Prevention course as part of CIRP training on May 19. This training is an important step in strengthening our ability to support one another during critical incidents.
CIRP provides support after difficult or traumatic events on the job, such as medical emergencies, onboard incidents, or other situations that can have a lasting impact. Specially trained Flight Attendants serve as peer responders, offering a space to talk through the experience, process what happened, and connect you with additional resources if needed.
EAP Representation in LAX and SEA
As many of our Flight Attendants transition to the Seattle base, we want to remind you that EAP support remains available to you regardless of domicile. Our EAP Reps will continue to be a resource for all Flight Attendants, and we encourage you to reach out whenever support is needed. Please click this link to see your EAP’s contact information or email Milo directly.
Grievance Committee
Grievance Chair: Melissa.Teshima@afahawaiian.org
Changing RSA Requests (Prior to Open Time Freeze)
- Section 8.J. describes Reserve Self-Assignment (RSA) Bidding for Next Day Departure
- “Open trips will be frozen at 1330 LDT (local domicile time)…”
- If you make any changes and/or delete requests prior to 1330 LDT the day prior to a Reserve day, it is highly recommended to contact Crew Scheduling to confirm your updated request changes/deletions have been received on their end.
Assignment of Remaining Open Time
- Section 8.N. describes the Assignment of All Remaining Uncovered Non-LQ Groupings prior to creating the standby list and prior to publishing the Daily Flight Schedule.
Published Schedule
- Section 3.T. describes when a schedule is considered published:
- “The schedule of a Reserve FA shall be considered published at the time the Daily Flight Schedule is printed… no later than 1600 HST of the day preceding the day in which the schedule is to be flown…”
Calling Out Sick Prior to a Reserve Day
- If calling out sick the day prior to a Reserve day of Availability, be sure to check your schedule and the Daily Flight Schedule after it has been published to confirm if you have been assigned a pairing or placed in a RAP/bucket.
- Depending on when you call out, this will determine how many sick leave hours are deducted from your bank.
Pay and Credit While on Sick Leave
- Section 19.E.2. describes Pay and Credit for Flight Attendants:
- When a Reserve Flight Attendant is printed on the Daily Flight Schedule and is on sick leave, they shall be paid and credited for what they would have normally earned.
- If not printed, they shall be paid and credited 4.25 hours per workday.
- Sick leave will be charged accordingly.
Inflight Service Committee
Service Chair: Gary.Manoi@afahawaiian.org
The Service Committee continues to participate in monthly service meetings with management, focusing on ongoing improvements to inflight procedures and service delivery, as well as addressing feedback we are hearing from the line.
Following April 22, both B2B and Status Recognition are now active. As these roll out, we encourage you to stay engaged and continue sharing your experiences, as your feedback helps guide ongoing discussions and improvements.
Air Safety, Health and Security
Safety Chair: Kahea.Alvarez@afahawaiian.org
The Safety Committee would like to share a few important reminders and updates as we continue to focus on safety and consistency on the line.
We want to reinforce awareness around fume events and the importance of clear, detailed communication. If you encounter any unusual or unpleasant odors coming from the air supply system, notify the pilots and be prepared to provide the “4 S’s”: Source, Smell, Site, and Symptoms. This includes identifying where it’s coming from, the type and intensity of the smell, where it is located in the cabin, and whether anyone is experiencing symptoms or requires medical attention. If the flight deck does not escalate the report, be sure to inform the agent so SOC can be notified.
For the month of April, the company’s safety focus has been on the proper completion of preflight Emergency Equipment (EE) checks. While many of us are familiar with these procedures, we have seen a trend of relying on memory rather than referencing the FAM/IFM. We encourage you to take the time to reference your materials to ensure no revisions have been missed. All Flight Attendants must complete and initial their EE checks prior to boarding. If the aircraft is left unattended at any time, those checks must be repeated upon return, with completion documented accordingly. Any discrepancies should be reported so they can be addressed prior to departure.
In our ongoing discussions with management, we have also raised operational concerns and areas for improvement. The use of 2L as the primary boarding door is currently under review, as the existing procedure has created inefficiencies and led to inconsistent application onboard. Additionally, we have advocated for more comprehensive fume event and CRM training across departments, with a focus on better understanding sources, symptoms, health risks, and standardized procedures.
As always, your awareness and reporting play a critical role in maintaining a safe operation. Please continue to speak up and document any concerns you encounter on the line.
Government Affairs
Government Affairs Chair: bruni.agosto-pinal@afahawaiian.org
Voting & Legislation Updates
As we head into election season, it’s important to stay informed and engaged on issues that directly impact our workgroup and our profession. Key primary dates are approaching quickly, so be sure you’re registered and prepared to vote.
- California Primary: June 2
Registration Deadline: May 18 - Washington Primary: August 4
Registration Deadline: July 27
The AFA-CWA Votes website is a great starting point for election resources, key issues, and what’s at stake for Flight Attendants this cycle. In addition, AFA and other transportation unions are continuing to advocate in Washington, including efforts to expand overtime tax deductions and support legislation like the ALERT Act, which focuses on aviation safety and fatigue.
If you’re looking to dig deeper, labor endorsements are available through the Communications Workers of America District 9 and the California Labor Federation, with updates from the Washington State Labor Council expected soon. You can also review the CWA Scorecard to see how elected officials have voted on key labor issues.
There are also opportunities to get involved. Phone banking and volunteer efforts are underway to support labor-friendly candidates, including Mary Peltola and Kaela Berg.
Recently, Flight Attendants, including our GA Chair, Bruni Agosto-Pinal, took action in Anchorage to oppose the SAVE Act, legislation that could have made it more difficult for many to register and vote. Advocacy like this continues to be a key part of protecting our rights.
Human Rights and Equity
Human Rights Chair: bruni.agosto-pinal@afahawaiian.org
May brings several important opportunities to recognize and celebrate the diversity of our communities while also raising awareness around key issues. Throughout the month, we recognize Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Haitian Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and Mobility Awareness Month.
Key dates this month include:
- May 5 National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls Day and Children’s Day (KR)
- May 10 Mother’s Day
- May 16 Veterans: Armed Forces Day
- May 17 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
- May 21 Global Accessibility Awareness Day
- May 27 Eid al-Adha
For additional resources, check out the “Hour of Power” podcast and the latest HRE newsletter from the Communications Workers of America and AFA-CWA.
Looking ahead, the CWA Human Rights Conference will take place August 16–19 in Atlanta. This is a great opportunity to engage more deeply in human rights work, though attendance would be at personal expense.
