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Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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        You are here: Home / Benefits Committee
        Including Worker’s Compensation, Maternity, FMLA, and Leaves of Absence
        • What Does This Committee Do?
        • Who Do I Contact?
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        What Does This Committee Do?
        The Benefits Committee works to educate and provide assistance to Flight Attendants in all matters involving benefits (including insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs)

        Download the Benefits Committee Member duties and responsibilities

        Specific Duties and Responsibilities
        • Work with management to resolve any concerns involving claims submitted under benefits programs
        • Act in an advisory role to the LEC Officers on matters related to benefits, insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs
        • Actively communicate information of interest to the Flight Attendants. Provide information to the Communications Committee for inclusion in Local Council communications.
        Why Would I Contact This Committee?

        The Benefits Committee is available to help you with:

        • Company provided or voluntary benefits programs
        • Medical or maternity leaves of absence
        • Family medical leave (FMLA)
        • On-the-job injuries and workers compensation procedures

        Go to top

        Who Do I Contact?

        For assistance, contact any member of your Local Benefits Committee.  You can find a list of Committee Members on your Local Council Committees page.  For your convenience, a list of Committee Chairs and links to the Local Committee lists are below.

        ANC

        Debi Wallstrom
        Tallee Wellman-Ullom
        Maki Bogart
        anc.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

        View the ANC Committee List >>

        HNL

        Calyn Rosehill
        hnl.benefits.chair@afahawaiian.org

        View the HNL Committee List >>

        LAX (pmAS)

        Ava McWilliams Ellington
        lax.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

        View the LAX (pmAS) Committee List >>

        LAX/SEA (pmHA)

        Beth Hayes
        47.benefits.chair@afahawaiian.org

        View the LAX/SEA (pmHA) Committee List >>

        PDX

        Linda Gunselman
        pdx.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

        View the PDX Committee List >>

        SAN

        Sonia Quackenbush
        san.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

        View the SAN Committee List >>

        SEA (pmAS)

        Kathy O’Malley
        sea.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

        View the SEA (pmAS) Committee List >>

        SFO

        Julie Pearson
        sfo.benefits.chair@afaalaska.org

        View the SFO Committee List >>

        MEC

        Dianna Ripley, MEC Chairperson (pmAS)
        Chasity Theno, MEC Chairperson (pmHA)
        benefits@afaalaska.org

        Go to top

        Links

        • AS Benefits Website AS Log-In
        • F/A Benefits Handbook AS Log-In
        • National Group Protection (Supplemental Benefits)
        Go to top

        Committee News

        View the Benefits Committee news archives

        Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026

        Posted: August 3, 2026

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Wednesday, July 22, our pre-merger Alaska Benefits Committee Chairpersons met for their regular monthly meeting. This meeting was an internal AFA-only meeting and did not involve management.  Representing you at the meeting were Ava McWilliams Ellington (LAX), Linda Gunselman (PDX), Sonia Quackenbush (SAN), Kathy O’Malley (SEA), […]

        Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – June 2026

        Posted: June 25, 2026

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Wednesday, June 17, our pre-merger Alaska Benefits Committee Chairpersons met with management for their regular meeting. These discussions help ensure that management understands the real-world impact of their decisions on Flight Attendants and that your concerns are addressed directly.  Your representatives at the meeting were Deb […]

        Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairpersons

        Posted: December 9, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants We’re excited to introduce the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few weeks and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that highlight their […]

        Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

        Posted: December 3, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairperson positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After […]

        Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

        Posted: November 5, 2025

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants In accordance with Article VI.C of the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, the terms of office for the MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions align with those of the MEC Officers. Since the current term for the MEC Officers will conclude on December 31, […]

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        Latest News

        • Reserve Survey Now Open
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2026
        • AFA News in Review – October 2, 2026
        • That’s a Wrap on Government Affairs Focus Month!
        • Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026
        • MEC Town Hall Video and Q&A Recap – September 23, 2026
        • PBS Webinar – October 7, 2026
        • Meet Our Local Chairpersons – September 2026
        • Council 43 Update – Local Council Meeting: November 6
        • URGENT: Sleep Room in Portland?

        Reserve Survey Now Open

        October 6, 2026

        Our JNC encourages all members to participate in the Reserve survey, regardless of your current Reserve status. Whether you are on Reserve now, pick up Reserve days occasionally, or have not been on Reserve recently, your input is valuable. The survey will be open until Tuesday, October 20 at Noon PT.

        Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2026

        October 5, 2026

        This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 29, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met virtually to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Rebekah Olds (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

        That’s a Wrap on Government Affairs Focus Month!

        October 2, 2026

        As Government Affairs Committee Focus Month comes to a close, we want to sincerely thank everyone who tuned in, asked insightful questions, and shared resources throughout September. Whether you watched a quick video on the van or started a conversation about voting in the crew lounge, your engagement made a difference. We started this month […]

        Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026

        October 1, 2026

        On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, our AFA Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met for their regular quarterly meeting to advance ongoing activism, promote workplace equity, and champion meaningful policy improvements across our workplace. Your representatives attending the meeting were Nyachan Chuar (ANC), Soon Kim (HNL), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (pmHA LAX/SEA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Erika Daniel […]

        MEC Town Hall Video and Q&A Recap – September 23, 2026

        October 1, 2026

        Whether you joined us live or are ready to watch on your own schedule, the full recording of our September 23 MEC Town Hall is now available! Catch up on the discussions and hear directly from our MEC Officers and AFA panelists. Watch the video anytime on our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian YouTube channel using the link below. (Note: […]

        Recent Posts

        • Reserve Survey Now Open
        • Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2026
        • AFA News in Review – October 2, 2026
        • That’s a Wrap on Government Affairs Focus Month!
        • Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026
        • MEC Town Hall Video and Q&A Recap – September 23, 2026
        • PBS Webinar – October 7, 2026
        • Meet Our Local Chairpersons – September 2026
        • Council 43 Update – Local Council Meeting: November 6
        • URGENT: Sleep Room in Portland?
        • Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – September 2026
        • Register Now: Reserve Webinar – Wednesday, October 21
        • FlightPAC: Building Our Collective Influence
        • AFA News in Review – September 25, 2026
        • Council 39 September 2026 Update

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        AFA News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) AS/HA Merger AS/VX Merger Benefits Committee Committees Communications Committee Contract Contract 2014 Negotiations Blog Council 15 SAN Council 18 LAX (pmAS) Council 19 SEA (pmAS) Council 30 ANC Council 35 SFO Council 39 PDX Council 43 HNL Council 47 LAX/SEA (pmHA) EAP/Professional Standards Committee Extension 2021 Blog Featured Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee Hotel Committee Human Rights & Equity Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) Membership Engagement Committee Message from the MEC President Mobilization Committee Negotiations Pairing Construction Preferential Bidding System (PBS) Press Releases Reserve Committee Retirement Committee Scheduling Committee Uniform Committee
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