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Ebola Information for Flight Attendants

Due to recent concerns about the potential spread of the Ebola virus, AFA International and AFA Alaska have been coordinating a response.  We have made resources easily accessible by providing a “one stop” shop on the AFA Alaska website.  You can find these resources at http://afaalaska.org/ashsc/ebola.  The Master Executive Council (MEC) will be updating the page as additional information becomes available.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt and MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Chairperson Seth Heiple

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Hurricanes Iselle and Julio and Hawaiian Island Flying

As you may be aware, Hurricanes Iselle and Julio are rapidly approaching the Hawaiian Islands.  According to the National Weather Service, hurricane conditions are expected to develop on the Big Island by this afternoon.  As the path continues moving up the Hawaiian island chain, the storm is expected to lose some strength with tropical storm conditions spreading to Maui tonight and Oahu and Kauai on Friday.  You can read the current statement from the National Weather Service at http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/pages/HLS.php.

Inflight management has repeatedly assured us that there is no danger to our crew members flying to the Hawaiian islands or laying over there at this time.  Regardless of these assurances, your MEC and LEC Officers are continuing to closely monitor the situation.  Purely as a precaution, we are offering a list of tips to help crew members in the affected area be prepared should conditions deteriorate.  You can view these tips at http://afaalaska.org/hotel/safety/hurricane.  

As always, your LEC Officers and EAP representatives are standing by and available to assist you.  You can find LEC Officer contact information at afaalaska.org under “Local Councils”.  EAP contact information is at afaalaska.org/eap.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt

MEC 5B Logo (Email)

Harvard Flight Attendant Health Study

Dear Flight Attendants,

Researches from Harvard University have contacted us seeking assistance in finding Flight Attendants to participate in a health study to help better understand the health implications of our profession.  The researchers are ideally seeking candidates who, in addition to having a layover in Boston, will have approximately two weeks off during which the candidate is not planning to travel by air.  The two weeks off may occur either immediately prior to or following the Boston layover.  Having two weeks free of air travel is not a requirement of the study however and any Flight Attendant working a trip that includes a layover in Boston is encouraged to volunteer.  A letter from the Harvard researchers and information about how to participate can found by clicking here.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

Resources

Harvard Flight Attendant Health Study — Researcher’s Letter

Dear Flight Attendants,

Harvard has been conducting flight attendant health studies since 2007.  Many of you have already participated.  Thank you for your participation—-only with your participation can we learn more about our health.

The Harvard team is committed to specifically investigating Flight Attendant health conditions over time, similar to the well-known Nurses’ Health Study research at Harvard.

For your information, some of the study results are posted on the website FAhealth.org.

In the next couple of months, Harvard researchers are inviting Flight Attendants bidding the Boston trip to participate in a study investigating exposure to chemical substances prevalent in the general environment, and specifically, in the aircraft cabin, by analyzing blood samples from flight attendants.

The Boston trip is an accessible location for Harvard researchers to take samples. Some Flight Attendants at Alaska have already participated in this study by meeting the Harvard team at the hotel after arrival in Boston and donating a serum sample and hand wipe sample. (Researchers use an alcohol swab to sweep any possible dust particles off the surfaces of the hands.)

To obtain a better picture of exposure, we need more Flight Attendants to participate. Participants are given a gift in appreciation when they arrive in Boston.

In addition, the researchers are looking for the rare occasion when Flight Attendants have time off—at least 2 weeks—in order to compare the blood level of chemicals during a time when the flight attendant is not working on the aircraft (and not flying as a passenger) with blood levels after flying again. This “wash out” period can occur either before or after a Flight Attendant comes to Boston (Harvard would use a mobile lab technician to take a blood sample at a location convenient for you).  This “wash out” information is particularly important to separate aircraft exposures from other sources.

Even if you do not anticipate an upcoming leave, Harvard still wants you to consider participation. The investigators are interested to know whether specific chemical substances are at higher levels in Flight Attendants than the general population. Because some of these chemicals have been associated with endocrine disruption in a small group of animal and human studies, the research team is interested to know about the impact on flight attendants.

If you are willing to participate, please contact Dr. Eileen McNeely to let her know how and when to reach you.  She will answer any further questions you have about the research: emcneely@hsph.harvard.edu.

New Master Executive Council Safety, Health, & Security Committee Chairperson

Please join us in welcoming Seth Heiple to the position of Master Executive Council (MEC) chairperson of the Safety, Health, & Security Committee (SHSC), effective March 1.  As MEC chairperson, Seth will be responsible for working with the Local SHSC Chairs in each base to coordinate the activities of the SHSC for all Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.

Seth joined Alaska Airlines as a Flight Attendant at the beginning of 2008.  While at Alaska he has served on both the Inflight Service Committee and the SHSC and worked with the F/A team that developed the “D Check” program.  Before joining Alaska Seth worked as a F/A for Northwest Airlines for close to 10 years, five of which he had the additional responsibilities of being an international purser.  Seth graduated from George Fox University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in International Business and Economics.  He is pleased to have the opportunity to serve as the MEC SHSC chair and support the Committee’s efforts to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for F/As and cabin environment for our passengers.

The MEC would also like to thank current MEC SHSC Chairperson Barb Moynier for her hard work and accomplishments over the past several years that she has held the position.  Barb has been a tireless advocate for our Flight Attendants and her efforts are greatly and sincerely appreciated.

The Safety, Health, & Security Committee (SHSC) is responsible for working with management on matters pertaining to cabin and Flight Attendant safety and health.  Contact information for each Local SHSC can be found at alaskamec.org, then by selecting your base from the Local Council menu.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

 

 

Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Management has recently informed our Master Executive Council (MEC) that they are distributing new Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) to Flight Attendants with devices nearing the end of their lifecycle. The specific schedule for this distribution will be communicated by management separately. Flight Attendants with the oldest devices […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 23, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons and Representatives met in person at Alaska Airlines Corporate Headquarters to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), […]

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

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

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2025

On Thursday, September 18, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing efforts to represent our Flight Attendants and advocate for improvements in our workplace. Although our Inflight Service Committee has now merged, meetings with management continue to focus primarily on the Alaska or Hawaiian brands individually. This particular meeting was centered […]

Vacation Survey Closing Soon

There’s just 1 DAY LEFT to complete the crucial vacation survey that will help shape future provisions—your insights are essential for advocating the best outcomes for all Flight Attendants. The survey is currently open and will remain available until Wednesday, September 24 at 12 PM PT.

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