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Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Human Rights Committee

  • November 1st marks the first day of Native American Heritage Month in the United States.  This tradition dates back to the early 20th century when proclamations were adopted by various organizations and state governments celebrating American Indian Day.
  • Read more about Native American Heritage Month, learn about the accomplishments of Native Americans, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below.
  • Join the celebration by wearing a Native American Heritage Month AFA Pin during the month.  If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

November 1 marks the first day of Native American Heritage Month in the United States.  The celebration, which is also referred to as National Native American Heritage Month, began with efforts to recognize an American Indian Day in the early 20th century.  In 1916, New York became the first state to proclaim American Indian Day after a declaration from the governor.  

The first national recognition came in 1976 when President Gerald Ford signed a proclamation designating Native American Awareness Week.  In 1990, President George H.W. Bush approved a resolution recognizing the first National American Indian Heritage Month.  This recognition has continued with similar proclamations issued each year under varying names (including Native American Heritage Month and National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month) since 1994.

Learn More About Native American History

You can learn more about the accomplishments of Native Americans through some of the dedicated websites and resources below.

Celebrate with a Native American Heritage Month AFA Pin

In 2021, the AFA Executive Board unanimously passed a resolution in recognition of Native American Heritage Month.   The resolution established a special commemorative pin for AFA Members to wear throughout the month.

For more information about the pin, contact your Local Human Rights Committee.  Also be on the lookout for a communication from your Local Council or contact your LEC Officers to determine pin availability.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact your Local Human Rights Committee.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Human Rights Committee

  • September 15th marks the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. This tradition dates back to 1968 when legislation was signed into law first recognizing Hispanic Heritage Week.
  • Read more about Hispanic Heritage Month, learn about the accomplishments of Hispanic Americans, and learn about events you can participate in using the resource links below.
  • Join the celebration by wearing a Hispanic Heritage Month AFA Pin. Check with your Local Council if you need a pin.

September 15 marks the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States.  The celebration, also called National Hispanic Heritage Month, began as Hispanic Heritage Week when it was established by legislation signed into law by President Lydon Johnson in 1968.  In 1988, the single-week event was expanded to a month-long period to be celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15.

September 15 is significant as it marks the anniversary of the independence of the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.  Mexico also celebrates independence on September 16, Chile on September 18, and Belize on September 21.

Learn More About Hispanic History

You can learn more about the accomplishments of Hispanic Americans through some of the dedicated websites and resources below.

Celebrate with a Hispanic Heritage Month AFA Pin

In 2021, the AFA Executive Board unanimously passed a resolution recognizing Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month. The resolution established a special commemorative pin for AFA Members to wear throughout the month.

For more information about the pin, contact your Local Human Rights Committee.  Also, be on the lookout for a communication from your Local Council or contact your LEC Officers to determine pin availability.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact your Local Human Rights Committee.

Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2023

Human Rights Committee

  • Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Monday, August 28, to discuss their ongoing program of work to advance human rights within our workplace and community.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates on what progress has been made on concerns that had been previously brought forward and address new concerns that have come to light. 
  • If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

On Monday, August 28, our AFA Local Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to build awareness and effect change within our workplace and community. Representing you at the meeting were Louise Borras (LAX), Erika Daniel (SAN), and Yan Yan Teague (SEA). Also present were MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.

The committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman and Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert from management.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.  

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • The Committee has been engaged in ongoing conversations about ways to support passengers who don’t have a clear plan or assistance upon arrival at their destination. Many of these passengers do not speak English, and Flight Attendants have requested resources to assist them. The inflight training department reported that resources are being developed and may be available as early as 2024. The Committee is also working to contact Casa Latina, a non-profit organization that advances the power and well-being of Latino immigrants, to seek out additional resources that Flight Attendants can provide to passengers who may need them. 
  • SEA Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson Yan Yan Teague recently represented AFA Alaska as a voting delegate at the Biennial Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) Convention, held August 3 through 5. APALA was founded in 1992 and is the first and only national organization of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers. APALA works to address the workplace issues of AAPI Union Members and serves as the bridge between the broader labor movement and the AAPI community. For more information about APALA or to become a member, please reach out to Yan Yan Teague at sea.humanrights.chair@afaalaska.org
  • The Committee brought forward concerns about inconsistency with dress code requirements for traveling on the Flight Attendant jumpseat when not in uniform. The verbiage in the Flight Attendant Manual and Employee Travel Handbook has been updated to reflect new guidance. However, the Customer Service Manual (the manual used by CSAs) has not. The CSM still uses gender-specific terminology to define acceptable attire. The Committee has requested that the CSM be updated to align with the FAM so that everyone is on the same page in the future.
  • The Committee is seeking more consistency and communication related to the Inflight Diversity & Inclusion Listening Session series. The session schedule so far has been sporadic, with several close-in cancellations of some sessions. In addition, the Committee has asked that management more actively promote the sessions across multiple channels to encourage broad participation.

Other Committee News

  • Our Human Rights Committee meets monthly with AFA International VP Keturah Johnson and staff and the Human Rights Committee from other AFA carriers to collaborate on subjects surrounding human rights and protection for our Flight Attendants. During our August meeting, issues surrounding Flight Attendants traveling to certain countries where safety is a concern were discussed. Some countries do not permit certain items like medications, representational symbols, electronics, etc., which is a concern, especially among our charter carriers. The AFA Human Rights Committee will create a reporting system for locations where safety or other human rights concerns may exist. The system will allow issues to be reported and addressed by the airlines.
  • In collaboration with our AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee, a training series has been developed to support, educate, and advocate for AFA leaders and Members based on issues brought to the Human Rights and EAP Committees. The first training session in July focused on microaggressions and their impact on the workplace. These virtual sessions provide a way to have group conversations and build a more inclusive culture in our workplace. They will be ongoing with Human Rights and EAP Committees across AFA.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Exploring Collaboration and Shared Goals. Working with the company’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) department to build relationships with the company Business Resource Groups (BRGs) to find areas where we can join together to advance human rights within the scope of each group.
  2. Supporting Passengers. Discussing reports of some passengers traveling between specific city pairs without a clear plan or assistance upon arrival at their destination. The Human Rights Committee and management are currently working on potential resources our Flight Attendants can use to help in these circumstances.
  3. Clarifying Company Policy on Cultural and Religious Tattoos. Working to discuss the current uniform tattoo policy with management decision-makers and advocating for the incorporation of allowances for tattoos with cultural or religious significance.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Human Rights Committee is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the Human Rights Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month

Human Rights Committee

  • June 1st marks the first day of LGBTQ Pride Month in the United States.  The tradition recognizes the events of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a watershed moment in the LGBTQ rights movement. 
  • Read more about LGBTQ Pride Month, learn about the history of the LGBTQ rights movement, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below.
  • Join the celebration by wearing an LGBTQ Pride Month AFA Pin during the month of June.  If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

June 1st marks the first day of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month in the United States.  The celebration originated to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.  The Stonewell Uprising is recognized as a major milestone in the LGBTQ civil rights movement.  On June 28, 1970, the first Pride March was held in New York City to commemorate the one-year anniversary on the Stonewall Uprising and the last Sunday in June continued to be celebrated as “Gay Pride Day”.  Over time, the single day event eventually grew to an entire month of events and activities.

Learn More About LGBTQ Pride Month

You can learn more about the history of LGBTQ Pride Month and the history of the LGBTQ rights movement through some of the dedicated websites and resources below.

Celebrate with an LGBTQ Pride Month AFA Pin

In 2018, the AFA Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution in recognition of June as LGBTQ Pride month.  A special commemorative pin was subsequently designed for AFA Members to wear throughout the month of June.

For more background on the pin, contact your Local Human Rights Committee.  If you’d like to get a pin of your own, be on the lookout for a communication from your Local Council or contact your LEC Officers for information about availability.

Building Community Power: Now and Then

Human Rights Committee

  • Our Human Rights Committee wants to invite you to our 2023 celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month on May 23rd.
  • Join our online presentation, Building Community Power: Now and Then, with panelists discussing community power in the past and present day.
  • AFA is joined by the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, and the International Women’s Alliance for this event.


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Join CWA Human Rights for Building Community Power: Now and Then, our 2023 celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month! We will hold an online presentation and panel on Tuesday, May 23, at 7pm EST, on what building community power for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander workers has looked like in the past and the present day.

We are excited to facilitate a discussion with panelists from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, and the International Women’s Alliance. AANHPI workers, as well as all union siblings and allies, are encouraged to attend.

Grievance Committee Update – 4th Quarter 2024

Grievance Committee Our Grievance Committee has been very hard at work ensuring disciplinary due process and contractual compliance on your behalf.  The contract requires a minimum of 13 arbitration dates yearly to dispute discipline/termination cases and contractual issues.  Termination cases are usually given first priority in order to return a Flight Attendant back to work […]

Introduction to the Minimum Pay Rules Flow Chart

Scheduling Committee We’re introducing a valuable new resource from our Scheduling Committee! We’ve developed a visually engaging flow chart that breaks down the Minimum Pay Rules (MPRs) outlined in Section 21.D of our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This chart is your go-to tool for understanding the essential elements of your pay provisions, ensuring that every […]

Notice of Election for Officers of Joint Alaska-Hawaiian MEC

AFA International Dear Alaska and Hawaiian AFA Members: As your merger moves forward, so does your representation. Our AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws calls for the merger of the Master Executive Councils in order to address our issues with the power of one voice. That starts with the election of MEC Officers. All of the Local […]

De-Stress Your Holidays

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee The holidays can be fun, but they also can be a source of great stress. Below are some common holiday stressors and suggestions for managing them.   How Can You Deal With Difficult Family Interactions During the Holidays? Being realistic is the first step. Family dynamics typically revert to historic […]

Upcoming Merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Master Executive Councils

Master Executive Council (MEC) As part of the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, the Master Executive Councils (MECs) of both airlines will soon be combined into a single MEC. This new MEC will consist of the six Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents from pre-merger Alaska Airlines, the two LEC Presidents from pre-merger Hawaiian […]

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