Human Rights Committee

• Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Monday, May 6, 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, May 6, 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 Annie Madsen (ANC),Erika Daniel (SAN), Freddy Vega (SEA), and Louise Borras (LAX). Also present was MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle II.

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

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Friday August 30, 2024. 

Topics of Discussion

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

• High Deductible Insurance Plans: Concerns of having to pay the full deductible prior to paying for the benefit of certain medications. SEA Local Committee Chairperson Chair Freddy Vega will be reaching out to our AFA Benefits Committee about the Committee concerns. Inflight Management wasn’t aware of this possible change and are also looking into this with Alaska HR/Employee Benefits.
• Spanish speakers on international flights. Flight Attendants have the translate option on their IMD as a resource if there aren’t any Spanish speaking individuals on the flight.
• Discussions of May & June heritage events.
• Flight Attendant listening sessions will resume in June. Local Human Rights Committee Chairpersons will co-facilitate the sessions along with inflight management. The Committee and management have asked a representative from our various 13 BRGs (Business Resource Groups) to also attend. June will be hosted with LAX Local Committee Chairperson Louise Borras, Inflight Management, and a BRG Representative. The first session will give Flight Attendants an opportunity to learn more about our BRGs, how to join, and what opportunities are available.

What The Committee Is Working On

1. Optional Pronouns on Wings. Working toward the ability to add pronouns to our wings.
2. Arrival “Land Acknowledgement” announcements.
3. Resource for Flight Attendants about safety concerns in layover cities (Layover Safety Alerts) on the AFA Website.
4. The ability for Flight Attendant names to be spelled phonetically on our IMD.
5. CSA manual being more gender neutral. Removal of the use of the identity language of he/she when addressing proper dress attire for non rev travel.
6. Formal change of the Human Rights Committee (HRC) name to be inline with AFA International Human Rights Equity (HRE) name.

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.

Human Rights Committee

• Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, February 22, 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 Thursday, February 22, 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 Sylvia Newbill (PDX), Annie Madsen (ANC), Trista Vanta (SFO), Erika Daniel (SAN), Freddy Vega (SEA), and Lala Davis (LAX HRC Committee Member). Also present was MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle II.

The committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert, and Managing Director of Inflight Ops & Crew Scheduling Allen Thieman.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Monday, May 6, 2024.

Topics of Discussion

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

• The ability for Flight Attendant names to be spelled phonetically on our IMD.
• The ability for Flight Attendants to have their choice of pronoun on their wings.
• Concerns about Inflight Management coming to the aircraft during our crucial time of boarding, as it’s very distracting and interferes with our boarding duties. 
• Loss of the Spanish speakers on our International routes.
• A resource for Flight Attendants about safety concerns in layover cities (Layover Safety Alerts).
• Arrival “Land Acknowledgement” announcements. “We would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.” As this can be applied for all landings, recognizing Indigenous People and their traditional territories.

What The Committee Is Working On

1. International Flyer. Adding more routes to use the International Flyer as well as additional resources for the upcoming year.  
2. Committee Participation. Participation with Alaska’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Department Heritage Months and other projects.
3. Optional Pronouns on Wings. Working toward the ability to add pronouns to our wings.

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.

Human Rights Committee

• Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, December 14, 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 Thursday, December 14, 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), Yan Yan Teague (SEA), Sylvia Newbill (PDX). Annie Madsen (ANC), and Trista Vanta (SFO). Also present were MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle II and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou.

The committee met with VP Operations Matt Prainto, Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert, and Managing Director of Inflight Ops & Crew Scheduling Allen Thieman.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Thursday February 22, 2024.

Topics of Discussion

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

• On December 8, 2023 Freddy Vega was selected as the new Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson for Council 19 SEA. Freddy brings an abundance of experience and education surrounding Human Rights. We thank Yan Yan Teague for her years of service as the former Local Chairperson. Yan Yan will continue as a Committee Member.     
• October 9, 2023 Bulletin: ELP Spanish Announcement And International Flyer. As a result of our Flight Attendants bringing attention to the Human Rights Committee, some of our Non-Speaking ELP/SEA guests were arriving at SEA with no knowledge of SEATAC and/or resources available. This was brought to our training department for discussion. As a result, Flight Attendants now have resources (a flyer) on board those flights to assist our guests not only with navigation about SEATAC but also with food and beverage options we offer on board. This information is also available on our IMD. The Spanish Announcement has been temporarily removed pending review. Along with ELP we asked that AUS, PHX, TUS and SAT be added. Allen will inquire about our request. 
• Opportunity to have pronoun’s added to our wings. The optional pronoun would be under the name on the wing. Trista is working on developing this.   
• Concerns why our speakers are being removed from some of our Mexico flights. Matt informed us the speakers were originally placed on board the flights to assist with  necessary paper that was required to be completed by our guests. Alaska has since moved towards an automated format, eliminating the need for any assistance on the aircraft.

Other Committee News

January 12-15, 2024 Some of the Human Rights Committee members will be attending the 2024 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference in Montgomery Alabama – Joining AFA International VP Keturah Johnson and other AFA Human Rights Committees. 2024 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference (themlkconference.org)

What The Committee Is Working On

1. International Flyer. Adding more routes to use the International Flyer as well as additional resources for the upcoming year.  
2. Committee Participation. Participation with Alaska’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Department Heritage Months and other projects.   
3. Optional Pronouns on Wings. Working toward the ability to add pronouns to our wings.

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.