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Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2022

  • Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Monday, November 21, 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, November 21, 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 Matt Cook (ANC), Yan Yan Teague (SEA), Sylvia Newbill (PDX), Melissa Osborne (SFO), and Louise Borras (LAX). Also present were MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer. The committee met with Vice President of Inflight Matt Prainito, Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert, San Francisco Base Manager Cierra Lewis, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist Sarah Keimig, and Managing Director of Labor Relations Carmen Williams from management. 

Topics of Discussion

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

  • Members of management’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) team have started visiting stations, beginning with a visit to PDX last week. The Committee did not receive direct notice from management that visits were going to be taking place and requested that management coordinate with the Committee going forward. The next visit will be to ANC on December 9.
  • Representatives from the Committee will participate in the 2023 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference in January in Washington, DC.
  • Conversation about how management’s DE&I team can better connect with Flight Attendants. The Committee recommended that DE&I make improvements by working more collaboratively with the Committee, as it is made up of Flight Attendants who represent our work group. Additionally, the Committee requested that management actively include them when communicating about upcoming events and activities sponsored by DE&I or the Company’s Business Resources Groups (BRGs).
  • AFA International has started holding monthly conference calls of Human Rights Committee members from across our Union to share information and coordinate activities.
  • Concerns about availability of emergency healthcare for pregnant employees in locations where regulations may impose limitations on healthcare providers. Management assured that, if necessary, they will facilitate the relocation of an employee to another state to facilitate treatment based on the recommendation of Global Lifeline.
  • Reports of some passengers traveling between certain city pairs seeming to be in need and lacking a clear plan or assistance upon arrival at their destination. Discussion was had about what resources might be available to assist these passengers that Flight Attendants could offer. Both the Committee and management will review available community resources that might be available.
  • Upcoming plans by management to introduce gender neutral uniform pieces. Although management has started work on the process, there is no interim solution, and Flight Attendants are still required to select from specific pieces labeled masculine or feminine. The Committee requested once again that management allow Flight Attendants to wear the pieces that fit them best without regard to program labels. In conjunction with the AFA Uniform Committee, the Committee has offered to engage in further conversation with management to develop a plan for implementation.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Developing a Framework for Diversity & Inclusion Listening Sessions. Discussing proposed plans with management to have our AFA Human Rights Committee facilitate sessions in each base that would allow Flight Attendants to discuss diversity and inclusion topics and concerns with management. Conversations are ongoing, and a preliminary version of the plan is currently under review.
  2. Building Relationships with the Company’s Business Resources Groups (BRGs). Continuing to work to establish relationships with leaders of the Company’s BRGs to find areas where we can join together to advance human rights within the scope of each group.
  3. Advocating for Expanded Access to Uniform Pieces for All. Continuing to work with the AFA Uniform Committee to remove gender-based limitations on uniform items and allow all Flight Attendants to wear the pieces that best fit them as an individual.

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. 

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2022

Uniform Committee

  • Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, November 15 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are reporting related to uniform quality, wearability, and availability.
  • If you are experiencing any issues with uniform quality or construction, please report the issues to Unisync as soon as possible.  Please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so they can help track any issues or trends that might be developing.

On Tuesday, November 15, our AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace.  Representing you at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Milner (LAX), and JP Perina (SAN).  Also present was MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Todd Scarlett.  The committee met with Uniform Programs Manager Ashlyn Pham, Uniform Fit Center Lead Ashley Sentner, Day of Travel Experience Manager Kelly Cuthill, PDX Base Manager Kristie Stafford, and other representatives from management. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Review of recently updated uniform policies, which include a clarified winter hat policy and the ability to wear zero drop shoes.  The updated policy guide is posted on the uniform subsite of Alaska’s World.
  • Ongoing uniform quality issues.  The Committee has received numerous recent reports of pieces not standing up to normal wear and tear and inconsistency of sizing, cut, and fabric on new orders.  Reports have also been received about wings breaking and the printing rubbing off the name plate portion.
  • Ongoing request to review the current process for Flight Attendants to provide feedback related to uniform pieces.  Management indicates that they are working on an improved system for reporting issues and providing feedback based on what they heard from the Committee at the last quarterly meeting.
  • Concerns with lack of availability of approved boots that can be worn with the feminine uniform.
  • Ongoing concern that the policy requiring that hosiery be worn with the uniform skirt and dresses is outdated.  Management has declined to make any changes to the policy at this time.
  • Repeated request to designate certain existing pieces as gender neutral until specific gender neutral uniform pieces are available.  Management does not anticipate designated gender neutral pieces will be available until 2024 at the earliest.
  • Repeated request for a packable, insulated jacket that provides more substantial warmth than the transition jacket in a similar form factor.  Management has started reviewing options but they will not be available this season.
  • Concerns with product shortages and items that are backordered for extended periods of time.  Management reports that supply chain issues are continuing to be a challenge.  An increased number of orders are being shipped from the manufacturer by expedited means in order to increase availability.
  • Management plans to launch a new warm weather shirt in mid-2023.  A prototype shirt had previously been tested by some Uniform and Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Members.  The warm weather shirt will be allowed to be worn with the skirt and Arctic parka based on continued advocacy by the Committee.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Cold Weather Improvements.  Working to expand policies and improve uniform pieces in anticipation of upcoming cold weather months.  This includes advocating for improvements to the uniform boot policy and a warmer packable jacket.
  2. Simplification of Uniform Policies.  Advocating for an overall simplification of company uniform policies through clearer guidelines, removal of excessive or unrealistic restrictions, and other common sense changes.
  3. Streamlining the Uniform Feedback Process.  Working to develop an easy-to-use, online form that Flight Attendants can use to provide feedback about uniform issues and concerns that automatically routes to management, Unisync, and our AFA Uniform Committee.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please help our Uniform Committee by taking the time to email Unisync at alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com with any quality issues you are experiencing.  When sending an email, please describe the issue with as much detail as possible and include photos if you can.  Please CC your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so that the Uniform Committee can track the issues as well.

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

Be Aware of Sexual Assault

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

Sexual assault is when someone is sexually touched, coerced, or abused without their consent. Statistics show that every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. It can happen to anyone. Perpetrators can be people you know, but also can be people you don’t know as well. In America, 16% of women and 3% of men are sexually assaulted. Signs to look out for include: denial, guilt, self-blame, numbness, fear, anxiety, and nightmares. These are also symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which also occurs as a result of sexual assault.

What is Consent?

  • Consent is an enthusiastic YES!
  • Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
  • Consent involves two-way communication and should be given before every sexual encounter and every stage.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Speak up if you notice someone trying to sexually assault you.
  • Do not accept open drinks. Be sure to only consume drinks you’ve opened yourself.
  • Be aware of signs that indicate to others that you’re alone or far away from home/layover hotel.
  • Make sure a friend/flying partner knows where you are at all times. Consider sharing your phone’s location.
  • Do not give out personally identifying information (PII), including lodging information, to people you don’t know.

What To Do If You’ve Been Sexually Assaulted

  • Contact the confidential AFA EAP helpline at (949) 470-0493.
  • Recognize how you respond. Sexual assault triggers our fight, flight, or freeze response.
  • Get medical care if necessary.
  • Some survivors file a police report and use a rape kit to collect any DNA evidence.
  • Consider seeing a therapist to help you process the traumatic experience. AFA EAP can help you with this referral.

Confidential Help Is Available

Remember, confidential help is available through our AFA EAP.  You can find contact information at afaalaska.org or call (949) 470-0493.

Information for the article is provided by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

Inflight Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) Program

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

  • AFA and management have agreed to implement a Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) program to improve safety for Flight Attendants, other crewmembers, and passengers.
  • Similar to the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), participation in LOSA is entirely voluntary and identifying information such as Flight Attendant names, dates, and flight numbers are never shared with management.
  • If you have any questions about the LOSA program, please don’t hesitate to contact your Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) or the AFA members of the LOSA Steering Committee.

Our AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) and management regularly review a wide variety of data that allows us to identify and mitigate potential safety risks at our airline, an essential part of the Company’s Safety Management System (SMS). To supplement the safety data generated from our regular programs, AFA and management have agreed to conduct a Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) in the first quarter of next year.

AFA and management administer the LOSA program jointly as outlined in the Inflight Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) Program letter of agreement. The information collected from LOSA observations will help us better understand how Flight Attendants manage threats and errors, evaluate compliance with standard operating procedures and gain valuable insight into our day-to-day line operations from a safety perspective.

When LOSA observations begin next year, a team of two Flight Attendant LOSA Observers may ask to join your flight. Participation is entirely voluntary; however, we encourage you to participate in this vital effort. You also will have the opportunity to submit any safety-related feedback in an anonymous questionnaire during the flight. 

LOSA Observers are line Flight Attendants trained by an independent third party, the LOSA Collaborative. They do not record Flight Attendant names, flight numbers, or dates, as confidentiality is critical to this process. Any data collected is sent directly to the LOSA Collaborative, which evaluates and analyzes the information. AFA and management will receive a final report outlining what went well and what can be better, identifying procedures that should be modified or re-emphasized.

ALPA at Alaska is also an enthusiastic supporter of LOSA, and our Pilots have participated in multiple LOSAs over the past 15 years. As a result, they have seen improvements in safety-related procedures. We are pleased to have parity with ALPA by securing a LOSA program and joining United Airlines as one of only two carriers worldwide with an Inflight LOSA program.

Questions?

If you have questions about the LOSA program, please reach out to your Local ASHSC or the AFA members of the LOSA Steering Committee.

AFA LOSA Steering Committee Members

Seth Heiple, MEC ASHSC Chairperson
David Lake, MEC ASHSC LOSA Representative

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – October 2022

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, October 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.
  • Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Tuesday, October 25, our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met 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), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Natalie Codd (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, and MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Adam Clarey. The committee met with Inflight Crew Scheduling Duty Manager Sara Cook, Director of Crew Staffing Nicholas Giles, and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • CARE Retreat.  Review of the process for bidding, awarding and assigning. Crew Planning reviews who is assigned or has attended prior to and during the bid award process.  Crew Scheduling does assign approximately 5-10 reserves to a class with openings and reviews the LTFA per the letter of agreement which allows assignment to reserves.  The reserve assignments to CARE Retreat occur mostly in the Seattle domicile.
  • Charters.  If you bid for a charter it is possible for Crew Scheduling to repost the charter for bid prior to awarding.  If the charter is reposted, any previous bid that you submitted is erased.  You will receive an email indicating that you need to submit a new bid if you would still like to bid on the reposted charter.  It’s possible that charters could be reposted any time during the bidding process, so it’s imperative to regularly check and read your company email.  Recently, several Flight Attendants have read the email after the rebid and award were issued. 
  • 4 Position Pairings.  Flight Attendants continue to ask for pairings to be built with the A, B, C, and D positions together.  The Company is still operating Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-700 aircraft which requires that 3 position pairings also be constructed.  Management is committed to reviewing the suggestion if it is in line with costs and makes operational sense.
  • Crew Access Issues.  There have been recent reports of hotel notifications not coming through, rosters not appearing on schedules, and other system glitches.  If you experience a glitch or malfunction please contact the ITS Service Desk. Thorough reporting is the key to resolving these issues for a future release.  Contact information for the ITS Service Desk can be found by clicking here (AAG sign-on required) or from Alaska’s World, choose Workgroups > ITS Service Desk from the menu.
  • Staffing Levels.  The Committee discussed concerns with management about the perception of over staffing given the current flight schedule. In the future, there will be opportunities to increase the line averages.  In addition, there will be no staffing leaves offered for December.  Flexibility will still exist with the ability to drop trips into Open Time based on TSN thresholds and the awarding of Personal Drops as the operation permits.  Management reports that there is currently an 85-90% approval rate of Personal Drops at this time. 
  • Crew Hotels and Layover Transportation.  Please continue to file CrewCare reports that include positive and negative feedback.  If you experience any issues with a hotel or layover transportation that is not listed as a reporting category in CrewCare, please contact your Local Hotel Committee. 
  • December 2022 and January 2023 Bidding.  The next few months of bidding are the most difficult for coverage awards.  The first half of December is usually a lighter flight schedule with the bulk of flying in the last two weeks.  Additionally, the dates most Flight Attendants request off will fall on the weekends. The PBS Subcommittee has updated the coverage information from last year and is available to assist you with your questions/concerns. 
  • Month End Overlap.  During the bid award process trips that touch the last 5 days of the prior bid month will be restricted.  Once the awards are posted the restrictions are removed and trading resumes as normal.  
  • Crew Access Known Issues Document.  Known issues with Crew Access are tracked and are posted in a document on the Flight Attendant website.  The document was last updated on October 19, 2022.  The Committee recommends that all Flight Attendants review the document on at least a quarterly basis.  You can find the document on the Flight Attendant website > Schedule and Bidding > Crew Access Help > Crew Access Known Issues.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Scheduling a meeting with Network Planning.  The Committee would like to meet with Network Planning in 2023 to discuss our contract, legalities and suggestions. We want to provide management with the Flight Attendant perspective and in an effort to improve our quality of life. 
  2. Review of JCTE/Crew Access transaction performance.  Each month, ITS provides the Committee with data on performance and transactions within JCTE/Crew Access.  The Committee reviews these reports to ensure our service levels are maintained at the appropriate thresholds.
  3. Scheduling Quality of Life Improvements.  Reviewing ways to improve Trip Length Distribution (TLD) and other quality of life options.  Working with management to develop a quality of life survey to determine Flight Attendant scheduling priorities. 
  4. Review of user guides and links of Flight Attendant website.  Ensuring information is still accurate in existing resource materials, links are still active and working, etc.
  5. Updating Crew Access videos.  Working with management and ITS to update the Crew Access instructional videos to reflect updates and changes to the user interface.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Scheduling Committee is your voice to management.  You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – March 2026

On Monday, March 9, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in-person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), and Kanani Vallot […]

Inflight Service Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

On Thursday, February 26, our AFA Inflight Service Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work in representing our Flight Attendants and advocating for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Naomi Parcell (ANC), Ross DeJong (SEA), Todd Horn (PDX), Raymond Ramirez (SFO), Johanna Thomas (LAX pmAS), Gary Manoi (LAX pmHA), Andrew […]

2026 AFA Board of Directors Convention Recap

The 2026 AFA Board of Directors Convention concluded on Wednesday, marking the end of an engaging and productive three days. Delegates participated in a full agenda: hearing from elected officials and union leaders, joining a spirited picketing event at PDX to support Horizon Flight Attendants in their contract fight, honoring the achievements of AFA award recipients, electing […]

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, March 5, representatives from our pre-merger Alaska AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Conner Gallager (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO) & MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire […]

2026 AFA Board of Directors Convention: What You Need To Know

Next week, our Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers, Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents, and several other LEC Officers, Committee Chairpersons, and Committee Members will attend the 53rd Annual AFA Board of Directors (BOD) Convention in Portland, Oregon. They will join representatives from other AFA airlines to address our Union’s business at the international level. Watch […]

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