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Join The Fight To End Trans Genocide

Human Rights Committee

Our CWA Pride Caucus launched a petition on March 31st—International Transgender Day of Visibility. The goal of the petition is to have a statement read in the House and the Senate about the reality that trans people in America are in Stage 7 of a genocide. Stage 8 is when large scale round ups and exterminations begin. Any observer of the history of human rights crimes will tell you the situation is well past terrifying.

Statistically, with one in ten people being queer, we have tens of thousands of queer Members across AFA and all the sectors of CWA – and even more allies! Sign the petition now and help show our support to allied legislators!

Click here to sign the petition >

Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2023

Human Rights Committee

  • Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Friday, March 24, 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 Friday, March 24, 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), Erika Daniel (SAN), James Ikehara (SFO). Also present were MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou.

The committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Managing Director of Inflight Services Gloria Chow-Vanderwell, Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert, Director of Diversity Equity & Inclusion James Thomas, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist Sarah Keimig, and Access/Diversity Program Manager Steve Nelson from management.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.

Topics of Discussion

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

  • Virtual Listening Sessions. Local Human Rights Chairs will facilitate virtual listening sessions in each base with management, allowing flight attendants to discuss diversity and inclusion topics and concerns. The next session is scheduled for April 20, 2023 with SAN Human Rights Committee Chairperson Erika Daniel and SAN Inflight Supervisor Saua Case. Management will communicate future dates and times to all Flight Attendants.
  • Monthly Conference Calls. AFA International began monthly conference calls for Human Rights Committee Members from across our union to share information and coordinate activities.
  • Hosiery/Socks Accessibility. The previous IMD alert with hosiery/socks resources will also be added to the uniform ordering site. The Zappos Shoes link is now located on the uniform ordering site as well.
  • Volunteer Events. Members of the management Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team discussed the ability for Flight Attendants to volunteer at events throughout our system. Information can be found on Alaskasworld within the Employee Resources/Care Community Involvement link. This leads to the Benevity.org page where Flight Attendants can sign up to volunteer for events locally as well as throughout our system.
  • Further Collaboration. The DE&I team will continue working along with inflight management and the Human Rights Committee on base visits, upcoming events, and activities sponsored by DEI or Business Resources Groups (BRGs).

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Exploring Collaboration and Shared Goals. Working with the 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. Base Newsletters. Publishing information in each base on monthly human rights activities and scheduled events.
  3. Supporting Passengers. Discussing reports of some of passengers traveling between certain 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.

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.

National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Human Rights Committee

  • Human trafficking is a crime that occurs when force, fraud, or coercion is used to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act from another person.
  • January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Help by taking a stand against human trafficking and recommit to ending it on our planes.
  • Join the third annual #WearBlueDay on January 11th to help build public awareness about the ongoing fight to end human trafficking.

As Flight Attendants, we are uniquely positioned to identify human traffickers and assist their victims.  Flight crews are skilled observers, and with the appropriate training, they can be the frontline against trafficking, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  Indicators of human trafficking can include: physical control of travel documents of an adult traveler by a co-traveler; restricting the movement and social interaction of an adult traveler by a co-traveler; an adult traveler who is unclear on details of his/her final destination or point of contact; or a child traveler who appears to be accompanied by someone claiming to be the parent or guardian who is in fact not related to the child.

January is National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. We can take a stand against human trafficking by recommitting ourselves to end it on our planes. As Flight Attendants and aviation’s first responders, we are uniquely positioned to identify human traffickers and assist their victims.

Wear Blue on January 11th

All over the world people will be wearing blue articles of clothing, January 11, in observance of the third annual #WearBlueDay to encourage greater public awareness about the scourge of human trafficking.

Human trafficking is a billion dollar business, but Flight Attendants can be 100,000 Eyes in the Skies to recognize and report it. We can be the ones to make the difference.

Want to participate? Here’s how:

  • Post a photo of yourself and others on social media wearing blue with hashtags #WearBlueDay and when tweeting tag @afa_cwa.
  • Finish the statement #WeWearBlueBecause to share why you are participating. 

Download and print the AFA/Department of Homeland Security’s Guide to Recognize and Report Suspected Human Trafficking. 

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 Gender Expression Survey

AFA International

  • Everyone should be able to dress and express themselves at work in a manner that is reflective of their true self.
  • AFA is working with other aviation unions and PRIDE@Work to ensure that all Flight Attendants are supported in exercising our rights. 
  • Your participation in the Uniform Gender Expression Survey will help to identify where discrimination exists and improvements to uniform choices, policies, and guidelines need to be made.

In order to make sure that Flight Attendants are able to express who we are, it is critical that we understand the importance of gender expression, and ensure our airlines provide equal opportunity to dress and present ourselves in ways that reflect who we are.  This is critical to creating a supportive culture, which in turn allows each of us as Flight Attendants to do our job with pride and comfort.

Companies should understand this issue ultimately affects the bottom line. Disallowing Flight Attendants to dress and express in ways that align with their genders is communicating that they are not valuable as employees. Providing this flexibility across carriers or the industry, will send a signal to other industries that we support and advocate for all people. Further, this will impact not only retention of current Flight Attendants, but will also result in recruiting a wider range of skilled Flight Attendants to this industry. 

While movements are happening, and policies have been changed, we need EVERYONE to have the opportunity to express themselves.

AFA is working with other aviation unions, and PRIDE@Work to identify these issues together and make sure that we are protecting all Flight Attendants so that we are able to be seen and heard and are able to dress in the way that makes us feel seen in our place of work. 

This survey is being conducted to identify those who are feeling discriminated against in the workplace in regards to uniform choices, uniform policies and guidelines at their airlines. 

It is also worth noting that many workplaces already have these opportunities and protections in place for every employee, based on EEOC Protections Against Employment Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity.  We want to make sure Flight Attendants are fully supported in exercising our rights. 

Click here to take the survey >>

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – January 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, January 27, 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 Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

Celebrating Black History Month

February 1 marks the start of Black History Month in the United States—a vibrant celebration with roots dating back to 1925, when acclaimed historian Carter G. Woodson first introduced “Negro History Week” to highlight the remarkable achievements of Black individuals. In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford expanded it to Black History Month, calling on all […]

Never Forget: Honoring Alaska Airlines Flight 261—January 31, 2000 

On this day, we pause to remember and honor the anniversary of the tragic loss of Alaska Airlines Flight 261, which occurred on January 31, 2000. This heartbreaking event claimed the lives of all 88 passengers and crew on board, leaving an enduring impact on all of us. As we reflect on this tragic day, […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 11 – January 2026

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) continues to make steady progress in collective bargaining sessions with management. Recent meetings have focused on refining contract Section 15 (Leaves of Absence). The JNC continues to incorporate the strongest language from both Alaska and Hawaiian agreements.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – January 2026

On Monday, January 12, 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), Kanani Vallot (SAN), […]

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