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Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

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When Screen Time Becomes Too Much

In today’s digital world, screens are everywhere—our phones, tablets, laptops, and TVs. While technology offers connection, convenience, and entertainment, too much screen time can quietly develop into an unhealthy habit. Screen addiction isn’t always obvious at first, but over time, it can affect your physical health, mental well-being, relationships, and productivity. Here are key warning signs to watch for:

  1. You Reach for Your Phone First and Last: If checking your device is the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing before bed—often without any real purpose—it may signal dependency.
  2. You Lose Track of Time Online: Spending hours scrolling, binge-watching, or gaming without realizing how much time has passed can be a sign of compulsive use.
  3. You Feel Anxious or Irritable Without Your Device: Feeling restless, bored, or even panicked when your phone isn’t nearby (or when the battery is low) can indicate emotional reliance.
  4. Screen Time Interferes with Sleep: Exposure to screens before bed disrupts melatonin production, making it harder to fall and stay asleep. If you feel tired even after a full night in bed, late-night screen use may be to blame.
  5. Physical Symptoms Appear: Headaches, dry eyes, neck pain (“tech neck”), and carpal tunnel-like symptoms may result from prolonged screen exposure and poor posture.
  6. You Avoid Social Interactions: Choosing screen time over time with family, friends, or coworkers—especially when you’re physically present—can damage real-life relationships and signal avoidance behavior.
  7. You Struggle to Focus Without Stimulation: Constant screen use can shorten your attention span, making it harder to concentrate on offline tasks like reading, conversations, or work responsibilities.

Awareness Is the first step. Recognizing these signs is the first move toward balance. Screen time isn’t inherently bad—it’s about how, when, and why you use it. Setting boundaries, taking digital breaks, and being intentional about your usage can help restore control and reconnect you with the world beyond the screen. If you find yourself wanting to change or modify your relationship with screens, contact your Local AFA EAP Committee. You can reach a Committee Member by calling (949) 470-0493. Your calls are confidential. 

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Thursday, June 19, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants. Representing you at the meeting were Brandi Urban (ANC), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Adrian Alcantara (SAN). Also present was MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton and MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Jarod McNeill.

The committee met with the Interim Managing Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling & Inflight Operations (South) Sara Cook and Interim Manager of Inflight Crew Scheduling Matthew Trujillo.

The committee is next scheduled to meet on Thursday, September 11.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items during both internal AFA-only discussions and meetings with management. Some of the topics discussed include:

  • Utilization of Reserves: Our Reserve Committee is requesting relief as Reserve Flight Attendants are currently being utilized at an overall rate of 94.1%. Management has increased the number of reserves in SEA for August in hopes of providing some relief.
  • Crew Scheduling: Management has created a new position within her division called Inflight Duty Manager (IFDM). The IFDM will offer 24/7 support in scheduling for Flight Attendants. Management is currently in the interview process and aims to have seven IFDMs ready to begin before the end of this year.
  • Increase in No-Shows and Non-Contactables: We are experiencing issues with Flight Attendants’ cell phone providers, which are preventing them from receiving incoming calls from scheduling. It is essential to ensure you have service while on call and while on APSB. The Committee is working closely with management to address these recent occurrences. If you have received points recently due to issues with your cell phone provider, please reach out to your local Reserve Committee so we can investigate on your behalf.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Developing Additional Tools & Resources for Reserve Flight Attendants. Working to update Reserve 101 & the Reserve survival guide with new CBA provisions.
  2. Assisting Probationary Flight Attendants Through the Reserve Buddy Program. Answering questions from and providing support to probationary Flight Attendants through an expanded AFA Reserve Buddy program. Also, developing a checklist of common topics that new hire Flight Attendants need assistance with within the first 30 days after graduation.
  3. Addressing Reserve Contractual Concerns. Researching and investigating reports from Reserve Flight Attendants and actively ensuring that management complies with our contract.

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 Reserve 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 Reserve Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 4 – June 2025

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Our JNC met with management this week on June 17 to June 19 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for July 15 to July 17
  • The JNC conducted a concourse walk at SeaTac Airport to address question and gathering feedback from Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants
  • Research and consultation continues in preparation for the next negotiation session scheduled for July 15 to July 17

Negotiations Update

The AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management.  The JNC met with management on June 17 to June 19 in Seattle, WA.  At the negotiating table for this session were:

Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants  Representing Management
Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee ChairpersonRyan St. John, Vice President, Finance, Planning and Investor Relations, Alaska
Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberMatt Prainito, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKaren Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska
Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
 Allen Thieman, Managing Director, Crew Scheduling and Crew Pay, Hawaiian

During the most recent negotiating session, our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) concentrated on the proposals that have been part of our ongoing discussions with the company. We successfully reached agreements on several provisions across different sections; however, there are still additional areas that require attention and resolution. In the time leading up to our next meeting with the company in July, our JNC will continue to engage in thorough research and consultation with our subject matter experts. This process is critical to ensuring that we make well-informed decisions that align with the best interests of our collective group and enhance our overall negotiation strategy.

Section by Section Progress

Sections discussed in this session:

  • Section 13 – Uniforms (HA CBA Section 6)
  • Section 18 – Reduction in Force (HA CBA Section 16)
  • Section 27 – Association General (HA CBA Section 22)
  • Section 34 – Lodging and Transportation (HA CBA Section 4.C and Section 4.E)

Sections in ongoing discussion:

  • Section 6: Seniority (HA CBA Section 9)
  • Section 15: Leaves of Absence (HA CBA Section 17)
  • Section 19: Grievance Procedure (HA CBA Section 23)

SEA Concourse Walk

Before we resumed our discussions with the company, our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) conducted a concourse walk at SeaTac Airport on Monday, June 16. Representatives were present at KCM, N-Gates, and S-Gates from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM PT. The JNC had the opportunity to meet with Flight Attendants from both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines as they started their daily work assignments. They were able to answer questions, address concerns, and gather suggestions.

If you missed the chance to meet with the JNC and have any thoughts you would like to share, please email the JNC at jnc@afaalaska.org.

What’s Upcoming

Our next session with management is scheduled for July 15 to July 17.

Mahalo From Your AFA Hawaiian Communications Committee

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

Aloha Hawaiian Flight Attendants,

On behalf of your AFA Hawaiian Communications Committee, we would like to extend our heartfelt mahalo to each of you for your engagement and support throughout the years. It has been an honor to serve you and to help ensure that important communications reached you in a timely and meaningful way. This work has always been a team effort, and we are deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in us.

As of June 1, 2025, our Communications Committee has officially merged with AFA Alaska to bring you a more unified voice. On June 10, 2025, we held our final meeting as the AFA Hawaiian Communications Committee, and we wanted to provide some final updates. You may begin to notice, or may have already seen, changes in the design and delivery of some of our messages. Please know that while the MEC-level communications have merged, local communications will continue to operate as they always have. Your voices continue to matter, and every Hawaiian Flight Attendant remains a priority.

Email Handle

The communications@afahawaiian.org account will be deactivated and preserved as an archive. This address was primarily used for administrative purposes. If you have this email saved in your contacts, please update accordingly.

In order to help you reach your LEC Officers more easily going forward, we’ve created a few new email shortcuts. If you’re based in HNL, you can reach your Council 43 officers at hnl@afahawaiian.org. If you’re LAX-based, you can reach your Council 47 officers at lax@afahawaiian.org. Emails sent to either of these addresses will automatically route to the inboxes of all your LEC Officers.

Website

The hawaiianafa.org website is currently undergoing revisions to improve accessibility and communication during our transition. As part of this process, some links may now redirect to afaalaska.org. This change is intended to streamline updates and reduce the need for duplicate work across multiple websites, allowing us to share important information more quickly. Centralizing content also helps ensure that members have a single, reliable source for the most current updates, contacts, and resources.

Facebook / Instagram

These current accounts are inactive, and the future of these accounts is still under discussion. We will share an update as soon as leadership makes a final decision regarding their use moving forward.

Questions Form

The MEC Questions Form will be discontinued. Going forward, please direct any inquiries, comments, or suggestions to your Local Council officers: https://www.hawaiianafa.org/contact-us

Thank you again for your continued solidarity as we navigate this merger.

AFA Hawaiian Communications Committee
Josh Aoki, Lea Franzoi and Andrew Ferreira

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2025

On Thursday, June 12, our AFA Local Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to raise awareness and create positive change within our workplace and community. Your representatives attending the meeting included Louise Borras (pmAS LAX), Aaron Miller (PDX), Erika Daniel (SAN), and Freddy Vega (SEA). MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle II and MEC Vice President Brice McGee were also present.

The committee met with several members of management including Senior Vice President of People Andy Schneider, Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert, and Regional Director Inflight Base Operations LAX Benito Pasia-Garcia Jr.

The committee’s next meeting with management is scheduled for September 16.

Topics of Discussion

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

  • Change of DEI Department Name: The DEI department has been renamed “Culture and Belonging” in response to current regulatory requirements and government orders. As a government contractor, Alaska recognizes that compliance with regulations is essential to our business operations. Senior management stated, “We take pride in our ability to adapt while staying true to our core values. Regardless of external changes, the leadership team is committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong.” The Committee has requested that senior management be more transparent by communicating excerpts of the executive order to the Flight Attendants.
  • Company Participation in Pride Events: The Committee confirmed with management that Alaska is scheduled to participate in 11 Pride events systemwide.
  • Making Event Information More Accessible: The Committee discussed with management the need to make information about celebratory events more accessible to Flight Attendants across multiple platforms.
  • Land Acknowledgment Announcements: The Committee submitted a draft of Land Acknowledgment Announcements for all seven Flight Attendant base airports for management’s review and consideration.   

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Optional Pronouns on Wings. Awaiting finalization of the merger with Hawaiian Airlines, as there may be an overall new design.  
  2. Arrival “Land Acknowledgement Announcements” for our seven current domiciles airports (both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian).
  3. Batok Tattoos Visible While In Uniform. Awaiting finalization of Alaska merger with Hawaiian.
  4. Business Resource Group (BRG) Listening Sessions, co-facilitated with pre-merger Alaska Local AFA Human Rights Chairpersons for 2025. 

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 & Equity Committee is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the Human Rights & Equity Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

SEA Domicile Negotiations Update – January 2026

The Hawaiian Seattle Domicile Negotiating Committee has reached an agreement with management, confirming the “Rescinding the Award” provision and extending the bid timeline by one week to Monday, January 19 at 2359 HT. As of January 7, a total of 189 Hawaiian Flight Attendants have submitted bids for the new SEA Domicile, primarily from HNL and LAX. Discussions about the moving day process are ongoing, with further updates expected before the revised bid deadline.

Using Apps to Support New Year Wellness Goals

The start of a new year often brings renewed goals around improved physical and mental well-being. Many people use apps to help with these goals. Here are some popular free wellness apps to try this year that can support your health, sleep, and daily routines. Most have strong free features, and some offer additional options […]

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – December 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, December 16, 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), Melinda Jorge (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

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