AFA Alaska + Hawaiian

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

Click here to report an issue to AFA
You are here: Home / Archives for Latest News / AFA News Now

Join The Picket Line: Support American Flight Attendants on Thursday, November 16

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Flight Attendants at American Airlines, part of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), have been in negotiations for a new contract since January 2019. In August, they took a strike authorization vote, and an overwhelming 99.47% of American Flight Attendants authorized APFA to call for a strike if necessary. Despite this, American management continues to delay the process by offering concessionary proposals or, more recently, showing up to the bargaining table with no proposals at all.

American Flight Attendants have had enough of these delaying tactics and are taking action! On November 16, they’ll conduct a systemwide informational picket to demonstrate they are unified, committed, and ready to fight for the contract they deserve. It’s time to stand up and show American Airlines management that Flight Attendants and workers everywhere are united in demanding an end to corporate greed. Be on the lookout for a picket line near you, and plan to show your solidarity!

APFA Systemwide Picketing Event Information

Date: Thursday, November 16

BOS, CLT, DCA, LGA, MCO, MIA, PHL: 11 AM – 1 PM ET
ORD, MSP: 11 AM – 1 PM CT
DFW: 3:30 – 5:30 CT
PHX: 9 – 11 AM MT
LAS, LAX: 11 AM – 1 PM PT

Click here to RSVP >

Health Benefits Coverage & Staffing Adjustment Leaves

Benefits Committee

Our Benefits Committee has been notified that there are multiple issues with health benefits coverage for those returning from staffing adjustment leaves (SAL). If you are on a staffing adjustment leave or have recently returned from one, please be aware of the following.

Re-Enrolling After A Leave

While we disagree that one should have to re-enroll in Health Benefits when returning from Staffing Leave, we strongly suggest that you do so. Check to make sure that all your prior coverages are in place. To do so, you can call your health plan directly or visit www.MyAlaskaBenefits.com and check your coverage. We’ve also been advised that once you re-enroll, it can take several days for the coverage to update. You should also have received an email in your company Outlook email regarding health benefits when returning from SAL.

Health Benefits Deductions For September Premiums And Direct Billing

Health benefits premiums, like payroll, are deducted in the subsequent month (i.e., in October for September). When on a Staffing Leave, these deductions do not take place. Flight Attendants are advised to review their pay statement to determine whether or not deductions were taken from October 20th paychecks.

Direct Billing Notice Errors

Those on Staffing Adjustment Leave should have received a direct bill from Cobra Management Services (CMS) with instructions to self-pay the employee contribution for September Health Benefits. We are aware that some Flight Attendants DID receive this notice, and it was correct. We are also aware that many did NOT receive a direct bill and that some did receive bills for very strange amounts that do not reflect the usual employee contributions.

No Direct Bill Received

If you did not receive a direct bill, or if you did not have a correct bill or a deduction from your October 20 paycheck, please contact CMS. The balance owed must be paid to continue coverage. You can contact CMS at:

Phone: (425) 452-9889, ext. 145 or (866) 527-7580, ext. 145
Email: services@cobramanagement.com

Service Charges May Apply

Payments made by credit card or electronic funds transfer have an added service charge applied by the vendor. You might prefer to mail a check to avoid these.

Reporting Issues And Questions

If you’re having challenges with any of these issues, please email management at tiffany.perry@alaskaair.com and emmit.elliott@alaskaair.com and cc our AFA Benefits Committee at benefits@afaalaska.org. Our Benefits and Grievance Committees are continuing to work to resolve these issues.

Know the Facts about Microdosing Psychedelics, Including Psilocybin

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

Microdosing is a practice where individuals consume very small, sub-perceptual doses of a psychoactive substance, typically a psychedelic compound like psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”) or LSD. These doses are much lower than what would be needed to induce a full-blown psychedelic experience. Recently, researchers, doctors and patients alike have been turning to microdosing to evaluate if this practice can have positive effects on mental health, mood and cognition struggle. However, all consumers, especially safety sensitive employees like Flight Attendants, should be aware of the below cautions and concerns.

  1. Legal Issues: In many countries and states, psilocybin is illegal, and possessing or using it, even in small amounts, can lead to legal consequences. Even though some US states have legalized psilocybin, it is still considered a Schedule 1 substance at the federal level (just like marijuana).
  2. Lack of Standardization: Psilocybin content in magic mushrooms can vary significantly between species and even individual mushrooms. This makes it difficult to accurately control dosage, potentially leading to unintended and unpredictable effects. Obtaining a reliable source of psilocybin for microdosing can be challenging. Ensuring the quality and purity of the substance is also crucial to avoid potential contaminants or impurities.
  3. Interactions with Medications: Psilocybin may interact with certain medications, including antidepressants and antipsychotics. These interactions can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous, leading to serious health consequences. Psychological Effects: While the doses in microdosing are sub-perceptual, some individuals may still experience unwanted psychological effects such as anxiety, paranoia, or mood swings.
  4. Dependency and Tolerance: There is a potential for developing a tolerance to psilocybin with regular microdosing, meaning that over time, one might need to increase the dose to achieve the same effects.
  5. Misuse and Self-Medication: Microdosing is often promoted as a remedy for various mental health issues. Using it as a substitute for proper mental health treatment can delay or prevent individuals from seeking necessary help from qualified professionals.
  6. Undesirable Physical Effects: Even though micro-doses are sub-perceptual, there can be mild physical side effects, such as nausea, headaches, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
  7. Individual Variability: Responses to microdosing can vary greatly among individuals. What works well for one person may not have the same effects for another, and some people may experience adverse effects.

If you are struggling with a well-being issue, please reach out to your AFA EAP Committee for access to evidence-based treatments. Your Local EAP Committee can be reached using the contact information at afaalaska.org/eap or by calling (949) 470-0493. Remember, all calls are confidential.

Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2023

Benefits Committee

  • On Tuesday, October 24, the AFA Benefits Committee Chairpersons held a meeting to discuss their continued efforts in assisting Flight Attendants with work-related benefits such as insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs. 
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and address concerns brought forward by Flight Attendants.
  • If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Benefits Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

On Tuesday, October 24, representatives from our Local AFA Benefits Committees met to discuss their ongoing work related to Flight Attendant work-related benefits, including insurance, maternity, worker’s compensation, and leave of absence programs. Representing you at the meeting were Deb Wallstrom (ANC), Kathy O’Malley (SEA), Ann LaRue (PDX), Julie Pearson (SFO), Majo Tanco, (LAX), and Sonia Quackenbush (SAN). Also present were MEC Benefits Committee Chairperson Terry Taylor and MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson Stephanie Adams.

The committee met with the following management representatives: Mike Link, Senior Labor Relations Program Manager; Josh Madsen, Director – Health and Absence Management; Tiffany Perry, Health and Welfare Program Manager; Leah Ables, Director-Payroll, Margo Fincher, Manager-Absence Management; and Tracy Middleton and Stevie Ray Brown, from the Absence Management Department.

The committee’s next meeting will be scheduled for early January.

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:

  • Difficulty connecting with the Inflight FA Leave Team, either via telephone, returned message, or email. Should you encounter this problem, please reach out to your Local Council Benefits Representative. 
  • Challenges with the Return to Work process. Once you are released to return to work, you must send your written release to FA.Leave@alaskaair.com, as well as to Hartford or Sedgwick.
  • Introduction and description of new AirGroup EAP provider, Lyra. This program will take the place of Active Support starting January 01, 2024. Lyra will offer 10 free counseling sessions per covered employee/family member, per situation. They will offer both in-person and telehealth sessions. Those who are currently using Active Support counselors can complete the current six offered Active Support Sessions and will still be eligible for 10 sessions with Lyra starting in January.
  • An electronic version of the Pay Preference form has been in development for some time. This will be very helpful to those employees who do not have access to a printer. It is expected to be available by the end of the year.
  • Washington Paid Family Leave will go into effect for our work group in January 2024. Premiums are partially paid by the company, and partially payroll-deducted. This plan requires online application through the State of Washington. Oregon Paid Family leave went into effect in June of this year, with premium contributions starting that month. Each state has an ‘hours worked’ minimum requirement for eligibility.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Health Benefits following Staffing Adjustment Leave (SAL). We disagree with the new process requiring re-enrollment in health benefits following SALs. We are working to resolve this issue.
  2. Implementation of Washington Paid Family Leave, Oregon Paid Family Leave, and Washington Paid Sick Leave. We have requested the company communicate their processes and intent with implementation, application, and administration of these programs.
  3. Calculator Challenges. We continue to hear from members who believe the TFP calculators are inaccurate. The recent Flight Attendant Website Alert (10/20/23) indicated the company is aware of this and is working on it. As the end of the year draws closer we need these tools repaired and accurate.

We Want to Hear From You!

If you have any feedback or concerns that you would like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Your Local Benefits Committee is here to assist and represent you to management. You can find our contact information on the Benefits Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. We are committed to helping you in any way we can!

Contactability Flow Charts

Scheduling Committee

Our Scheduling Committee has created some new tools to help you better understand contractual language. These tools consist of two flowcharts that illustrate when you are required to be reachable by Crew Scheduling. One flowchart addresses situations when you are on duty, while the other covers times when you are on a RON/layover, on call as a Reserve, or off duty. Both flowcharts are available on the Scheduling Committee page of afaalaska.org for reference as needed.

Click here to view the on duty contactability flow chart >

Click here to view the Reserve, RON, and off duty contactability flow chart >

The development of these flowcharts was a collaborative effort between the Scheduling, Reserve, and Grievance Committees. To produce the flowcharts, the Committees enlisted the assistance of MEC Negotiations Strategic Communications Representative Justin Wetherell. We want to thank Justin for their time and dedication to this project.

Questions or Feedback?

We’d like to hear from you if you have any feedback on the flowcharts or suggestions for other helpful documents. For any questions about the flowcharts or contactability in general, please get in touch with your Local Scheduling Committee.

Council 43 (HNL) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 12 PM PT today for the election of Council 43 LEC Officers, representing Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants based in Honolulu. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: Kela Chong IVLEC Vice President: Martin GusmanLEC Secretary: Soon Kim View the certified election results here >> These newly elected […]

Council 39 (PDX) LEC Officer Election Results

Polls closed at 11 AM PT today for the election of Council 39 LEC Officers, representing Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants based in Portland. The following AFA Flight Attendants have been elected to Local Council Officer positions: LEC President: Krystle Shae BerryLEC Vice President: Melodie AnderesLEC Secretary: Kevin Sharp View the certified election results here >> These newly elected […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – May 2026

On Monday, May 11, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met virtually 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), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), and Kanani Vallot (SAN), with MEC Hotel Committee […]

AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Town Hall: Join Us Monday, June 8

This is your opportunity to connect, share, and be heard! Join us at our next AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Town Hall on Monday, June 8. Get the latest AFA news and connect directly with our MEC Officers. Bring your questions—this is your chance to get answers directly from AFA Representatives. The Details What: AFA Alaska […]

Recent Posts

News By Month

News By Category

AFA News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) AS/HA Merger AS/VX Merger Benefits Committee Committees Communications Committee Contract Contract 2014 Negotiations Blog Council 15 SAN Council 18 LAX (pmAS) Council 19 SEA (pmAS) Council 30 ANC Council 35 SFO Council 39 PDX Council 43 HNL Council 47 LAX/SEA (pmHA) EAP/Professional Standards Committee Extension 2021 Blog Featured Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee Hotel Committee Human Rights & Equity Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) Membership Engagement Committee Message from the MEC President Mobilization Committee Negotiations Pairing Construction Preferential Bidding System (PBS) Press Releases Reserve Committee Retirement Committee Scheduling Committee Uniform Committee

Want To Stay In The Loop?

Stay up-to-date on AFA Alaska + Hawaiian news and information by signing up for our email and text message updates. Click a button below to get started or update your preferences if you're already a subscriber.
Sign Up for Emails
Sign Up for Text Updates