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Mental Health Awareness Month

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

  • May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
  • Our AFA EAP Committee wants to share a few reminders about mental health, mental illnesses, and available support.
  • You can reach out to your local AFA EAP Committee Members for assistance in connecting with a professional or addressing concerns, for yourself or a loved one.

What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Can your mental health change over time?

Yes, it’s important to remember that a person’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors.  When the demands placed on us exceed our resources and coping abilities, our mental health could be impacted. 

How common are mental illnesses?

Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness. About 1 in 25 U.S. adults lives with a serious mental illness, such as major depression.

What causes mental illness?

There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as:

  • Adverse Childhood experiences such as trauma or a history of abuse 
  • Experiences related to other ongoing (chronic) medical conditions, such as cancer or diabetes
  • Biological factors or chemical imbalances in the brain
  • Use of alcohol or drugs
  • Having feelings of loneliness or isolation

How can you protect and support your own mental well-being?

Evaluate your mental well-being on a routine basis just like you are advised to do for your physical health. Your AFA EAP can help you connect with a professional to assist you with that process or to address any concerns you may have about your or a loved one’s mental health.  Your local AFA EAP Committee Members can be found on the EAP Committee page of the AFA Alaska website or you can call (949) 470-0493.

AFA Alaska News in Review – May 5, 2023

In This Edition

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Originally posted May 1, 2023

May 1st marks the first day of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States.  This tradition dates back to 1978 when Congress passed a resolution to commemorate the first Asian/Pacific American Heritage week the following year. Read more about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, learn about the accomplishments of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below. Join the celebration by wearing an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month AFA Pin during the month of May.  If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

Read More >

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – April 2023

Originally posted May 2, 2023

Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, April 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!

Read More >

Other Parents Like Me (OPLM)

Originally posted May 3, 2023

Our AFA EAP Committee wants to share a free online resource for parents and other caregivers of children struggling with mental health and/or substance use issues. Other Parents Like ME (OPLM) offers several resources free of subscription charge for one year with the code/link provided. This free subscription is a gift from OPLM founder and retired United Airlines Flight Attendant Cassie Fariello.

Read More >

Building Community Power: Now and Then

Originally posted May 4, 2023

Our Human Rights Committee wants to invite you to our 2023 celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month on May 23rd. Join our online presentation, Building Community Power: Now and Then, with panelists discussing community power in the past and present day. AFA is joined by the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, and the International Women’s Alliance for this event.

Read More >

Next Week’s Events

Tuesday, May 9Regular MEC Meeting
Tuesday, May 9Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting
Tuesday, May 9 – Thursday, May 11Contract Negotiations

See the MEC Event Calendar >

Find Us on Social Media

You can find the most up-to-date official information on our AFA Alaska social media accounts.  Click below and follow so you can stay connected!

Building Community Power: Now and Then

Human Rights Committee

  • Our Human Rights Committee wants to invite you to our 2023 celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month on May 23rd.
  • Join our online presentation, Building Community Power: Now and Then, with panelists discussing community power in the past and present day.
  • AFA is joined by the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, and the International Women’s Alliance for this event.


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Join CWA Human Rights for Building Community Power: Now and Then, our 2023 celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month! We will hold an online presentation and panel on Tuesday, May 23, at 7pm EST, on what building community power for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander workers has looked like in the past and the present day.

We are excited to facilitate a discussion with panelists from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, and the International Women’s Alliance. AANHPI workers, as well as all union siblings and allies, are encouraged to attend.

Other Parents Like Me (OPLM)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

  • Our AFA EAP Committee wants to share a free online resource for parents and other caregivers of children struggling with mental health and/or substance use issues.
  • Other Parents Like Me (OPLM) offers several resources free of subscription charge for one year with the code/link provided.
  • This free subscription is a gift from OPLM founder and retired United Airlines Flight Attendant Cassie Fariello.

Other Parents Like Me (OPLM) is an online peer support community designed for parents and other caregivers of children struggling with mental health and/or substance use issues. Normally, it is a fee-based resource, which is now being provided to Flight Attendants free of any subscription charge for one year (1 year). 

OPLM offers a number of resources including:

  • Daily support groups: 17 virtual peer-led meetings every week that include, Men’s and Women’s, Adoptive Families, Meditation, to name a few
  • Subject Matter Speakers: At least 5 speaker meetings per month followed by a Q&A 
  • Parent Stories & Blogs: Personal stories and insights into the journey of parents like you
  • Resource Hub: Search podcasts, articles, apps, books, and more 

This free one-year subscription is being gifted by the OPLM founder and retired United Airlines Flight Attendant Casie Fariello who herself struggled with maintaining her career responsibilities while addressing behavioral health crises with her children.   

Flight Attendants can access their free one-year subscription by using this code: FADAP2023 or link: https://oplm.com/register/?coupon=FADAP2023.

DISCLAIMER OF ENDORSEMENT. AFA’s participation in notifying Flight Attendants of this free OPLM subscription does not constitute endorsement by AFA. AFA does not authorize, endorse, support or sponsor any OPLM product, service, or activity.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – April 2023

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, April 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, April 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), Martin Vance (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Natalie Codd (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz, and MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton.

The committee met with Supervisor Inflight Crew Scheduling Matthew Trujillo, Director of Crew Planning Mike Ostler, Manager of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and other management representatives from Crew Planning.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on May 23, 2023.

Topics of Discussion

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

  • Reserve Utilization. April Reserve utilization was around 85%; utilization is expected to increase in the spring/summer. Management continues to discuss an increase in sick leave usage and absence rates. Typically reserves are 60% AM and 40% PM, however in June for SEA/ANC it will be around 50/50. 
  • No Shows. We continue to receive reports of circumstances where 
    Flight Attendants were issued no shows incorrectly based on contactability requirements of the contract. If you believe you are assessed points incorrectly, please follow up with your local AFA representatives.
  • Hotel wait time/assignment. AFA is aware of issues with wait times and transportation. If you are required to share rooms, stay at a non-approved hotel, or wait in the hotel lobby more than one (1) hour, please file a Crew Care Report and contact your local Hotel Committee Chairperson and Scheduling Committee Chairperson. AFA and management are reviewing the processes in place for IROPS and Severe IROPS with the intent to improve wait times and bookings. 
  • Leaves. Leaves will not be offered in June. We expect to see line averages around 79 TFP and 21% reserve ratio system wide. 
  • Van Times. Pilots and Flight Attendants sharing transportation should have the same van times. There were reports of crews waiting in the van for pilots. Pilot Scheduling/Crew Scheduling should coordinate any transportation changes on behalf of the crews. 
  • NavBlue Pattern Bidding. In July we are anticipating adding a new feature that will allow pattern bidding. Look for more information on how to utilize this new option. The PBS Committee is updating help files to be more user friendly. If you need assistance with bidding, please email them. 
  • Charters. Voluntary charters no longer exist. All charter flights will be paid. AFA successfully advocated for this change. 
  • Per Diem. In some circumstances you will see taxed layover per diem based on state/federal requirements. Rainmaker is programmed to process the taxes automatically based on the limits. You can review taxation on CONUS Rates. Company is required by law to process the taxation. 
  • Pilot Retiming Block In/Out. AFA sent a request to Labor Relations and Inflight management asking for communication on when/how pilots are able to adjust block in/out times. Flight Attendants are seeing changes to their rosters and want clarification on the process. Management is reviewing our request.
  • Sick Child/Sick Family (LOA 5 in CBA). California passed a new law that allows Flight Attendants to designate one primary person per year. This person will be designated and the Flight Attendant will receive full protection under the law. Labor Relations and AFA are working on the implementation of this improvement. Look for more information in a future AFA communication. 

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. NavBlue. The PBS Subcommittee asked management for base sits to assist Flight Attendants with bidding. We are waiting for further details.
  2. Crew Access Filters. There is a meeting with Jeppesen scheduled in late April to discuss filters. We expect implementation in a 3rd quarter release. 
  3. Handshake Trades. This change would allow users to post trips for trade on Crew Access and accept/decline offers submitted. We expect implementation in a 3rd quarter release. 
  4. Pairings Survey. It’s been a few years since we submitted a survey on pairing construction. We are discussing survey questions and the possibility of a virtual session or town hall. 

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.

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, August 13, our pre-merger Alaska AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), Diana Berni (PDX),  Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – August 2026

On Monday, August 10, our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met remotely 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 pmAS), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX pmAS), Kanani Vallot (SAN), and Matt […]

787-9 Inflight Service Grievance: Protecting Our Contract and Standards

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants For decades, Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants have defined the Spirit of Aloha. We take pride in delivering world-class service, but management’s current Boeing 787-9 service model is threatening that legacy. It isn’t just inefficient—it’s an unsustainable pace that undermines the quality our passengers expect and the professional […]

Pre-Merger Alaska Reserve Webinar Video and Q&A Recap – August 6, 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Thank you to everyone who joined our first pre-merger Alaska Reserve Webinar! We created this interactive session to share practical contract tips and help you feel more confident about reserve life. You can now watch the recording on our YouTube channel using the link below. Please note that […]

Wrapping Up Membership Engagement Focus Month: Stronger Together

July was a remarkable month for our Membership Engagement Committee. We set out with a clear purpose: to bring our Flight Attendant community closer together, share valuable resources, and build authentic connections throughout our system. Over the past four weeks, we explored what it means to be engaged in our AFA family. We kicked things […]

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