Dear Flight Attendants,

For those of you who were around in 2007, you may recall participating in the Harvard Flight Attendant Healthy Study. The 2007 survey was the first time that Flight Attendant health had been mapped on a broad scale. For instance, the study determined that the prevalence of respiratory disease amongst Flight Attendants was approximately three times that found in the general U.S. population. In addition, sleep disorders, fatigue, depression and heart disease were greatly increased in female Flight Attendants compared to baseline.

Harvard is in the process of repeating the study to determine any trends in these conditions—especially as Flight Attendants age. An on-line version of the study is being kicked off with Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants sometime in the next week or so before the holiday season begins. AFA believes it is extremely important for our members to participate in the survey in order to track long-term health trends amongst Flight Attendants.

We know December is an extremely busy time for everybody, but your Master Executive Council (MEC) would be very grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the survey should you be selected to participate. Be looking for an email from the Harvard Flight Attendant Health Study in the near future!

In solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

Dear Flight Attendants,

Our current MEC Safety, Health, and Security Committee (SHSC) Chairperson Barb Moynier has served out her two year commitment in that position and will be stepping down in the near future. Consequently, the MEC will be conducting interviews to fill the vacancy at the January MEC meeting: January 14-15, 2014, in Seattle.

If you are interested in applying for the position, please fax or email your resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer, Yvette Gesch at 206-246-4752 or

ysgesch@gmail.com. Resumes must be submitted by January 1, 2014. Yvette will then contact you to schedule your interview.

For a description of the job responsibilities please see below. If after reviewing this information, you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact MEC SHSC Chairperson Barb Moynier at shsc@alaskamec.org, or MEC Vice President (and MEC Committee Executive Chairperson) Terry Taylor at tltafa@aol.com.

SAFETY, HEALTH & SECURITY COMMITTEE

SCOPE

• The Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (SHSC) shall work with the Company on matters pertaining to cabin and Flight Attendant safety and health.

POLICY/RESPONSIBILITIES

• The MEC SHSC shall consist of the:

• MEC SHSC Chairperson
• MEC SHSC Vice Chairperson—Air Quality
• Local SHSC Chairperson from each council.

• The MEC SHSC Chairperson is the primary contact with the Company, the FAA and the International office, regarding Flight Attendant safety and health issues.
• The MEC Chairperson shall:

• Attend any safety meetings with the company.
• Attend FAA/Alaska Airlines safety meetings.
• Attend AFA-CWA Air Safety Department training seminars
• In conjunction with the International Office, develop and conduct initial and ongoing local Safety/Health training, including NTSB accident investigation procedures
• Communicate with the AFA-CWA Air Safety Department.
• Communicate with other airline safety representatives, as appropriate.
• Participate in accident investigation, hijacking, sabotage, etc., as directed.
• Communicate with the Alaska ALPA MEC Safety Chairperson as appropriate.
• Attend and participate in Congressional hearings dealing with cabin safety, as directed.
• Assign special safety assignments to local Safety/Health Chairpersons as appropriate. The MEC officers and appropriate LEC President shall be advised of these special assignments.
• Handle safety incidents, i.e. equipment problems, occupational injuries, as they arise.
• Compose informational and educational articles of interest to the membership and provide them to the MEC Communications Chairperson to be included in MEC communications and posted to the MEC website.
• Be on a 24-hour call-out in the event of an accident.
• Participate in programs concerned with air safety, health and security.
• Act in an advisory role to the MEC on safety and health matters.
• Study safety and health problems and prepare recommendations to be presented to the MEC for consideration.
• Review material, handle correspondence and keep members informed of safety and health developments through the Communications Committee and/or reports at Local Council meetings.
• Attend company debriefings after an accident or incident or when pertinent issues are discussed.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Terry Taylor, Yvette Gesch, Melanie Buker, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

Dear Flight Attendants,

Interviews for Master Executive Council (MEC) president, vice president and secretary-treasurer were held this week in Seattle, WA. In accordance with AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws, each current Local Executive Council (LEC) president is afforded one vote apiece in order to select a candidate for each office. Council 30 ANC President-elect Becky Strachan also participated in the selection process in an advisory capacity.

The following candidates were interviewed:

MEC president – Jeffrey Peterson (running unopposed);

MEC vice president – Terry Taylor, Brian Palmer; and

MEC secretary-treasurer – Yvette Gesch, Jarod McNeill.

Your upcoming Master Executive Council will be President Jeffrey Peterson, Vice President Brian Palmer and Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Gesch, with terms running from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2016. AFA sincerely thanks all candidates for stepping forward to represent the membership.

In solidarity,

Your MEC – President Jeffrey Peterson, Vice President Terry Taylor, Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Gesch, Council 30 ANC President Melanie Buker, Council 19 SEA President Laura Masserant, Council 39 PDX President Cathy Gwynn, Council 18 LAX/SAN President Sandra Morrow, MEC Vice President-elect Brian Palmer and Council 30 ANC President-elect Becky Strachan

“Five Bases, One Voice”