Human Rights and Equity Committee

Chairperson Aaron Miller 

Happy PRIDE from your Human Rights and Equity Committee!

June is PRIDE month! It’s a time to celebrate and reflect upon LGBTQ+ history, embrace and support who we are now, and look to the future for our continued protection and prosperity.

While PRIDE as we know it is still relatively young, LGBTQ+ people are not. Many indigenous cultures acknowledge the variety humans exist in, with some even revering and assigning sacred honor to those possessing “Two-Spirits” as some Tribes on Turtle Island refer to just one of our many variations. Even western cultures have sometimes acknowledged LGBTQ+ people as existing, though most often with aggression and a taboo perspective.

But it is in recent times that LGBTQ+ people have found our place on the global stage as a culture of our own. That is in no small part to the struggle, voice, and sacrifice of our queer elders before us.

‘The first PRIDE was a riot!’

This common phrase among our community is a reminder of the spirit in which PRIDE was born. It began with trans women such as Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson standing up for each other and their siblings against oppressive police forces seeking to harm, arrest, and punish LGBTQ+ people for being who they are. PRIDE began as a grassroots local defense movement, standing up and fighting back against a dominant culture that wished to crush LGBTQ+ people, relegate us to back alleys, and end our lives in violence.

To this day, LGBTQ+ people, especially trans people, are targeted, with rights being stripped currently, and many enduring harassment, bullying, and violence. Therefore, our voices are rising again in defense just as much as celebration. Our struggle continues to defend against a culture of hate and against violence towards us that has never been returned in kind. This speaks to the core of PRIDE that is our love, our enduring spirit, and the legitimacy of our existence and rights. LGBTQ+ people do not wish to harm, dominate, or erase anyone, but as PRIDE highlights, we wish to embrace each other with love and celebrate our diversity.

It is in this spirit that we wish all our LGBTQ+ siblings and our steadfast allies a very happy PRIDE month of June. Please continue to stand up for each other, protect each other, and live fully in who you are. You are loved, you are sacred, and you deserve to be here just as much as everyone else! HAPPY PRIDE!!

ASHSC Committee

Chairperson Kalin Lackey  

We are excited to introduce our new chairperson, Kalin Lackey! 

Kalin has been an Alaska Flight Attendant for a little over 35 years and has been based in PDX for most of that time. Over the years Kalin has served on several Union committees, including our AFA EAP, Mobilization committee, and currently our Safety (ASHSC) committee for the past four or five years.

Kalin is honored to have been appointed to the chairperson position. She is passionate about keeping our group safe and improving our work environment. In her personal time, she enjoys hiking, biking, travel, hanging out with her husband Mike, Chocolate Lab Gage, and two cats, Tucker and Daisy. She is also an avid reader and loves to bake for people, and for all the wonderful doggies in her life. She is looking forward to leading our local ASHSC committee and looks forward to meeting those of you she hasn’t met. Until then, safe travels!

Officers note: On behalf of Council 39, we thank Blair Kimball for his years of service leading our Air, Safety, Health & Security Committee. We are happy Blair will continue to serve as a committee member. 

Scheduling Committee

Chairperson Melodie Anderes  

§8.Q Contactability

If you answer a call from Crew Scheduling when you are not on duty you are obligated to accept any legal assignment. 

If you are on your way to report and answer a call from Crew Scheduling and they are adjusting your report time, you have to take the new time. 

If you miss the call (it goes to voicemail) you can return their call after reporting as scheduled keeping your scheduled report.

State Sick Leave Bank

State Sick Leave Banks have been uploaded. Take a moment and double check that the correct amount was uploaded and moved from your SickFA (CBA) to your State Sick (CBA). You can find this line in your SickFA CBA. Contractually, they should move 40.0 TFP from your Sick bank to your State Sick bank. If you did not have 40.0 TFP, then they would have moved whatever Sick Leave balance you had to your State Sick bank. 

To access your balances, go to the Inflight page > Administration > Pay & Benefits > Rainmaker Logon > Crew Pay Manager > Bank Balances 

We will be hosting a PBS Base Sit in PDX on Monday, June 9 from 0600 to 1400. We will be in the FA Crew Room for best access to computers. Bring your bidding questions. Hope to see you there! 

Local Membership Committee

LECS Bethany Badalamenti  

AFA Membership services launched the new Membership Hub in April. Emails were sent on or about April 21st to Flight Attendants signed up to receive emails from AFA. We recommend logging into your Membership Hub Account if you haven’t already done so. Please be sure you check your junk or spam folder; the email was sent from AFAPortal@cwa-union.org.

·       Flight Attendants must use their personal email address. Company email addresses cannot be used.

·       Each Flight Attendant who received the email will be able to sign in immediately. 

·       The welcome email contains the AFA Hub Help page which can also be found on each Hub page of their accounts. 

Once signed in to the Hub you can: 

·       Check your current balance

·       Make payments via credit card or ACH (check payments)

·       Review your dues history

·       Set up recurring monthly payments 

If you did not receive the email and it isn’t in your junk or spam folder, you can access your account by going to afacwa.org/hub and selecting forgot password.

With the ratification of our new CBA, there were changes to §26.F for collecting dues in arrears that began starting with the April 20th paycheck.

§26. F.2.

Separate and apart from all deductions for initiation fees and dues referenced herein, the Company will deduct an additional amount equal to one (1) month’s dues for the purpose of satisfying any current or future dues arrears obligation from the reconciliation paycheck of each month. Such arrears deduction shall continue until the entire dues arrearage is satisfied.

Please familiarize yourself with this section of the contract.

For Portland-based Flight Attendants, if you have any questions or issues with the Membership Hub, please reach out to LEC Secretary Bethany Badalamenti at bethany.badalamenti@afaalaska.org. If you are not based in Portland, please reach out to your Council’s Membership committee at https://afaalaska.org/membership.

Grievance Committee

LECP Steve Maller

Recent grievance committee activity includes disciplines issued for flight delays, CBT incomplete violations, sick leave abuse, personal conduct, and required item violations. Please ensure you have a process to remember all required items when you leave home or a layover hotel. (Pro tip: A checklist taped to your front door or always keeping items in the same place in purses or bags, etc.) If a forgotten item, such as your crew ID or IMD, results in a delay of the flight, you will almost always receive a step of progressive discipline.

Personal conduct investigations have increased across all workgroups. Please remember your conduct, whether online or at work and on layovers, can be scrutinized and investigated for potential violations of the Flight Attendant manual (FAM) or the company’s Our People Policies. Always consider how your actions may be perceived by management and remember your conduct can be scrutinized if it might reflect poorly on the brand/company. If you have any questions about your conduct, please reach out to any LEC officer or Grievance Committee member.

A word about rumors…

Officers and committee members have heard some pretty wild rumors lately about investigations. Please consider how you would feel if you were being investigated for something and rumors got back to you that were completely unfounded and false. It can be very hurtful. We know it’s human nature to speculate and gossip, but please be careful about spreading salacious or outrageous rumors. Remember…these are our coworkers, who may well be completely innocent of any rumor circulating. Let’s be better…let’s give ’em a break!

Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) Update

The Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) is hard at work combining the seniority lists for the merged Alaska-Hawaiian Flight Attendant group. 

Coming in June, seniority verification letters will be mailed to Flight Attendants at their registered mailing address to confirm pre-merger seniority bidding dates. There is a 45-day period to review the letter and respond with any challenges via U.S. mail. In AUGUST and SEPTEMBER, the SMIC will review any challenges and respond to Flight Attendants who challenge their pre-merger seniority bidding date via U.S. mail. 

For more information, please see the previously published AFA Alaska MEC Newsletter Update from May 28, 2025.

In Solidarity,

Steve, Krystle and Bethany

In this edition:

• Annual benefits enrollment ends November 15th
• Scheduling update
• Grievance update
• Investigation meetings

Annual benefits enrollment

Enrollment ends November 15th. Postcards and alerts have been sent to all employees. Re-enrollment is required for HSA/FSA deductions and it’s always a good idea to review your elections for the upcoming year. This is the only time of the year when you can make changes without a qualifying life event, such as birth or marriage. Changes you make during the enrollment period are effective January 1, 2025.

Questions?Get started by visiting myalaskabenefits.com or call the Benefits Center at (844) 231-3476 during the hours of 8am to 7pm Pacific Time.

Scheduling update

Melodie Anderes, Chairperson

In December we are welcoming over 100 Flight Attendants to Portland! This is exciting growth for the PDX base. 

With the increase in Flight Attendants, we should be eligible for an increase in our TSN (Threshold Sequence Number) §12.F.3, increasing from four (4) to five (5) per day.

With the additional Flight Attendants, many will see a change in their base seniority percentage and schedule. If you have any bidding questions, or would like bidding assistance, please reach out to our AFA PBS Committee at PBS.QA@alaskaair.com 

The PBS Committee will be offering virtual assistance in November for December bidding. You can find the schedule and links on the PBS Info page. 

With holiday bidding upon us, remember to check out the NavBlue Info page for dates and times of the virtual assistance hosted every month. 

Grievance Update

Calls from Supervisors

Get a call from your supervisor after a sick call? We’ve learned management is choosing to exercise §32.A.4 of the contract:

32.A.4 Inflight management may contact the Flight Attendant via telephone or electronic communication on the Company intranet and the Flight Attendant will be expected to return the contact as soon as practical under the following circumstances:

a. If a Flight Attendant has accrued a total of four (4) points (regardless of points reduction and/or total bank points) within two (2) consecutive calendar quarters: or

b. If a Flight Attendant calls in sick at or after scheduled check-in and prior to wheels-up of her/his first flight (Sick Leave On-Line at Scheduled Check-in). Inflight management may contact the Flight Attendant via telephone or electronic communication on the Company intranet. 

We do recommend you call them back, but note you are not required to disclose any medical information nor discuss anything but Lyra (company EAP) and leave options with them without a Union representative present. If you have any questions, please reach out to a local officer or Grievance Committee member.

Investigation meetings

If you are asked to participate in a meeting with a performance supervisor or HR “business partner,” you should always have a Union rep with you. The performance supervisor or HR partner will advise you not to discuss the issue or case with anyone outside the “circle of know.” This is usually limited to those management and Union representatives present at the meeting, although whoever is conducting the meeting will usually allow for talking to “loved ones at home” as long as they are not employees.

What they specifically prohibit is discussing the case with other employees, especially fellow Flight Attendants, in airports and on planes, jumpseats, etc. Whether your actions are being investigated or you are called in as a witness, you should not discuss the case with anyone outside the circle of know. This should be considered a directive from management. Failing to comply with a management directive can subject you to discipline, up to and including termination, for insubordination.

It is important to understand that violating a directive can open a whole new investigation for the person who disregards the directive. Please protect yourself and fellow Flight Attendants by following management’s directions, whether you are the subject of an investigation or a witness. Please do not discuss cases outside of the circle of know. This is for the protection of everyone involved.

In Solidarity,

Steve, Krystle and Bethany

Important dates

October 14th – 16th – NGP Supplemental Benefits counselor onsite at PDX crew room; 8am – 4pm PT on 10/14; 5:30am – 1:30pm PT on 10/15 and 10/16

October 15th – Vacation bidding Round 2 closes at 11:59pm PT

October 16th – Management crew pay reps available – Laurelhurst Room 8am – 11am PT

October 17th – Local Council Meeting in Laurelhurst Room 10am – 12 noon PT

October 28th – Vacation trading opens at 10am PT

Hawaiian merger committee interviews

Originally published via MEC update on September 19^th, 2024. MEC Update 9/19/24

Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) and Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) Interviews

Expressing Interest & Interview Scheduling

The MEC will hold interviews of eligible candidates during the November Regular MEC Meeting on Tuesday, November 12 and Wednesday, November 13. If you’re interested in interviewing, plan to bid around this date or adjust your schedule accordingly to accommodate. All interviews will be conducted in person in SeaTac, WA.

Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest and resume using the online expression of interest form. The deadline for submissions is 5 PM Pacific time on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. After the submission deadline, an MEC representative will contact eligible candidates to arrange a specific interview time.

Please note that to submit an expression of interest, you must have a Google account.  If you do not have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Disaster Relief Fund

AFA International

There have been recent changes to the AFA Disaster Relief Fund program.

We are aware of members whose lives and households have been affected by Hurricane Helene. The AFA Disaster Relief Fund is actively monitoring messages for applications. Any AFA member and RAFA member in good standing who is involuntarily displaced from their primary residence for seven or more days because of a natural disaster is eligible for a one-time per calendar year gift of $500. If a member would like to apply for AFA Disaster Relief Funds, they can go to www.afacwa.org/drf and download the Disaster Relief Fund Application. Submission instructions are included on the site.

Additionally, members can apply for FEMA financial relief at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or 800-621-3362. 

FEMA disaster assistance may help with a range of needs including:  

Serious Needs Assistance. Money to help one pay for essential items such as food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies.

Displacement Assistance. Money to help with housing needs. If one cannot return to their home because of the disaster, this money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends, or other options while one looks for a rental unit.

Other eligible expenses. This includes expenses from things like rental assistance, basic home repairs and property losses.

For more information and/or to contribute to AFA’s Disaster Relief Fund to help fellow members, please visit Disaster Relief Fund – Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (afacwa.org)

Grievance report

Recent performance meetings include sick leave abuse, personal conduct and attendance warnings. There has been a notable increase in attendance written and final warnings for points. If you are not familiar with attendance policies, please review Section 32 – Attendance Policy in our contract at AFA-ALA-eJCBA-2018-2021-v.2019.06.12.3.pdf (afaalaska.org)

Please make sure you are aware of your attendance points status and check your attendance points regularly (Crew Access>Reports>Attendance points.) If you find an error, please contact your attendance supervisor directly to resolve.

Multiple members have received no-shows lately for not returning calls to crew scheduling. In the absence of a documented network outage at a cellular carrier level, there is little that can be done to mitigate the points from a no-show when a claim is made that a call wasn’t received and/or a voicemail wasn’t delivered. Management can document the outbound call to your phone number on file through call logs and the voice messages that are left are on a recorded line. Management’s position is that it is your responsibility to be contactable. This applies to both Reserve and Lineholder Flight Attendants.

Google Voice number recommendation

If you only have one phone number on file, it is recommended that you establish a free Google Voice number and provide that as a secondary number for scheduling to call should they not reach you on your primary number. From Anthony Eskander, local Reserve Committee Chairperson and Inflight Instructor:

Due to the recent nationwide issues with cell phone carriers, my advice is to get a free Google Voice number to use as your secondary number. The Google Voice App offers a free service that assigns you a free phone number that lets you forward calls and voicemails to your cell phone and email using data/W-Fi. If you would like to use this as your secondary number, it needs to be listed as mobile, home, or work in PeopleSoft.

Visit Voice (google.com) for more information and to establish an account. 

New committee members

Megan Getske – Government Affairs Committee

Megan began flying in 2008 with Virgin America. While there, she was elected to the Work Rules committee and was later involved in getting a Union to represent the Virgin America Flight Attendants. 

Megan transferred to the Portland base in 2019 and now lives in Vancouver, WA with the two best kitties a cat lady could ask for!

Jessica Rodriguez-Aguinaga – Scheduling Committee

Jessica has been a Flight Attendant since 2016. A proud graduate of Washington State University (WSU), she earned a bachelor’s degree and has an educational background encompassing business administration, human resources, accounting, and social sciences.

Beyond her professional achievements, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and their beloved four-legged companions; three charming Chihuahuas and an adorable Frenchie! Jessica describes her journey as a harmonious balance between professional success and personal fulfillment, reflecting her dedication to both career and cherished loved ones. She looks forward to working with all of us in the Portland base.

Please join us in welcoming Megan and Jessica!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

AFA International 

In 2024 an estimated 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S., as well as 56,500 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. There are currently over 4 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. – many who fly with us every day. A study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that Flight Attendants have a higher prevalence of every cancer they studied, especially breast cancer, melanoma, and non-melanoma skin cancer.

Early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When breast cancer is detected early with adequate diagnosis and treatment, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured. 

This is something that affects all of us within our Flight Attendant community and the world. Use this month to encourage your mothers, spouses, sisters, and flying partners to get an exam or perform a self-exam.

Remember, your AFA EAP is available to confidentially assist you with any health-related issues. You can find a listing of your local EAP committee members at Council 39 Committees (afaalaska.org)

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Steve, Krystle and Bethany

From AFA International Membership Services

Elected; Term of office July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026

LEC President:            Steven Maller
LEC Vice President:    Krystle Berry
LEC Secretary:            Bethany Badalamenti

You can see the certified results here: 

council_39_certified_election_results_2023.pdf (afacwa-elections.org)

Thank you for voting!

Steve, Krystle and Bethany