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AFA-CWA Board of Directors Convention

The 53rd AFA-CWA Board of Directors Convention will take place in downtown Portland on March 9-11, 2026. Your LEC officers are thrilled that our beautiful city was chosen to host this year from a list of several other major convention cities around the country.

  • DATES: March 9-11
  • TIME: Call To Order at 0900
  • LOCATION: The Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205

All members in good standing are invited and encouraged to attend one or more days of the BOD Convention as a guest. It’s a great opportunity to learn firsthand how your Union works to represent your interests locally and nationally. Here are some helpful links related to the Board of Directors, the convention, and AFA in general:

If you are interested in attending as a guest, registration is required. Please remember to bid around the dates you register for as trips will not be dropped in order for you to attend. You are welcome to register to attend any or all of the dates. As a reminder, Flight Attendants who are registered air commuters are not permitted to use D8Y status to fly in for the convention.

2026 BOD Convention Registration


AFA Alaska Council 39, in conjunction with AFA Horizon Council 17, will host a pre-BOD meeting on February 25 to discuss the BOD Convention agenda as well as local committee reports and updates.

  • DATE: February 25
  • TIME: 1100
  • LOCATION: Port of Portland Office Building

The AFA Membership Hub is your one-stop-shop to access all of your AFA account information. You can check your dues status, make payments toward past dues and view payment history. This is also the place to update your contact information, including phone numbers and preferred personal email, to make sure you’re staying up to date on important AFA communications.

Council 39 January 2026 Update (January 31, 2026)

In This Edition:

  • AFA Membership Hub
  • Employee Assistance Program/Professional Standards
  • AFA International Pre-Board of Directors Meeting
  • Committee Member Updates
  • Joint Contract Negotiations Update

AFA Membership Hub

If you are successfully receiving this email, it means that your contact information in the AFA Membership Hub is accurate and up to date. Thank you! However, many of our flying partners are not signed up to receive important communications from either Council 39, AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC, or both, and we need your help with getting the word out.

Please encourage everyone you fly with to log in to the Membership Hub and verify that their preferred personal email address is on file. Click here for a quick video showing how easy it is to do.

Employee Assistance Program/Professional Standards

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a support service provided by Flight Attendants for Flight Attendants. EAP Representatives are trained to provide three distinct but interrelated services that include assessment, support and referral services, professional standards and critical incident response. 

We encourage Flight Attendants to calmly and professionally address workplace conflicts with each other. Sometimes, it may be best to wait until you are on the ground on a layover or outside of work so that everyone involved has time to think things through.

While we encourage the resolution of any disagreement by trying to discuss the specific behavior or area of contention with the individual involved, we understand that there are situations where an objective ear can be beneficial. That is where EAP, specifically Professional Standards, can help. They can assist you in working out any difficulty and avoid “writing up” Flight Attendants or other employees, where both parties may then be subject to disciplinary action. When issues are taken to management to report a fellow Flight Attendant or other employee, the consequences can be severe for all parties involved and rarely turn out as we might anticipate. 

EAP Representatives, all of whom are Flight Attendants and committed to confidentiality, are trained to help you resolve issues with your coworkers when you need them. Our Council 39 EAP Chairperson, Contesa Diaz-Nicolaidis, is available here and you can find the full list of Council 39 EAP/Professional Standards Representatives here. 

AFA International Pre-Board of Directors Meeting

Council 39 will be hosting a joint meeting with Horizon AFA Council 17 on Wednesday, February 25 at 11 AM in the Port of Portland office building ahead of the 2026 AFA International Board of Directors Convention. Topics to be discussed include AFA International BOD agenda items, local committee recaps and reports. 

The 2026 AFA Board of Directors Convention is taking place in downtown Portland at The Benson Hotel on March 9-11. If you are interested in attending one or more of these days as a guest, registration is required. Please email our LEC officers by clicking here and bid accordingly. This is a great opportunity to observe how the Board of Directors works and what they do.

More information about the convention can be found here.

Committee Member Updates

We are pleased to announce Wendy Drake as a new addition to our Council 39 Benefits Committee. Wendy will serve as the Retirement Advisor.

Wendy began her career as a Flight Attendant in 1992 and has previously served on AFA Scheduling and Communications Committees. She holds a BA in Legal Studies from Chapman University in Orange, California. Wendy also spent time working in the financial sector with Bank of New York/Mellon, where she gained valuable insight into personal finance, her favorite subject matter.

Wendy is enthusiastic about helping fellow Flight Attendants prepare for retirement. In her personal life, she is engaged in caring for her elderly mother and learning to navigate Medicare.

Additionally, our Government Affairs Committee Chairperson, Colin Weaver, is stepping down from the position. We thank Colin for his service.

Our new Government Affairs Committee Chairperson is Manda Bednarczyk. Manda started flying for Alaska Airlines in 1999 and has been a proud member of the Portland base for 27 years. Living in southwest Portland, Manda is active in her community as a Girl Scout leader and volunteer at her children’s school. She views civic involvement as integral to a healthy society, and believes that active political engagement on a local and national level is imperative to sustain any democracy. 

As a previous member of the Government Affairs Committee, Manda was excited to return to the committee recently and is looking forward to a new position. She is eager to represent Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants, especially the Portland base, and our interests to our elected officials. 

If you are interested in helping Manda in her new position and joining the Government Affairs Committee, click here. You can find helpful information regarding the committee and their activities here.

Other new additions include Ty Kershaw (Grievance Committee), Lisa Lacaden (Benefits Committee/Workers Compensation Advisor) and Cesar Valencia (Benefits Committee/Kaiser Insurance Advisor). Keep an eye out for their bios in a future communication.  

Joint Contract Negotiations Update

Our JNC (Joint Negotiating Committee) met with management on January 27 to January 29 in Seattle; the next negotiation session is scheduled for February 24 to February 26. Our MEC Air Safety Health and Security Chairperson and Air Quality Representative, along with the AFA-CWA International Industrial Hygienist joined the JNC to speak to management about impacts of air quality on Flight Attendants.

Click here to read the full update from the JNC. 

In Solidarity,

Steve, Krystle and Bethany

Council 39 December 2025 (December 14, 2025) Update

In This Edition:

  • Happy Holidays!
  • Q4 CBT (Annual Compliance Training) Due 12/31
  • End Of Year Reminders
  • Increase In RODs
  • Communications Committee Update
  • Updating Your Email Address

Happy Holidays!

Whether you’re flying the line or spending time at home with friends and family, we would like to wish you a happy and safe holiday season!

Q4 CBT (Annual Compliance Training)

Annual Compliance Training CBTs are due by Wednesday, December 31st. Please make sure to complete the CBT on time to avoid progressive steps of discipline.

End Of Year Reminders

Current uniform allotment will expire on Wednesday, December 31st and will not roll over to next year. It is best to place orders sooner to ensure they are processed by the deadline. We will be issued a new allotment on January 1st. See Section 13.D of the CBA for details.

The deadline to decide whether to exchange your 2026 Employee Choice Travel Credits for Positive Space Travel (PST) is Tuesday, December 16th. 

Travel Open Enrollment is open now and will close on Tuesday, December 16th.

Remember to convert unused Employee Choice Travel Credits to guest passes. You can print or email the codes to yourself for future use.

Increase In RODs (Records of Discussion)

We have recently seen an increase in Records of Discussion. The leading reasons are reporting for duty without required items, such as Company ID (crew badge) and IMDs, and uniform compliance. Please refer to the FAM, Section 11.100 page 30, for a list of required items and the Uniforms Homepage on Team AAG for uniform compliance guidelines.

Communications Committee Update

We are pleased to announce Russel Rivinius as our new Communications Committee Chairperson.

Russel began his career as an Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant in early 2017. Initially based in Los Angeles, he has been in Portland for six years. He currently serves on the Council 39 Scheduling Committee and will begin a three-year term as MEC Scheduling Committee Fatigue Review Board Alternate Representative on January 1st.

Prior to joining Alaska Airlines, Russel worked in the service industry and managed several bars and restaurants. He lives in the beautiful city of Portland with his partner, Fabio, and their cats, Moira and Jonni.

Please join us in welcoming Russel to his new position.

Updating Your Email Address

Recently, AFA International made the switch to a new software platform for member engagement. As a result of the switch, some Flight Attendants’ profiles were duplicated. The MEC Communications Committee is actively working on merging duplicate profiles, but please log in to the AFA Membership Hub to verify that we have your preferred personal, not company, email address on file. This will ensure you’re receiving up-to-date communications from both Council 39 as well as our Master Executive Council.

As you’re flying, please encourage your fellow Flight Attendants to log in to the Membership Hub as well.

In Solidarity,

Steve, Krystle and Bethany

Council 39 November 2025 Update (November 17, 2025)

In This Edition:

  • Happy Thanksgiving!
  • Joint JNC/Council 39 Meeting Information
  • Uniform Committee Update/Allotment Reminder
  • Healthcare Open Enrollment – Due November 21st

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether you’re flying the line or spending time at home with friends and family, we would like to wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday!

Joint JNC/Council 39 Meeting Information:

Please join us on Friday, November 21st at 11:30 am for our local council meeting. Members of the Joint Negotiating Committee will also be available to answer questions.

  1. After landing at PDX, exit the secure area and proceed to the landside (baggage claim area) of the terminal.
  2. Follow signs for “Short-Term Parking” or “Long-Term Parking” garage – the meeting venue signage directs to the Long-Term Parking garage. You can go outside and walk across the roadways into the parking garage or you can take the North Tunnel (near baggage claim carousel 8) and walk all the way to the end of the tunnel and follow signs to the Port offices.
  3. If driving to PDX, you can park in the Long-Term Parking garage (or if that’s full, the east side of the Short-Term garage and use the walkway to the Long-Term garage.) 
  4. Take the elevator from the garage lobby (east end) marked “Port Offices” to the 1st floor lobby, then follow signage/elevators up to the 8th floor of the Port of Portland Headquarters.
  5. On the 8th floor, check in with the receptionist and pick up your visitor’s badge, then go to the “Anchor Room” for the meeting.

Uniform Committee Update/Allotment Reminder:

Our current uniform allotment expires at the end of this year. New allotments will be issued in January. However, current funds in your allotment will not roll over. Please remember to place uniform orders by December 31st so you don’t lose out on any leftover funds. 

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to David Jelinek for his many years of dedication as the Portland Base Uniform Committee Chairperson. David has recently been appointed as the MEC Chairperson, and we congratulate him on this well-deserved transition.

With this change, we are excited to announce that Bob Moore will be stepping into the local chairperson role. Bob began his career with Horizon Air in 1987, where he played a key role in organizing AFA on the property and served on both the EAP and Inflight Service Committees. In 1996, he joined Alaska Inflight, where he continues to serve today. Over the years, Bob has contributed his leadership as co-chair of the PDX Reserve Committee, and as a member of the Voice Committee, Uniform Committee, LEC and MEC Uniform Committees.

Please join us in thanking David for his service and congratulating Bob as he takes on this new role!

In addition to Bob resuming the chairperson role we would like to introduce new Uniform Committee members:

Diana Berni

Diana was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She began her career as an LA based Flight Attendant in 2007. In 2010 she decided to venture out and transferred to the Portland base she now calls home.  

She has volunteered her time by doing various projects with the Alaska Airlines Special Projects Pool and has also participated in the Grand Floral Parade by marching with the Flight Attendant Drill Team.  

Diana is married, has two children and a golden doodle named Maximus. She spends her off days with her family hiking, going to the movies and driving to the coast. 

She looks forward to working closely with AFA as a Uniform Committee member and assisting fellow Flight Attendants with their uniform needs.  

Lexie Rhodes

Lexie Rhodes has been a proud member of the Alaska Airlines family since 2013. Before joining Alaska, she worked as an executive assistant, where she built a strong foundation in teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. She studied European History at the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a minor in History of Art and Visual Culture and enriched her studies with several design courses that sparked her interest in how aesthetics and function can work hand in hand. Her time studying abroad in Siena, Italy, and Stirling, Scotland further deepened her appreciation for cultural exchange, inclusive perspectives, and thoughtful design.

Lexie is excited to bring her perspective to the AFA Uniform Committee and support her fellow Flight Attendants in advocating for thoughtful, inclusive uniform choices that honor both Alaska’s and Hawaiian Airlines’ cultures, accommodate diverse body types, and balance comfort with style. When she’s not in the air, you’ll find her reading, hiking, daydreaming about her next adventure, hanging with her nine nieces and nephews, pulling playful pranks, or spending time with her close-knit group of girlfriends.

Tutu Smith

Tutu has loved every chapter of her journey with Alaska Airlines since starting as a CSA in 2001 and moving to Inflight in 2007. She’s passionate about her work, takes great pride in wearing the uniform, and is excited to contribute her experience and perspective as a member of the Uniform Committee.

Tutu has previously served on the Inflight Service Committee and the Mobilization Committee during contract negotiations. When she’s not flying, she enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and their dog or catching a good football game on TV.

Healthcare Open Enrollment:

Don’t forget to complete your elections for healthcare benefits by November 21st at 10 PM PST. You can review/update your coverage by clicking here and using your Team AAG single sign-on.

In Solidarity,

Steve, Krystle and Bethany

Council 39 September 2025 Update 

In this edition:

  • Happy Labor Day! – September 1st
  • Save the date – Local Council Meeting November 21st
  • Volunteer Committee Opportunities
  • Grievance Committee Update – Trending investigations and disciplinary issues
  • Registered Air Commuter Status – D8Y Reminders 

Happy Labor Day! 

Whether you’re working or enjoying Labor Day festivities today, we hope you can take a moment to reflect on the history and successes of Labor in our country, and how far we’ve come in the Labor movement.

Click Happy 80th Birthday, AFA – Association of Flight Attendants-CWA to read about the history of AFA, celebrating 80 years this summer!

Save the date 

November 21, 2025 – Local Council Meeting. Location and time TBD.

Volunteer Committee Opportunities 

Communications Committee

Steve Maller, LECP

The Communications Committee works to maintain regular and timely communication with the membership through relevant channels including print, web, social media, and emerging platforms.

Communications Committee
https://afaalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Communications-Committee-Duties-and-Responsibilities-2022.11.23.pdf.

Government Affairs Committee

Colin Weaver, Chairperson

The Government Affairs Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and pursue legislative activities that relate to the AFA-CWA political agenda and to build positive relationships with candidates for office and elected officials.

Government Affairs Committee

Click to access Government-Affairs-Committee-Duties-and-Responsibilities-2022.11.23.pdf

Human Rights & Equity Committee

Aaron Miller, Chairperson

The Human Rights & Equity Committee’s responsibility is to promote activities that foster greater understanding of one another and the diversity of our membership in order to build the strength of our Union through our common struggles and goals rather than allowing others to divide us by our differences.

Human Rights & Equity Committee

Click to access Human-Rights-Committee-Duties-and-Responsibilities-2022.11.23.pdf

Inflight Service Committee

Todd Horn, Chairperson

The Inflight Service Committee represents Flight Attendant interests regarding catering and inflight service/sales and addresses Flight Attendant complaints and concerns regarding catering and inflight service/sales.

Inflight Service Committee

Click to access Inflight-Service-Committee-Duties-and-Responsibilities-2022.11.23.pdf

Please take a moment to review the specific Duties and Responsibilities link provided. These are all VOLUNTEER opportunities. Please reach out to the respective chairperson for specific committee related questions. 

If you would like to be considered for one of these volunteer opportunities, please email pdx@afaalaska.org. Please include the committee of interest, and any relevant experience you may have.Grievance Committee Update

Trending investigations and disciplinary issues

The Council 39 Grievance Committee continues to see increased disciplinary actions in the following key areas. Please review and stay informed to protect yourself from preventable violations.

CBT Completion

Discipline for failing to complete quarterly CBTs remains one of the top trends.

  • Flight Attendants returning from leave are given 60 days to complete any missed CBTs.
  • Forgetting or being too busy is not considered a valid excuse and will not overturn discipline.
  • If you experience technical issues, the Grievance Committee may be able to assist. Be sure to document everything and open a ticket with Alaska IT support.
  • Important: Multiple missed CBT deadlines, or any other performance related disciplines, within 18 months will escalate on the progressive discipline scale.
    • Example: Two missed CBTs = Written Warning.

Commuter Violations

Every Monday, management runs a commuter audit focusing on D8Y usage.

  • Ensure you’re using D8Y travel only in accordance with the commuter policy.
  • The correct usage guidelines are listed on the commuter registration form. Read and follow them carefully.
  • Misuse will likely result in disciplinary action, even if unintentional.

Social Media Discipline

Social media remains a significant source of disciplinary investigations, including terminations on first offense.

  • Even with private settings, your content can be screenshot and forwarded to management.
  • If your account has any identifiable link to Alaska Airlines (e.g., uniform photos, employer listed, Alaska-specific group membership), you may be subject to discipline.
  • There is no “free speech” protection or guaranteed privacy when it comes to social media and employer-related content and infractions.

Posting TikTok, Instagram, Facebook videos may very well be seen by management and bring you under scrutiny. Be cautious. Think before you post or comment!

Reserve Violations

Violations related to Reserve requirements are also on the rise.

  • You must be in base and within required proximity for RAPs and airport standby.
  • Leaving the airport while on airport standby is a terminable offense, even on the first violation.

Delays

  • If a delay is coded to a specific Flight Attendant, it will be investigated, with a meeting with Inflight performance management. 
  • If the Flight Attendant’s conduct is found to be the root cause of the delay (most commonly a forgotten required item) it will likely result in a Confirmation of Oral Warning (first step of progressive discipline) unless you’re already in a step of discipline. 

If you have any questions about these topics or need support, please reach out to your AFA Grievance Committee or LEC Officers. Early guidance can help you avoid a formal investigation and potential discipline.

Registered Air Commuter Status – D8Y Reminders 

If you are registered under Commuter Status (D8Y), please review the following important reminders to ensure compliance and avoid potential violations:

Permitted Use of D8Y

  • D8Y may only be used when commuting to or from work at your domicile.
  • Both direct flights and connections are allowed on Alaska metal and other carriers (proof of offline travel is required.)
  • D8Y is not permitted for personal travel or out of base pick-ups under any circumstances.

Update Your Commuter Info If:

You must submit an Update or Removal Request via the Commuter Form on the Inflight website if any of the following have changed since you enrolled:

  • Registered commuter city
  • Primary residential address
  • Permanent domicile
  • Temporary base swap

Keeping your information accurate is essential to maintaining your commuter status.

D8Y Is Not Permitted When:

  • Picking up a trip outside your base.
  • Choosing to be released from a deadhead segment that was scheduled to return you to your domicile.

Improper use of D8Y, even unintentionally, may result in disciplinary action. Be sure you’re using this benefit appropriately and only for its intended purpose.

If you have questions or need clarification, please reach out to your LEC Officers or Grievance Committee. We’re here to help!

In Solidarity,

Steve, Krystle and Bethany

Steve Maller, LEC President, steve.maller@afaalaska.org
Krystle Berry, LEC Vice President, krystle.berry@afaalaska.org
Bethany Badalamenti, LEC Secretary, bethany.badalamenti@afaalaska.org

Human Rights & Equity Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2026

On Wednesday, March 25, our AFA 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 (LAX-pmAS), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (LAX-pmHA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Nyachan Chuar (ANC), and Yan Yan Teague (SEA). MEC Human […]

Pre-Merger Hawaiian Inflight Service Committee Update – March 2026

Editor’s Note: Our MEC Inflight Service Committee now represents both pre-merger airlines, but management still makes service decisions that affect each group of Flight Attendants differently. This update covers changes for both Hawaiian- and Alaska-branded flying, but is specific to aircraft flown by pre-merger Hawaiian Airlines crews. As the work of the merger progresses, we […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 13 – March 2026

Our JNC met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC focused on clarifying questions about moving expenses and presented a proposal for Sick Leave, using feedback from Flight Attendants to guide improvements. The Committee is working to incorporate the strongest elements from both contracts to ensure better support for all members.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – March 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, March 24, 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 Rebekah Olds (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – March 2026

On Thursday, March 19, our AFA Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) 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 Bradley Young (SFO), Carin Merritt (LAX pmAS), David Lake (SEA pmAS), Deb Wallstrom (ANC), Eva Gatus […]

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