We have another Rally for the Payroll Support Program (PSP) and we need your help!  All Flight Attendants are urged to attend!

Date: October 13th, 2020 

Time:  11:30AM – 1:00PM

Where: Senator Maria Cantwell’s Office, 915 2nd Avenue Seattle WA 98174

What to Wear: Please come wearing your uniform or your Red AFA/CWA shirt!

More Information: Contact Melinda Jorge at melinda.jorge@afaalaska.org or 253.376.8642

Over 100,000 aviation workers woke up without work on October 1, 2020: 45,000 were furloughed and tens of thousands more went on ‘unpaid leave’ when the Payroll Support Program expired. There is no longer a backstop for aviation job loss; there will likely be more. The October 1 furloughs were not a notice. People woke up Thursday morning without jobs, without paychecks, and without healthcare. They are filing for unemployment as we speak — but we have a chance to reverse course if Congress acts quickly.

Flight Attendants and other essential aviation workers have spent months calling on Congress to reach a deal for a comprehensive relief package to help all workers, including an extension of the PSP. But when Congress failed to act before the Sept. 30 deadline, furloughs began immediately for Flight Attendants and other aviation workers. 

Congress must pass a PSP extension through March, 2021, to support essential aviation workers, prevent mass furloughs and protect our broader economy!

Call Congress: Extend PSP

SENATE: 888-848-4824
HOUSE: 888-907-9365

“Hello, I am a constituent calling to tell my (Senator/Representative) that aviation workers are out of time. Furloughs have begun and we only have short time to reverse course. We need relief and an extension of the Payroll Support Program TODAY. Without an extension of this successful jobs program, there is no backstop for layoffs. This is just the start. Inaction is not an option. We are out of time #ExtendPSP now. Thank you.”

Write Congress

Send a letter to your Representative and two Senators >

Tweet Your Representative and Senators (add pictures of you in uniform to each!):

We’ve made it easy to Tweet at your lawmakers. Click here to get started. Or, you can copy and paste the following Tweets into your Twitter. 

• Massive layoffs have begun for Flight Attendants & aviation workers. We only have a short time to reverse course. Extend the Payroll Support Program TODAY, [tag your Senators/Representative]! Pass #ReliefNow to save my job & healthcare! #ExtendPSP
• I’m one of thousands of furloughed Flight Attendants who needs [tag your Senators/Representative] to act to extend the Payroll Support Program TODAY. We need #ReliefNow! #ExtendPSP
• Tell your personal story using the hashtags #ReliefNow and #ExtendPSP

If you do not know your Senators or Representatives’ Twitter handles you can find them here! Don’t have Twitter, set up an account today to take action. Here’s how >

Relief Now Events

Flight Attendants have rallied across the country in Washington, D.C., Newark, Chicago, Toledo, Philadelphia, Allentown, Atlanta, Seattle, Charlotte, Salt Lake, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Denver, Orlando, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, Los Angeles to demand that Congress extend our Payroll Support Program and pass #ReliefNow. Other events are being planned now and up next is:

RSVP or Plan your own #ReliefNow event >

Our Fight is Not Over

October 6, 2020

As Secretary Mnuchin and Speaker Pelosi moved close to a deal this week that would provide relief to working people across the country, President Trump issued one tweet to blow up the COVID deal and leave millions of essential workers in free-fall. The strong support of the Payroll Support Program (PSP) extension gives us every reason to hope that Congress will take action to #ExtendPSP. Continue to call, tweet and act.

WATCH: AFA President Sara Nelson’s October 6 Update on PSP >

The only reason an extension of PSP has not passed is due to procedural issues. We call on the Republicans and Democrats in both chambers to come together and get it done. Call, tweet, write and take direct action below. 

Just this morning, Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell begged Congress to support the economy until it is “clearly out of the woods” and emphasized that relief of any size “will not go to waste.” People need relief now. 

Over 100,000 aviation workers woke up without work on October 1, 2020: 45,000 were furloughed and tens of thousands more went on ‘unpaid leave’ when the Payroll Support Program expired. There is no longer anything that prevents aviation job loss. The industry’s trade association, Airlines for America said today, “Thousands of airline workers across the country have already lost their jobs – and more furloughs are expected in the coming weeks – because Congress did not extend the successful Payroll Support Program.”

We will not stand by while our flying partners are without paychecks and healthcare, nor will we accept inaction by Congress when they owe us certainty for doing our jobs to keep the country connected. The airlines have said they will reverse furloughs if Congress acts quickly to extend PSP through March 31, 2021. Making this extension law will reverse and stop any further harm. 

Our union held an emergency meeting this afternoon to review our options to protect Flight Attendants and keep us from harm. The AFA Board of Directors is scheduled to meet again tomorrow. Our work is far from done tonight — we are coordinating with other aviation unions and the industry. 

Stay closely tuned to AFA communication channels. 

In Solidarity, 

Sara, Deb, Kevin 
AFA International Officers

Call Congress: Extend PSP

SENATE: 888-848-4824
HOUSE: 888-907-9365

“Hello, I am a constituent calling to tell my (Senator/Representative) that aviation workers are out of time. Furloughs have begun and we only have short time to reverse course. We need relief and an extension of the Payroll Support Program TODAY. Without an extension of this successful jobs program, there is no backstop for layoffs. This is just the start. Inaction is not an option. We are out of time #ExtendPSP now. Thank you.”

Write Congress

Send a letter to your Representative and two Senators >

Tweet Your Representative and Senators (add pictures of you in uniform to each!):

We’ve made it easy to Tweet at your lawmakers. Click here to get started. Or, you can copy and paste the following Tweets into your Twitter. 

• Massive layoffs have begun for Flight Attendants & aviation workers. We only have a short time to reverse course. Extend the Payroll Support Program TODAY, [tag your Senators/Representative]! Pass #ReliefNow to save my job & healthcare! #ExtendPSP
• I’m one of thousands of furloughed Flight Attendants who needs [tag your Senators/Representative] to act to extend the Payroll Support Program TODAY. We need #ReliefNow! #ExtendPSP
• Tell your personal story using the hashtags #ReliefNow and #ExtendPSP

If you do not know your Senators or Representatives’ Twitter handles you can find them here! Don’t have Twitter, set up an account today to take action. Here’s how >

Relief Now Events

Flight Attendants have rallied across the country in Washington, D.C., Newark, Chicago, Toledo, Philadelphia, Allentown, Atlanta, Seattle, Charlotte, Salt Lake, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Denver, Orlando, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, Los Angeles to demand that Congress extend our Payroll Support Program and pass #ReliefNow. Other events are being planned now.

RSVP or Plan your own #ReliefNow event >

The yearly in-person Board of Directors meeting which was to have taken place in Cleveland in early June has been cancelled. To replace the Board of Directors meeting, a special virtual meeting will take place on 5/20, to approve the proposed AFA 2020/2021 Budget. No other agenda items will be considered.

You may recall that each year, prior to the Board of Director’s meeting, we hold an in-person Joint Local Council meeting with Horizon, and United (when they have flight attendants based in Seattle) to review the Advanced Agenda items for this meeting.  We answer questions about the proposed Agenda items, and review the proposed budget. We had scheduled this Local Council Meeting, but due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, this meeting has also been cancelled.

The Finance and Budget Committees have been holding virtual meetings to assess and revise the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. As a member of the Finance Committee, Terry Taylor has been very involved in this process.  If you have questions about this process, or other budget related questions, please feel free to contact her at Terry.Taylor@afaalaska.org, or by phone at 425-941-7579.

In solidarity,

Terry, Jake, Adam, Melinda and Megan

Council 19 April Base Update 2

SEA Reserve Buddy Program 

Due to the unprecedented number of traditional line-holders who are now holding reserve lines, the Council 19 Reserve Committee will be offering reserve buddies to those who might desire extra support as they navigate the reserve system for the first time in years.

 A reserve buddy is an AFA representative who is knowledgeable about reserve issues and has volunteered to be contactable via text/email/phone to answer questions you may have about the contract, reserve trading and reserve life in general. They are a fabulous resource and we hope having a reserve buddy will provide greater peace of mind to those who have not been on reserve recently.

 If you would like a reserve buddy simply e-mail conner.gallagher@afaalaska.org and one will be assigned to you. In your email please include: 

1.     Name

2.     Base

3.     Peoplesoft number

4.     Your personal e-mail (please, no @alaskaair.com emails)

5.     Your phone number 

As an additional resource check out the Reserve 101 Quick Reference Guide. You will also find the Reserve Survival Guide on the IMD: Goodreader, ASFASupplmental, Collective Bargaining Agreement, AFA Alaska Reserve Survival Guide 2020 or on the Inflight webpage.

Election Information

MAIL DATE: 4-28-20      

Voting Notice and Voting Guide are mailed containing your personal 16-digit activation code

POLLS OPEN: 5-1-20 12:00 PM ET 

Polls Open and voting begins

POLLS CLOSE: 5-22-20 3:00 PM ET 

Polls close and the election count takes place.

Are you eligible to vote?

Ballots will be mailed to the address you have on file with AFA, you can update your address online.

Union Dues 

Please make sure you are dues current to be eligible to vote in the upcoming local officer election. Flight Attendants are required to pay dues every month unless they are on an unpaid leave beyond the first 90 days of dues obligation. If you are on an unpaid leave beyond the first 90 days dues obligation please read below if you wish to vote in the upcoming election.  If there isn’t enough money on your 20^th paycheck to auto deduct dues, they must be manually paid online or by mail. Past month’s dues owed will not be taken out of a future 20^th paycheck.

The C&B considers those on an unpaid leave of absence active with AFA during the 90-day period: Article II C.1.b(1) & (2). Active members are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Union including the right to vote. Article II C.1.a. The C&B allows a member to remain active after the 90-days dues obligation. Remaining active requires the Flight Attendant to notify AFA of their desire to remain active beyond the 90-days and continue to pay dues.   

This is the only way a Flight Attendant beyond the 90-day dues obligation can vote and participate in AFA activities.

Each of us has an obligation to ensure that our AFA dues payments are current and up-to-date. Section 26 of our collective bargaining agreement outlines the requirement for each of us to pay dues as a condition of employment. If you receive a notice that dues are past due, it is important to remedy the past due amount immediately. Failure to remedy a past due amount may result in termination of employment.

If you receive a statement indicating that you owe dues, the easiest way to make a payment is through the AFA Membership Services website. You can also contact the Membership Services Department to discuss options for a payment plan if you are unable to pay the owed amount immediately. More information about payment options can be found here.  

After Polls Have Opened 

If you have not received your Voting Instructions for this ballot please contact the AFA Ballot Helpline at 1-800-424-2401 EXT 706 (press 1 then 706). If the call is not answered please leave a message. All calls received by 5 pm ET will be returned the same day.

The AFA Ballot Helpline can provide you with a new 16-digit activation code. This will allow you to enter the voting system and cast your vote. The 16-digit code will be sent via email along with instructions for voting via the internet or telephone. 

When calling to obtain a new 16-digit activation code please verify your email address and current status with AFA. If you must leave a message, please make sure you leave your name, airline, employee ID & telephone number along with your email address. The email should be in your inbox however be sure to check your spam/junk folder just in case.

Go to the AFA-CWA elections page for more information. 

In Solidarity,

Terry, Jake, Adam, Megan and Melinda

“Face of Anxiety” by Amy Rhodes

Moderated by Lori Paul-retired Flight Attendant

Incorporating meditation and DBT as it relates to anxiety

Wednesday, April 22 and 29, 2020-12:00 pm EDT-1:00 pm EDT

Join Zoom Meeting–ZOOM MEETING    Meeting ID: 168 058 984/Password: 309272

“Stress and Health: What Actually Gets Injured? The Impact of Stress on Our Daily Lives and Building Resilience” by Kevin McCauley

In this lecture, we will explore the physiology and pathophysiology of stress and trauma, how this science translates into effective strategies to minimize the impact of stress on our lives, avoid turning stress into trauma, and build resilience in order to live a long life.

Thursday, April 23, 2020-4:00 pm-5:00 pm EDT

You must register before the lecture: https://catalog.pesi.com/item/59173

Peaceful Landings” by Sabrina N’Diaye

Virtual healing on managing emotional, spiritual, stress, and physical challenges during uncertain times 

Thursday, April 30, 2020-11:00 am-1:00 pm EDTEmail for registration-https://forms.gle/LsAdxkMWZoC6QTG98

In Solidarity,

Terry, Jake, Adam, Melinda and Megan