On Wednesday, June 24, 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 were Nyachan Chuar (ANC), Yan Yan Teague (SEA), Aaron Miller (PDX), Trista Vanta (SFO), Louise Borras (LAX-pmAS), Bruni Agosto-Pinal (LAX-pmHA), and Erika Daniel (SAN). MEC Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle II and MEC Vice President Brice McGee also attended.
The Committee met with several members of management, including Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert, California Director of Inflight Base Operations Benito Pasia-Garcia, and Director of Culture & Belonging Steve Nelson.
The Committee’s next meeting with management is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23.
Topics of Discussion
The committee reviewed several items during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:
- Pride Parade AFA Participation: The committee discussed upcoming participation by AFA Human Rights & Equity Committees and other AFA Representatives in ANC, SEA, PDX, SFO, and SAN. All Flight Attendants are welcome and encouraged to join. Additional event information is available at: https://afacwa.org/join-our-afa-siblings-at-pride/.
- 2026 CWA Human Rights Conference: This event will be held in Atlanta, GA, from August 16 to 19. All Local Human Rights & Equity Committee Chairpersons, as well as the MEC Committee Chairperson, are registered to attend.
- Supervisor Presence for Uniform Compliance Checks: The Committee expressed concerns aboutsupervisors being on board to conduct uniform compliance checks during or immediately before boarding. This practice was noted as distracting and potentially a safety concern.
- ADA-Accessible Hotel Rooms on Layovers: Flight Attendants registered in PeopleSoft as employees with a disability may request an ADA-accessible room upon check-in at their layover hotel. The hotel is required to provide an accessible room upon request, subject to availability and applicable requirements. Alternatively, crew members may contact the hotel the night before arrival to request accommodations. Information regarding ADA accommodation requests will be included in the hotel update distributed at the beginning of July.
- Idaho House Bill (HB) 752: This bill,which would have criminalized transgender individuals for using public restrooms consistent with their gender identity, is currently blocked by a preliminary injunction while its constitutionality is challenged in court. Management is awaiting the outcome before determining next steps. The Committee discussed providing employees with a resource that identifies all-gender restroom locations to assist them when traveling. This topic will remain an ongoing discussion with the Cultural & Belonging department and inflight management.
What The Committee Is Working On
- Optional Pronouns on Wings: The Committee is tracking efforts to allow Flight Attendants to choose to display their personal pronouns (such as she/her, he/him, or they/them) on their uniform wings. The next steps depend on the progress of the merger, which might result in a completely new wing design for everyone.
- Land Acknowledgment Signage: The Committee is working to place signs in Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines workplace locations that acknowledge and honor the indigenous communities whose land these workplaces are on. Land acknowledgments are statements that recognize the long-standing relationship between indigenous peoples and their traditional territories.
- Batok Tattoos Visible While In Uniform: The Committee is tracking a proposal that would permit Flight Attendants to display traditional Batok tattoos while in uniform. Batok is an ancient form of tattooing practiced by indigenous communities in the Philippine and holds deep cultural significance. Management hasn’t made a final decision on the policy.
- Transition of Alaska Airlines Drug and Alcohol Infinity Group to a New Alaska BRG / Hawaiian ERG: The Alaska Airlines Drug and Alcohol Infinity Group is becoming an Alaska BRG/Hawaiian ERG. Its mission is to help employees who are struggling with drug or alcohol issues by offering resources, peer support, and educational programs. The group will focus on prevention, recovery, and reducing the stigma around addiction in the workplace.
We Want to Hear From You!
Do you have feedback for the Committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items you’d like brought up with management? Please let us know! Your Local Human Rights & Equity Committee is your voice to management. You can find our contact information on the Human Rights & Equity Committee page of the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian website.
