In This Edition:
- Master Executive Council Town Hall
- Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month)
- Black History Month
- Updated CBA Reference Documents
Master Executive Council Town Hall
Join us at an AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC Town Hall on Tuesday, March 3. Get the latest AFA news and connect directly with our MEC Officers. Bring your questions! This is your chance to get answers directly from AFA Representatives.
- Who: MEC President Tim Green, Vice President Brice McGee, and Secretary-Treasurer Paul Ikioka will share updates and answer questions live on Zoom
- What: Updates and a live Q&A session
- When: Tuesday, March 3, from 11 AM to 12:30 PM PT
- Where: Zoom
The Town Hall will take place on Zoom, so you can join from home or while on a layover. Advance registration is required and ensures you get a Zoom link to join the meeting and event reminders. As with all AFA meeting and activities, the AFA mutual respect policy applies during the Town Hall.
When you register, use your personal email address. If you use an Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines email address, your registration will be canceled. Only Members in good standing can attend, and membership status will be verified before the event. If you’re unsure about your status, you can check anytime on the AFA Membership Hub.
After you register, you’ll get a unique Zoom joining link by email. This link is just for you and will only work on one device, so be sure to save it. Each person who wants to attend needs to register separately, since Zoom links can’t be shared.
More information about how to join a Zoom meeting, including system requirements, can be found on the Zoom support website.
You can use our online form to submit your questions before the event. This helps us focus the Town Hall on your concerns—whether it’s negotiations, contract issues, or anything else you want to hear more about.
Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month)
February is Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi or, in English, Hawaiian Language Month, a time to celebrate and uplift the Hawaiian language and the many ways it lives through our fellow Flight Attendants and our work.
Black History Month From Your Council 39 Human Rights & Equity Committee
February is an important month not just for Black culture, but for everyone, as Black history touches everyone in the West. Historically, Black contributions have been taken for granted and even forgotten by many. With recent political pushes to erase measures that have been created to level the playing field for Black people to enter the workforce, gain an education, or hold positions of stature, it is more important than ever to highlight the relevance of Black History and the role Black people play in our society.
In aviation in particular, many know about the Tuskegee Airmen as an all Black fighter pilot wing serving in World War II. However, many are unaware of Ruth Carol Taylor, the first Black Flight Attendant in the United States. In her time, restrictions for Flight Attendants were extreme and discriminated against the majority of people based on many factors such as age, weight, and race. But Ruth still applied, knowing she could be of value having already studied as a nurse, as was also required in those days. TWA rejected her application based on her not meeting the airline’s “physical standards.” Later after more attention was drawn to this discrimination, as well as Ruth’s continued perseverance in applying to fly, Mohawk Airlines, a regional carrier in upstate New York hired Ruth, breaking down a racist barrier and making Black and American history. To learn more about this wonderful story, check out this article about Ruth and her life.
Expand your knowledge about the accomplishments of Black Americans, including those who have shaped the skies we fly, by exploring these additional resources:
- Black History Month (Library of Congress)
- African American History Month Resources (National Archives)
- National Museum of African American History and Culture (Smithsonian Institution)
- Alaska Air Group Black Employees, Allies and Advocates (SSO Required)
Updated CBA Reference Documents
The 2025-2028 AFA Alaska Collective Bargaining Agreement Reference Documents PDF has been updated! This is a great quick-reference resource to answer various commonly asked questions regarding contactability, irregular operations, TFP requirements, and more.
The document includes a hyperlinked table of contents for ease of use. We recommend keeping it in an open tab on your phone’s browser or downloading the document for future reference. As always, any contract questions or issues can be answered by opening a ticket on AFA Alaska Support System or reaching out to the appropriate local committee member here.
In Solidarity,
Steve, Krystle and Bethany
