In This Edition

• Never Forget: Honoring Alaska Airlines Flight 261—January 31, 2000
• Celebrating Black History Month
• Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – January 2022
• Introducing Our Negotiating Committee
• Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 1^st Quarter 2022

Never Forget: Honoring Alaska Airlines Flight 261—January 31, 2000

Originally posted January 31, 2022

Today we reflect on the tragic loss that occurred on January 31, 2000, when Alaska Airlines Flight 261, flying between Puerto Vallarta and San Francisco, went down in the Pacific Ocean between Port Hueneme and Anacapa Island off the coast of Southern California.

We will never forget Flight Attendants Kristin Mills, Craig Pulanco and Allison Shanks; Captain Ted Thompson; First Officer William Tansky; Sheri Christensen, Rachel Janosik, Ileana Ost, Sarah Pearson, Anjesh Prasad, James Ryan and Stacy Schuyler.

Read More >

Celebrating Black History Month

Originally posted February 1, 2022

February 1^st marks the first day of Black History Month in the United States.  This tradition dates back to 1925 when Harvard trained-historian Carter G. Woodson first introduced a week-long event to build awareness of the contributions made by Black individuals.  Read more about Black History Month, learn about the accomplishments of Black Americans, and find out about events that you can take part in using the resource links below.  Join the celebration by wearing your Black History Month AFA Pin during the month of February.  If you need a pin, check with your Local Council for more information.

Read More >

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – January 2022

Originally posted February 2, 2022

Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, January 25 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to lineholder scheduling.  The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are experiencing with scheduling, pairings, and bidding.  Your Local Scheduling Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any lineholder scheduling-related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Read More >

Introducing Our Negotiating Committee

Originally posted February 2, 2022

Our Master Executive Council (MEC) conducted final interviews this week for three Negotiating Committee Member positions who will represent us in upcoming contract negotiations with the Company. Our MEC would like to thank the candidates who demonstrated willingness to represent our Flight Attendants. 

After thorough deliberation, the voting members of your MEC, consisting of the six directly-elected LEC Presidents, have appointed Sandra Morrow, James Bozanich, and Kiara Jenkins to the positions. 

Read More >

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 1^st Quarter 2022

Originally posted February 3, 2022

Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, February 1 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.  The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are reporting related to uniform quality, wearability, and availability.  If you are experiencing any issues with uniform quality or construction, please report the issues to Unisync as soon as possible.  Please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so they can help track any issues or trends that might be developing.   

Read More >

In This Edition

• MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson Interviews
• 2022 College Scholarship Opportunities
• Shared on Social

---

MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson Interviews

Originally posted January 28, 2022

As preparations for contract negotiations continue, our MEC is seeking candidates for the position of MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson.  The Mobilization Committee works to provide support to the Negotiating Committee through coordinated solidarity activity and two-way communication between the membership and the committee.  The MEC Mobilization Committee Chairperson is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Mobilization Committee across all six bases.  Interviews will be held during the April Regular MEC Meeting on April 13, 2022.  Interested candidates should complete the online expression of interest form and submit a resume by Tuesday, April 5 at 5 PM Pacific time.

Read More >

---

2022 College Scholarship Opportunities

Originally posted January 28, 2022

As an AFA and CWA Member, you and/or certain eligible dependents have the opportunities for at least three different scholarships.  An additional opportunity, the Union Plus Free College Benefit, offers the ability to earn a degree with no out of pocket expense for tuition, fees, and e-books.  Check out the links below for eligibility requirements, application information, and other important details for each opportunity.

Read More >

---

Shared on Social

Negotiating Committee Final Interviews

On Wednesday, January 26, our Master Executive Council (MEC) met to conduct final interviews with the candidates for the three Negotiating Committee Member positions who will represent us during upcoming contract negotiations with the Company. Our MEC would like to express their appreciation for all of the candidates who stepped forward and expressed a desire to serve our Flight Attendants. Given the importance of the decision, the MEC agreed to take additional time over the weekend to consider the candidates and will meet again on Tuesday, February 1 to continue with the selection process. 

In This Edition

• Grievance Committee Update – 3^rd and 4^th Quarters 2021
• Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 1^st Quarter 2022
• Shared on Social

---

Grievance Committee Update – 3^rd and 4^th Quarters 2021

Originally posted January 20, 2022

Our Grievance Committee works to protect all Flight Attendants from arbitrary and unjust disciplinary action and to uphold our collective bargaining agreement.  This update provides a short summary of the committee’s work over the past two quarters.  Management has issued discipline lately for a variety of reasons.  Read on for more information about the reasons why management is disciplining and terminating Flight Attendants.  If you’ve faced a situation that you believe might be a contractual violation, please report the issue through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center. AFA Representatives review each report submitted and will follow up to help you determine options and a course of action.

Read More >

---

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 1^st Quarter 2022

Originally posted January 21, 2022

Our AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met on Thursday, January 13 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to safety, health, and security in our workplace.  The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are facing onboard the aircraft.  Reporting safety concerns is more important than ever given the challenges we are currently facing as a work group.  Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Reports (ASAP), and fatigue reports can all be filed through Report It!  Please contact a member of your Local ASHSC if you need assistance.

Read More >

---

Shared on Social

You can now order FREE at-home COVID-19 test kits online at special.usps.com/testkits.

• Limit of one order per residential address
• One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
• Orders will ship free starting in late January

In This Edition

• Onboard Service Reductions
• Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2021 (Rescheduled)
• Recurrent Training 2022

---

Onboard Service Reductions

Originally posted January 8, 2022

Our AFA Representatives have been successful in getting management to agree to additional onboard service reductions in light of the current spike of COVID-19 cases nationwide.  Any flight currently scheduled for more than one beverage service will be reduced to only one service regardless of the length of the flight.  Additional reductions include changes to the food pre-order system based depending on the length of the flight.  Changes take effect today and are scheduled to be in place through January 31, 2022.  As always, please continue to report any safety-related issues with onboard service using a Flight Attendant Irregularity Report (FAIR) in ReportIt!  Please report any catering issues using the catering feedback function in Block2Block.  Management needs to hear about the challenges we’re facing!

Read More >

---

Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2021 (Rescheduled)

Originally posted January 12, 2022

Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, January 11 to discuss their ongoing program of work to advance human rights within our workplace and community.  The Committee also met with management to receive updates on what progress has been made on concerns that had been previously brought forward and address new concerns that have been brought forward.  The meeting with management was originally scheduled to be held on December 6 but was cancelled at the last minute due to inflight management changes that took place at around the same time.  If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

Read More >

---

Recurrent Training 2022

Originally posted January 13, 2022

The 2022 Recurrent Training (RT) program is underway at all training locations.  Read on for information about preflight oral evaluations and acceptable deviations to emergency evacuations commands.  For those who are attending RT in Seattle, be aware that the training facility has moved this year.  Check the RT website for information about the new location, directions, and parking.  Safety measures such as continued social distancing and HEPA filtration systems in RT classrooms will be in place as a result of AFA advocacy.  These measures should be in place as of January 12.

Read More >

In This Edition

• January 2022 MEC Meeting Recap
• Shared on Social

---

January 2022 MEC Meeting Recap

Originally posted January 7, 2022

Our AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) met this week from Tuesday, January 4 through Thursday, January 6 to conduct their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants.  As part of the meeting, the MEC met with members of inflight, labor relations, and executive management to discuss issues and concerns that are facing our work group and need to be addressed.  The last two days of the meeting were spent interviewing candidates for the three Negotiating Committee Member positions.  The MEC selected several candidates to advance to the final interviews to be held on Wednesday, January 26.

Read More >

---

Shared on Social

Our MEC started the process of interviewing candidates for our Negotiating Committee earlier today as part of the January Regular MEC Meeting. Based on the interviews, which are being held today and tomorrow, the MEC will determine which candidates will advance to a final interview on January 26th. After final interviews are conducted, the voting members of the MEC (LEC Presidents) will select candidates to fill the three Negotiating Committee Member positions who will represent us at the bargaining table when contract negotiations begin in September 2022.