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Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – January 2023

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, January 24 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!

On Tuesday, January 24, our AFA Scheduling Committee 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 Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Natalie Codd (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Virginia Fritz, and MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton. The committee met with Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling Sara Cook, Director of Crew Planning Mike Ostler, Director of ITS Product Management Jacki Varela, Manager of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • A Winter Storm debrief meeting was held with management on January 9, 2023.  Most of the AFA Alaska Online Support Center tickets that were filed were resolved.  There are a few outstanding issues related to compensation that need to be reviewed.  Tickets included, but were not limited, to hotels/transportation, day rooms, over-duty, FDTY (FAR Flight Attendant on-duty time), reassignment, pre-cancelation, holiday pay, pyramiding premiums and long wait times on the phone. 
  • Stranded pay calculations and filing Rainmaker inquiries.  Many Flight Attendants do not realize there is compensation for stranding into days on and days off, but the pay applications are different.  If you need help understanding the pay, please open a ticket through the AFA Alaska Online Support Center and include screenshots of your inquiry, the response from payroll, your paystub and your Rainmaker detailed buckets.  
  • Issue with Crew Access filters still showing in UTC time.  The Committee addressed this with ITS and asked for expediting a fix.  The next Crew Access update is tentatively scheduled for February 28, 2023. 
  • Testing resources will be allocated to NavBlue to enhance future user experiences and accessibility. The Committee knows there are reports of slow logins and will continue to monitor progress. 
  • Crew Scheduling is reviewing with our phone vendor the artificial intelligence (AI) in relation to wait times.  The system was taking into consideration each phone call, even when the caller was disconnecting. There were also instances of multiple users asking for several callbacks and tying up the queue.  
  • Day Rooms will be provided in out stations if the ground time exceeds 4 hours. This is not automated.  Crew Schedulers will continue to monitor the alert system, but please be proactive in calling Crew Scheduling at the earliest opportunity if you require a day room when the ground time is showing in excess of 4 hours. It could take several minutes to hours to request a hotel depending on the location, events, and other mitigating factors. 
  • Crew Scheduling is adding three new Crew Schedulers next week who will start their training for the next several weeks. 
  • Sick leave is trending downward and per management this allows more personal drops, increasing the threshold sequence number (TSN) for dropping and flexibility.
  • Crew Planning wants to discuss alternatives to providing Flight Attendants with an application that provides hotel, transportation, van times and other pertinent information related to layovers. The Committee believes this will reduce calls to Crew Scheduling. 
  • Crew Planning is looking at the cost analysis of 3-position and 4-position pairings, versus the 3-position and 1-position pairings we currently operate. The change would have A/B/C positions paired together on 3-position aircraft and A/B/C/D positions paired together on 4-position aircraft. 
  • Crew Planning will be offering more staffing leaves in March. The winter storm pushed back pilot training and the number of block hours they planned to execute during this time of year.  We should continue to see increases as the training requirements to fly aircraft are fulfilled in the next few months. 
  • Internal audits of Crew Systems are being reviewed and management is researching continuity plans. Departments are ensuring the systems are strong, adequate and technology is advancing.  This is in light of the technology breakdowns that some other carriers experienced during the holiday season. 

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Scheduling a meeting with Network Planning.  The Committee would like to meet with Network Planning in 2023 to discuss our contract, legalities and suggestions. We want to provide management with the Flight Attendant perspective and in an effort to improve our quality of life. 
  2. Review of JCTE/Crew Access transaction performance.  Each month, ITS provides the Committee with data on performance and transactions within JCTE/Crew Access.  The Committee reviews these reports to ensure our service levels are maintained at the appropriate thresholds.
  3. Scheduling Quality of Life Improvements.  Reviewing ways to improve Trip Length Distribution (TLD) and other quality of life factors.  Working with management to develop a quality of life survey to determine Flight Attendant scheduling priorities. 
  4. Review of user guides and links of Flight Attendant website.  Ensuring information is still accurate in existing resource materials, links are still active and working, etc.
  5. Updating Crew Access videos.  Working with management and ITS to update the Crew Access instructional videos to reflect updates and changes to the user interface.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Scheduling Committee is your voice to management.  You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2023

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

  • Our AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met on Thursday, January 5 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.

On Thursday, January 5, 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 Debi Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Blair Kimball (PDX), Brad Young (SFO), Carin Meritt (LAX), and Eva Gatus (SAN).  Also present were MEC ASHSC Air Quality Representative Yvette Satterlee and MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple.  The committee met with Cabin Safety Manager Cari Smith-Allen, Director of Inflight Training & Standards Thomas Kaminski, Inflight Reporting Coordinator Kevin Weatherbie, Director of Inflight Safety & Compliance Corey Chestnut, Interim Manager of Inflight Policy & Procedure Johanna Giese, Manager of Inflight Policy & Procedure Kaliko Howell, and Senior Inflight Safety & Data Specialist Claudia Modl from management.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Announcements changed from
    “must” to “should” when telling passengers to unplug from seat power. Management agreed to change this back to “must”.
  • Requested more timely notification of possible air quality events so AFA can provide timely support.
  • Location of the onboard wheelchair. The Company won’t be able to change the location of the onboard wheelchair, but management has agreed to look at the feasibility of moving liquid supplies out of the centerline overhead bin so possible leakage doesn’t damage other supplies and soak the onboard wheelchair case.
  • Boarding should be at D-40, but SEA boards at D-43. Inflight management has been working with the SEA station on this issue. Company policy is that boarding starts at D-40 at all stations and SEA is not an exception. The ASHSC has asked Inflight to change the prebuilt replies in Block2Block team messaging to the “Are you ready to board” question to state “we are ready to board at D-40”, so is no confusion about the intent responding.
  • Flying after an inflight emergency or medical. When a situation occurs where Section 15 of the contract applies, management who are in contact with Flight Attendants after the event should clearly communicate that a trip drop with pay protection, but without points, is available.  This allows Flight Attendants to make the safest choice for themselves and the operation without having to worry about personal consequences.
  • ANC Airport parking lot and ice removal. Inflight safety and compliance management will reach out to ANC base management to see if they can help address the issues.
  • Immediate assistance during irregular ops/emergencies. Inflight needs to utilize additional resources to help with hotels and transportation and other issues which can be handled outside of scheduling so Flight Attendants are not waiting in situations that may not be safe.
  • Trash odors in Galley 1 on the 737 MAX. The trash compartments are supposed to be cleaned on every RON. The Committee has asked for an audit of this process as there are still reports of issues with odors in trash areas caused by the design of the F/C trash opening/chute, which allows some waste placed in the receptacle to fall outside of the trash can.
  • Trays in Galley 4-2 continue to be in the wrong location. Trays can fall out and cause injury. A fix was implemented on December 6 by Catering, but it needs more attention since there are reports of the issue still occurring.
  • Tray tables on the A321 can block access to the B Flight Attendant jumpseat. Even if this is an allowable configuration, the Committee doesn’t believe it is safe and would like it addressed.
  • Ice cleats. Concerns with passengers wearing them onboard the aircraft as they could damage the aircraft interior.

What the Committee is Working On

  1. Bed Bug Exposure Protocol.  Together with the Hotel Committee, working towards the adoption of an exposure protocol so Flight Attendants and management will know how to respond when bed bug exposure has been confirmed.
  2. Time for Equipment Checks and Briefings. The ASHSC continues to advocate for an adequate amount of time to complete checks and briefings prior to passenger boarding.
  3. Launching the Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) Program.  Continuing to work with the other members of the LOSA Steering Committee to launch the LOSA Program.  A total of 36 peer LOSA Observers have been selected, representing all the bases. The first round of observations will occur from January 27 to February 28. We expect the deidentified data generated from the observations will result in improvements to policy and procedure, the safety of our work environment, and the quality of our training. 

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve experienced a safety-related issue, please help the committee to advocate for improvement and change by filing a report.  Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) reports, and fatigue reports can all be submitted using ReportIt!  If you’re not sure what type of report to file for a particular situation or need help, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of your Local ASHSC.

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local ASHSC is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the ASHSC page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – December 2022

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, December 27 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!

On Tuesday, December 27, our AFA Scheduling Committee 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 Heather Reier (ANC), Martin Vance (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), Jaqui Bellenie (SFO), Natalie Codd (LAX), and Kitty Cohen (SAN). Also present were MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson Jake Jones, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—Pairing Construction Karen Ferrell, MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson—PBS Adam Clarey, and MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton. The committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman, Inflight Crew Scheduling Supervisor Matthew Trujillo, Manager of Crew Planning Trisha Bennett, and other management representatives from Crew Planning and Crew Scheduling.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

  • Reviewing AFA Alaska Online Support Center tickets related to the recent winter storm and compiling an agenda to review with management the week of January 9, 2023. The issues include, but are not limited to, hotels/transportation, pre-cancellations/reassignments, ground/air commuting, stranded pay, long waits for Crew Scheduling phone lines and return phone calls, holiday/premium pay and attendance points. 
  • If you were stranded during the recent winter weather event, please review contract section 21.N. Be sure to file an inquiry in Rainmaker for pay on the date in question. You will need to login to the Flight Attendant website > administration > pay & benefits > Rainmaker logon. After logging in, you will see a comment box and be able to submit a pay inquiry. It will take the pay analyst approximately two weeks to review the claim. You will find instructions and information in the Rainmaker user guides.
  • Holiday Pay is addressed in contract section 21.H. If you had a cancellation on a holiday, it is possible that you qualify for the provisions in contract section 21.H.3 which states: “If a Flight Attendant reports for a sequence containing a flight that is scheduled to operate on a holiday and that flight subsequently cancels, then the Flight Attendant will receive one (1) TFP at two times (2.0x) her/his trip rate for the canceled flight in addition to all other appropriate pay premiums and pay provisions (including pay protection, if applicable). For a Reserve, one (1.0) TFP will be paid above the guarantee and one (1.0) TFP will be credited towards guarantee, both at straight time.” If you don’t see this pay displayed in Rainmaker, please file an inquiry.
  • Staffing Leaves for February were awarded, review informational bulletin #2022-0132. 
  • CARE Retreat bidding in January will be for March sessions.  If you do not want to be assigned a session, be sure to bid for your class or pick up from Open Time. 
  • Threshold Sequence Number (TSN) might increase in January once the operation is back to normal. This will allow more flexibility in the form of dropping trips to Open Time. 
  • Review of Longevity PTO bidding and awarding.  Flight Attendants are projected to receive this provision and if they don’t bid the dates, the vacation is usually put into January of the following year. This causes issues with removal of vacation in subsequent months. 
  • Expense reimbursement.  If you are due expense reimbursement related to the recent winter weather events, please see an inflight supervisor for assistance. 
  • Crew Access filter bugs and changes.  Management projects that the day filter will be fixed in March 2023.  The days have an error where the system is looking at UTC (Coordinated Universal/Greenwich Mean Time).
  • Flight cancellations.  If your flight is cancelled, report as scheduled unless you contact Crew Scheduling or Crew Scheduling contacts you.  Review contract sections 10.S and 10.R.  Flow charts outlining the process are also available on the Scheduling Committee page of afaalaska.org.
  • If you were an air/ground commuter during the winter weather event, please review the Ground Commuting During Significant Weather Events letter of agreement.
  • Crew Access Known Issues Document.  An updated list was provided in Bulletin Bundle #2022-0120 on November 28, 2022.  You can also find the information on the Flight Attendant website > schedule & bidding > crew access help.
  • If you have pay concerns, please be sure to review both Crew Access and Rainmaker.  AFA Representatives do not have access to your Rainmaker.  If you have a pay issue or an issue with an inquiry, please take a screenshot of the applicable Rainmaker page and provide an AFA representative with a copy by filing a ticket on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center. 

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Scheduling a meeting with Network Planning.  The Committee would like to meet with Network Planning in 2023 to discuss our contract, legalities and suggestions. We want to provide management with the Flight Attendant perspective and in an effort to improve our quality of life. 
  2. Review of JCTE/Crew Access transaction performance.  Each month, ITS provides the Committee with data on performance and transactions within JCTE/Crew Access.  The Committee reviews these reports to ensure our service levels are maintained at the appropriate thresholds.
  3. Scheduling Quality of Life Improvements.  Reviewing ways to improve Trip Length Distribution (TLD) and other quality of life options.  Working with management to develop a quality of life survey to determine Flight Attendant scheduling priorities. 
  4. Review of user guides and links of Flight Attendant website.  Ensuring information is still accurate in existing resource materials, links are still active and working, etc.
  5. Updating Crew Access videos.  Working with management and ITS to update the Crew Access instructional videos to reflect updates and changes to the user interface.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Scheduling Committee is your voice to management.  You can open a support request on the AFA Alaska Online Support Center or contact us directly using the information on the Scheduling Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2022

Hotel Committee

  • Our AFA Hotel Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, December 8 to discuss their ongoing program of work to protect and improve the quality of Flight Attendant hotel accommodations and ground transportation providers.
  • The Committee met with representatives from management and the Company’s crew accommodations vendor to review current trends and concerns related to layover hotels and transportation.
  • You can help the Committee by reporting hotel and transportation feedback (both positive and negative) through CrewCare. Feedback that is reported through CrewCare provides the Committee with important data to support keeping hotels that are Flight Attendant favorites or drive change when conditions are unacceptable.

On Thursday, December 8, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management.  Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Cassie Dole (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Selwyn Morales (SAN).  Also present were MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson Laura Hinojosa, MEC Hotel Committee Vice Chairperson Jodi Snow, MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson-elect James Bozanich, and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Crew Hotels & Administration Manager Nichole Turner, Director of Crew Planning Mike Ostler, and Managing Director of Operations Staffing & Resource Management Brittany Audette from management.  Representatives from the Company’s crew accommodations vendor Accommodations Plus International (API) and ALPA participated in the meeting as well.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items during the meeting with management and API.  Some items discussed include:

  • Overview of new technology developed by API that will allow management to forecast the number of hotel rooms that may be needed for unscheduled layovers and secure those rooms in advance.  This technology has been implemented and will hopefully keep crewmembers on unscheduled layovers at regular contracted crew hotels more frequently.
  • Review of technology that API has available to provide additional hotel information, communication, and functionality to crew members.  Management is working with IT to determine how the features can possibly be integrated into Alaska systems.
  • Review of working relationship between API and Crew Scheduling, including how things are handled when crewmembers call in with a problem that needs immediate resolution.
  • Statistics about API’s performance in handling unscheduled layover reservation requests.
  • Ongoing issues with lack of room availability when crewmembers arrive at the hotel.  Management and API are working to take action to prevent these situations from happening by taking action with problem hotels.  If crewmembers have to wait for a hotel room upon arrival, it is essential to call Crew Scheduling to report the issue and follow up with a documented report using the feedback function in MyCrewCare.
  • Review of hotel utilization statistics: top cities for hotel usage and spending, makeup of contracted hotels by brand, utilization over expected (relocations, unscheduled layovers, etc.)
  • Issues with ground transportation provider challenges.  The problem is industry-wide and is affecting all airlines.  There is a shortage of drivers and vehicles which is compounding the problem.  Management and API are working to build vendor contracts that focus on improving performance and delivering results.
  • Review of CrewCare reports filed (both complaints and compliments).  Top complaints by crewmembers are: noisy hotel, room assignment issue, no rooms available upon arrival, unclean room, and housekeeping disruption.
  • Review of hotel van times, early/late arrivals to the airport and gate, and KCM-related issues that are causing crewmember delays in arriving to the gate on time.
  • Review of the overall condition of the hotel industry and how the industry is recovering from the pandemic.  The hotel industry continues to show strong performance when compared to where it was pre-pandemic and average rates and occupancy percentages have increased almost everywhere.  The conditions make it challenging to find hotels that are interested in contracted crew business.  Some cities have been and/or will be particularly challenging to find desirable hotels.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Conducting hotel site visits.  Visiting hotels under consideration by management and advocating for management to select the hotel that will provide the safest and most comfortable layover experience for Flight Attendants.  Our Hotel Committee has conducted site visits in over 25 cities in 2022 and more are anticipated in 2023.
  2. Investigating CrewCare reports.  Reviewing CrewCare reports and working to hold hotel and transportation providers accountable through management and API.
  3. Advocating for an established process for bed bug exposure incidents.  Together with the AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), working to address management’s lack of a published process for handling confirmed instances of bed bug exposure.  The Committees are in the process of formulating an initial proposal to present to management.

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve had an unacceptable or substandard experience with a layover hotel or ground transportation provider, please report the issue!  Our AFA Hotel Committee receives a copy of every CrewCare report filed and each one is read and reviewed.  You can file a CrewCare report using the web app on your IMD home screen or by clicking here. 

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Hotel Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Hotel Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Reserve Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2022

Reserve Committee

  • Our AFA Reserve Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, December 1 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent and advocate for our Reserve Flight Attendants.
  • The Committee also met with management to review a number of specific concerns that were brought forward by Flight Attendants.
  • Your Local Reserve Committee is available to answer questions, provide clarification, or help to resolve any reserve related issues.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

On Thursday, December 1, representatives from our AFA Local Reserve Committees met to discuss their ongoing work to advocate for Reserve Flight Attendants.  Representing you at the meeting were Heather Reier (ANC), Conner Gallagher (SEA), Anthony Eskander (PDX), Meghan Casey (SFO), Kanako Yamada (LAX), and Rebecca Garcia (SAN).  Also present were MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton and MEC Reserve Committee Vice Chairperson—New Hire & Probation Jarod McNeill.  The committee also met with Inflight Crew Scheduling Duty Manager Sara Cook from management.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Plans for Initial Training classes for next year.  Management has indicated intent to hire more Flight Attendants. Number of classes and specific numbers of students in each class will be dependent on delivery of new aircraft.
  • Service flights and service training will continue in Initial Training for next year.
  • Top cause of occurrences for probationary Flight Attendants is forgetting to check in for trips and APSB on Block2Block.
  • Increase in requests for assistance with PBS and bidding from new hires.  
  • Reminder to new hire Flight Attendants about the AFA Alaska Online Support Center to report issues, raise concerns, or ask questions.
  • Management staffing within Crew Scheduling.  Four new Crew Scheduling Supervisors started this fall and they are in the process of interviewing for a Director of Crew Scheduling and one additional manager to help support operations. 
  • Review of reserve utilization statistics in all bases.
  • Status of management’s new upgraded telephone system in Crew Scheduling. Management provided statics on call volumes, wait times, and call duration times.
  • Issues and glitches with Crew Access that are affecting Reserve Flight Attendants.  Review of where known issues are documented and newly added issues. 
  • Update on topics of interest that were reviewed at the monthly Scheduling Committee meeting.

The committee is next scheduled to meet on Thursday, March 9.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Assisting Probationary Flight Attendants Through the Reserve Buddy Program.   Answering questions from and providing support to probationary Flight Attendants through an expanded AFA Reserve Buddy program.
  2. Addressing Reserve Contractual Concerns.  Researching and investigating reports from Reserve Flight Attendants and actively ensuring that management is compliant with our contract. 
  3. Developing Additional Tools & Resources for New Flight Attendants.  Working to create a plan to provide more user friendly, easy-to-access resources about the CBA and other job-related information for new Flight Attendants.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have feedback for the committee, concerns you’d like to share, or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Reserve Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Reserve Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – January 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, January 27, 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 Heather Reier (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

Celebrating Black History Month

February 1 marks the start of Black History Month in the United States—a vibrant celebration with roots dating back to 1925, when acclaimed historian Carter G. Woodson first introduced “Negro History Week” to highlight the remarkable achievements of Black individuals. In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford expanded it to Black History Month, calling on all […]

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

On this day, we pause to remember and honor the anniversary of the tragic loss of Alaska Airlines Flight 261, which occurred on January 31, 2000. This heartbreaking event claimed the lives of all 88 passengers and crew on board, leaving an enduring impact on all of us. As we reflect on this tragic day, […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 11 – January 2026

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) continues to make steady progress in collective bargaining sessions with management. Recent meetings have focused on refining contract Section 15 (Leaves of Absence). The JNC continues to incorporate the strongest language from both Alaska and Hawaiian agreements.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – January 2026

On Monday, January 12, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Brian Sherill (LAX-pmAS), Kanani Vallot (SAN), […]

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