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Human Rights Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2022 

Human Rights Committee

  • Our AFA Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met on Thursday, August 4 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 come to light.
  • If you have ideas, thoughts, or feedback for the committee, your Local Human Rights Committee Chairperson would love to hear from you!

On Thursday, August 4, our AFA Local Human Rights Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing activism to build awareness and effect change within our workplace and community.  Representing you at the meeting were Matt Cook (ANC), Yan Yan Teague (SEA), Sylvia Newbill (PDX), Melissa Osborne (SFO), and Louise Borras (LAX).  Also present were MEC Human Rights Committee Chairperson Chip Hestle and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Linda Christou.  The committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Operations Michaela Littman and Seattle Director of Inflight Base Operations Jenny Bookert 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:

  • Ongoing efforts to increase diversity and representation within the Flight Attendant Special Projects Pool.  
  • Upcoming celebrations of Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15) and Native American Heritage Month (November)
  • Management has added a link on the inflight website directly to the AFA Human Rights Committee website.  The link can be found under Administration > AFA > Human Rights Committee.
  • Management will soon be launching a new email introducing diversity champions.
  • Management’s proposal to conduct DEI listening sessions with Flight Attendants in each base; discussion about involvement of the AFA Human Rights Committee.
  • Upcoming plans by management to introduce gender neutral uniform pieces.
  • Participation by Human Rights Committee Members in the upcoming CWA Human Rights Conference and Pride at Work Convention.
  • Plans to conduct a Human Rights Committee survey to help determine priorities for the committee based on Flight Attendant feedback.
  • Review of management’s current diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) metrics.
  • Update on current program of work from the company’s Business Resource Groups (BRG).  The BRGs are working to encourage more participation from front-line employees.
  • Ongoing concerns about employees using gendered language in announcements.  Request that management issue a reminder.
  • Concerns about availability of emergency healthcare for pregnant employees in locations where regulations may impose limitations on healthcare providers given the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Friday, November 18, 2022.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Developing a Framework for Diversity & Inclusion Listening Sessions.  Discussing proposed plans with management to have our AFA Human Rights Committee facilitate sessions in each base that would allow Flight Attendants to discuss diversity and inclusion topics and concerns with management.
  2. Promoting Increased Diversity Within the Flight Attendant Special Projects Pool.  Advocating for management to create a Special Projects Pool that is reflective of our overall work group, starting with a focus on those who are selected to participate in Flight Attendant recruiting and hiring. 
  3. Building Relationships with the Company’s Business Resources Groups (BRGs).  Continuing to work to establish relationships with leaders of the Company’s BRGs to find areas where we can join together to advance human rights within the scope of each group.

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 Human Rights Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Human Rights Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2022

Uniform Committee

  • Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, August 2 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.   

On Tuesday, August 2, our AFA Local Uniform 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 Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), and Heather Milner (LAX).  Also present were MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Todd Scarlett; MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Uniform Safety Representative Deb Wallstrom; and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Uniform Programs Manager Ashlyn Pham, Uniform Fit Center Lead Ashley Sentner, Senior Marketing Product Delivery Manager Kelly Cuthill, and PDX Base Manager Kristie Stafford 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:

  • Feedback from the recent wear test of a new prototype warm weather shirt.  Some Uniform and Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Members tested the new prototype recently.  The Committee also put forward a request that any new warm weather shirt be permitted to be worn with either pants or the skirt.
  • Expanded timeframe of when the patriotic tie and scarf can be worn.  Management recently announced allowing the neckwear pieces to be worn on additional dates surrounding Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day rather than just the holidays themselves.
  • Request to remove the policy requirement that uniform shoes have a defined heel.  Management agreed to further review the request but would like examples of shoes that would meet appearance standards with no defined heel.
  • Review of the accommodation process for Flight Attendants who are medically unable to wear shoes that meet uniform policy guidelines.  Current process is to initiate a request for exemption through a base supervisor.
  • Concerns with availability of navy colored shoes in the marketplace (due to seasonality and supply chain issues) and request to expand color options to be worn with feminine uniform pieces.  Management says that they have recently updated the Zappos shoe portal with additional style options and will be working with Zappos to request that more items be made available year round.
  • Discussion about plans for upcoming gender neutral uniform pieces.  Management has held some employee focus groups and will continue to hold additional focus groups as the pieces progress through the design process.
  • Request to designate certain existing pieces as gender neutral until specific gender neutral uniform pieces are available.
  • Concerns that the policy requiring that hosiery be worn with the uniform skirt and dresses is outdated.  The Committee brought forward a recent policy change at American Airlines that removed the requirement to wear hosiery and requested that management make changes to match.
  • Request for a packable, insulated jacket that provides more substantial warmth than the transition jacket in a similar form factor.
  • Request for clarification about the winter hat policy.
  • Ongoing uniform quality issues.  Management indicates that they are not receiving much feedback about quality issues and concerns.  The Committee brought forward issues with the current process of submitting feedback, how it is not user friendly for Flight Attendants, and that many problems are likely not being reported.
  • Ongoing request to review the current process for Flight Attendants to provide feedback related to uniform pieces.  The requirement to compose an email to Unisync is not consistent with how Flight Attendants report issues in other areas and is unnecessarily cumbersome.  The Committee suggested that management develop an online form that could be easily accessed using a dedicated link on the IMD.
  • Concerns with product shortages and items that are backordered for extended periods of time.  Management states that the shortages are due to supply chain issues as well as greater than expected hiring of new employees that they did not project for.
  • Concerns with new hire Flight Attendants not be provided with effective training and support regarding uniform policies and guidelines during Initial Training.
  • Ongoing concerns with product shortages and items that are backordered for extended periods of time.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Tuesday, November 1, 2022.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Cold Weather Improvements.  Working to expand policies and improve uniform pieces in anticipation of upcoming cold weather months.  This includes advocating for improvements to the uniform boot policy, a warmer packable jacket, and clarification of the winter hat policy.
  2. Simplification of Uniform Policies.  Advocating for an overall simplification of company uniform policies through clearer guidelines, removal of excessive or unrealistic restrictions, and other common sense changes.
  3. Streamlining the Uniform Feedback Process.  Working to develop an easy-to-use, online form that Flight Attendants can use to provide feedback about uniform issues and concerns that automatically routes to management, Unisync, and our AFA Uniform Committee.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please help our Uniform Committee by taking the time to email Unisync at alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com with any quality issues you are experiencing.  When sending an email, please describe the issue with as much detail as possible and include photos if you can.  Please CC your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so that the Uniform Committee can track the issues as well.

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

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – July 2022

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, July 26 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, July 26, 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 Adam Clarey, and MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson Julie Thornton. The committee met with Managing Director of Inflight Crew Scheduling & Strategy Denia Pisia, Managing Director of Ops Staffing & Resource Management Brittany Audette, 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:

  • Sunset of ClassBid on July 26, 2022.
  • Staffing Adjust Leaves (SALs).
  • Care Retreat.  Bidding is open as of July 26, 2022.
  • Personal Drops, increased TSN, lower line average – continued flexibility, if available. 
  • Crew Scheduling phone system.
  • Pairing construction, soft locks, 4ks, cost, efficiency, block hours and distribution.
  • Hotel/Transportation wait times, following up internally and with API.
  • Reserve Percentages (system/domiciles).
  • Future Hiring/Base awards/Base transfer/New hires (Crew Planning reviewing 2022/2023).
  • Charter awards/bidding.
  • ITS/CrewAccess/NavBlue/Rainmaker – performance, change requests (CRs), bugs, statistics. 
  • CrewAccess system login errors, reporting errors, timeliness and processing times. 

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Preparation for Contract Negotiations.  The Scheduling Committee will compile a list of requests and items needing review to be shared with our Negotiating Committee.  
  2. Reassignment Flow Chart.  Scheduling Committee Members reviewed a draft of the reassignment flow chart and it has been moved forward to the final stages of review and approval.  Refer to sections 10.R and 10.R.5 of our CBA.
  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.

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2022

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

  • Our AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met on Thursday, July 14 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, July 14, 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 Chairperson Seth Heiple and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Cabin Safety Manager Cari Smith-Allen, Manager of Inflight Policy & Procedure Joevanni Camacho, and Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder.

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:

  • Having a CSA available to assist with assistance devices, gate checks, etc. during deplaning. 
  • Changing what we call infant life vest in announcements to “life vest for children under 30 lbs”. This would align better with their purpose and help those traveling with children identify which type of life vest their child would need.
  • Request to add Narcan nasal spray to emergency medical kits to assist with passengers who have overdosed. Note: The EEMK does have Naloxone which is an injectable used to treat opioid overdoses.
  • At the ASHSC’s request bottles of Sanicide are to be provisioned in plastic bags to contain leakage. However, it appears that this has not been happening constantly, so we have asked Inflight to follow up with Fleet to ensure the bottles are provisioned correctly.
  • The Company is planning to add a third cart to PLH flights. The ASHSC is concerned that this will negatively impact our ability to stow all trash, result in excessively long lavatory lines and make managing passenger alcohol consumption more difficult. We also believe some of these issues will be exacerbated by the upcoming removal of the third aft lavatory on the 737-800s.
  • Initial Training was shorted four weeks but will be returning to five weeks. We have requested that Initial Training include familiarizations flights and more time practicing procedures like the arrival and departure sequences.
  • Fleet at some stations has been closing all window shade even when it is not needed to keep the cabin cool. We believe it is safer to keep more window shades open when possible to increase awareness of what is happening outside the cabin.
  • There are safety concerns around F/As bringing items onto the A/C to serve or altering the produces being served. While well intentioned, this can have unintended safety and liability consequences.
  • Inflight is in the process of procuring the improved, easier to use, restraint devices requested by the ASHSC.
  • At the ASHSC’s request the safety demo will be updated to include “in an emergency, leave everything”.
  • Inflight continues to work on moving our prior to landing compliance checks to 18,000 feet.

What the Committee is Working On

  1. Trash Stowage.  The Inflight Service Committee and ASHSC have been working with Inflight and Catering to develop solutions for the ongoing lack adequate trash stowage. Every departure now should have an empty cart in one of the galleys for trash. If you don’t have the required empery cart submit a catering report. Please submit an ASAP & FAIR if, after following procedures and making every reasonable attempt to do so, you are unable to stow all trash in legal stowage locations. AFA continues to advocate for dedicated trash cart(s) on all flights.
  2. Time In Motion Studies. The ASHSC is coordinating with the Inflight Service Committee and Inflight on a program to assess how long it takes to perform safety and service duties on each aircraft type and flight profile. The goal is to understand what service can safely be completed in each market, and ensure we have adequate time allotted for safety duties like equipment checks and briefings. 
  3. Cabin Lighting During Compliance Checks. The ASHSC has been advocating for a brighter lighting setting for prior to take off and landing compliance checks. We believe the company is willing to use our boarding light setting for compliance checks and expect the change to be impended soon. The brighter lighting will help us see better as we complete our compliance checks and will provide a visual indicator to passengers that their attention is needed as we prepare the cabin for landing.

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 – June 2022

Scheduling Committee

  • Our AFA Scheduling Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, June 28 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, June 28, 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), Virginia Fritz (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 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:

  • Review of personal drops.
  • Base staffing.
  • Reserve Flight Attendants deadheading to other bases to cover red eye flying.
  • Reassignments and compensation.
  • Flexibility of increased TSN, bulletin board grabs and raising the reserve ARC.
  • Canceled flights and pre-cancellations.
  • Hotel/transportation, excessive wait times and limited availability.
  • Working through the AFA Online Support Center on issues brought forward by Flight Attendants. 
  • Staffing changes in Crew Scheduling.
  • Crew Scheduling management reminded schedulers of contact only once while on RON and how/when to remove trips from reserve self-assignment. 

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Preparation for Contract Negotiations.  The Scheduling Committee will compile a list of requests and items needing review to be shared with our Negotiating Committee.  
  2. Reassignment Flow Chart.  Scheduling Committee Members reviewed a draft of the reassignment flow chart and it has been moved forward to the final stages of review and approval.  Refer to sections 10.R and 10.R.5 of our CBA.
  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.

Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

On Monday, October 13, 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), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement

Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes to the rules surrounding how airlines report information about passengers and crew before flights. This system is called the Advance Passenger Information System, or APIS. These changes are in response to a Presidential Executive Order. What is APIS? APIS is a system that airlines are legally […]

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