In This Edition

• Contract Extension Voting through May 12
• Take the Flight Attendant Vaccine Status Survey
• Upcoming AFA Board of Directors Meeting
• Reporting Missing Airbus Oven Inserts and Racks
• Concerned About A Loved Who Is Struggling with Alcohol or Drugs?

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Contract Extension Voting through May 12

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Voting continues on the contract extension tentative agreement and polls will remain open through Wednesday, May 12 at 9 AM PDT.  If you haven’t already done so, please take a moment to review the tentative agreement, virtual roadshow recordings, and other resources in order to help you cast an informed vote. 

Voting or Ballot Questions

If you have not yet received your ballot (voting instructions and 16-digit activation code), please review the information on how to request a new activation code on the Contract Extension Voting Information page of afaalaska.org.

Voting Eligibility Questions

If you have received an error message when attempting to use your activation code to vote or need to verify that your membership status prior to voting, please contact AFA Membership Services for assistance.  AFA Membership Services may be reached at (800) 424-2401 and then choosing option 7. 

Please note that the AFA International office is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so everyone is working from home. Please leave a voice message with your name, Peoplesoft number and a good callback number. Someone will return your call as soon as possible during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM EDT).

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Take the Flight Attendant Vaccine Status Survey

AFA International

Have you gotten your vaccine yet? Since the first vaccines were approved, we’ve been advocating for Flight Attendants to be included with other essential workers in priority groups. The CDC announced that it’s safe for fully vaccinated (and masked!) people to travel, and we’re already seeing significantly higher passenger volumes. As we work to make sure our planes stay safe, it’s important for us to know whether members are able to receive the vaccine.

All adults in all states are now eligible to receive the vaccine. We are keeping our afacwa.org/vaccine up to date with the latest information on access and Flight Attendant prioritization.

Will you take our quick vaccine survey to help us track access? No personal information will be shared from the survey.

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Upcoming AFA Board of Directors Meeting

Master Executive Council (MEC)

Our Master Executive Council (MEC) Officers, Local Executive Council (LEC) Presidents, and many other LEC Officers and Committee Chairs will be attending the 48^th Annual AFA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting next week virtually using Zoom.  This annual meeting is where AFA conducts the business of our Union at the international level.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, May 11 – Wednesday, May 12	May Regular MEC Meeting
Wednesday, May 12	Executive Board Meeting (MEC President from each airline)
Thursday, May 13 – Friday, May 14	Board of Directors Meeting

BOD Meeting Agenda Items

Your LEC President represents you and the other members of your Local Council on the Board of Directors and will be casting votes on your behalf at the BOD meeting.  Your MEC Officers serve in an ex-officio capacity on the BOD but do not have voting privileges.

Each LEC held a Local Council meeting over the past several weeks to discuss the proposed agenda items and gain your feedback.  You can find details about the proposed agenda by contacting your LEC President.

Questions?

If you have any questions or thoughts about the BOD meeting or the proposed AFA-CWA budget, please contact your LEC President.

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Reporting Missing Airbus Oven Inserts and Racks

Inflight Service Committee

The Inflight Service Committee has recently been working with management to attempt to resolve issues related to missing oven inserts and racks onboard Airbus aircraft.  The Committee has received numerous reports of Airbus ovens missing inserts and racks while at the same time management has not received corresponding reports.  Oven inserts and racks are considered standard catering equipment on Airbus aircraft and, if not present, should be reported in the same manner as other missing catering items. 

To ensure that we have the necessary tools and equipment to safely perform our duties, the Inflight Service Committee is looking for your help in reporting missing Airbus oven inserts and racks.  The next time you fly on an Airbus aircraft, please ask the “A” Flight Attendant to check to oven to determine if there is an oven insert and racks present.  If not, please report the missing equipment using the catering reporting function within Block2Block.  The more reports that management receives on this issue, the more effective the Committee will be in advocating to resolve the equipment shortage.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact your Local Inflight Service Committee.

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Concerned About A Loved Who Is Struggling with Alcohol or Drugs?

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

Watching a friend or family member struggle with alcohol or drugs use can be heartbreaking. But, with help, there is recovery.

Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself about another person’s use of alcohol or drugs. If you answer yes to two or more questions, consider calling your AFA EAP for confidential support and next step options. Remember, many have been where you are.

• Do you worry about how much your friend or loved one uses alcohol or drugs?
• Do you lie or make excuses about their behavior when they drink or use drugs?
• Do they get angry with you if you try to discuss their drinking or drug use?
• Have you ever been hurt or embarrassed by their behavior when using drugs or alcohol?
• Do you have concerns about how much time and money they spend on alcohol and drugs?
• Do your resent having to pick up their responsibilities because they are drunk, high or hungover?
• Do you ever get scared or nervous about their behavior when they’re drinking or using drugs?
• Do you ever feel like you’re losing it–“going crazy”–just really stressed out?

Here are some important suggestions: 

• Learn all you can about substance use disorders.
• Speak up and offer your support.  Talk to the person about your concerns and offer your help, including your willingness to go with them and get help. 
• Don’t wait for them to “hit bottom.”  You may be met with excuses, denial or anger, but be prepared to respond with specific examples of behavior that have you worried.
• Don’t expect the person to stop without help.  You have heard it before — promises to cut down, to stop — but it doesn’t work.  Treatment, support, and new coping skills are needed for recovery.  

Contact your AFA EAP for peer support and treatment resources.  We have specialized programs that know how to work with Flight Attendants and their families. Call us at (949) 470-0493 or find your Local EAP Committee at https://afaalaska.org/eap.