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Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Wednesday, July 22, our pre-merger Alaska Benefits Committee Chairpersons met for their regular monthly meeting. This meeting was an internal AFA-only meeting and did not involve management. 

Representing you at the meeting were Ava McWilliams Ellington (LAX), Linda Gunselman (PDX), Sonia Quackenbush (SAN), Kathy O’Malley (SEA), and Julie Pearson (SFO). MEC Benefits Committee Chairperson Dianna Ripley also attended and facilitated the discussion.

The next Benefits Committee Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19.

Discussion Topics

The Committee reviewed challenges in leave processing and discussed administrative protocols to improve Member communication, documentation, and consistency. These included:

  • Google Workspace Training: The Committee was joined by MEC Communications Committee Chairperson Brian Palmer, who conducted a training session on best practices for use of Google Workspace. Information was shared to improve the Committee’s use of Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and Chat to better coordinate work and more effectively represent Members.
  • June Committee Metrics: The Committee addressed a high volume of cases, particularly those related to medical and on-the-job injuries. The group raised concerns about systemic issues such as Kaiser benefit terminations for employees returning from leave and payroll deduction errors. We encourage all members to verify their benefit enrollment status promptly upon returning from leave.
  • Policy Advocacy: The Committee discussed the challenges caused by management’s practice of running Workers’ Compensation and FMLA leave concurrently, which forces Flight Attendants to use personal sick leave for appointments. Advocacy to change this policy is currently being pursued through the Joint Negotiating Committee.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Committee Resource Development: We are building a central resource hub for Benefits Committee Members on the internal AFA representative website. By organizing tools and resources in one location, we will be able to assist Flight Attendants more efficiently and effectively.
  2. Maternity Benefits Gap: The Committee is actively pursuing solutions to the potential gap in maternity benefits that can arise when a Flight Attendant begins leave at 29 weeks, especially when coordinating Short-Term Disability and state-paid leave benefits in Washington.
  3. ILOA Handbook Update: The Committee has submitted recommendations for the ILOA Handbook and is awaiting management’s final review.

We Want To Hear From You!

We’re focused on ensuring every Flight Attendant receives accurate information, timely support, and clear guidance when navigating complex benefit and leave situations. If you have questions about the leave process, please connect with your Local Benefits Committee as early as possible. Reaching out before issues arise helps us provide timely guidance and ensures you can make informed, confident decisions about your benefits.

Every question, concern, or suggestion you share helps us advocate more effectively with management and ensures that we focus on what matters most to you. If you have questions or ideas, we encourage you to contact your Local Benefits Committee. Our contact information is always available on the Benefits Committee page of the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian website.

Meet Our Local Chairpersons

We’re excited to introduce our first group of SEA Local Committee Chairpersons for the current LEC Officer term. They will be transitioning into their roles over the next few weeks and officially start their terms on September 1, 2026. Below you’ll find brief biographies that highlight their backgrounds and experiences as they prepare to support our Members at Council 19.

Kiersten Larson | Local Communications Chairperson

Kiersten began her career as a Flight Attendant with Alaska Airlines in 2008. Over the last few years, she’s been involved with Government Affairs, Mobilization, and Communications. In addition to Union work, Kiersten is an active children’s rights advocate, reflecting her ongoing commitment to standing up for those who need a voice.

Kiersten was motivated to step into the role of Council 19 Seattle Council Representative because of her passion for advocating for her fellow Flight Attendants and ensuring their voices are heard at every level. She aims to build on her advocacy background by keeping Members informed, engaged, and empowered. Outside of work, Kiersten loves spending time with her husband, two cats, and lovingly harassing her adult children.

Jerry Sinclair | Local Communications Vice-Chairperson

Jerry was born and raised in the Burien-Tukwila area and began his airline career with Air Cal Airlines, later American Airlines, in 1984. He joined Horizon Air in 1995, transferred to Alaska Airlines in 2001, and became a Flight Attendant in 2003. Since 2012, he has served in various Union roles, including committee work and two terms as Local Executive Council Representative for Council 19. 

In his free time, Jerry enjoys the outdoors, caring for his dogs and rescue cats, and working in the yard.

Andrew Stinson | Local Government Affairs/Human Rights & Equity Chairperson

Andrew has been a Flight Attendant with Alaska Airlines since 2015. Before coming to Alaska, Andrew graduated with a bachelor’s degree in restaurant and hotel management and worked as a chef at Snoqualmie Casino in the banquets and catering department. Andrew’s goals in his new role as Council Representative are to engage with our Members by continuing to fly and to continue to build solidarity with other labor organizations.

Andrew is heavily involved in many local labor organizations, such as the Pierce County Central Labor Council, the Washington State Labor Council, and Pride at Work Pierce County. When Andrew isn’t advocating for Flight Attendants, he keeps busy by spending time with his and his partners’ families. 

Tracy Pettit | Local Membership Engagement Chairperson

Tracy started flying for a different airline that was shut down because of Covid (and probably other industry-related issues). Along with other AFA Government Affairs volunteers, she fought to get the Payroll Protection Program into law. That bill allowed folks to keep their jobs, and those who became unemployed, like Tracy, to stay above water. This experience cemented for her the importance of Union power and solidarity.

In 2022, Tracy started flying for Alaska and started doing Union work as soon as she could. Her goal for Membership Engagement and our local council is to participate more frequently in the larger labor movement, to hold management accountable to their promises, and to ensure every Flight Attendant has the resources to be informed, supported and empowered to advocate for themselves.

Outside of Union work, Tracy has a dog who just turned 10! She spends a lot of time in Juneau, Alaska with her partner and his cat. Tracy likes to read, play games, and make art.

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 17 – July 2026

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Our JNC met with management this week on July 21 to July 23 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for August 24 to August 26
  • Our JNC presented our response to the company’s initial proposal on Section 23 (Insurance Benefits), aiming to secure Flight Attendant specific provisions

Negotiations Update

Our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management from July 21 to July 23 in Seattle, WA. At the negotiating table for this session were:

Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants  Representing Management
Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee ChairpersonAllen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberRyan St. John, Vice President, Finance, Planning and Investor Relations, Alaska
Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberJoe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations, Alaska
Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
 Karen Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska

This week the JNC started off by meeting with our pre-merger Alaska MEC Reserve Chairperson, Julie Thornton, to continue to review Alaska Reserve concerns. Julie also weighed in on formulating the Reserve survey to ensure all relevant pre-merger Alaska questions were addressed. The JNC will be meeting with the pre-merger Hawaiian MEC Reserve Chairperson, Kela Chong, prior to the next negotiating session.

The JNC passed our initial proposal on Section 23 (Insurance Benefits) this week, incorporating many of the protections found in the Hawaiian agreement and cementing those already in the Alaska agreement. One of our goals is to secure Flight Attendant specific insurance plan provisions in our JCBA, examples being Flexible Spending Accounts, coverage of dependent children up to age 26 and company provided life insurance.

We continued to discuss the remaining outstanding issues in Section 30 (Training) and have made much progress in this section. We have already secured Buddy Bidding for Recurrent Training and are working to secure other improvements in this section. This proposal is currently in the company’s court and we are hopeful to receive a response from management at the next session.

Section by Section Progress

The Alaska CBA is being used as the basis of the joint contract for language purposes. Each section and provision from both contracts will be reviewed individually to incorporate and amend the strongest elements from each agreement.

Sections discussed in this session:

  • Insurance Benefits (AS CBA Section 23 and HA CBA Section 32)
  • Training (AS CBA Section 30 and HA CBA Section 26)

Sections in ongoing discussion:

  • Vacations (AS CBA Section 14 and HA CBA Section 18)
  • Sick Leave (AS CBA Section 16 and HA CBA Section 19)
  • Leaves of Absence (AS CBA Section 15 and HA CBA Section 17)
  • General and Miscellaneous (AS CBA Section 24 and HA CBA Section 27)
  • Domiciles (AS CBA Section 28 and HA CBA Section 5, 14, and 27)
  • Commuter Policy (AS CBA Section 36 and HA CBA Section 34-28)

Sections listed below are on hold until discussions regarding future sections, which affect specific provisions, take place.

  • Seniority (AS CBA Section 6 and HA CBA Section 9)
  • Grievance Procedures (AS CBA Section 19 and HA CBA Section 23)
  • Charters (AS CBA Section 33 and HA CBA Section 12)

JCBA Negotiations

As a reminder, here’s how JCBA bargaining differs from regular negotiations:

  • Not Section 6 Negotiations: Because our contracts are not amendable, we fall outside the regular Section 6 process.
  • Creating One Contract from Two: Instead of improving a single contract, JCBA talks are about building an entirely new agreement from two existing contracts.
  • Different Survey Process: The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) will send targeted “subject matter” surveys on specific contract sections.

For more information about the process please see Understanding JCBA Negotiations

What’s Upcoming

Our next session with management is scheduled for August 24 to August 26.

Register Now: Reserve Webinar – Thursday, August 6

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

As a follow-up to our June 23 save-the-date announcement, we’re excited to share full details and open registration for our August pre-merger Alaska Reserve Webinar! If you’ve ever wondered, “Can they do that?” when Crew Scheduling calls with a reserve assignment or schedule change—whether you’re a Reserve Flight Attendant or a lineholder flying with a Reserve—this series is designed for you. Our Reserve Committee will host a limited-run series of webinars starting in August, focusing on your most pressing questions and providing clear, actionable guidance on the topics that matter most.

Mark your calendar for our kickoff session: Thursday, August 6, at 1 PM PT. Our first Reserve Webinar, “Can they do that?”, will offer practical, contractual insights for both everyday scheduling scenarios and those unexpected curveballs. This session is open to all—Reserve Flight Attendants and lineholders alike. Come ready to engage, learn, and ask anything on your mind.

Register Now!

The webinar will be hosted on Zoom, making it easy to join from home or while on a layover. Advance registration is required to receive your unique Zoom link and event reminders. As always, the AFA mutual respect policy will be in effect throughout the session.

Click here to register >

To secure your spot, please use your personal email address—registrations using an alaskaair.com email address will be canceled. Attendance is limited to Members in good standing, and membership status will be verified prior to the event. If you’re unsure about your status, visit the AFA Membership Hub to confirm.

Once registered, you’ll receive a unique Zoom link by email. This link is exclusive to you and can only be used on one device, so keep it handy. Each attendee must register individually, as links are not shareable. If you’re unsure whether you’ll be able to join the session, register anyway—this guarantees you’ll have access should your schedule allow. Keep in mind that registration closes one hour before the webinar begins.

Need help with Zoom? Visit the Zoom support website for details on system requirements and joining instructions.

Submit Your Questions in Advance!

If you have a “can they do that?” question, we want to hear from you! Use the link below to submit your questions ahead of time. While you’ll have the chance to ask live during the session, advance submissions help us tailor the webinar to your needs and ensure we address the topics that matter most.

Click here to submit your question now >

Questions or Need More Info?

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your Local Reserve Committee.

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 16 – July 2026

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

  • Our JNC met with management this week on July 1 to July 3 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for July 21 to July 23
  • A Tentative Agreement has been reached for Section 35 (Flight Attendant Jumpseat and Pass Privileges) and LOA 9 (Flight Attendant Jumpseat)

Negotiations Update

Our AFA Alaska + Hawaiian Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met this week for three days of collective bargaining with management. The JNC met with management from July 1 to July 3 in Seattle, WA. At the negotiating table for this session were:

Representing AFA and our Flight Attendants  Representing Management
Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee ChairpersonAllen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberRyan St. John, Vice President, Finance, Planning and Investor Relations, Alaska
Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberJoe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations, Alaska
Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
 Karen Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska

This week, the JNC has reached a tentative agreement on Section 35 (Flight Attendant Jumpseat and Pass Privileges) and Letter of Agreement (LOA) 9 (Flight Attendant Jumpseat). These provisions cement protections governing Flight Attendant Jumpseat usage and establish the priority order for Flight Attendant assignment to the jumpseat. The LOA further secures jumpseat assignment order and availability ensuring access and guidelines for Flight Attendant pass travel. The JNC also received the first proposal from management on Section 23 (Insurance Benefits) and spent a considerable amount of time analyzing and consulting with our subject matter experts to prepare a comprehensive counter proposal. The JNC also passed a proposal on Section 30 (Training) and is continuing to make progress forward.

Section by Section Progress

The Alaska CBA is being used as the basis of the joint contract for language purposes. Each section and provision from both contracts will be reviewed individually to incorporate and amend the strongest elements from each agreement.

Sections discussed in this session:

  • Insurance Benefits (AS CBA Section 23 and HA CBA Section 32)
  • Training (AS CBA Section 30 and HA CBA Section 26)
  • Flight Attendant Jumpseat and Pass Privileges (AS CBA Section 35 and HA CBA Section 30)
  • Commuter Policy (AS CBA Section 36 and HA CBA Section 34-28)

Sections in ongoing discussion:

  • Vacations (AS CBA Section 14 and HA CBA Section 18)
  • Sick Leave (AS CBA Section 16 and HA CBA Section 19)
  • Leaves of Absence (AS CBA Section 15 and HA CBA Section 17)
  • General and Miscellaneous (AS CBA Section 24 and HA CBA Section 27)
  • Domiciles (AS CBA Section 28 and HA CBA Section 5, 14, and 27)

Sections listed below are on hold until discussions regarding future sections, which affect specific provisions, take place.

  • Seniority (AS CBA Section 6 and HA CBA Section 9)
  • Grievance Procedures (AS CBA Section 19 and HA CBA Section 23)
  • Charters (AS CBA Section 33 and HA CBA Section 12)

What’s Upcoming

Our next session with management is scheduled for July 21 to July 23.

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2026

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

Reserve Survey Closing Soon

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) is working to secure the best reserve provisions for our Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA). We want to hear from you about which parts of the reserve experience matter most, so we can better meet your needs. The survey […]

Join The Picket Line: Support Horizon Flight Attendants this Wednesday, October 14

This Wednesday, October 14, Horizon Air Flight Attendants will take to the picket line to demand the fair contract they rightfully deserve. During our own contract fight, Horizon Flight Attendants never hesitated. They showed up for us on our picket lines, stood shoulder to shoulder with us at every rally, and proved what true solidarity […]

Reserve Survey Now Open

Our JNC encourages all members to participate in the Reserve survey, regardless of your current Reserve status. Whether you are on Reserve now, pick up Reserve days occasionally, or have not been on Reserve recently, your input is valuable. The survey will be open until Tuesday, October 20 at Noon PT.

Scheduling Committee Meeting Recap – September 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Tuesday, September 29, 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 Rebekah Olds (ANC), Rita Tillou (SEA), Melodie Anderes (PDX), […]

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