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Council 47 LAX Update – Virtual Joint Membership Meeting

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Los Angeles Based Flight Attendants

Virtual Joint Membership Meeting – BOD Edition

Hello Council 15, 18, and 47 Members,

You are invited to attend our Virtual Joint Membership Meeting – Board of Directors Edition on February 27 at 2PM PT, bringing together members from Council 15 SAN (AS), Council 18 LAX (AS), and Council 47 LAX (HA).

In accordance with the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws Article III.D.2.a., each Council is required to hold two membership meetings per year, with one conducted prior to the AFA Board of Directors meeting being held in March. This meeting fulfills that requirement and serves an important purpose.

During this session, your Council Presidents will go over the proposed agenda items scheduled to be addressed at the upcoming Board of Directors meeting. As your elected representatives, we will be voting on these items on your behalf. Your input is critical. The perspectives and feedback shared during this meeting directly inform how we represent you and cast our votes.

We strongly encourage all eligible members to participate to ensure your voice is heard.

Registration is required to attend. In order to participate, you must be a member of Council 15, 18, or 47. Shared links are not permitted. The meeting link will function only for the registered attendee.

We look forward to seeing you all there. 

Register Here

AGENDA:

  • Call to Order
  • Credentials
  • Welcome and Introductions
  • What is the Board of Directors?
  • Agenda Items
  • Q&A
  • Adjournment 

In Solidarity, 

Brice McGee
LEC President Council 15 – SAN

Kelese Richardson
LEC President Council 18 – LAX

Joshua Aoki
LEC President Council 47 – LAX

Mahina ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

ʻAuhea wale ana ʻoe e nā manu hāmama lewa, aloha ʻoukou~
Where are you, O birds soaring across the sky, aloha to you all~

February is Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month), a time to celebrate and uplift the Hawaiian language and the many ways it lives through our people and our work.

In recognition of “Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi,” committee members of I Mua Ke Alo: Stewards of Cultural and Language Legacy will be hosting lounge sits in the HNL Airport Crew Lounge on February 12th & 13th throughout the day.  These relaxed, come-and-go sessions are an opportunity to talk story about how ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi shows up in our roles as Flight Attendants at Hawaiian Airlines and how each of us helps carry the language forward through everyday moments of service and connection.

During these lounge sits, we are also happy to share information, answer any questions, and help guide those who are interested in the process of becoming certified to bear the Hae Hawaiʻi, which signifies fluency in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. While full announcements should be made only by certified speakers, we warmly encourage everyone to use Hawaiian words and short phrases in daily interactions and service whenever possible.

This gathering reflects the mission of our committee, to protect the integrity of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and our culture, especially during times of change.  As we prepare for the future, we remain focused on preserving what makes us who we are, ensuring our language and culture continue to be respected, visible, and lived every day.   We invite you to stop by, connect, and join us in uplifting the language and values that guide us.

E kipa mai nō, he wahi kēia no kākou a pau.
Come visit, this is a place for all of us.

Me ka haʻahaʻa,
Nā lālā o “I Mua Ke Alo: Stewards of Cultural & Language Legacy”

Air Safety, Health, & Security Webinar

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

We hope you’re having a great week. Please join us on Wednesday, February 11th at 11:00 HT for our next LEC 43 webinar.

Our featured panelists, Kerri Ruiz, Randy Rivera, and Baron Lee, will be sharing important updates on the Hawaiian Safety Action Program (HSAP) and walking us through how to navigate fume-related events. This is a great opportunity to stay informed, ask questions, and learn directly from your peers.

You’re welcome to submit questions for our panelists during registration or live during the webinar.

Scan the QR code or click HERE to register now. Please use your personal email that is on file with the union to register. Company emails will be denied registration. All members in good standing are welcome to join us.

We hope to see you there.

Scan the QR code or click HERE to register now. Please use your personal email that is on file with the union to register. Company emails will be denied registration. All members in good standing are welcome to join us.

We hope to see you there.

In Solidarity,
LEC 43 Communications Committee
Miki Vericella
Soon Kim
Joyce Foley

Important Retirement Notice Update

This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants

We are pleased to announce that management has agreed to a seven (7) day grace period to withdraw a notice of intent to retire. The grace period is specifically for the February 1 deadline that a notice of intent to retire must be submitted by to be eligible for the Retiree Health Reimbursement Agreement (RHRA) benefit.

The agreement to extend the RHRA did not include a rescission period, so we approached management with our concern that some people may have second thoughts about retiring. We sincerely appreciate management hearing our concern and supporting you having more time to make this important life decision.

The RHRA benefit will not be available to anyone who retires after April 2, 2026. You must notify the Company by February 1, 2026 of your intent to retire on April 2, 2026, in order to receive the RHRA benefit.

The (RHRA) is an AFA-negotiated benefit that provides some retirees between $10,000 and $30,000, based on their years of service. The funds are available for you to pay for things like medical insurance or medical expenses while in retirement. More information about the RHRA may be found in Section 34-22 of the contract. If you are considering retirement please be sure to review the company-provided retirement planning checklist and the required retirement notification form. 

In Solidarity,

Martin Gusman
President
AFA-CWA Hawaiian Airlines Council 43, Honolulu

Kela Chong
Vice President
AFA-CWA Hawaiian Airlines Council 43, Honolulu

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 11 – January 2026

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

  • Our JNC met with management this week on January 27 to January 29 in Seattle; our next negotiation session is scheduled for February 24 to February 26
  • Our MEC Air Safety Health and Security Chairperson and Air Quality Representative, along with the AFA-CWA Industrial Hygienist joined the JNC to speak to management about impacts of air quality on Flight Attendants

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 on January 27 to January 29 in Seattle, WA. At the negotiating table for this session were:

Representing AFA and our Flight AttendantsRepresenting Management
Tim Green, Joint Negotiating Committee ChairpersonAllen Thieman, Vice President of Inflight, Alaska
Martin Gusman, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberJoe Wonderly, Vice President, Labor Relations, Alaska
Jeffrey Fuke, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberCarmen Williams, Managing Director, Labor Relations, Alaska
Virginia Fritz, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberKalani Sloat, Senior Director, Labor Relations, Hawaiian
Heather Reier, Joint Negotiating Committee MemberMike Link, Labor Relations Program Manager, Alaska
Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Senior Staff NegotiatorKaren Themelis, Senior Labor Relations Business Partner, Alaska
Seth Heiple, MEC Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee Chairperson
Deb Wallstrom, MEC Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee Air Quality Representative
Judith Anderson, AFA-CWA Industrial Hygienist; Air Safety, Health and Security

During this negotiating session we were joined by the MEC Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairperson, Seth Heiple; MEC ASHSC Air Quality Representative, Deb Wallstrom; and AFA-CWA Industrial Hygienist, Judith Anderson. After an in-depth presentation to the JNC, our subject matter experts educated management on air quality from the Flight Attendant perspective and identified areas of improvement and concrete action-items to address the on-the-job injury process.

After the presentation, we passed our prepared proposal on Section 15 (Leaves of Absence) to  management.  We continue to advocate for improvements and protections in this Section.  The JNC also made our initial proposal on Section 22 (Expenses).  On Day 2, management passed their response on Section 15 (Leaves).  We are significantly apart in this area as we work to incorporate improvements from the Hawaiian Contract.

Section by Section Progress

The Alaska CBA will be 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:

  • Leaves of Absence (AS CBA Section 15 and HA CBA Section 17)
  • Expenses (AS CBA Section 22 and HA CBA Section 4)

Sections in ongoing discussion:

  • General and Miscellaneous (AS CBA Section 24 and HA CBA Section 27)
  • Commuter Policy (AS CBA Section 26 and HA CBA Section 34-28)
  • Training (AS CBA Section 30 and HA CBA Section 26)

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)

Local Council Meetings

Our Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) attended the Master Executive Council (MEC) Meeting in Honolulu earlier this month. During the meeting the JNC provided the MEC with a negotiations update and collaborated on some of the more difficult decisions coming up as we work to combine two very different contracts. On January 15, the JNC met with Honolulu-based Members in a meet and greet event hosted by the Council 43 Leadership.  The JNC fielded questions, updated Members on the negotiations process, and addressed their concerns.

What’s Upcoming

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

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Pre-Merger Alaska Reserve Webinar Video and Q&A Recap – August 6, 2026

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants Thank you to everyone who joined our first pre-merger Alaska Reserve Webinar! We created this interactive session to share practical contract tips and help you feel more confident about reserve life. You can now watch the recording on our YouTube channel using the link below. Please note that […]

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Benefits Committee Meeting Recap – July 2026

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