Membership Engagement

This month, AFA has focused on our new Membership Engagement Committee. This committee is here to ensure that every Flight Attendant feels genuinely welcomed and valued throughout their career.

Council 39 Committee Updates

Benefits Committee

We would like to thank Ann Larue for her years of service on our local Benefits Committee.

Stepping in as Council 39 Interim Benefits Chairperson is Linda Gunselman. Linda will spend the coming months building her knowledge of our benefits, having already become a vital source of support to Flight Attendants through her work with our local Employee Assistance Program. She has a long history of supporting our Members through some very challenging moments, and we thank her for her willingness to serve in her new role.

Linda started her career as an Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant 29 years ago, having always found a calling in helping her fellow Flight Attendants. When she was asked to step into this new role, she knew it would be a big responsibility, but also knew that her experience with EAP and taking her own leave gave her the knowledge and ideas needed to streamline the process.

In this role, she hopes to create a committee that reaches everyone where they are in life, making the leave process more manageable and not as overwhelming.

Jenny Cortez has been a Flight Attendant since 2013 and joined the Portland base in 2019. She helped qualify the Airbus A321 into the fleet in 2017 and later taught transition and recurrent training. Having experienced two maternity leaves of her own, she understands the questions, challenges, and excitement that come with the process. She is passionate about helping fellow Flight Attendants feel informed and supported, whether they are preparing for their first or adding another little one to their family.

Scheduling Committee

Joining our Council 39 Scheduling Committee is Aaron Lucich. Aaron has been with Alaska Airlines for 3 years, beginning his aviation career at Horizon as a Flight Attendant while also serving in a small capacity on their Scheduling Committee. That experience helped build a strong work ethic and laid the foundation for a deeper understanding of how the airline industry operates.

Since joining Alaska in October 2024, Aaron has dedicated his time to flying a variety of trips while listening to Flight Attendants’ experiences, accomplishments, and challenges. He is committed to knowing the contract, reading a section each week to stay current, and has a passion for scheduling, pairing construction, and helping Flight Attendants understand their contractual rights to create a better work-life balance. Flying with all seniority groups has given him an appreciation for the experiences of those who came before him, and he enjoys sharing his knowledge to help fellow Flight Attendants navigate operational challenges.

Before joining Air Group, Aaron spent three and a half years at Starbucks in Tacoma as a barista and barista trainer. Originally from Puyallup, he later moved to Portland and now lives in downtown Vancouver. Outside of flying, Aaron enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling when he can, and cooking.

Reserve Committee

The newest member of our Reserve Committee is Thomas Schwall. He has been with Air Group for three years this August and wants to help reserves understand their role and rights under our CBA. He comes to us after 20 years in hospitality where he learned to address issues with a smile, and four years in real estate that taught him to pay close attention to details in contracts. His broken sleep schedule makes him very accessible. When he isn’t working, you can find him spending time with his daughters at their many extracurricular activities, working on remodeling projects, or taking care of his animals.

Contact information for all Council 39 Committee Chairpersons and Committee Members can be found on our Linktree.

Follow Us On Socials

Have you heard? Council 39 has our very own Instagram! Follow us for important updates, news and timely reminders. You can find us here here on Instagram and here on Facebook.

WEBINAR: Can They Do That?

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, focused 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 Pacific. 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.

VIDEO: Filing A Union Ticket

Have you ever heard a Flight Attendant tell you to “file a ticket” and had no idea what they meant? In this video you will learn how and when to use AFA’s Online Support System to get solutions to questions or concerns you are having trouble finding the answers to on your own.

CBA Hardcopies

Printed copies of the 2025-2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement are available in the PDX crew room downstairs. Please feel free to pick up a copy at your convenience.

Upcoming I-5 Closure

AFA has been made aware of a major closure of all southbound lanes of I-5 starting on September 11, 2026, and lasting up to five weeks. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) predicts that these closures may cause the worst traffic in our region’s history.

Flight Attendants will be urged to plan ahead, leave home earlier than usual and consider options like carpooling or public transit. More reminders will be posted as the time draws nearer, and you can sign up for travel alerts from ODOT here.

Human Rights and Equity Committee Dates of Interest (August 2026)

from our Council 39 HR&E Committee Chairperson, Aaron Miller

• August 6: Hiroshima Day
• August 9: International Day of Indigenous People
• August 12: International Youth Day
• August 19: International Humanitarian Day
• August 23: International Day For the Remembrance of the Slave Trade & Its Abolition
• August 29: International Day Against Nuclear Tests

CMAP in Portland

KCM is continuing its transition to a new program called Crewmember Access Point (CMAP), which is expected to fully replace KCM by New Year’s Eve 2026.

CMAP may be available for your use in Portland now, but continue carrying your KCM card and use KCM checkpoints if needed.

Keep in mind that opting out of CMAP means that you will forego the opportunity for crew-specific screening at TSA checkpoints once KCM sunsets and will be required to use passenger screening checkpoints instead.

Portland Pride 2026

Our Council 39 Human Rights & Equity Commitee, chaired by Portland-based Flight Attendant Aaron Miller, was proud to partner with Oregon Labor Federation, AFL-CIO for Portland Pride 2026.

It was a beautiful day in downtown Portland, and while we may have been few this year, we made our presence known and had a great time representing Council 39 at Pride!

For information about our HR&E Committee and the vital work they do, reach out to Aaron directly.

September Low Bid Option

Bidding for September Low Bid Options (LBOs) opened on July 23 and closed on July 30. §10.Q of the CBA covers eligibility requirements, rules and restrictions.

• No staffing adjustment leaves (SALs) will be offered for September.
• While AFA advocated for more, only a small number of LBOs were offered for each base.
• Everyone who wanted an LBO was encouraged to bid, even if they felt it was unlikely they would be awarded one. Collecting this data is important to gauge interest in possible future LBO offerings.

In Solidarity,

Krystle, Melodie and Kevin