AFA Alaska

Representing the Flight Attendants of Alaska + Hawaiian

Click here to report an issue to AFA
You are here: Home / Archives for scholarships

Council 35 News March 2021

Important Dates

  • March 31: Q1 CBT Due
  • March 31:  Oneworld Pins Now a Uniform Requirement
  • April 10:  AFA Scholarship Application Deadline
  • April 21:  Questions for SFO Safety Meeting Submission Deadline
  • April 30:  CWA Joe Beirne Scholarship Application Deadline
  • May 6: CA Membership Meeting

CDC Vaccine Information

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines for people that have been fully vaccinated for Covid-19, as well as the precautions you should still take to protect against reinfection. As more FAs start to obtain appointments for the vaccine, or become fully vaccinated, the CDC’s website has information about how to prepare for your vaccine and interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people. 

Scholarship Opportunities

AFA Scholarship

The Association of Flight Attendant Scholarship Fund is intended to provide financial assistance to dependents of our active members who will be attending a college or university.  Applications must be postmarked by April 10, and sent to the following address:

AFA Scholarship Fund

P.O. Box 56

Hartwood, VA 22471-0056

For more detailed information, visit the AFA website.

CWA Joe Beirne Scholarship

The Joe Beirne Scholarship offered by CWA is available to AFA Members as well as dependents. The deadline for applications is April 30.   For more detailed information, visit the CWA website.

Reminder:  ASHSC Base Safety Meeting 

The next quarterly meeting of the Air Safety Health and Security Committee (ASHSC) for SFO is scheduled for April 28. Flight Attendants with questions for the committee can submit them via email to Brad Young, ASHSC Committee Chair and Cierra Lewis, SFO Base Manager.  Deadline for questions is 4/21/21. All submitted questions will be posted and answered in the next following ASHSC newsletter.

EAP and Other Resources

Flight Attendants in need of support during these unpredictable times are encouraged to reach out to the SFO EAP Committee for available resources for support.  AFA has a coordinated many resources and groups to provide assistance and guidance to members in need.  Additionally, Alaska Airlines provides employees with Active Support, which offers free confidential counseling to employees facing a variety of personal challenges.  

Trending Performance Investigations and Disciplines

CBT

Discipline for failing to complete quarterly CBTs are continue to trend.  Flight Attendants returning from leave are given 60 days to complete CBTs.  The Council 35 Grievance Committee has been successful in assisting FAs dispute discipline when evidence of technical difficulties exist.  Being busy and forgetting to complete the CBT has not been accepted as extenuating circumstances to miss a CBT deadline and the discipline will remain.  If more than one CBT deadline is missed, discipline will progress to higher steps on the discipline scale (ie 2 missed CBTs in 18 month period will escalate to a Written Warning).

Commuter Violations

Monthly audits are occurring and Council 35 has seen disciplines for misuse lessen however there are still Flight Attendants that are using it incorrectly.  Please be sure your registered cities are current and comply with guidelines set forth in the commuter program outlined on the FA webpage.

How do I contact Council 35 Officers?

Using a personal email address, the preferred methods of contact are:

  • Open an Online Support Request ticket
  • Officer group email sfo@afaalaska.org (if one officer is flying /unavailable other officers can respond)
  • Individual officer emails (if information is for a specific officer)
  • Calls/text (if situation requires more urgent attention)

When contacting Council 35 officers please avoid the following methods:

  • Sending to/from alaskaair email (subject to company audits and therefore not private)
  • Officer personal Facebook/social media accounts (not actively monitored for AFA concerns)
  • Excessively lengthy texts (please use email for important information as it’s easier to respond and forward to appropriate resource-texts should be reserved for alerts to an issue that requires a timely response)

Please allow at least one business day for a response to any method of contact (email, phone, text).  

In solidarity,

Melissa, James, and Brad

Melissa Osborne, LEC President •  Melissa.osborne@afaalaska.org • 415-275-1322
James Ikehara, LEC Secretary •  James.ikehara@afaalaska.org  • 415-289-9011
Bradley Young, Council Representative • Bradley.young@afaalaska.org • 916-508-3503

AFA Update – February 19, 2021

In This Edition

  • COVID Vaccine Information for Flight Attendants
  • REMINDER: Scholarship Opportunities
  • Free Training to Former Cabin Crew Transitioning into Job Market
  • Relaxation Exercises – An Essential Tool for Flight Attendants

COVID Vaccine Information for Flight Attendants

Master Executive Council (MEC)

On February 10, AFA International published an AFA Interactive e-mail newsletter with an overview of COVID vaccine information for Flight Attendants. There is a state-by-state listing of aviation work priority for receiving the vaccine and a link to the respective state’s vaccine portal. 

The newsletter also includes a link to send a letter to the governor of your state calling upon them to move essential aviation workers to phase 1B (or equivalent), in line with other non-medical essential workers and essential transportation workers. AFA Alaska signed onto a joint letter from Alaska Air Group management and labor leaders advocating to Governor of Washington Jay Inslee and Governor of Oregon Kate Brown for essential aviation workers to be in phase 1B. (Essential transportation workers are in phase 1B or the equivalent in Alaska and California.)

You can read the complete AFA Interactive article and view the list of state vaccine information on the AFA International website.

Many Flight Attendants are having success securing a vaccination by using the Vaccine Prioritization Letter supplied by Alaska Airlines management (AAG SSO required). Print the form in advance and make sure to bring your Crew ID!

REMINDER: Scholarship Opportunities

AFA International

In a previous AFA Update sent out on January 22, information was shared about scholarship opportunities available to AFA and CWA Members as well as certain eligible dependents.  Details about both scholarships, as well as information on how to apply, can be found by following the links below. 

AFA Scholarship Fund

The Association of Flight Attendants Scholarship Fund is intended to provide financial assistance to dependents of our active members who will be attending a college or university.  The deadline for applications is April 10.  Details are available on the AFA International website at http://www.afacwa.org/scholarships.

CWA Joe Beirne Scholarship

The Joe Beirne Scholarship is offered by CWA. The deadline for applications is April 30.   Details on this scholarship are on the CWA website at http://www.cwa-union.org/pages/beirne.

Free Training to Former Cabin Crew Transitioning into Job Market

AFA International 

For those who have recently left our profession, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is offering an online training course to help displaced airline cabin crew members re-enter the job market. This course will be offered free of charge for those who register between now and February 23. More information about the three-hour course, titled Cabin Crew – Leveraging Professional Skills, can be found on the IATA training course website.

Relaxation Exercises – An Essential Tool for Flight Attendants

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

There are many benefits to being able to induce the “relaxation response” as soon as you begin to experience warning signs of stress, anxiety or agitation.  Some benefits include a reduction of generalized anxiety, prevention of cumulative stress, increased energy, improved concentration, reduction of some physical problems, and greater mood stability.   Relaxation exercises can be a powerful physical and emotional weapon against life’s stressors.  Given the events of 2020 and now 2021, being able to invoke a greater sense of calm is a critical skill for Flight Attendants.  

Tips for Relaxation

Find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted for at least 20 minutes.  Turn off the phone and give yourself permission to devote some time to self-care. Research shows that relaxing the body will relax the mind, and vice versa. If you struggle with racing or intrusive thoughts, it might help to focus on the body. If you have a lot of physical tension or pain, it may be better to work on relaxing the mind. It’s hard to predict which exercises will work for whom; it’s best to try different relaxation exercises until you find the one that feels right. Remember that you are practicing a skill – like playing the piano. The more you practice, the more effective your relaxation work becomes. It is important to work toward an attitude of acceptance of whatever occurs in your session, rather than growing impatient if you don’t achieve a given result. Below are two relation exercises that are easy to do in most settings.

Sample Progressive Relaxation Exercises

Favorite Place

Find a comfortable position. Let your shoulders drop, your arms relax, let your buttocks sink into the chair, let your legs relax, and feel your feet planted on the floor. Imagine a place in your mind that you like. It could be a beach, your room, a forest…take a moment to find that place.  If you haven’t found a place, don’t worry…just keep your eyes closed and breathe deeply. As you are in your favorite place, notice how the air feels, the temperature, notice what you see, notice any smells or sensations in your body as you stay in this place…feel your body relaxing….just enjoy where you are….take a moment to notice anything else you’d like about this place… know you can come back here at any time….take what you want and come back into the room. 

Breathing and Centering

  • Take two to three deep, even breaths.
  • Visualize the word “relax” in a calming color
  • Think this calming word to yourself as you continue to breathe deeply: 
  • Breathe in…think “relax”; as you breathe out think “relax” 
  • PAUSE*
  • Breathe in…think “relax”; as you breathe out think “relax” 
  • PAUSE
  • Now breathe 8 more times, slowly and deeply.

*Be aware of how your body feels at the PAUSE.  This is the “centering” piece.  Feeling centered means you are feeling calm and focused. 

SEA Domicile Negotiations – October 2025

The recent meetings of the SEA Domicile Negotiating Committee in Seattle and Honolulu highlighted both progress and persistent challenges in negotiations with management. While there has been advancement on some issues, significant concerns remain. Key topics under discussion include the transfer processes, return options to HNL or LAX, staffing, moving expenses, and safeguarding existing bases. Our committee prepares for the next round of negotiations in Seattle during the week of October 20.

Protecting Yourself From Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

Understanding Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) involves the use of substances to incapacitate someone, making them vulnerable to sexual assault. These substances are often undetectable, having no color, taste, or smell, and can be easily added to drinks. Common Drugs Used in DFSA Important Note: Alcohol significantly enhances the effects of these drugs, […]

Government Affairs Committee Update – 4th Quarter 2025

An update on what our Government Affairs Committee has been working on this quarter. Thank you to all our Members who remain engaged and to all our volunteers and Committee Members for dedicating their time representing our Members, advocating for the safety and advancement of our careers while strengthening our labor movement every single day […]

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants On Thursday, October 2, 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 Deb Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Kalin Lackey […]

Joint Contract Negotiations Session 7 – September 2025

Our JNC made significant progress in shaping our JCBA, successfully reaching a Tentative Agreement on Section 13 – Uniforms. Key provisions include enhancements to uniform standards, ensuring protective measures such as no surnames on name tags from the Hawaiian CBA. While we continue discussions on various sections, including Air Safety Health and Security, Training, and Commuter Policy. We appreciate feedback from the 2207 Flight Attendants who participated in our recent Vacation Survey.

Recent Posts

News By Month

News By Category

AFA News Now Air Quality Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) AS/HA Merger AS/VX Merger Benefits Committee Committees Communications Committee Contract Contract 2014 Negotiations Blog Council 15 SAN Council 18 LAX Council 19 SEA Council 30 ANC Council 35 SFO Council 39 PDX EAP/Professional Standards Committee Extension 2021 Blog Featured Government Affairs Committee Grievance Committee Hotel Committee Human Rights & Equity Committee Industry News Inflight Service Committee Inflight Training Committee JNC Blog Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) Latest News Local Councils Master Executive Council (MEC) Membership Committee Membership Engagement Committee Message from the MEC President Mobilization Committee Negotiations Pairing Construction Preferential Bidding System (PBS) Press Releases Reserve Committee Retirement Committee Scheduling Committee Uniform Committee

Want To Stay In The Loop?

Stay up-to-date on AFA Alaska news and information by signing up for our email and text message updates. Click a button below to get started or update your preferences if you're already a subscriber.
Sign Up for Emails
Sign Up for Text Updates