August 2023 HRE Update

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE AFA HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUITY (HRE) COMMITTEE?

The AFA Human Rights and Equity Committee is committed to providing the broadest possible representation of our members regardless of age, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, differently abled, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. We honor and celebrate the shared humanity of the members in our care. We shall at all times endeavor to promote the principles of tolerance, fairness, equity, justice, respect and inclusion within our Union. It is only when we all band together and work together that we can rally against the walls of division to create a progressive culture that values social and economic justice for all working people.

Note from your HRE Chair

Welcome to the August edition of the HRE Newsletter, which includes causes and dates of note for this month. I am aware that some newer crew members don't have union pins and am working on getting some to you soon. Email me at [email protected] if you have any other questions or concerns.

Jhenelle (she/her) 

 August is Black Business Month

For hundreds of years, Black communities have endured systemic racism, wage gaps, extreme inequality, and violence. August is a time to celebrate, support, and recognize Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.

The AFA HRE Committee is committed to supporting Black-owned businesses and Black Business Month. We encourage our members to support Black Business Month by utilizing the following tips:

• Shop Black-owned businesses in your community.
• Share positive feedback online and by word-of mouth.
• Be intentional about shopping at Black-owned businesses.
• Visit the Intentionalist website to explore Black-owned businesses in your area.

 Events like the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst racially motivated attacks in US History, have decimated thriving Black communities in this country. We also encourage you to visit The Tulsa Historical Society website to learn about this once thriving communities. 

More Important dates and events for your calendar to celebrate and put your support behind.

The 17th Biennial APALA Convention will be held from August 3-6, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. For more information, visit the APALA Convention website.

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9th as a day to celebrate the diversity of the world’s indigenous populations and to shine light on the adversities they face. Please visit the United Nations website to learn more.

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and it's Abolition is observed on August 23rd to remember and recognize the tragedy of the slave trade and the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Please visit the UNESCO website to learn more.

Women's Equality Day commemorates and celebrates the anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment on August 26th, and the long struggle of women’s voices to be heard and the fight to gain the right to vote. Please visit the Department of the Interior website to learn more.

Grief Awareness Day is observed on August 30th as a day to educate people on grief and create a space to learn and to offer support to those experiencing grief. Grief comes in all forms and can be a result of more than just loss of life. Regardless, all grief is valid and you are not alone. For confidential resources on grief counseling and more, please reach out to our AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

First celebrated on August 31, 2021, the International Day for People of African Descent is to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of African descendants and to eliminate all discrimination of those of African descent. Please visit the United Nations website to learn more.

Take These Important Surveys

Click the image to take the HRE survey

This survey allows you to tell us the issues that are important to you and helps give us some direction to focus on the causes that matter to our membership.

Click the image to take the Uniform Survey

This survey is about Uniform Gender Expression and seeks to identify how the crew feels about uniform choices, policies & guidelines at our airline and how it relates to their gender.

Union Pins

Did you know all the different union pins that we have? From our classic white and gold pin, to those highlighting different causes and groups. If you do not have a union pin, please reach out to your HRE rep.

Do you want to be a part of the HRE Committee?

If you would like to attend an AFA HRE meeting, have any questions or issues, or have suggestions for causes or activities to highlight, feel free to reach out to the HRE rep any time via email: [email protected] 

In Solidarity,

Jhenelle (she/her)