In This Edition

• September 11th Unity Remembrance Pin
• Uniform Quality Issues – Your Help Is Needed!
• Hotel Resources & Safety Reminders
• Personal Strategies for Approaching the Anniversary of September 11^th

September 11th Unity Remembrance Pin

AFA International

Our September 11th Unity Remembrance Pin was designed in solidarity with the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) to honor our heroes.  AFA and APFA members lost their lives on September 11, 2001, but Flight Attendants across the industry – whether in our unions or not – feel the significance of this day and promise alongside us to #NeverForget. We welcome all Flight Attendants across the industry to wear this pin representing the crews of all four flights and the bond we have as Flight Attendants. Wear this pin on September 11th and throughout the month of September, along with your official AFA pin. 

How Do I Get a Pin?

Local Councils will be distributing these pins in person starting this week.  Be on the lookout for a communication from your Local Council with more information on how pins will be distributed locally at your base.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact your Local Executive Council (LEC) Officers.

Uniform Quality Issues – Your Help Is Needed!

Uniform Committee

Our Uniform Committee is continuing to advocate for improvements in uniform quality and needs your help!  Committee Members have heard your concerns loud and clear and want to continue driving change that will improve the quality of our uniforms. 

Management and Unisync, the Company’s uniform vendor, currently have a matrix in place to “red flag” issues after hitting a threshold number of complaints. The more individual reports that are received by Unisync, the more likely a particular issue will get management’s attention.  Management is incredibly focused on this data and uses it almost exclusively to dedicate resources to making changes and resolving issues.  Our Uniform Committee is asking for your help by reporting every uniform quality issue that you have in a documented email to Unisync.

Some progress has already been made based on response to the most recent survey and emails sent by Flight Attendants. As of July 1, 2021, the following changes have been put in place:

• All new production of pants, skirts and dress hems will be double-stitched at the factory.*
• All hems performed at the distribution center will be double stitched and only done in-house.*
• Thread loop counts will be increased on all buttons for new production garments at the factory.*
• Unisync has increased inspections performed on new garments and returns coming into the distribution center and will repair any hems or buttons to the above standard.

* Please note that some residual stock may remain with the previous manufacturing method.

There are still more issues to be addressed such as fabric quality and accessory/detail pieces like wings and zippers.  Please help our Uniform Committee by taking the time to email Unisync with any quality issues you are experiencing.  Contact information for Unisync can be found below or on the Uniform Subsite under “Customer Service.”  When sending an email, please describe the issue with as much detail as possible and include a photo if possible.  Please CC your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so that the Uniform Committee can track the issues as well.

Smaller issues such as buttons falling off or hems coming out can be fixed at the Uniform Fit Center or through a tailor of your own choosing and submitted for reimbursement following the alterations guidelines; however, we ask that you still report to Unisync so the issues can be tracked and monitored.

How To Report Issues to Unisync

Email: alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com
Phone: 1-833-5-ALASKA / 1-833-525-2752
Monday-Friday, 8 AM-6 PM Pacific time

When emailing, please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the CC line

Questions?

Thank you for joining us in this process. We want all of you to be proud to wear our uniform!  If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your Local Uniform Committee. 

Hotel Resources & Safety Reminders

Hotel Committee

Hotel Hotline Document

Each month, management publishes a resource document with information about layover hotels and transportation providers.  This document, called the Hotel Hotline, is available on both the Inflight website (Hotel Travel & Station > Hotel Hotline) and in GoodReader on the IMD (ASFASupplemental > Hotel Hotline).  In the Hotel Hotline, you’ll find a wealth of information including current local face covering requirements, food & beverage options and discounts, and other amenity information for each hotel.

Verify Your Transportation Provider

You can find information about the designated transportation provider for your layover in your trip information in Crew Access.  The Hotel Hotline document often provides additional details including what type of vehicles the provider operates, what they look like, and how they might be marked.  To ensure your safety, it is always a good idea to know who your transportation provider is and what the vehicle that will be picking you up should look like.

When a transportation provider arrives and indicates they are scheduled to transport your crew, ask the driver to verify the airline and flight number that they have been assigned to pick up. All drivers should have this information.  If the driver is unable to verify the flight number, call the transportation provider using the phone number listed in Crew Access or the Hotel Hotline to confirm that they have dispatched the driver.  If you are unable to get in contact with the transportation provider, call Crew Scheduling for additional verification before getting into the vehicle.

Layover Safety

Safety is always our primary responsibility while on the aircraft, but we should also remain focused on safety when on layovers.  Taking additional precautions and keeping personal safety at the forefront of your mind is always a best practice.  Here are a few tips:

• If not staying at hotel, leave contact information with other crewmembers or a trusted contact if not traveling with other crew members.
• Prop the guestroom door open with luggage while examining closets, bath, windows, under beds, and ensuring all locks are in working order—if there is an intruder, you have an opportunity to yell for help and quickly leave room.
• Use the buddy system to ensure each crew member’s room is clear.
• Always use chain latch/bar latch (secondary lock) while in room.  If you must open door, keep chain/bar latched.
• Always use optical viewing port when available.
• If anyone should request entry to room, verify with front desk that the individual has a need for access.
• While moving about hotel (restaurant, lounge, pool area, etc.), if you feel that you are being followed or closely watched, inform the hotel front desk.  Remain at the front desk until a determination has been made concerning suspicion.
• Leave TV on and turn volume up a little louder when leaving room.
• During evening hours, when outside the hotel, walk in pairs—it is always a good idea to use buddy system.  Do not assume all areas are good areas to walk or jog.
• Do not use back stairways and avoid dark areas around hotels.
• Do not wear expensive jewelry on layover—do not be a target.

You can find more information about layover safety in the Flight Attendant Manual (FAM), section 7.600, pages 8–11.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact your Local Hotel Committee.

Personal Strategies for Approaching the Anniversary of September 11^th

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Professional Standards Committee

As we approach the anniversary of September 11th, many of us will begin to plan how we’ll recognize this day. Anniversaries offer an opportunity to acknowledge our memories and experiences, to connect with others who share in them, and to pay tribute to our individual and collective journeys.  They can also serve as personal and professional milestones of our healing and resiliency.   For some, September 11th will be marked with private personal gestures such as observing a moment of silence, spending quiet time reflecting, or dedicating our flying to our profession.  For others, it will be marked with collective activities such as ceremonies and memorial services.

There is no right way or better way to recognize the anniversary; but, there are some suggestions that may prove helpful as we approach the anniversary of September 11th. 

• Observe the anniversary in a way that’s comfortable for you.  Say no to events or activities that you sense may flood you with too many feelings.  Find more gentle ways of honoring the anniversary.
• Don’t compare yourself to how others around you appear to be dealing with the September 11th anniversary.
• Acknowledge that we all heal at different rates, in different ways, and with different outcomes.
• Give yourself permission and time to be affected.  Though uncomfortable, anticipate and plan for having a stress reaction as the anniversary approaches.  Trust that if you have moments of difficulty, you’ll be able to pull yourself back together.
• Try not to isolate yourself.  Pre-plan now to be with people if you know you have this tendency.

However you choose to structure your day this September 11th or however it just naturally unfolds, please remember that your AFA EAP Committee Members welcome being a part of it.  If you or a flying partner needs a confidential ear, please call us at (949) 470-0493 or find your Local EAP Committee contact information at afaalaska.org/eap.  Remember, we’re just a phone call away.