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Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council

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Uniform Gender Expression Survey

AFA International

  • Everyone should be able to dress and express themselves at work in a manner that is reflective of their true self.
  • AFA is working with other aviation unions and PRIDE@Work to ensure that all Flight Attendants are supported in exercising our rights. 
  • Your participation in the Uniform Gender Expression Survey will help to identify where discrimination exists and improvements to uniform choices, policies, and guidelines need to be made.

In order to make sure that Flight Attendants are able to express who we are, it is critical that we understand the importance of gender expression, and ensure our airlines provide equal opportunity to dress and present ourselves in ways that reflect who we are.  This is critical to creating a supportive culture, which in turn allows each of us as Flight Attendants to do our job with pride and comfort.

Companies should understand this issue ultimately affects the bottom line. Disallowing Flight Attendants to dress and express in ways that align with their genders is communicating that they are not valuable as employees. Providing this flexibility across carriers or the industry, will send a signal to other industries that we support and advocate for all people. Further, this will impact not only retention of current Flight Attendants, but will also result in recruiting a wider range of skilled Flight Attendants to this industry. 

While movements are happening, and policies have been changed, we need EVERYONE to have the opportunity to express themselves.

AFA is working with other aviation unions, and PRIDE@Work to identify these issues together and make sure that we are protecting all Flight Attendants so that we are able to be seen and heard and are able to dress in the way that makes us feel seen in our place of work. 

This survey is being conducted to identify those who are feeling discriminated against in the workplace in regards to uniform choices, uniform policies and guidelines at their airlines. 

It is also worth noting that many workplaces already have these opportunities and protections in place for every employee, based on EEOC Protections Against Employment Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity.  We want to make sure Flight Attendants are fully supported in exercising our rights. 

Click here to take the survey >>

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2022

Uniform Committee

  • Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, August 2 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are reporting related to uniform quality, wearability, and availability.
  • If you are experiencing any issues with uniform quality or construction, please report the issues to Unisync as soon as possible.  Please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so they can help track any issues or trends that might be developing.   

On Tuesday, August 2, our AFA Local Uniform Committee 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 Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), and Heather Milner (LAX).  Also present were MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Todd Scarlett; MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Uniform Safety Representative Deb Wallstrom; and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Uniform Programs Manager Ashlyn Pham, Uniform Fit Center Lead Ashley Sentner, Senior Marketing Product Delivery Manager Kelly Cuthill, and PDX Base Manager Kristie Stafford from management. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Feedback from the recent wear test of a new prototype warm weather shirt.  Some Uniform and Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Members tested the new prototype recently.  The Committee also put forward a request that any new warm weather shirt be permitted to be worn with either pants or the skirt.
  • Expanded timeframe of when the patriotic tie and scarf can be worn.  Management recently announced allowing the neckwear pieces to be worn on additional dates surrounding Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day rather than just the holidays themselves.
  • Request to remove the policy requirement that uniform shoes have a defined heel.  Management agreed to further review the request but would like examples of shoes that would meet appearance standards with no defined heel.
  • Review of the accommodation process for Flight Attendants who are medically unable to wear shoes that meet uniform policy guidelines.  Current process is to initiate a request for exemption through a base supervisor.
  • Concerns with availability of navy colored shoes in the marketplace (due to seasonality and supply chain issues) and request to expand color options to be worn with feminine uniform pieces.  Management says that they have recently updated the Zappos shoe portal with additional style options and will be working with Zappos to request that more items be made available year round.
  • Discussion about plans for upcoming gender neutral uniform pieces.  Management has held some employee focus groups and will continue to hold additional focus groups as the pieces progress through the design process.
  • Request to designate certain existing pieces as gender neutral until specific gender neutral uniform pieces are available.
  • Concerns that the policy requiring that hosiery be worn with the uniform skirt and dresses is outdated.  The Committee brought forward a recent policy change at American Airlines that removed the requirement to wear hosiery and requested that management make changes to match.
  • Request for a packable, insulated jacket that provides more substantial warmth than the transition jacket in a similar form factor.
  • Request for clarification about the winter hat policy.
  • Ongoing uniform quality issues.  Management indicates that they are not receiving much feedback about quality issues and concerns.  The Committee brought forward issues with the current process of submitting feedback, how it is not user friendly for Flight Attendants, and that many problems are likely not being reported.
  • Ongoing request to review the current process for Flight Attendants to provide feedback related to uniform pieces.  The requirement to compose an email to Unisync is not consistent with how Flight Attendants report issues in other areas and is unnecessarily cumbersome.  The Committee suggested that management develop an online form that could be easily accessed using a dedicated link on the IMD.
  • Concerns with product shortages and items that are backordered for extended periods of time.  Management states that the shortages are due to supply chain issues as well as greater than expected hiring of new employees that they did not project for.
  • Concerns with new hire Flight Attendants not be provided with effective training and support regarding uniform policies and guidelines during Initial Training.
  • Ongoing concerns with product shortages and items that are backordered for extended periods of time.

The committee is next scheduled to meet with management on Tuesday, November 1, 2022.  

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Cold Weather Improvements.  Working to expand policies and improve uniform pieces in anticipation of upcoming cold weather months.  This includes advocating for improvements to the uniform boot policy, a warmer packable jacket, and clarification of the winter hat policy.
  2. Simplification of Uniform Policies.  Advocating for an overall simplification of company uniform policies through clearer guidelines, removal of excessive or unrealistic restrictions, and other common sense changes.
  3. Streamlining the Uniform Feedback Process.  Working to develop an easy-to-use, online form that Flight Attendants can use to provide feedback about uniform issues and concerns that automatically routes to management, Unisync, and our AFA Uniform Committee.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please help our Uniform Committee by taking the time to email Unisync at alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com with any quality issues you are experiencing.  When sending an email, please describe the issue with as much detail as possible and include photos if you can.  Please CC your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so that the Uniform Committee can track the issues as well.

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 2nd Quarter 2022

Uniform Committee

  • Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, May 3 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are reporting related to uniform quality, wearability, and availability.
  • If you are experiencing any issues with uniform quality or construction, please report the issues to Unisync as soon as possible.  Please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so they can help track any issues or trends that might be developing.   

On Tuesday, May 3, our AFA Local Uniform Committee 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 Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Milner (LAX), and Denise Sheldon (SAN).  Also present were MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Todd Scarlett; MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Uniform Safety Representative Deb Wallstrom; and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Director of Procurement Eric Phillipson, Uniform Programs Manager Ashlyn Pham, Senior Marketing Product Delivery Manager Kelly Cuthill, and PDX Base Manager Kristie Stafford from management. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Confirmation of the 90-day return period for unused uniform items.  This return period is contractual for Flight Attendants (CBA addendum to section 13, #2), but there has been some confusion as the return period for other company employees is shorter.
  • Recent changes to uniform policies and upcoming gender-neutral uniform pieces.
  • Introduction to new management employees responsible for overseeing uniform procurement, the fit center, and the company’s relationship with Unisync.
  • Ongoing requests to streamline uniform boot policies.
  • Requests for improvements to the transition jacket, specifically increased warmth and wind resistance.
  • Introduction of a new, smaller pronoun pin than what was introduced last year and is available at the Company Store.  The smaller pin will be available soon in all bases and will be available free of charge to anyone who would like one.
  • Request to remove the policy requirement that uniform shoes have a defined heel.
  • Concerns that the policy requiring that hosiery be worn with the uniform skirt and dresses is outdated.
  • Request to review the current process for Flight Attendants to provide feedback related to uniform pieces.  The requirement to compose an email to Unisync is not consistent with how Flight Attendants report issues in other areas and is unnecessarily cumbersome.
  • Ongoing uniform quality issues.  Management indicates that improvements have been made with double stitching and reinforced seams, but Flight Attendants are still experiencing problems.
  • Concerns with product shortages and items that are backordered for extended periods of time.  Management states that the shortages are due to supply chain issues as well as greater than expected hiring of new employees that they did not project for.
  • Issues with a shortage of standard issue crew luggage pieces for new hire Flight Attendants.  Management has temporarily issued alternate pieces of luggage to several of the new classes due to the shortage.  This shortage has also affected the availability of loaner bags at each base.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Improving the Uniform Boot Policy. Working with management and the AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) to allow for a broader range of Arctic boots, to allow Arctic boots in Alaska any time there is snow or ice on the ground, and to allow boots outside of terminals and the aircraft anytime there is inclement weather (policy not yet in effect).
  2. Simplification of Uniform Policies.  Advocating for an overall simplification of company uniform policies through clearer guidelines, removal of excessive or unrealistic restrictions, and other common sense changes.
  3. Streamlining the Uniform Feedback Process.  Working to develop an easy-to-use, online form that Flight Attendants can use to provide feedback about uniform issues and concerns that automatically routes to management, Unisync, and our AFA Uniform Committee.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please help our Uniform Committee by taking the time to email Unisync at alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com with any quality issues you are experiencing.  When sending an email, please describe the issue with as much detail as possible and include photos if you can.  Please CC your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so that the Uniform Committee can track the issues as well.

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 1st Quarter 2022

Uniform Committee

  • Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Tuesday, February 1 to discuss their ongoing program of work to represent Flight Attendants interests related to uniforms.
  • The Committee also met with management to receive updates and discuss issues and problems that Flight Attendants are reporting related to uniform quality, wearability, and availability.
  • If you are experiencing any issues with uniform quality or construction, please report the issues to Unisync as soon as possible.  Please include your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so they can help track any issues or trends that might be developing.   

On Tuesday, February 1, our AFA Local Uniform Committee 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 Kim Mazzolini (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Milner (LAX), and Denise Sheldon (SAN).  Also present were MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Todd Scarlett; MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Uniform Safety Representative Deb Wallstrom; and MEC Vice President Brian Palmer.  The committee met with Director of Fuel* Lauren Kriegler, Marketing Product Delivery Manager Kelly Cuthill, and PDX Base Manager Kristie Stafford from management. 

* Within the company’s supply chain management division, fuel and uniforms are managed by the same group of people. 

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed a number of items both during internal AFA-only conversation and when meeting with management.  Some items discussed include:

  • Results from the recent wear test of a prototype warm weather/Aloha shirt that was conducted by the Uniform Committee and ASHSC.
  • Concerns that management does not involve the Uniform Committee early enough in the process of developing new uniform components and policies, resulting in unnecessary time and/or expense when problems are identified by Flight Attendants after initial development is in progress or complete.
  • Proposal by AFA to expand the ability to wear boots in order to improve Flight Attendant health and safety.
  • Status of backordered uniform items and projected availability.
  • Ongoing uniform quality issues, specifically about recent reports of zippers breaking off.
  • Concerns about sweaters in the female uniform collection being perceived as too thin and not providing enough warmth.
  • Requests for pockets in maternity uniform pieces.
  • Requests for improvements to the transition jacket, specifically increased warmth and wind resistance.
  • Concerns regarding inconsistent enforcement of uniform policies and standards by management. 
  • Continued requests to simplify uniform policies and guidelines to improve clarity and make compliance easier for Flight Attendants.
  • Status of AFA request for non-binary/gender non-conforming uniform and appearance standards.
  • Possible expansion of crew luggage program to include a spinner-type suitcase.

What The Committee Is Working On

  1. Improving the Uniform Boot Policy. Working with management and the AFA Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) to allow for a broader range of Arctic boots, to allow Arctic boots in Alaska any time there is snow or ice on the ground, and to allow boots outside of terminals and the aircraft anytime there is inclement weather (policy not yet in effect).
  2. Simplification of Uniform Policies.  Advocating for an overall simplification of company uniform policies through clearer guidelines, removal of excessive or unrealistic restrictions, and other common sense changes.
  3. Uniform Wear Testing.  Participating in wear testing of new or modified uniform pieces under consideration by management, including providing in-depth feedback and promoting changes that make pieces easier to wear and care for.  

We Want to Hear From You!

Please help our Uniform Committee by taking the time to email Unisync at alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com with any quality issues you are experiencing.  When sending an email, please describe the issue with as much detail as possible and include photos if you can.  Please CC your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson on the email so that the Uniform Committee can track the issues as well.

Do you have other feedback for the committee or items that you’d like brought up with management?  Please let us know!  Your Local Uniform Committee is your voice to management.  You can find our contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website. 

REMINDER: Uniform Allotments Expire December 31

Uniform Committee

  • Uniform allotments from the initial rollout of the Unisync uniform and the contractual allotment received in 2020 will expire on December 31, 2021.
  • If you order new items, be sure to try them on right away to make sure they fit properly.  Try to make any returns as soon as possible since you won’t receive a credit to your allotment until Unisync processes the return. 
  • If you have Unisync uniform pieces that are worn out and need to be repaired or replaced, the Company will do so for free.  Get in touch with your supervisor for help.

Any uniform allotment that you have remaining from the initial purchase of the Unisync uniform or subsequent contractual allotment will expire on December 31, 2021.  Any amount remaining in your allotment after December 31 will be returned to the company and does not roll over.  All Flight Attendants will receive a new contractual uniform allotment of $700 on January 1, 2022 that can be used throughout 2022 and 2023 (CBA section 13.D.1).

When You Receive Your Items, Try Them on Right Away

If you order new pieces, we recommend that you try them on right away to ensure that the sizing is correct.  If you need to return items and order new ones, options might be limited if stock becomes depleted and pieces are backordered.  As a reminder, you have 90 days to return an item from the date you receive it (CBA addendum to section 13, #2) 

Worn Out Uniform Pieces? The Company Will Repair or Replace Them For Free

Under our CBA, the Company is required to repair or replace any basic uniform pieces that are worn out due to normal use or any manufacturer’s defect.  There is no charge to your allotment to exercise this contractual provision.  Contact your supervisor if you need to make arrangements to have any worn uniform pieces repaired or replaced (CBA section 13.C.2).

Questions?

Your Local Uniform Committee is available to answer questions that you have or provide assistance.  Find our contact information on the Uniform Committee page of afaalaska.org.

ALPA Alaska Approves Tentative Agreement for Pilot Ratification

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ALPA Alaska Approves Tentative Agreement for Pilot Ratification

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Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Alaska Airlines leadership recently announced they approved a tentative agreement (TA) with Alaska Airlines management for pilot ratification. Click here for the Alaska Airlines Pilots TA Quick Guide (September 2022) > At a quick glance, the TA contains impressive improvements to scope, […]

December 2021 MEC Meeting Recap

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December 2021 MEC Meeting Recap Master Executive Council (MEC) President Jeffrey Peterson Just wrapped up chairing our monthly MEC meeting yesterday and today. As usual, your AFA committee chairs and reps provided written reports to the MEC about the latest developments in their areas, and we received live briefings regarding dispute resolution & grievances, scheduling, […]

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