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.