Uniform Committee Meeting Recap – 3rd Quarter 2024

Uniform Committee

• Our AFA Uniform Committee Chairpersons met on Wednesday, August 7 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 Wednesday, August 7th, the AFA Local Uniform Committee Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent Flight Attendants and push for improvements in the workplace. Present at the meeting were Dana Butchen (ANC), Dena Heath (SEA), David Jelinek (PDX), Lisa Mueller (SFO), Heather Holmes (LAX), JP Perina (SAN), and MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson Kiara Jenkins.

The committee also met with Director – Procurement and Logistics Eric Phillipson, Sr Product Manager Marketing Megan Low, Supply Chain Program Manager Lizzie Revard, PDX Inflight Base Manager Kristie Stafford, and SFO Inflight Base Manager Cierra Lewis.

The next Quarterly Uniform Committee Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 14, 2024.

Topics of Discussion

The committee reviewed several items during internal AFA-only conversations and when meeting with management. Some items discussed include:

• Uniform Policy update
  • The new uniform policy update goes into effect Oct 1st 2024, at which time Flight Attendants are required to be compliant.  
  • This update includes changes to “chunky” footwear and “fanny-pack” style crossbody bags.
• Footwear accommodation process
  • Flight Attendants are required to look into every option available.
  • If they are not able to find anything, then a supervisor will forward the case to HR.
  • The Flight Attendant will need to provide a doctor’s notes and work to find a style that meets their needs in coordination with HR.
• Bootwear
  • Bootwear approval will be streamlined through Megan Low, Kristie Stafford, and Cierra Lewis instead of being done on a supervisor-by-supervisor and case-by-case basis. This ensures an equitable approval/denial process for all Flight Attendants at all bases.
  • New bootwear guidelines and options will be provided prior to boot season.
• OccFit nylons and shoes update
  • A message from Mgr Employee Benefits Sara Gray: There have not been any changes to how the compression stockings are covered on the medical plan. They continue to be covered as durable medical equipment when there is a medical diagnosis, a prescription written by their doctor and the compression stockings are considered medical grade. On the medical plan, we can only cover things that have medical necessity. Not everyone that purchases compression stockings through OccFit would be eligible for coverage under the medical plan. We have reiterated this to OccFit numerous times and they have been asked to remove reference to the medical plan. It is also important to note that the coverage on the medical plan is different based on whether they are on Kaiser or Premera, whether they are in the PPO, CCPPO or HMO plan and for Kaiser, it also varies by their Kaiser location. This is why it is important to not reference specific coverage by the medical plan. There are also medical grade compressions stockings that are less expensive through in-network providers. OccFit is out-of-network and therefore subject to out-of-network deductibles and coinsurance. For anyone that would like to purchase compression stockings through their medical plan, I would strongly recommend that they reach out to customer service at either Premera or Kaiser and find out the specific way to get these covered and how to be able to purchase them through an in-network provider. 
  • Please reach out to your local Benefits Committee Chairperson if you have any questions regarding OccFit nylons for a medical diagnosis.
• Packable/Transition Jacket
  • The committee was able to feel and wear the demo jacket at the meeting and the overall consensus is that this is an excellent solution.
  • The cut is the same as the current transition jacket, however it is a bit thicker and has an Omni-Heat lining.
    • Requested no logo so can be used at a layover
    • Wear testing will begin in the winter, though rollout and development is pending the merger
• Luggage tags
  • Luggage tags are now obtained from base supervisors and are available at all bases
• Spinner bag
  • Lisa Mueller & Kiara Jenkins had a meeting with the TravelPro rep and Lizzie Revard on 05/17
    • TravelPro is currently redesigning their Flight Attendant roller bags. They will be working with Flight Attendants across the globe to obtain feedback.
    • The committee has decided to table the request for the spinner bags until TravelPro’s new roller bag has been through a wear test, as we will now be afforded a seat at the table to have input on the bag design.
    • The main reason for tabling the request is because spinner bags are not designed for stacking and would not be conducive for Flight Attendants who are on multi day trips, pack/stack lunch bags, or use the bag in any position other than upright. The bag’s warranty is voided if the wheels and bag are misused through dragging it roller bag style or stacking multiple bags on the luggage.
• Tote Exchange
  • Flight Attendants who did not have an option to select the rolling tote during COVID constraints may trade in their standard tote.
  • This affects new hires from all classes in 2022, 2023 and classes 1 and 2 of 2024.
  • This can be requested through a supervisor. 
• Wear testing
  • Items will be shipped to bases. If a tester is not able to pick up during the base hours, they should contact the supervisor to make arrangements to pick pieces up. 
  • Supervisors will create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for wear testing deliveries/handoffs
• Quality Concerns
  • All quality concerns including buttons falling off and splitting at the seams/cuffs of sweaters should be reported through the Quality Concern form on the Uniform subsite.
  • AFA received the first batch of Unisync data
    • Based on the volume of pieces shipped there is a very low number of reports. (21,000 pieces shipped and only 21 quality reports received)
    • Please submit reports so the Uniform Committee can follow up with known issues and request production changes.
  • If you have any quality concerns, please submit your issue using the Quality Concern Form on Team AAG > Other Resources > Uniforms > Safety & Quality > Quality > Here [SSO required] so Unisync and AFA can track recurring issues. Changes can only be made if the vendor is provided with sufficient data and proof of quality concerns.
  • There is an increasing concern regarding cut and seam inconsistencies (i.e. FAs are ordering sizes that they already own and finding the new ones don’t fit the same as the old ones.) 
• Wings
  • Flight Attendants will now receive an order confirmation as to the timeline for wings to ship. 
  • FAs can order 4 of each set of wings every year.
    • Example –  4 “Committed to Kindness”, 4 “I Speak…”, 4 “Name Only”. 
  • If there are quality issues with the wings at shipment and during use, please send a report to Unisync at alaskaservice@unisyncgroup.com 
• The following uniform requests have been submitted and are pending management review:
  • Black boots
  • Year-round boot wear
  • Adhoc wings at each base that read “Flight Attendant” for FAs who are awaiting wing orders.
  • Supervisors ordering wings on Flight Attendant anniversary date
  • Add inside pocket to Aura vests
  • No hosiery requirement in light of the Occufit issues
• The following uniform requests have been APPROVED:
  • No changes to the hem length on the A-line dress (management wanted it longer)
  • Tote exchange program
• The following uniform requests have been DENIED (no new pieces will be considered prior to the merger/next uniform rollout):
  • Shoe allotment request
  • White shirts
  • A-line to come in sensitive material (the Aura dress does not contain wool and is considered the sensitive option)
  • A “splash of color” on long sleeves when rolling up the cuffs
  • Allow the blazer over the warm weather shirt (defeats the “casual look” goal of the warm weather shirt)

October 1st, 2024 will be the start of the new Uniform Policy and discipline may be issued for noncompliance.

What The Committee Is Working On

1. Bootwear. Advocating for more options and colors as navy style boots are becoming increasingly more expensive and/or difficult to find.
2. Wear Testing. Wear testing for a new/more durable cardigan less prone to hem and seam issues will begin late fall/early winter. The transition jacket will be wear tested after the completion of the cardigan testing.
3. Tote Exchange Program. Specific to the post-COVID classes who were not given the normal selection process for totes due to supply chain issues. Please see your supervisor if you would like to exchange your bags.

We Want to Hear From You!

Please email Unisync with any quality issues. In the email, please describe the issue in detail, include the “PO” number from the tag, attach photos of the issue and the tag, if possible, and CC your Local Uniform Committee Chairperson. Please consider opening a ticket at AFA Alaska Support so the Uniform Committee can track these issues.

Would you like to join the wear test pool? 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 contact information on the Uniform Committee page of the AFA Alaska website.