The Flight Attendants at US West are just now starting to see what the uniforms looks like and the feedback that the uniform committee have been receiving are not all positive.
I got this info from the uniform committee in the AFA website. Here are his responses:
Hi gang
I just wanted to give a heads up on the uniform status.
Management and marketing will be regrouping this week to discuss all the negativity and sarcasm they have received pertaining to the photographs posted on compass regarding the uniform pieces.
In regards to hiring a major designer...I do not see that happening. Trust me!
However, I would like to send some information your way to consider. I too think that the new Delta uniform looks quite nice and they are very very lucky to have had Richard Tylor design it. At one of our meetings, we were given the opportunity to view a few pieces from that line. I don't know if you have had the chance to actually see and touch their uniform, but I think you would be surprised. The materials are the standard wool/rayon/polyester blends. The key to their new uniform is the tailoring. Which I believe that we are addressing in our endevor. A few of the items in the Delta uniform are size restricted and are self purchase only. Plus there are some safety concerns with a few items that may not be practical for the duties a FA performs. As for the designer and Deltas bankruptcy status...that goes to the well thought out business plan of Richard Tylor. It was well known that Delta was on the verge of bankruptcy and looking to cut cost anywhere they could. Delta attempted to bag the new uniform do to the cost, but the contracts that were in place prevented it. Delta can no more afford the uniform that they are in let alone the new one that they are getting. The runway show the highlighted Deltas uniform at the Richard Tylor Spring fashion event was a great marketing concept, but does not change the fact that the only attachment Richard Tylor has left to that uniform now is the "Designed by Richard Tylor" label. It may sound impressive, but when you truly know that it is being produced by a uniform vendor like LION Apparel or Cintas and the quality of the garment is the same as everyone elses it takes the air out of the balloon.
The US Airways uniform steering committee, the New York design team and the members of AFA, from both east and west, who sit on that committee are working diligently to bring together the best possible uniform that will present our employees and our company in the most positive and professional manner.
I just am curious if any item be it mens or womens that you did like, let us know also. I do not think everything was as hideous as you all are stating.
We will keep you posted as thing progress.
Bob
UC co-chair
and this one:
Thanks for your opinions...but keep in mind that company is heading towards a Business Casual uniform.
Ties will be optional, jackets will have more of a casual look to them.
All I am saying is there already is alot of negativity out there and you have not seen all of the proposed items in their entirety.
If you want something to really complain about, you should consider what the company had in store for your uniform prior to the merger.
A nice striped teal/silver striped SeerSucker shirt! It resembled a Handi wipe that some wash dishes with. Now that is something you could have complained about.
Trust me your uniform steering committee has worked hard at selecting items that the workforce would like. We weeded out many items that you would not want. (Also keep in mind that we also are working with folks from the East, some of which also represent the CSrs.) We know that we cannot please everybody, as everyone has different likes and dislikes.
When you view the pictures on the survey. Take into consideration, that the vendor who was awarded the Design stage of this task, brought uniform items that were not in full representation to what was originally designed. They had included wrong fabrics on select pieces, sewn a straight cut rather than a princess cut, and even failed to put a zipper on the womens jacket. All of this has been addressed and will be taken into consideration when we award a uniform vendor.
Keep in mind that the items you will see in the survey, may not be the correct size for the volunteers who had modeled these pieces. They did the best to give you a general idea as to what the uniform could look like.
The steering committee has requested that the company not fast track this process, we want items that will be stylish and present the business casual module we are striving for.
We ask you to be patient and take the time to complete the survey when it does become available. Through feedback, we will know if we are headed in the right direction or head back to the drawing board.
Thanks,
Bob
Co-chair Uniform Committee
