article on the Air Canada uniform

[Koolan]

Good enough for Celine -- but maybe not for us

Air Canada flight attendants file grievance over proposed new blue uniform

By BRENT JANG

 

Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Updated at 12:19 AM EST

 

TRANSPORTATION REPORTER

 

Celine Dion wore the outfit once and got paid oodles, but Air Canada's flight attendants aren't eager to get the new look on a runway any time soon.

 

The uniform Ms. Dion wore to promote the refreshed image of the fresh-from-bankruptcy-protection airline was unveiled for the promo in front of Air Canada employees last fall.

 

But the tight skirt and wider-than-normal collar shirt are getting a thumbs-down from the union representing flight attendants.

 

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has filed a grievance against the company and wants more time to consider whether the look is right for flight attendants.

 

"We've made so many sacrifices with our wages and making concessions, this new uniform program seems quite lavish.

 

"Getting into a new uniform costs money," said Sherry Cameron, an Air Canada flight attendant with 31 years of experience.

 

Air Canada touted its first change in look since 1994 as good enough for the pop diva, with its tasteful design of blue wool-mix fabric and contoured lines.

 

The airline wants to project an image of "modern sophistication" as it fights rivals WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Jetsgo Corp. for passengers.

 

"We understand that uniforms are a very important component of our employees' work," said Air Canada spokeswoman Laura Cooke.

 

But union members, who pay half of the uniforms' cost, think the company is being too quick with its fashion judgment.

 

With the uniforms set to be introduced on a trial basis in April, the lack of access to a prototype bothers Ms. Cameron.

 

"There hasn't been a sample of the fabric for us to see. We can't really tell what exact colour it is."

 

CUPE's uniform committee says its members are worried they may become fashion victims with Air Canada's choice to throw out the existing green-and-red scheme.

 

"The company is not consulting with us in a meaningful fashion, and we have therefore filed a grievance," Pamela Sachs, president of CUPE's Air Canada component, said in an e-mail to union members.

 

The union is accusing management of trying to fast-track the outfits featuring "midnight blue with silver sky lining."

 

Last October, during unveiling ceremonies at airport hangars across Canada, Ms. Dion wore the new blazer and skirt created by Montreal designer Debbie Shuchat, who expressed confidence that employees would be proud to sport the new look.

 

Air Canada and CUPE have never been overly concerned about being on the cutting-edge of fashion.

 

In the past, it took three years of consultation with managers to take a new uniform from the concept phase to everyday use.

 

This time around, Air Canada wants to roll out the new style within a year.

 

By April, the Montreal-based carrier wants staff to start wearing the uniforms on selected flights.

 

If the spring test period goes well, then the airline will introduce the men's and women's garments by the end of this year to 6,700 flight attendants and 2,900 airport counter staff, who are represented by the Canadian Auto Workers.

 

After this spring's test, "we have the option to modify the uniforms as appropriate," Ms. Cooke said, adding that management already has sought union feedback.

 

CAW spokesman Gary Fane said last night that his union supports CUPE's grievance.

 

It's not just the look of the clothes that has CUPE's uniform committee upset. They want more time to consider design, quality, durability and cost.

 

The cost for every basic uniform set is estimated at roughly $1,000. Air Canada has paid for dry-cleaning bills in the past.

 

A basic uniform set for women may include an all-weather coat, one blazer, one skirt, a pair of pants, two blouses, one belt and one scarf. However, many flight attendants choose to buy at least six blouses, adding to their costs.

 

"We never endorsed the uniform 'concept' as the final design. We were led to believe that we would sit down as a management-union group to develop a new uniform," Ms. Sachs wrote in her CUPE e-mail.

 

"But the company has set a relatively short, one-year timeline."

 

This latest management-labour scuffle at Air Canada underscores the need for the two sides to find ways to reduce friction in their adversarial relationship, said Triant Flouris, director of Concordia University's international aviation MBA program in Montreal.

 

"It goes beyond the uniform. This goes to the image and perception of the company," he said.

 

"I can see that the flight attendants want to be consulted, but why wait three years to do this? The Air Canada leadership is trying to show that it's not the old Air Canada that had financial problems."

 

Prof. Flouris said resentment toward management extends into the cockpit. Last month, for instance, the Air Canada Pilots Association filed a complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board, alleging that Air Canada chairman Robert Milton's new book about the airline, Straight From the Top, unfairly paints an unflattering picture of the pilots union

 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Art...onal/TopStories

 

I don't think the uniform needs to be changed, it's tasteful and appealing as it is.

[Bellamy]

another article about this:

Thu, March 3, 2005

 

Attendants beef about outfits

 

By CP

 

TORONTO -- Despite a high-profile endorsement from Celine Dion, Air Canada's flight attendants aren't happy with their new uniforms and say they don't need a makeover. The uniform Dion wore to promote the new image of the fresh-from-bankruptcy-protection airline was unveiled in front of Air Canada employees last fall.

 

But the "midnight blue with silver sky lining" uniform, with a tight skirt and wide-collared shirt, is being given a thumbs-down from the union representing flight attendants.

 

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has filed a grievance against the company and wants more time to consider whether the look is right for flight attendants.

 

'MODERN SOPHISTICATION'

 

"We've made so many sacrifices with our wages and making concessions, this new uniform program seems quite lavish," said Sherry Cameron, an Air Canada flight attendant with 31 years of experience.

 

The airline wants to project an image of "modern sophistication" as it fights rivals WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Jetsgo Corp. for passengers.

 

The uniform is described as having a tasteful design of blue wool-mix fabric and contoured lines.

 

But union members, who pay half of the uniforms' cost, think the company is being too quick with its fashion judgment.

 

The cost for every basic uniform set is estimated to be about $1,000. A basic set for women may include an all-weather coat, one blazer, one skirt, a pair of pants, two blouses, one belt and one scarf. However, many attendants choose to buy at least six blouses, adding to their costs.

 

With the uniforms set to be introduced on a trial basis in April, the lack of access to a prototype also bothers Cameron.

 

"There hasn't been a sample of the fabric for us to see. We can't really tell what exact colour it is."

 

By April, the Montreal-based carrier wants staff to start wearing the uniforms on selected flights.

 

If the spring test period goes well, the airline will introduce the men's and women's garments by the end of this year to 6,700 flight attendants and 2,900 airport counter staff, who are represented by the Canadian Auto Workers.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/...948516-sun.html

[Salla]

Don't all the flight attendant outfits look somewhat like that

 

Totally off topic, but I've been interviewed for The Globe and Mail about how hot Céline is..or something close enough I know. I'm so cool

[Bellamy]

Don't all the flight attendant outfits look somewhat like that

 

Totally off topic, but I've been interviewed for The Globe and Mail about how hot Céline is..or something close enough I know. I'm so cool  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

where is the article?

[Salla]

Don't all the flight attendant outfits look somewhat like that

 

Totally off topic, but I've been interviewed for The Globe and Mail about how hot Céline is..or something close enough I know. I'm so cool  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

where is the article?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

here

 

It was about some mean Vanity Fair article or something..anywhoo..

Our part is somewhere in the end.."Up in the third row, three young girls..."

[Kye]

I like the uniforms..especially when celine is wearint it

[Koolan]

Don't all the flight attendant outfits look somewhat like that

 

Totally off topic, but I've been interviewed for The Globe and Mail about how hot Céline is..or something close enough I know. I'm so cool  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

where is the article?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

here

 

It was about some mean Vanity Fair article or something..anywhoo..

Our part is somewhere in the end.."Up in the third row, three young girls..."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've read that article before

[AllCeline]

I personally thought that Celine looked B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! She was amazing!