Issue 10 - November 17, 2006

...the US Airways MEC Uniform Newsletter

Candi and I would like to introduce US Airways new uniform vendor TwinHill Corporate Apparel. TwinHill is a fully integrated division of $1.8 billion Men's Wearhouse Group / Men's Wearhouse, Inc. It has been recognized by Fortune Magazine for the fifth consecutive year as "One of the 100 Best Companies to Work for In America." TwinHill, the national uniform division of Men's Wearhouse, Inc. was originally founded in 1997 as an upscale corporate wearables producer. After being acquired by Men's Wearhouse in 2002 the division focused and committed all efforts and resources to the national account uniform market. In three short years TwinHill has secured multiple international clients and is well positioned to become the premier provider of comprehensive, global uniform programs. The TwinHill Management team has extensive experience within their field and have made a positive impact on many of the most well known and prestigious apparel programs in the market today with offices located in New York, NY, Richmond CA, and Houston TX. The senior team at TwinHill has a combined 80 years of experience specifically with tailored uniform programs for the airline industry: having produced programs for American Airlines, Delta Airlines, jetBlue Airways, Eastern Airlines, People's Express, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines and a few international carriers. US Airways would be the largest airline client and the second largest client at TwinHill.

Candi and I are very pleased with the selection of TwinHill and the benefits that are being offered to the company and the employees. A benefit being offered to the employee group will be $25 gift cards sent to each employee with their initial uniform order delivery that can be used for future tailoring at any Men's Wearhouse or on personal items of your choice. The planned contract with TwinHill will last for four years. We hope to have additional incentives to offer you from our new corporate partner during the two through fourth year so keep up with From the Hanger for any updates.

To help us all better understand what it takes to create a new uniform Karyn McAlphin, a member of the uniform committee and the Senior Manager of Marketing, Branding and Promotions, so kindly put together the following timeline. This timeline also appears along with a wonderful article written by Karyn on theHUB under the aboutUS section.

What Takes So Long?
Seems like everyone asks this question when we tell them the timeframe for the Above wing program. If you want great uniforms that fit well and look terrific, you need to do it right. Here's what it takes.

Road Show Development: 15 weeks

• Model selection and sizing
• Fabric, pattern and first prototype development
• Manufacture garments
• Ship and fit garments to employees
• Determine collateral materials
• Develop Website
• Launch

Wear Test Development: 20 weeks

• Manufacture wear test products
• Conduct wear test
• Order production fabrics
• Produce collateral materials
• Compile wear test results

Pre-fit Development: 6 weeks

• Manufacture pre-fit line
• Approve website
• Ship pre-fit lines to 8 stations
• Conduct pre-fits

Production: 20 weeks

• Overseas production
• Shipping to U.S. distribution center
• Shipping to 17,500 employees
• Final alterations
  ____________
  61 weeks
  Target Changeover = 1st quarter, 2008

TwinHill has already begun meeting with our uniform designer Stan Herman and is selecting and testing fabrics that will translate to fit the incredible designs Stan. Herman created for the new US Airways uniform. The next steps in the uniform process is finalizing our new fabric and creating prototype garments that frontline employees will model for our roadshow in February 2007. At this time the roadshow will consist of eight cities which include all hubs and focus cities (BOS, CLT, DCA, LAS, LGA, PHL, PHX, PIT). ATL to be determined at a later date. JUST KIDDING PEOPLE!!!

FALL UNIFORM UPDATE: Many of you have stopped me asking about the tie and blazer policy for the fall. As I wrote in the fall FROM the HANGER the blazer and tie are no longer required. They are both optional items to be worn at your discretion. Last year US Airways East changed our policy and eliminated the requirement of the seasonal provision regarding blazers, which would have started on October 1.The tie/tab for East employees was eliminated in April of this year when the policy was changed for customer service. The following was a CBS Message that was sent out to all Flight Attendants dated October 27, 2006 from R. Teitz. This message will now bring all US Airways Flight Attendants, East and West, in line with each other.

Subject: NECKWEAR UPDATE

Effective immediately, neckwear (ties/tabs) is no longer a required part of the Flight Attendant uniform; all neckwear is optional.

When the uniform shirt is worn without neckwear, ONLY the top button of the shirt may be unbuttoned.

Thank you for your cooperation.


BREAKING NEWS: In light of the recent jaw dropping announcement from US Airways management, on November 15, 2006, regarding the potential merger with Delta Airlines Candi and I have been nothing short of assaulted by many of you (and for those of you that I didn't get your phone numbers email me.....wink wink) asking if we would now be getting the new Delta Airlines uniform. Well, the answer to that question is no. We have NOT MERGED with Delta. We have only placed a bid with the bankruptcy court and if accepted must still pass government anti-trust regulations. Lest we forget that unfortunate moment in our history of "It's a done deal" with United Airlines only to have the plug pulled by the referenced anti-trust review committee. As it stands at this moment in time we will continue to move forward with our newly designed and wonderfully stylish uniform by Stan Herman.

Candi and I look forward to seeing all of you in February for the roadshow with the prototypes of a spectacular knew uniform for your review. Thanks for all of your support and positive comments. Fly Fast and Fly Safe.

AFA MEC US Airways Uniform Chairs

Candi Covelli CCovelli@afausairways.org
Brian Morgan BMorgan@afausairways.org


LEC Chairs:

Heather Santello BOS council 69

Ian Daniel BOS council 69
Marianne Totin CLT council 89
Greg Knouse CLT council 89
Candi Covelli PIT council 40
Brian Morgan PHL council70
To Be Announced LGA council 82
Sandy Needle DCA council 41

(To reach your local council representative please contact your local LEC office)