Demands 'Full Recall' Of The New Uniforms

When American Airlines introduced new uniforms for its flight attendants in September, they were well received in terms of how they looked. But after wearing them for a while, some FAs are saying that the new outfits are literally making them sick.

There have been some 1,000 complaints about rashes, itching, hives and headaches lodged with the FAs' union, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA). The union said in a statement that it has met with AA officials to discuss the results from APFA’s independent testing and to address the increasing number of Flight Attendants who are reporting adverse symptoms and reactions to the new uniform.

AFPA said its members were excited when the Company announced in 2014 its plans to launch an updated uniform for all employees at the New American. After many years laboring in the “old blues,” they were yearning for a fresh, contemporary new look. APFA is pleased that many of its members like the style of the uniform articles and the range of options afforded our members.

But the look of a uniform is of secondary importance to APFA. "Our members should not only look good in the uniform, but also feel good in the uniform. Yet this feeling is not the case for a rapidly growing segment of our membership who has reported adverse reactions, including many Flight Attendants who are quite pleased with the look of the uniform," the union said in the statement.

"Since August, we have received over 1,600 Flight Attendant reports of suspected uniform reactions that include headaches, rashes, hives, burning skin and eye irritation, itching, and respiratory problems—to name a few. The growing number of reports of suspected reactions, triggered by both direct and indirect contact with the uniform, has prompted APFA to ask that all uniforms be recalled until further joint testing with the Company can be completed.

"While the Company has reaffirmed its commitment to continue joint testing with APFA to determine what is causing these conditions, it has stopped short of a full recall. We feel a remedy that excludes a full recall of the uniform fails to adequately protect our members.

"To that end, APFA will continue to explore all legal options and consult with additional experts in the field to better understand the results of our ongoing independent testing as well as joint testing moving forward.

"In the meantime, we encourage Flight Attendants to contact the AA Uniform Call Center now to return to their old uniform, regardless of whether they experienced a reaction."

APFA said that AA has agreed to research vendors to supply temporary alternative pieces of the grey uniform until a permanent solution can be found.

(Source: USA Today and APFA statement)

FMI: www.apfa.org