A union representing American Airlines flight attendants said more than 1,300 members have complained about hives and headaches after wearing the company’s new uniforms.
American Airlines debuted new uniforms Sept. 20 in an effort to further integrate its employees following a 2013 merger with US Airways. Pilots, flight attendants, gate agents and club employees have all been outfitted with the new uniforms, in what American Airlines described at the time, as a modern look.
When the complaints first popped up in late September, the Airline dismissed them, asserting they were limited to a handful of cases where a dozen or so employees were allergic to wool.
Two months later, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants is reporting that the uniforms have been tested and found to contain “detectable levels of chemicals normally found in pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers.”
The uniforms are made by Twin Hill, a corporate clothes maker under the Mens Warehouse brand. The union told its members that it will continue to invest the resources necessary to get to the bottom of this and they, “fully expect the Company [American] and Twin Hill to do the same.”
American Airlines has reportedly tested the uniforms twice, and are working on a third test. The company contends that the number of complaints represents only about one percent of its workforce, and noted that members have the option of wearing their old uniforms if they have a problem with the new ones.
“We want our employees to be happy with their new uniforms,” American spokeswoman LaKesha Brown told the LATimes.
Twin Hill also produced new uniforms for Alaska Airlines in 2011, which were connected to health concerns, according to the Austin Business Journal.
Following the roll-out of its new uniforms, Alaska Airlines employees started reporting health issues and as many as 400 employees complained to the airline. The workers described rashes, hives, redness and itchiness. Some employees complained of thyroid issues, hair loss and eye irritation. Some of the complaints were more serious, like shortness of breath and congestion.
The Alaska Airlines uniforms were found to contain Disperse Orange 37/76, which is a dye that is banned from use in apparel products, according to reports.
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