American Airlines rolled out new uniforms in March just as the pandemic was getting underway. This came after the new 2016 Twin Hill uniforms led to thousands of complaints about irritation and worse from another manufacturer.
Along with the new uniforms came a detailed uniform standards guide for how to wear the new uniforms, what pieces can be worn when, and what cannot be worn. For instance female nail polish has to be the same color on each nail (but no green, orange or yellow). No glitter or artwork on fingernails is permitted. If any nails chip then “all polish must be removed.”
American Airlines is letting cabin crew know that they’re not permitted to wear Breast Cancer Awareness flair on their uniforms – even accessories that had been approved for uniforms in the past. They are only permitting a single pink ribbon.
As we look ahead to October, many of our colleagues turn their attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Fighters, survivors, family members and friends often don Be Pink uniform items to raise awareness for reearch and education, and to support those whose lives have been forever altered by this disease. This October will look a little different, like so many other things, due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In March we launched the new STANDARD 100 certified by OEKO-TEX uniform program to ensure team members can have the utmost confidence in their uniform when they come to work each day. Team members even went to great lengths to cut over to thenew uniforms on one single day so that we could protect the integrity of the new program and ensure everyone felt comfortable with the new uniform.
At the same time, we began work to create STANDARD 100 certified by OEKO-TEX Be Pink items that could be worn in October and would also fit within the safety standards of our industry-leading uniform program.
Unfortunately, due to understandable production delays and the need to conserve every dollar we can due to COVID-19, that Be Pink production program has been suspended. As a result, we will not have any approved uniform items available for team members to wear this October. Pink items from previous uniform collections or any pink accessory will not be permitted, as they are not part of the OEKO-TEX certified uniform program.
In lieu of pink uniform items, team members may wear a pink ribbon in October to honor breast cancer fighters and survivors.
While we won’t have a Be Pink collection this year, and perhaps for years to come, this change in policy does not change our commitment to fighting cancer. Three years ago American existed our partnership with The Susan G. Komen Foundation and established a partnership with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) an organization that focuses on combating all types of cancer and turning more patients into survivors.
To date we’ve raised more than $11 million through our partnership with SU2C, and we’re not backing down. You can learn more about our partnership with SU2C [here].
Cancer is a devastating disease that has likely touched almost all of our team members in one way or another. Not just in October, but every month through our SU2C partnership, furnraising and education, we are committed to supporting our team, cancer fighters, and survivors.
Thank you for your understanding as we work to support all cancer types. And for all who are affected by cancer, we’re fighting with you.
The airline lets crew wear their own Black Lives Matter pins, even though there’s no standard pin that’s been approved. When the 2016 new uniform controversy rose to a boil they allowed crew to wear a makeshift combination of old uniforms, including old US Airways uniforms. But they aren’t allowed to wear old approved pink items from previous uniform collections, even, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This seems rather petty on American’s part. They constantly hear that morale amongst employees is low, so wouldn’t giving employees the opportunity to wear things from past collections work? They’ve furloughed everyone new, so people should have past things. It’s bringing awareness to breast cancer, how could that be controversial??? No one is pro-breast cancer!
Sorry if this turned into a rant (I want to always give the benefit of the doubt), but this just seems silly and petty. No one is complaining if employees bring awareness to breast cancer research.
@ Gary — Yeah, this is stupid. Pink October has become an airline tradition. It always adds a little flair to October travel, and it is for a great cause. Sad to see American make this short-sighted decision.
So they’ll let FA’s wear swag that supports blm, a domestic terrorist organization, but NOT breast cancer awareness?!?!?!
FUCK AMERICAN AIRLINES!!!!!!
Is Parker nuts? Employees can wear BLM pins but no pink for breast cancer awareness during October.
Im pretty sure they can wear the pins- I was on a flight yesterday PHL- MCO and the staff had on a pink ribbon- Im pretty sure we can all get behind breast cancer research
It seems rather odd that they came out so strongly for allowing employees to wear stuff to show off the political organization BLM but won’t allow breast cancer pink stuff. Personally I think the whole annual pink campaign is a bit overdone but this seems like odd virtue signalling at this point. Then again this is American Airlines. I remember how I used to love flying with them :[
“Going for Great”
I am a 2X breast cancer survivor who is absolutely confounded by this new regulation. And to put the blame on the Covid pandemic is way beyond “gone too far.” My heart hurts.
BLM is Ok though, make sure that we are right politically. Awareness for a disease that kills and maims millions is out of fashion.
Did you guys even read the post? Did everyone except one person commenting miss this sentance. The author wrote, “They are only permitting a single pink ribbon.”
Once I read that sentance I stopped reading because the title was bait and switch.
@Amazing Larry — Really? You and Orange Hitler sound like the terrorists.
Nice catch ChanelCinq.
To be honest, AA should ban all pins and then they will not have to defend the inconsistencies that often arise.
Absolutely ridiculous. They can wear BLM garb but not Breadt Cancer awareness. What a total farce! This country is going to hell in a hand basket.
Did you not read the letter. . .you CAN WEAR A PINK RIBBON. . .they are just saving money and job by not producing the uniforms.
I think Mr Parker has bigger issues to worry about than what pins crew are allowed to wear. Like getting AA through the pandemic, fixing customer service issues, improving operations, etc. Such a shame there are no elections for company CEO.
Seriously, what jobs do some of you have?! You can’t even properly read an article without jumping down some rabbit hole of something you and/or Gary have created. They’re permitting pins to be worn. They’re just not letting them wear (clothing) pieces that were not certified. Remember, the old pieces were a part of the toxic Twin Hill debacle. No one is wearing BLM “garb.” It’s a pin. A pin like all the other pins they can wear, including a pink ribbon pin. AA would be lucky not to have you idiots fly them.
I thought @HT said it perfectly. I don’t know anyone who’s pro breast cancer. How in the world can this be controversial? Let alone the morale issue they mentioned. Sheesh.
And yes I did read that they’re allowed to wear the pink ribbon pins, but still don’t understand why not the uniforms, particularly the old ones that it costs the airline nothing to produce. Plus is the pink ribbon solely breast cancer? I’d prefer if it were, but surely I’ve seen a pink ribbon for all sorts of causes including sports
In the past, I’ve seen some lovely pink ribbon scarves, aprons.
This is BS! If you’re going to enforce the “detailed uniform standards guide” then enforce it!! Based on this article my thoughts are that the BLM pins wouldn’t be part of the “uniform”. Remove them. The single pink ribbon has been “approved” – wear it proudly.
Every piece I read about American Airlines is B-A-D. This takes the cake. I am thankful my miles are with United. Keeping with the cake theme, United is no cakewalk, but the leaders are not intentionally make irrational and insensitive choices like this one. RIDICULOUS!!!
Brought to you from Doug Parker’s classic “Management Bag O’ Dicks” style.
@Michael Press, because the OLD pieces are NOT certified. They’re not certified, because they were a part of the toxic Twin Hill pieces. Did anyone actually read the article???
@bzv, really?! You expect a company that’s losing MILLIONS everyday… that just furloughed thousands of employees yesterday… to spend money on uniform pieces for use one month out of the year. You have no heart to hurt.
@mmontana Please check your anger at the door, and no need to vilify the poster. My thought was if the attendant has a personal scarf, etc, that s/he wants to wear, let them. And yes, I have a heart–it is under my breast cancer scars.
@MMontana, I’m with @bvm, you seem angry and if I missed the word “toxic” in the article, then I missed it again just now when I re-read it. I was pretty sure I’d read it thoroughly the first time because I remember being surprised they’d misspell a word in such a thoughtfully planned communication. All I saw was no mention of “toxic” for the old uniforms and the same misspelling.
Obviously this rule was written by a man. No woman would ever write such a rule.
Breast cancer survivor here. I’ve always been annoyed at the whole “awareness” thing. Only one month? Breast cancer exists in the other eleven months too. Awareness? We are aware. We need money for research, not “awareness.” The vast majority (over 99%) of the overpriced pink stuff does absolutely nothing for research. It’s just a lazy way to pretend to care about something. I’d gladly get rid of all the pink stuff/ribbons and replace with a button that says “Ask me where you can donate to breast cancer research.” Much more productive than a silly argument over whether someone can wear a pink apron or scarf.
2 of my favorite places to donate to research:
Breast Cancer Research Foundation: http://www.bcrf.org
Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation: http://www.lynnsagefoundation.org
Just get it over with, Doug. Paint your airplanes all black, then all black uniforms with rows of BLM pins that are authorized wear. And while you are repainting the planes be sure to replace the proud American flag with a BLM fist. And, finally, change the name to something really “all inclusive” to this movement and rename it Antifa Air. You have made a mockery of a once proud airline so it’s way past time to take any inference to “American” from it’s name.
Hopefully, the employees and especially the ladies will mount a major job action to show him what a total out of touch klutz he is. Balls in your court and we are with you!!
@IP – triggered much, snowflake? Stand back and standby.
Apologies that I used the term “toxic,” as it wasn’t mentioned here, but that doesn’t take away from people attacking AA for not letting them use pieces from “the new 2016 Twin Hill uniforms” that “led to thousands of complaints about irritation and worse from another manufacturer.” A simple google search or even search on this blog would educate anyone that didn’t know the Twin Hill debacle that AA dealt with for 3+ years.
@bzv, please don’t confuse frustration with anger. This is a click bait headline, and some of you fell for it. You said you’re “confounded by this new regulation,” and to “put the blame on the Covid pandemic is way beyond ‘gone too far,'” which is the absurd thing I was pointing out. You suggest that I’m vilifying you… Or Gary? I’m not sure, but your comment suggests you’re vilifying AA, for what? Being prudent to their financial situation right now?? When thousands are losing their jobs, your heart shouldn’t hurt for AA not producing new scarfs or ties.
@Michael Press, I was simply pointing out the reasons why they aren’t allowed to wear the old pieces. Again, apologies for using the term “toxic,” myself. Asking if anyone read the article really just suggests that by agreeing with a previous commenter about AA being petty about this are unfounded. Especially when other commenters bring other matters into this.
They literally, for the well-being of everyone, don’t want anyone using old pieces because of “the thousands of complaints” of “irritation or worse.” I understand if you don’t know or aren’t interested in researching the topic, but given that Gary knows of and stated himself, previously, of ” toxicity and physical effects” from the previous uniform, this article was to stir up controversy where none lies.
Once again it is apparent that trying to get die-hard Trump supporters to sincerely say “black lives mater” is like Trump trying to condemn white supremacy during the debate. They’re like a dog with a chicken bone stuck in the throat.
The reason pink garb is not allowed is poorly explained in the quoted memo. BLM haters get to vent. Gary got the desired reaction with this post.
I’m glad I’m retired from American Airlines. They have turned into a rude, petty, poorly managed company that is not at all supportive of their employees. They don’t care what happens to the employees and don’t even give the proper tools to do their jobs.
I’m very upset at them not allowing the employees to wear the pink accessories like ties or blouses and shirts they were allowed to wear in years past. it was something we looked forward to. They claim to support Breast Cancer charities and research but I don’t think they’re actually doing it. They are now managed by a horde of idiots.
Thanks IP for the thoughtful and funny post. Just ignore UA-NYC response. It’s always the same BS!
@MMontana – we’re cool. I appreciate the follow up (and actually for some reason I didn’t even get notified that you’d replied yesterday). I too probably just mistook frustration for anger, and even if you are angry, you have a right to be angry if you’d like. That was probably a little out of line for me to call you on it so I apologize for that. I better understand now what you were pointing out. They really can’t wear the old uniforms, and they can wear the pins so it’s really not as big a deal (imo) as I’d first thought. I may have been too reactive to the tag line and not thorough enough in the first place.
That misspelling of “ reearch” does bug me, though, totally unrelated to your comment or the issue itself. I think if they’re going to write such a thought-out communication, they should spell check it.
@Gene
What exactly has Trump done to make you think he is a terrorist? Go ahead, I’ll wait….
You got nothing? Then why don’t you do what your momma couldn’t when she drank all that paint thinner when she was pregnant with you? You worthless puddle of purified monkey spunk.
*putrefied*
Damn auto-correct.