Flight attendants demand American Airlines recall new uniforms after 1,600 employees claim the fabrics give them 'rashes, headaches and respiratory problems'

  • The union for American Airlines flight attendants is seeking a recall of their new uniforms after allegedly making workers ill
  • New uniforms were rolled out to over 70,000 workers in September
  • Union says that since August it's received more than 1,600 reports of suspected uniform reactions 
  • The range of suspected health problems include headaches, rashes, burning skin and respiratory problems  

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 09:26 EST, 4 December 2016 | Updated: 16:38 EST, 4 December 2016

The union for American Airlines flight attendants is demanding a recall of their new uniforms after 1,600 employees complained the fabric was giving them severe reactions.

The uniforms were rolled out to over 70,000 workers in September, but workers started reporting health problems, according to USA Today.

There have been complaints of headaches, rashes, and respiratory problems, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) said Wednesday.

The union for American Airlines flight attendants is seeking a recall of their new uniforms after allegedly making workers ill. There have been complaints of headaches, rashes, and respiratory problems, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) said

APFA said: '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.'

The union stated: '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 uniforms were rolled out to over 70,000 workers in September. They are seen in a publicity campaign from the airline

American Airlines spokesman Ron DeFeo told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the airline's has permitted 200 flight attendants to wear their old uniforms and American Airlines ordered 600 non-wool uniforms to deal with the reactions. 

The airline has completed three rounds of testing and the results were 'in line with normal standards', DeFeo told the Dallas Morning News.

He said: 'This is something we're taking very seriously. We obviously want to make sure every employee feels good in their uniform.'


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