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The controversy around what employees are allowed to wear on their uniforms continued this week with United Airlines now in the spotlight. An employee was spotted wearing a Palestinian flag pin on her uniform and despite backlash, United says that employees will be able to continue adding pins.
Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways have both updated uniform policies to prohibit employees from being able to choose pins and other elements that are not officially approved by the airlines after similar controversies struck earlier this year (more here and here).
"Pride"
Really @united ?? https://t.co/4p9LyB96T7
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) August 27, 2024
United has said that it will continue to allow employees to wear flag pins that designate languages they speak or that reflect “pride in a place to which they may have a special connection.”
United’s official take continues:
Our uniform policy has long included an option for flight attendants to wear flag pins to designate specific language skills so that our customers who are more comfortable in a language other than English can know who on our crew speaks their preferred language.”
This is a strong stance and one that has caused further friction. StopAntisemitism founder, Liora Rez, said:
StopAntisemitism is alarmed by the rising trend of US airline employees displaying Palestinian flags and keffiyehs while on duty. Political stances belong off the clock. Airlines must ensure that passengers aren’t confronted with divisive symbols in what should be a neutral space.”
Anthony’s Take: Employees should not be customizing uniforms. Uniforms by nature are meant to uniform. Pins add unnecessary conflict and unless they are issued by the airline (i.e. breast cancer awareness) they should not be worn.
(Featured Image Credit: @StopAntisemites via X.)
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10 comments
It’s ironic that a flight attendant would be wearing a pin supporting a group that was cheering in the streets and burning American flags when airplanes were hijacked and crashed into buildings killing 3000 civilians. Oh also, the palestinians were well documented allies of the nazis in WWII, so she may as well be wearing a nazi flag. But wait, there’s more…the biggest supporter of their cause is Iran which has executed thousands of people for being gay, so she may as well wear a burning rainbow flag pin (Russia also supports them and I thought we didn’t like Russia). She’s also supporting the group that targetd civilians, raped and tortured hostage and bragged about decapitating infants. But the thing that really bothers me is that this is just some lame white lady who is simply a lemming following some need to take a side not realizing she couldn’t possibly understand one of the most complex political situations this century enough to have an opinion one way or the other.
Impressive. Almost every single thing you said was mostly to absolutely wrong but rather than writing a thesis here let’s keep it simple: please show valid independent proof of your assertion that any Arabs in the USA were cheering in the streets during 9/11.
You’re either too young or weren’t around in 2001 to remember, but both the NY Post and NY Daily News ran pictures of Arabs in Brooklyn celebrating as the Towers burned.
And the correlation? Both are right wing rags better used as toilet paper than literature
I’d put a high probability that that F/A couldn’t find Palestine on a map. Most Americans can barely find the state where they live on a blank map of the US. It’s the “trendy” thing to do wearing such a pin. Could be wrong and she has family from there or close friends. But I kinda doubt it.
Uniforms should be…. uniform. I worked for an airline where the only allowable lanyard was the one issued by the company and specified in each work group’s appearance standards. Even the CEO wore it. The only allowable pins, other than a small single color AFA pin for F/As or an ALPA logo for pilots, was a company-issued seniority pin or award pin, and those once received were a required part of your uniform. I had to remember each morning to put my President’s Award and seniority pins on my suit lapel.
Even Spirit only allows the company lanyard (including one that states 5-year increments in seniority milestones).
It’s such a free for all at too many carriers.
I didn’t say they were in the USA when they were cheering…also, should it matter geographically where they were…but they are in the streets now chanting death to american and burning american flags all while hiding behind the freedom that flag gives them. How about the go to Tehran and burn an iranian flag chanting death to iran and see what happens (that’s the regime who most supports the palestinians – can’t wait until they are in charge and the freedoms that will flow from it).
I’m sorry which part was wrong? Iran backing the palestinians? Iran executing thousands for being LGBQ? Oct 7th specifically targeting civilians? taking civilians hostage? the rape and torture of those civilians (which the Palestinians posted online)? Palestinians being allies of hitler (um use google)? The flight attendant being white and clueless? Please, floor me with your brilliance and tell me which specific thing I said was wrong.
I’m sure that the North Koreans were cheering in the streets but what relevance does that have to a Palestinian? You sounded like you were pushing that debunked lie about Arab communities in New Jersey cheering. Otherwise, why mention it in that context?
Also, google lies at times. Wikipedia too. That’s why you need source material. I’ve tried the whole “I read” thing in college and got shredded by the professor. You gotta show where you get your information.
It’s unfortunately common – and intentional in many cases – for the Palestinian people wanting to have a homeland to be conflated with antisemitism. The two things aren’t even close. I despise antisemitism and have greatly enjoyed visiting Israel. I also think the Palestinians need a home too, and one where the neighboring country doesn’t steal chunks of land whenever they feel like it.
Anthony –
I’m not sure if you’re aware that “StopAntisemitism” is a right-wing extremist group that has been publicly doxxing and pushing for the firings of anyone found not supporting Israel in public or if you just don’t care. Either way I hope you’re aware of just how badly uncritically stenographing their propaganda reflects on your blog. Between this and your many other posts on Palestine and climate you’ve made it clear that you don’t really care about any harm inflicted on your fellow human beings so long as it doesn’t personally inconvenience you. Your selfish personal attitude would be one thing if this were a blog on politics, but isn’t it ostensibly supposed to be about travel? I suggest that you return to discussing something you know anything about since these posts are insufferable.
Thank you for reading. This blog is about travel and when other topics intersect, I share my opinion. I am not siding with this organization and was using their tweet for the photos. My take is that personalization of uniforms is a no, no. I do care about climate, but not the morons and their inane protests. They should be jailed for blocking traffic and gluing themselves to things.