Cyclic Hotline
17th Dec 2001, 22:42
Union gets knickers in knot over airline policies
A union says female flight attendants are being directed to wear G-strings so passengers can't see their panty lines.
The Flight Attendants Association of Australia (FAAA) said the union was concerned that some airlines were focusing on grooming ahead of cabin crew members' overall professionalism.
But airlines have denied the claims.
FAAA international division national secretary Johanna Brem said some flight attendants had to act as cleaners, service attendants and emergency workers during their day.
And she said as the workload of cabin crews expanded many felt undervalued in their profession.
"Some airlines are more concerned about our duties in terms of wanting us to clean toilets and the grooming standards," she said.
"What we want to highlight is the professionalism of the crew. We are safety and security professionals saving people's lives."
Ms Brem said some domestic flight attendants at Virgin Blue had expressed concern about the airline imposing a standard on visible pantylines.
"Some airlines are trying to impose a grooming standard for female frontline staff of wearing G-strings during their duties," she said.
But a spokeswoman for Virgin Blue said there was no underwear policy at the airline.
"There is no directive that stipulates our cabin crew have to wear particular underwear," she said.
Virgin Blue flight attendants are however required to clean toilets as part of their job, the FAAA said.
Qantas meanwhile said the airline had a grooming standard in place.
But a spokeswoman said there was no requirement for flight attendants to wear particular underwear.
The union on Monday launched a national campaign, called Cabin Crew - professionals from the ground up.
The campaign coincides with the expiry of a pay agreement for Australia's 4,500 international flight attendants at Qantas.
"We are hoping for a successful outcome. We are certainly looking for the successful outcome that keeps and maintains a standard for conditions and pay," Ms Brem said.
She said negotiations with the airline were continuing but Qantas was attempting to impose a wage freeze in its international operations, the same as that being enforced in its domestic arm.
Flight attendants domestically are among nine of the airline's unions to accept the wage freeze.
Two maintenance unions, the Australian Workers Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, are the only unions who have yet to accept the freeze.
A union says female flight attendants are being directed to wear G-strings so passengers can't see their panty lines.
The Flight Attendants Association of Australia (FAAA) said the union was concerned that some airlines were focusing on grooming ahead of cabin crew members' overall professionalism.
But airlines have denied the claims.
FAAA international division national secretary Johanna Brem said some flight attendants had to act as cleaners, service attendants and emergency workers during their day.
And she said as the workload of cabin crews expanded many felt undervalued in their profession.
"Some airlines are more concerned about our duties in terms of wanting us to clean toilets and the grooming standards," she said.
"What we want to highlight is the professionalism of the crew. We are safety and security professionals saving people's lives."
Ms Brem said some domestic flight attendants at Virgin Blue had expressed concern about the airline imposing a standard on visible pantylines.
"Some airlines are trying to impose a grooming standard for female frontline staff of wearing G-strings during their duties," she said.
But a spokeswoman for Virgin Blue said there was no underwear policy at the airline.
"There is no directive that stipulates our cabin crew have to wear particular underwear," she said.
Virgin Blue flight attendants are however required to clean toilets as part of their job, the FAAA said.
Qantas meanwhile said the airline had a grooming standard in place.
But a spokeswoman said there was no requirement for flight attendants to wear particular underwear.
The union on Monday launched a national campaign, called Cabin Crew - professionals from the ground up.
The campaign coincides with the expiry of a pay agreement for Australia's 4,500 international flight attendants at Qantas.
"We are hoping for a successful outcome. We are certainly looking for the successful outcome that keeps and maintains a standard for conditions and pay," Ms Brem said.
She said negotiations with the airline were continuing but Qantas was attempting to impose a wage freeze in its international operations, the same as that being enforced in its domestic arm.
Flight attendants domestically are among nine of the airline's unions to accept the wage freeze.
Two maintenance unions, the Australian Workers Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, are the only unions who have yet to accept the freeze.