More American Airlines flight attendants complain of health issues over uniforms
By Lewis Lazare | Chicago Business Journal | May 20, 2019 | Read Article
The number of American Airlines flight attendants who say they have experienced symptomatic reactions since they began wearing new uniforms supplied by Twin Hill in the fall of 2016 has climbed to 5,017.
American Airlines employees allege new uniforms are ‘toxic,’ caused health problems
By David Oliver | USA Today | DEC 21, 2018 | Read Article
The lawsuit, which named about 40 employees, claims senior management at American became aware of issues with the Twin Hill uniforms following safety tests before the new outfits were implemented. The lawsuit contends that "American has knowingly tried to cover up the dangers posed by the the toxic Twin Hill uniforms."
One employee claimed in the suit that the new uniforms were a danger to others.
"I am not able to be around anybody in the new uniforms because the formaldehyde shuts down my respiratory system, and I will need an inhaler, oxygen and EpiPen and I am risking death by being around them," a flight attendant alleged in December 2016, according to the lawsuit.
American Airlines facing amended lawsuit over ‘toxic’ uniforms that allegedly gave employees rashes
FOX News | December 20, 2018 | Read Article
The suit claims that top leaders in the company were given evidence that the uniforms, manufactured by Twin Hills, might be toxic and unsafe to wear prior to the rollout in September 2016, Chicago Business Journal reports.
"American has knowingly tried to cover up the dangers posed by the toxic Twin Hill uniforms," the lawsuit, unsealed Tuesday, claims.
More American Airlines pilots say their uniforms are causing health problems, unsealed lawsuit says
By Catherine Dunn| Bloomberg | December 19, 2018 | Read Article
"More than half of American Airlines’ 15,000 pilots told the company that they had experienced problems with a uniform that gave rise to complaints of breathing difficulties, migraines, rashes, and other problems, according to a lawsuit unsealed by a federal court in Illinois.
"The lawsuit, brought by the airline’s pilots and flight attendants, says chemicals in the uniforms are causing the symptoms. And the suit, citing internal documents and emails, accuses American of covering up dangers and falsely portraying the uniforms as safe. The company collected thousands of complaints of reactions through a dedicated call center, the suit noted."
American Airlines hit with amended lawsuit over uniforms
By Lewis Lazare | Chicago Business Journal | DEC 19, 2018 | Read Article
American Airlines Inc. was deluged with a significant number of potentially damning allegations in an amended lawsuit unsealed Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Chicago.
The unredacted (except for some names) lawsuit unsealed on Tuesday includes extensive evidence presented by lawyers for the plaintiffs that alleges American management at the most senior levels knew that the alleged testing done on the Twin Hill uniforms prior to the September 2016 rollout did not conclusively indicate the uniforms were safe to wear.
The amended lawsuit alleges American’s top leaders overseeing the uniform rollout were supplied with evidence the uniforms could be toxic because of various chemicals in the fabric. That possibility was further underscored by reports from AA employees involved in wear-testing the Twin Hill uniforms.
But, the lawsuit alleges, rather than heeding the information they were privy to, top American Airlines management chose to ignore the warning signs and twist the information being supplied to them in order to keep moving forward with the uniform rollout on the timeline the company had established.
In summary, the lawsuit, which runs more than 120 pages, alleges "American has knowingly tried to cover up the dangers posed by the the toxic Twin Hill uniforms." The lawsuit, in conclusion, goes on to state that "all American employees were entitled to the truth" about the uniforms.
American Airlines Workers Describe Dangerous Uniforms In Newly Unsealed Complaint
By Frida Garza | Jezebel | DEC. 19, 2018 | Read Article
The case by flight attendants and pilots against American Airlines and the clothing manufacturing company that makes the workers’ uniforms grew darker this week, as a federal judge unsealed an amended complaint filed against the airline and manufacturer that revealed some disturbing testimony from the plaintiffs.
Philly.com reports that some 7,000 American Airlines employees told the company that “they had experienced problems with a uniform that led to complaints of breathing difficulties, migraines, and rashes,” according to the unsealed complaint. The workers blame chemicals found in their uniforms, which are made by Twin Hill—and in their lawsuit, alleging that American Airlines knew about the risks involved with wearing said uniforms and worked to cover it up.
American Airlines’ Unscheduled Leave Policy Sickens Attendants
By Kathy Gurchiek | SHRM | August 23, 2018 | Read Article
American Airlines (AA) will be rolling out a new rule, effective Oct. 1, that penalizes its flight attendants for what it considers abuse of unscheduled time off and could lead to some of those attendants being fired. The airline announced the rule Aug. 16.
In a tweet dated the same day as AA’s new unscheduled leave policy, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) noted that the airline did not take into consideration "some of the realities of our jobs and workplace." Those include, it said, "toxic uniforms that continue to make thousands of flight attendants sick just by being in close proximity with them" and "toxic fumes on aircraft reported daily."
American Airlines axes ‘toxic’ uniforms after FOX 46 reports
By Matthew Grant | FOX 46 WJZY | JAN 10, 2018 | | Read Article
D’Olivio is the latest flight attendant to speak out after a series of FOX 46 investigations into the uniforms, uncovering health problems including rashes and shortness of breath that employees say are linked to chemicals in the clothing.
"My lungs hurt so bad it feels like I’ve been hit in the rib cage," said D’Olivio, in another recording made last February.
She says she developed asthma. Last summer, physicians found mold and fungus in her lungs, records show. American Airlines’ own doctors diagnosed her with an "allergic reaction to chemical substance" and ordered her to "avoid exposure to new uniforms."
These American Airlines Pilots and Flight Attendants Sued Their Own Airline. Here’s the 1 Saddest Thing About It
By Bill Murphy Jr. | Inc.com | OCT 14, 2018 | Read Article
When your own employees’ lawsuit claims "a concerted effort — at the highest levels of American’s corporate organization–to fraudulently cover up the dangers," you might have a problem.
This is a story about unhappy American Airlines employees. And, it’s also about what you can learn in our country’s courthouses.
It’s amazing what you find when you check out companies and the lawsuits they’re involved in.
Are American Airlines’ uniforms making employees sick?
CBS NEWS | May 4, 2017 | Read Article
More than 3,000 flight attendants and about 200 pilots have filed reports complaining that their uniforms have caused rashes, hives and breathing problems.
The flight attendant’s eyes swelled shut. "And then I ended up in the ER, yeah," Scarpuzzi said.
The airline reports it’s spent more than $1 million to investigate what’s going on — but with no clear answer. Flight attendants are demanding a recall.
The same manufacturer who made Americans’ new uniforms faced similar complaints a few years ago by flight attendants with Alaska Airlines. Flight attendants unsuccessfully sued the company. In a statement, Twin Hill told CBS News it "has yet to receive any medical or scientific evidence indicating there is anything unsafe about the uniforms."
At American Airlines, rashes, wheezing and suspicion still surround new uniforms
By Andrea Ahles | Star-Telegram | MAR 31, 2017 | Read Article
"I scratched all night and my throat closed and I was wheezing," Kennedy said. "It scared me to death."
She went to her doctor’s office the next day and was given Benadryl, a steroid shot, a prednizone pack and an EpiPen.
"I thought it’s got to be the uniform," Kennedy said. "I’ve never had a reaction like this."
She wasn’t alone. Kennedy is one of thousands of American flight attendants who have reported reactions after the uniforms were rolled out in September. Flight attendants said they have had rashes, hives, migraines, respiratory issues and thyroid problems.
American Airlines employees claim new uniforms are ‘toxic’
By: WBRZ Staff | WBRZ | December 21, 2018 | Read Article
The lawsuit, which was unsealed earlier this week, claims senior management became aware of the issues with the Twin Hill uniforms after safety testes were conducted before the uniforms were implemented.
The lawsuit goes on to say, "American has knowingly tried to cover up the dangers posed by the toxic Twin Hill uniforms."
American Airlines told USA Today. "The amended complaint has been written in a sensationalized manner that does a disservice to American’s commitment to its team members, and to their continued health and safety."
American Airlines employees allege uniforms made them sick, file suit against manufacturer
By Megan Cerullo | | New York Daily News | SEP 29, 2017 |Read Article
Attorney Andrew Spielberger said employees experienced "an immunological response due to exposure to multiple chemicals" when they put the uniforms on.
"These immunological responses can result in a cascade of symptoms that are described and supported by the applicable medical literature," Spielberger added.
American Airlines Seems to Be Gaslighting Its Employees Over Fashion
By Claire Hannum | Racked | JUL 10, 2017 | Read Article
American Airlines, however, insists the uniforms are safe. The airline spent over $1 million on three rounds of tests on the uniforms, and points to the results as proof that the uniforms are safe to wear. So why are flight attendants fainting on the job and struggling to breathe during their shifts?
In 2011, Alaska Airlines flight attendants were issued uniforms from Twin Hill, and the reports of illness were overwhelming. Around 10 percent of employees reported reactions, and the airline issued a recall. "Safety and welfare of our employees is our first priority," Alaska Airlines spokesperson Halley Knigge says of the recall. She had no comment on American’s current situation. (Two years later, 164 affected flight attendants filed a lawsuit against Twin Hill and ultimately lost. Twin Hill has since referenced this ruling in a letter to the APFA regarding the American debacle.)
The APFA conducted its own tests on the garments and found that one piece of the uniform, a short-sleeved jacket, was found to have levels of cadmium higher than the acceptable textile industry standard. The APFA’s tests also determined that the uniform contained formaldehyde, nickel, and tetrachlorophenol — a corrosive chemical known to cause eye irritation. While that hardly sounds great, it doesn’t necessarily nail down the culprit. Each individual garment may contain varying levels of each chemical, so it’s difficult to pinpoint whether every uniform contains the exact same cocktail of irritants.
An Open Letter About American Airlines’ Uniform Crisis
By Heather Poole | Future Travel | MAY 4, 2017 | Read Article
In December, Hector Adler mentioned the uniform was tested to Oeko Tex standards but that is false. No standard was used to test the uniform. If the uniform meets and exceeds industry standards, why does the union have to agree to the test interpretations BEFORE the uniform is tested?
The scariest thing about all this is we have no idea what is happening to us. American continues to mention the million of dollars it has spent testing the uniform…to prove it’s safe. Not to get to the bottom of what’s making over 8,000 people sick. American continues to say it’s safe. Regardless of 8,000 sick flight attendants, agents and rampers, 500 pilots who have reported a reaction, and 26% of the regional flight attendants who wear the same uniform. Did you know foreign national flight attendants are also having issues? Probably not because they don’t have a way to report it.
The mystery of American Airlines’ ailing flight attendants
By Justin Bachman and Mary Schlangenstein | Chicago Tribune | JAN 18, 2017 | Read Article
From oozing blisters and wheezing to rashes, itchy eyes, and sore throats, numerous American Airlines Group flight attendants say their new work uniforms are making them sick.
The health mystery at American isn’t the first such dispute over flight attendants’ uniforms. In 2011, some Alaska Airlines flight attendants made similar complaints about their new uniforms, also from Twin Hill. The next year, several flight attendants sued the supplier, contending their uniforms contained a dye known to cause skin and respiratory irritation. In September, a California court rejected the case and awarded Twin Hill legal fees from a few attendants who did not drop their claims.
Scott Poynter, the Little Rock, Ark., attorney who brought that suit, is now working with about 10 of the American flight attendants, as is Weitz & Luxenberg PC, a New York-based law firm that handles consumer and environmental litigation. Several of the American attendants have also contacted prominent consumer advocate Erin Brockovich in search of help for their situation, Poynter said.
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Toxic Termination 