Alaska Airways Pressured To Take away Gendered Uniforms

A gender discrimination lawsuit filed by Alaska Airways flight attendant Justin Wetherell (they/them) within the state of Washington has been resolved after the state lawyer basic’s workplace accepted a consent decree. As a part of the settlement, Alaska Airways is required to abolish gender conformance guidelines on flight attendant uniforms.

Justin took problem with the truth that Alaska Airways’ insurance policies compelled flight attendants to decide on both a “male” or “feminine” uniform and didn’t permit any mixing between the 2. In addition they made a particular request with the airline asking for an exception to the rule based mostly on their gender identification, however that request was finally denied.

Reacting to the decision of their authorized battle, Wetherell stated,

As a part of the decree, the airline was additionally ordered to pay $70,000 and $40,000 in authorized charges to Wetherell and the ACLU, respectively.

Background

The story begins in June 2021 when the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) wrote a letter to Alaska Airways highlighting the discrimination confronted by Wetherell, a gender-fluid particular person whereas working for the provider as a flight attendant.

The letter claimed,

“When Justin works a shift as a flight attendant and should adhere to the uniform coverage, Justin faces fixed misgendering. They really feel their gender identification and expression aren’t valued or accepted, and in consequence really feel compelled to current as “male” at work. The battle Justin feels to be accepted whereas working as a flight attendant has exacerbated their nervousness, insomnia, and melancholy.

Justin usually faces panic assaults main as much as a scheduled shift as a flight attendant, which has resulted in them buying and selling out of a shift or calling out sick on a number of events.”

Alaska Airways responded by releasing a press release expressing help for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood and itemizing all the variety initiatives it had taken in latest months. Nevertheless, that wasn’t sufficient for the ACLU or Justin, as they filed a lawsuit towards the airline underneath the Washington Legislation In opposition to Discrimination (WLAD).

Alaska Airways’ response

Ever for the reason that letter was launched, Alaska Airways has introduced itself as extraordinarily delicate to the problem and reiterated its help for the neighborhood at each alternative. The provider stated it was making radical modifications to its insurance policies and, in March 2022, launched new uniforms designed by Seattle designer Luly Yang. The brand new designs included a number of points that expressed the person identification of the individual carrying them.

Picture: Alaska Airways | Ingrid Barrantine

After the latest settlement of Justin’s lawsuit, Alaska Airways launched an identical assertion. The airline stated in a press release,

“We’re happy with the uniform and grooming insurance policies we rolled out in 2022 in an effort to be inclusive of gender, gender identification and gender expression. We advanced these insurance policies additional after receiving a criticism from the Washington State Human Rights Fee, based mostly on enter from the Fee, the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Washington, and Seattle-based flight attendant Justin Wetherell.”

Easy Flying has reached out to Alaska Airways looking for extra data on the consequences of the criticism on their uniform insurance policies. This text shall be up to date after we obtain a response.

What do you make of Alaska Airways’ uniform insurance policies for flight attendants? Please tell us your ideas within the feedback.