Delta airline staff criticise uniform policy change after Palestine flag incident
Delta Air Lines employees are calling for the company to retract a change to its uniform policy implemented days after two of its flight attendants were pictured wearing Palestine flag pins.
Staff are calling the change - which stipulates that the US flag will be the only national flag that Delta flight attendants will be allowed to wear on their uniforms - a move that "silences" workers and "set[s] the stage for increased harassment and discrimination".
The airline told its employees in an internal note that the "decision is intended to provide increased clarity in support our people, while we immediately undertake a full review of our pin policy in alignment with our premium brand.
"Throughout the world, nationality/country flags are increasingly leading to confusion about whether they represent advocacy for or against positions or causes," said the message, which was shared after members of cabin crew wearing Palestine flag pins caused a social media storm last week.
But staff are pushing back against this change, accusing the company of "bow[ing] to the demands of those who target flight attendants by changing policy" instead of "standing up against [the] harassment" of its employees.
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The Delta Association of Flight Attendants last week wrote to the company's chief executive calling for a public apology, a social media moderation protocol, and the prohibition of non-consensual photography of crew members while in uniform.
On Monday, the day the new uniform policy went into effect, flight attendants condemned the change in a video posted on X.
"For decades, flight attendants industry-wide have worn flag pins as a symbol of our role connecting the world and connecting different cultures," said one Delta employee, Rasaq.
"This policy removes our right to express ourselves and does nothing to face the real problem: harassment. It gives bad actors an excuse to continue targeting us."
Delta Flight Attendants:
— DeltaAFA (@DeltaAFA) July 15, 2024
Join thousands of us at https://t.co/W9AQh0rMJZ to petition Delta to retract their pin policy change and implement policies that actually protect us from harassment.
This is not just about a pin or a picture—it’s about defending our dignity. pic.twitter.com/554SXrQCat
Kara, another flight attendant, said: "By silencing workers and restricting expressions of our identity, Delta is betraying their own values and setting the stage for even more harassment and discrimination."
A petition has been launched by flight attendants calling on Delta to protect workers harrassed by passengers.
"This change not only violates Delta’s commitment to inclusivity, but also creates a chilling effect on any worker or passenger deemed 'not American enough' by a hateful few," the petition reads.
"This sets a dangerous precedent that is both dehumanizing and harmful to Delta’s reputation and ability to do business both here and around the world."
Outcry over Palestine flag
Last week, Delta came under fierce criticism and calls for boycott after appearing to endorse the false claim that the Palestine flag was a "Hamas badge" in response to images of its staff wearing Palestine flag pins that were posted online.
A post on X, referencing the two flight attendants, read: "Since 2001, we take our shoes off in every airport because [of] a terrorist attack in US soil. Now imagine getting into a @Delta flight and seeing workers with Hamas badges in the air. What do you do?"
Delta replied on its official X account: "I hear you and I’d be terrified as well, personally. Our employees reflect our culture and we do not take it lightly when our policy is not being followed.
“Nothing to worry, this is being investigated already, particularly the involved parties,” it added in another reply. Both replies have since been deleted.
Delta told Middle East Eye last week it had "removed a mistakenly posted comment on X Tuesday because it was not in line with our values and our mission to connect the world.
"The team member responsible for the post has been counseled and no longer supports Delta’s social channels. We apologise for this error," the company said.
Delta also said that the Palestinian flag pins were in line with its previous uniform policy, and the two employees in question were being supported and not under investigation.
This is not the first controversy surrounding the airline in relation to Israel's ongoing war on Gaza.
US news site Truthout reported this week that a Jewish activist was ordered by Delta staff to cover up a T-shirt that read “Jews say ceasefire now” during a flight in May.
Campaigner Louie Siegel said flight attendants told him the T-shirt went against the airline's policy against showcasing political messages of any kind.
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