A United Airlines Decision of the flight attendant to Pin with Palestinian flag and Kufiya on a flight from Chicago to Newark has sparked a heated debate debatedrawing criticism by pro-Israel supporters. The incident has intensified discussions about what Symbols should be permitted for flight crew on duty.
The controversy began when a passenger on a flight from Chicago O’Hare to Newark on Tuesday noticed the flight attendant’s Palestinian symbols and alerted the Jewish civil rights group StopAntisemitism. The group’s founder, Liora Rez, condemned United Airlines for allowing what she said were politically charged symbols in a space that was supposed to remain neutral, the Independent reported.
“StopAntisemitism is alarmed by the growing trend of US airline employees displaying Palestinian flags and scarves while at work,” Rez was quoted as saying. “There are no flights to Palestine. Political viewpoints belong outside of work hours. Airlines must ensure that passengers are not confronted with divisive symbols in what is supposed to be a neutral space.”
United Airlines stands by its policy
Despite the GameUnited Airlines defended its Uniform Policy. The airline’s policy allows flight attendants to wear pins with the flag to display language skills or express personal pride in a particular place.
“Our uniform policy has long included the option for flight attendants to wear flag pins to denote certain language proficiency so that our customers who are more comfortable speaking a language other than English know who on our crew speaks their preferred language,” United Airlines said, according to the report. “We also allow flight attendants to wear flag pins that express pride in a place to which they may have a special connection.”
A broader debate
The incident sheds light on a broader debate about the presence of political symbols in the workplace. It is not the first time that airline employees’ choice of pins has sparked controversy. In 2020, some airlines’ decision to allow “Black Lives Matter” pins sparked backlash from passengers and employees with ties to law enforcement.
https://x.com/StopAntisemites/status/1816496246082719837
StopAntisemitism has also criticized other airlines such as Spirit Airlines and Delta Air Lines for allowing pins featuring the Palestinian flag. In response to similar criticism, Delta updated its uniform policy effective July 15 to only allow pins featuring the U.S. flag.
The controversy began when a passenger on a flight from Chicago O’Hare to Newark on Tuesday noticed the flight attendant’s Palestinian symbols and alerted the Jewish civil rights group StopAntisemitism. The group’s founder, Liora Rez, condemned United Airlines for allowing what she said were politically charged symbols in a space that was supposed to remain neutral, the Independent reported.
“StopAntisemitism is alarmed by the growing trend of US airline employees displaying Palestinian flags and scarves while at work,” Rez was quoted as saying. “There are no flights to Palestine. Political viewpoints belong outside of work hours. Airlines must ensure that passengers are not confronted with divisive symbols in what is supposed to be a neutral space.”
United Airlines stands by its policy
Despite the GameUnited Airlines defended its Uniform Policy. The airline’s policy allows flight attendants to wear pins with the flag to display language skills or express personal pride in a particular place.
“Our uniform policy has long included the option for flight attendants to wear flag pins to denote certain language proficiency so that our customers who are more comfortable speaking a language other than English know who on our crew speaks their preferred language,” United Airlines said, according to the report. “We also allow flight attendants to wear flag pins that express pride in a place to which they may have a special connection.”
A broader debate
The incident sheds light on a broader debate about the presence of political symbols in the workplace. It is not the first time that airline employees’ choice of pins has sparked controversy. In 2020, some airlines’ decision to allow “Black Lives Matter” pins sparked backlash from passengers and employees with ties to law enforcement.
https://x.com/StopAntisemites/status/1816496246082719837
StopAntisemitism has also criticized other airlines such as Spirit Airlines and Delta Air Lines for allowing pins featuring the Palestinian flag. In response to similar criticism, Delta updated its uniform policy effective July 15 to only allow pins featuring the U.S. flag.
