American Airlines policy allowing BLM pins faces backlash

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• American Airlines employees have expressed their disgust over the company’s latest policy allowing its flight attendants to wear Black Lives Matter pins on their uniforms.
• Flight attendants including those with family in law enforcement agencies said the BLM movement is a terrorist group that condones violence.
• However, AA defended the decision, saying the pin is “not a political cause but as a universal cause about humanity and equality. Fundamentally, Black Lives Matter is an expression of equality.”

Top brass at the American Airlines is facing criticism following their announcement on Sunday about a new policy that permits their flight attendants to wear Black Lives Matter pins while on duty.

Some of the airline’s white New York staffers as well as those related to cops who regard the BLM movement as anti-police have taken offense of the new policy saying it supports violence.

“My husband is a LEO (Law Enforcement Officer), as was my deceased father and as far as I’m concerned ALL LIVES MATTER,” wrote a veteran flight attendant in an email to airline management.

“I am completely disgusted at the fact that we can’t show support for our GOD, our COUNTRY, our LEOs but when it comes to BLM organization, American Airlines says that’s obviously different,” she added in the letter obtained by The Post.

Another flight attendant identified as John said employees who refuse to wear a pin will be “ostracized and labeled as racist”. He also viewed that BLM is a “terrorist organization that promotes violence to further their agenda,” adding that if the BLM pins will be allowed, then he too can wear a pin supporting the NYPD.

In an email response to angry employees, Jill Surdek, the airline’s senior vice president for flight services, defended the move saying it was done to address the complaints of their black workers about direct racism from customers and fellow team members.

“American is truly committed to having an inclusive culture that is welcoming to all and a reflection of our country and world,” she said adding that American’s way of showing support is through a symbolic uniform pin that is being designed by the company’s Black Professional Network.

Furthermore, the airline said on Sunday in a statement to The Post that the BLM pin is regarded as a universal cause about humanity and equality.

“It doesn’t mean other lives don’t matter, rather, in our society, black lives should matter and be valued the same as others. That’s not political.”

The company also stated that employee “resource groups” including charitable groups like UNICEF, Christian, veteran and LGBTQ groups, are also designing their own pins for various causes. 

Still, irked airline employees accused AA of joining in on the BLM bandwagon to stay even with rival Delta Airlines, which reportedly has developed its own BLM uniform pin.

BLM demonstrations have taken place across the country since the May 25 police custody death of George Floyd and other incidents of black people being killed or injured during skirmishes with the police.

Source: New York Post