American Airlines flight attendants in uneasy holding pattern on denied grievance

American Airlines flight attendants find themselves in an uncomfortable holding pattern in the wake of AA management's denial last month of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants' (APFA) presidential grievance filed with the airline in late December. That presidential grievance demanded a total recall of new new uniforms, supplied by Twin Hill, that have caused symptomatic reactions among thousands of American Airlines flight attendants since the new uniforms were issued on Sept. 20. The reactions have ranged from rashes and hives to swollen faces, headaches and severe respiratory problems. As of last week, the number of flight attendants reporting reactions continued to climb to approximately 3,000, according to APFA, which represents more than 25,000 AA flight attendants. Even though the number of flight attendants affected is still increasing, APFA is following the outlined protocol for when a presidential grievance is denied. APFA leaders in a memo late last week formally informed rank and file that the union has filed an appeal of the denied presidential grievance. The next step after that is a pre-arbitration conference, for which APFA said it is still awaiting dates.<br/>