American Airlines Experiencing New Uniform Complaints Amid Merger

American Airlines(DALLAS) — American Airlines flight attendants are complaining about their new uniforms on the same weekend the company is taking an important step in its merger with US Airways to create the world’s largest airline.

Attendants claim the newly unveiled wool-rich uniforms are causing itching and headaches.
 
The Chicago Business Journal reports more than 400 flight attendants have complained of hives and headaches to their unions.

Airplanes and pilots for US Airways are being moved to a single scheduling operating system used by American Airlines this weekend, one of the slowest flying times of the year. The Los Angeles Times reports the carrier canceled numerous flights Saturday to reduce the risk of passengers being affected by a catastrophe.

Until now, the company used several systems: one for legacy American Airlines pilots, and two others for legacy US Airways pilots.

The move comes within the same week the complaints about uniforms were filed.

American Airlines told ABC News affiliate WFAA-TV that the complaints could stem from attendants experiencing a wool allergy, claiming the issues may be isolated.

“They have the option to have a 100 percent cotton uniform or polyester,” Fernand Fernandez, vice president of global marketing for American, told WFAA. “They look exactly the same, just different materials.”

The company says the materials were rigorously tested before the pieces were mass-produced. Previous uniforms were made from synthetic materials.

Fernandez says just 15 flight attendants have contacted them directly about the issue.

American Airlines merged with US Airways in 2013 to create the world’s largest airline.

The carrier’s merger is not yet complete. It still has to merge the scheduling system for flight attendants while working through complaints filed about their new uniforms.

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