Airline heads for bumpy ride over women in hats

Heathrow-based
female staff at airline BMI are threatening to take action against the company
over the compulsory wearing of hats as part of their uniform.

Men
working for BMI do not have to wear hats, and the GMB union is ready to launch
employment tribunals against the company unless it gives its female members a
choice whether or not to wear the hats.

So
far BMI has refused to change its policy, despite a petition signed by 85 per
cent of the women affected calling on the company to remove the rule.

Ed
Blissett of the GMB said the union would pursue sex discrimination cases unless
the company changed its policy.

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“BMI
has to come into the 21st century and stop discriminating against women,” he
said.

By Mike Berry