Some Delta Employees Sickened by Plum Uniforms

photo: https://news.delta.com/bringing-glamour-back-flying-delta-unveils-zac-posen-designed-inspired-employee-uniforms

(Little Jack Horner by Mother Goose)

Delta recently rolled out it’s new line of Passport Plum uniforms, manufactured by Lands End and designed by designer Zac Posen, for the airline’s frontline employees including customer service agents, flight attendants, ramp agents and technicians. This was announced on Delta’s News Hub back in 2016 (see Delta’s News Hub, Bringing glamour back to flying: Delta unveils Zac Posen-designed, inspired employee uniforms).

photo: https://news.delta.com/pantone-color-year-supports-delta-s-move-chic-passport-plum-uniforms

But now there are reports, including a class action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,  claiming that the uniforms are making some people sick.

As reported by NBC:

Two employees with Delta Airlines are taking Wisconsin-based Lands’ End to court, claiming the uniforms the company made caused serious health issues.

In a class action complaint filed in New York federal court on May 22, two Delta employees stated the Lands’ End “Passport Plum” uniforms caused severe skin rashes, headaches, fatigue, breathing difficulties, hair loss, low white blood cell counts and nausea. The complaint also alleges the purple dye used in the uniforms bleeds out and can stain other garments, causing permanent stains.

Lands’ End began producing “Passport Plum” uniforms for Delta Airlines in May 2018. According to federal court documents, 24,000 flight attendants and 40,000 gate agents are required to wear the uniforms while on the job.

The c;ass action complaint seeks at least $5 million dollars from Lands’ End for negligence. 

(see, Delta Airlines employees sue Lands’ End over uniforms).

NBC Boston, in Delta Employees Say New Uniforms Are Giving Them Rashes reports:

Delta Air Lines employees are speaking out after they say the company’s new uniforms have given some of them rashes and breathing problems.

The airline unveiled its new line of uniforms for its employees last May. It didn’t take long for the excitement of the uniform launch to turn into concern from some of Delta’s 64,000 employees.

Three flight attendants spoke with NBC10 Boston on the condition of anonymity for fear of losing their jobs. They said the uniforms have made them sick and the airline has not been responsive in helping them out.

“I was experiencing breathing issues,” an employee named Alex told NBC10 Boston. “My nose was running all the time. I was coughing and fatigued.”

Others reported rashes, hair loss and bleeding of the purple dye.

NBC Boston also aired this comprehensive video about the Passport Plum uniforms, in New Delta Uniform Causes Controversy.

HT: Sean Colahan