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Grounding Airline staff on basis of over-weight Just or not ?
Have you heard it? Its back again! Yes, the airline attendants are again being targeted for being slightly over-weight. They have been given now 6 months(how generous!) to get the extra weight lost. The airline this time is Turkish airlines, a member of star alliance network.
I remember, it was a policy well earlier, more earlier then time of star alliance, that in US may airline attendants were being targeted for being overweight and denied many benefits or even grounded. As everyone knows the attendants(i mean the reserves) are paid only for their flight time i.e. the moment the aircraft's door is closed till the aircraft's door is opened at the destination, this tactics, can come in handy in times of cut-off and lowering the cost. But, this issue is more than that. Its about discrimination. Discrimination against overweight attendants, who has served faithfully and tirelessly to the airlines. I have myself seen many times passengers getting rude to the attendants and still they answer with a smile on their face. I am a great fan of any person who provides me good service and thus, I feel for these airline attendees who have been grounded for their a minor overweight and thus denied their right to earn.
Years ago in 1990's in US many airlines had a policy to firing attendants because of the reasons that they are married, if they wore glasses or they are a bit overweight. Many times they were also compelled to pay for the extra ticket if their body mass is greater than their standards. It took many lawsuits and long years of negotiation to end that discrimination. And after the emergence of various airlines alliance networks. And to be frank, I like Star Alliance, because they are one of the most systematic and logical alliance around this part of the world.
Anyways, moving back to our main topic of the day, is over weight a just cause for grounding? I think its only the ability to move around and quickly assist the passengers to exit in case of emergency is the most important job that a flight attendant has on the aircraft. Let me know your thoughts on this. Post your comments on www.airlinedives.com and show that you share and care your fellow attendants problems!
