Uniforms: update on the fight for your health

We have important updates to share on our advocacy for those affected by Delta’s toxic uniforms, and ways you can help keep the effort moving forward.

We’re including a detailed breakdown of the ongoing testing of uniforms below. Testing is important, but testing alone will only get us so far. As we’ve seen across our union drive, Delta responds when management feels direct pressure from Flight Attendants and the public. Here are a few key ways you can help:

1. Continue to share our petition on Delta’s toxic uniformsand encourage your networks to sign. Delta’s brand is very important to executives. The more public pressure we can build, the more likely we can move them to a solution that works for Flight Attendants.
2. Share your story with researchers. AFA’s health and safety team is in contact with researchers at UT Health San Antonio who are exploring Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT). Dr. Claudia Miller is especially interested in studying this disease as it relates to toxic uniforms. If you are willing to speak with Dr. Miller for her research, please respond to this email for more information. TILT is a two-stage disease process. An initial major exposure, or a series of low-level exposures, initiate symptoms that are later triggered by ongoing exposures and sometimes even by everyday items that never previously caused a problem like car exhaust, cleaning products, solvents, and others.
3. Plug in with our campaign by sharing your story and joining our organizing efforts! Are you still experiencing reactions to the uniform? Are you continuing to work through the accommodations process with Delta? We are actively gathering details so that we can continue advocating together for Delta to do the right thing when it comes to the toxic uniforms and the health of Delta Flight Attendants.

Update on testing the grey OEKO-TEX uniform pieces:

AFA’s Health & Safety team has sent fabric samples to Vista Analytical and Enthalpy Analytical labs in California, and to Hohenstein lab in Germany. At this time, please hold off on sending additional pieces—if more are needed, we will put out a request.

The samples submitted will be tested for: multiple heavy metals; poly-fluorinated flame retardants (PFAS) and other flame retardants; a selection of potentially irritant carbon-containing gases; chlorinated benzenes; alkyl phenol ethoxylates; disperse dyes, and formaldehyde.

We expect the turnaround time for all testing to be approximately six weeks from the time we submitted samples on May 24. Lab times vary, and the samples sent to Germany may be subject to delay at customs. However, we hope to have results from all three by early-to-mid July.

We will continue to keep you updated on progress. Please continue to share the petition. If you are willing to speak with UT Health researchers, please respond to this email for more information.

We are with you and the entire Delta AFA campaign stands behind you!