No Crosses on British Airways

British Airways has asked a Christian member of staff to conceal her cross necklace because it contravenes the company's uniform policy.

It appears that religious symbols are OK at British Airways unless they are Christian. You can wear a turban or a Jewish skull cap as they cannot be hidden, but not a cross because they can.
I have noticed that British Airways has what appears to be double standards. Doesn't the the flag that they fly conceal not only one cross, but two including the Crusader cross of St George. Possibly this was why a number of years ago they tried to ditch the Flag, because of their dislike of all things Christian. What Christinans need now is a symbol that cannot be hidden or a secret one rather like the fish sign used in the past by persecuted Christians. Meanwhile Christians should avoid using these anti Christian companies.

Miss Eweida, a Coptic Christian whose father is Egyptian and mother English, was ordered to remove her cross or hide it beneath a company cravat by a duty manager at Heathrow's Terminal 4 last month.

She then sought permission from management to wear the chain - but was turned down.

When Miss Eweida, who is unmarried, refused to remove the necklace she was offered the choice of suspension with pay or unpaid leave, pending a disciplinary hearing.

Following a meeting with her managers on 22 September 2006, Customer Service Manager Caroline Girling told Miss Eweida in a letter: "You have been sent home because you have failed to comply with a reasonable request.

"You were asked to cover up or remove your cross and chain which you refused to do.

"British Airways uniform standards stipulate that adornments of any kind are not to be worn with the uniform."

In a letter to Miss Eweida's MP, Vince Cable, last week, BA chief executive Willie Walsh insisted his employee had not yet been disciplined but said she was off work for failing to comply with "uniform regulations".

He added: "We have previously made changes to our uniform policy to accommodate requests, after a detailed evaluation process including Health and Safety assessment to incorporate the wearing of Sikh bangles."

But Miss Eweida said: "BA refuses to recognise the wearing of a cross as a manifestation of the Christian faith, but rather defines it as a piece of decorative jewellery.