Flight Attendants Claim Age Discrimination

The story from Australia is that Virgin Blue Air Lines, owned by the ostentatious mogul Richard Branson, is guilty of age discrimination for not hiring seasoned flight attendants who had lost their jobs when the regional carrier Ansett Airlines collapsed. One worker, Theresa Stewart, 52, told the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal in Brisbane that she wasn't even asked about her 27 years of experience when Virgin refused to hire her.

Ms Stewart said she went to a Virgin Blue "assessment centre" as part of her job application and was not asked about her experience but rather made to perform role plays and make up a "ditty" with other group members.

She was unequivocal that it was young, attractive staff they were after.

"It was a cattle yard; a one-hour holding area," Ms Stewart told the tribunal.

[ ... ]

"If you had two beautiful blonde girls, 25 and gorgeous, then they went to them like homing pigeons."

Homing isn't exactly the word I would use. However, Stewart and seven other former Ansett workers are convinced that they weren't hired because they look like old withered hosebags and that's against the law. Thus far, it hasn't been suggested that the collapse of Ansett may have resulted from the fact that its employees were a group of whiny old hens that drove business away. Nevertheless, the hearing before the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal continues.

Personally, I can see both sides of the issue. Virgin is looking to staff its workforce with vibrant, young women who'll appeal to the lucrative businessmen trade. Ms. Stewart and the fossils of the air crowd likely have a valid complaint if the laws prevent age discrimination. It's up to the tribunal to determine if Virgin will be allowed to hire people they want or if cranky old grandmothers go to the head of the line.