WRC rejects female Aer Lingus cabin crew manager's 'trolley-dolly' complaint over uniform

Ms Barry claimed that she was degraded in her professional duties as the new uniform “portrays an outdated and sexualised image of women”. Pictured here in February 2020 is designer Louise Kennedy (third from left) with Aer Lingus cabin crew wearing Aer Lingus’ new look uniform. File photo: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

An Aer Lingus cabin service manager who claims that the new Aer Lingus uniform perpetuates the ‘trolley-dolly’ image of female cabin crew has failed in her gender discrimination claim over the uniform.

At the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), long-serving employee with the airline, Elizabeth Barry claimed that the sexualisation of the female Aer Lingus uniform “is inappropriate and degrading in a professional environment”.