British Airways reverses cross ban policy

British Airways (BA) has announced, January 19, that its uniform policy will change to allow all religious symbols, including crosses, to be worn openly by its staff, a decision that is seen as a turnaround from its previous stand of banning a Christian ground staff worker from displaying a cross.

The U–turn, which will permit staff to wear a religious symbol on a chain or lapel pin, came after Nadia Eweida, a Christian check–in worker, was told she could not wear a necklace bearing a small cross over her uniform.

Eweida, 55, had refused to go to work at Heathrow Airport and was offered a non–uniformed job where she could wear the cross. She rejected this and launched an appeal against BA's decision, which she lost last November.

"I am very grateful that BA have finally seen sense. If I belonged to any other religion I don't believe I would have been treated so dismissively," she said, adding that she had not received any formal notification from BA about the change to its policy.

Thanking the British public and Christian groups who had voiced their support for her stand, Eweida said that had not been for the publicity she received, her case would have been "discarded."

"At my last meeting with BA they said the policy review wasn't down to me but was down to public pressure," she said.

"This is not about me, it is about the rights of Christian workers throughout British Airways and beyond to be able to demonstrate their faith," Eweida continued.

"Christians have been given a raw deal. I don't believe that any person from any other faith would have been treated in the way that I was," she added.

"This is a shining beacon to Christians everywhere to know the Lord is good and gracious and he answers prayers," she said, disclosing that she had prayed and fasted in the hope of a positive outcome.

Eweida said that she had been forced to take unpaid leave from her £9,000 a year part–time job with BA since September, and may still pursue a claim for compensation and damages for religious discrimination at an employment tribunal set to begin later this year.

Eweida said she would be happy to return. "I will do my best to fit in and continue working in the way expected of me," she said, adding, "It has been a very tough time for me. My dignity was violated and I have struggled financially."

"I will carry on working as I've always worked. My dignity has been restored. I've suffered for my faith," she said.

When the row over Miss Eweida's cross erupted in October last year, BA said it had not banned religious jewelry, but that it had to be hidden from view. Eweida claimed she had worn the small cross throughout her seven years with BA and accused the carrier of religious discrimination.

The airline said it had consulted staff and customers on the issue as well as seeking the views of representatives from the Church of England, the Catholic Church and the Muslim Council of Britain before reversing its decision.

Willie Walsh, BA's chief executive, said that the airline had "unintentionally" found itself at "the center of one of the hottest social issues in current public debate" as a result of its decision.

"Most of those consulted felt that a lapel pin was an acceptable and reasonable option. For the majority of our staff, this was the preferred option. However, some respondents believed that limiting the change to a pin would not satisfy all Christians," he said, adding, "Comparisons were made between the wearing of a cross around the neck and the wearing of hijabs, turbans and Sikh bracelets."

"For this reason, we have decided to allow some flexibility for individuals to wear a symbol of faith on a chain," he said.

"Our uniform is one of the most powerful symbols of our company and heritage. Our staff wear it with pride and our customers recognize and value it. This modification will enable staff to wear symbols of faith openly without detracting from the uniform," he concluded.

The row sparked by Eweida's case had attracted much media attention, with even Tony Blair being drawn in.

Asked at a conference by BA's Martin Broughton how they should handle the issue, the Prime Minister advised them to "do the sensible thing."

The company has always argued it never intended to discriminate against Christians in its policy on jewelry, but was bound to follow anti–discrimination laws to the letter.

Christian leaders and politicians have argued that the ban was tantamount to religious discrimination and forced BA to conduct a uniform policy review, although the airline itself stressed that Eweida was merely contravening jewelry regulations.

The decision of the airline to reverse its policy has won plaudits from Church leaders and civil rights activists.

"I am grateful that BA have listened to the deep concerns that have been expressed about this issue and that their change of policy now allows Christians to wear crosses openly. Important issues have been raised; this is a positive and constructive outcome," Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, declared.

Dr. Williams had previously said that the Church, which is an investor in BA, would "rethink its whole attitude" to the airline.

"Praise the Lord! I am grateful that BA has finally shown grace and magnanimity in this change of policy so as to enable their Christian employees to display their commitment to their faith. I welcome the efforts made by BA to allow the wearing of the Cross by those Christian employees who wish to do so," said Dr. John Sentamu, Archbishop of York. "Nadia Eweida's courage and commitment to her Lord is a challenge to us all that love and loyalty to Christ conquers in the end."

"It is a good principle to seek wherever possible to allow people to wear symbols or adornments that are of personal importance to them, whether they are religious in origin or not. In this sense, BA's change of policy may be viewed as positive, though there is no evidence that they were seeking to discriminate," said Simon Barrow, co–director of the UK Christian think–tank Ekklesia.

However he cautioned: "Nevertheless, the aggressive tenor of the campaign run by some Christian groups over issues like this is a cause for concern. To describe the outcome using a word like "conquer" seems to associate Jesus Christ with the coercive power of church institutions. For some of us that attitude is offensive and wrong. Christians need to pursue their concerns with courtesy and love, rather than steamrolling self–regard, if they are to be consistent with the Gospel message itself."

"Members of the different faith communities in the UK have a mutual respect for each other's symbols. The sight of a cross was never likely to offend anyone. In that context this is a sensible decision," a spokesman for the Church of Scotland said.

"We very much welcome this decision by British Airways. Freedom of religious expression is a pillar of any democracy and should be upheld at all times," Peter Kearney, of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said. "Also, it is to be hoped this decision marks the beginning of the end of thoughtless, politically–correct over–sensitivity on the part of employers and others."

"British Airways has at last seen sense. In a democracy people should be able to show the symbols of their religion, whether that be Christian, Muslim, Sikh or whatever," Teresa Smith of the Scottish Christian People's Alliance, said.

Civil rights group Liberty, which was one of the organizations that took part in the consultation, said BA's decision was "good news."

"We've yet to read the new policy in detail but our initial view is positive," Liberty director, Shami Chakrabarti, said.

The Transport & General Workers Union, which represented Miss Eweida at a hearing last year, has welcomed BA's statement.

"It appears to deal with all the issues raised in recent months. We will now study the details and consult further with our representatives at BA," a union spokesman said.