Air Traffic Control Manager Prohibits Kilt

[Riverkilt]

Geez R,

Kilts is the most comfy thing for a man to wear while seated...you'd think it would improve performance and maybe save lives. Don't you just hate the anal rule bound folks?

Anyhow, here's a good idea from the Utilikilts Newsletter back in November of 2004.

http://www.utilikilts.com/news/archi...4-11/index.htm


Utilikilts serve a special niche for me: in 1988 (if memory serves) for our first Tartan Day, I wore my regular kilt to work as an Admissions Counselor at the University of California, Davis. Not only was it our first Congressionally chartered Tartan Day, but it was also the start of UC Davis' "Diversity Week", along with a function we call Welcome Week, where prospective students and their parents can tour the campus, and get a feel for the University.
I had an 8am presentation to high school students at our law school, and when I returned to my office, our assistant director stopped in and told me that wearing a kilt to work was "inappropriate", and that I needed to remove it or be sent home. I told him to put it in writing, which he did, via e-mail. I sent his e-mail to our national membership chairperson (I'm a regional commissioner for the MacDonalds), and within 24 hours, I was getting a ton of supportive e-mails from all over the world.
It strikes me as odd that a university which claims it supports diversity and abhors discrimination of all types would take this stance. Perhaps I wasn't "PC" enough for them. This stupidity ended about a week and a half later when Stuart Morrison, a retired appelate court justice and former High Commissioner for the Clan Morrison, offered to represent me in a lawsuit where the university would be called to task for three separate civil rights violations. They caved immediately, and within an hour of receiving my copy of the e-mail from Stuart (another went to our chancellor's office and the University President's office in Berkeley, I had a hand delivered letter of apology. Now, I wear my kilts any time I feel like it!
Thanks for making such a wonderful product. I can't imagine life without my Utilikilt-Scottish Levi's!!
Yours,
Jerry Griffin


Don't know if it'd work for the Feds though...

Ron

[Scott Gilmore]

... in 1988 (if memory serves) for our first Tartan Day, I wore my regular kilt to work as ... told me that wearing a kilt to work was "inappropriate", and that I needed to remove it or be sent home. I told him to put it in writing, which he did, via e-mail. I sent his e-mail to our national membership chairperson (I'm a regional commissioner for the MacDonalds), and within 24 hours, I was getting a ton of supportive e-mails from all over the world.

Hmmm ... let's hope memory doesn't serve or that there is some other explanation. To my knowledge, in 1988 e-mail as we know it now simply didn't exist. While it's true that e-mail actually predates the Internet (rudimentary versions of this type of communication existed as far back as the early sixties, but outside of the military and closed academic environments, e-mail was rare at best), it certainly wasn't in common use until the early nineties.

"... and within 24 hours, I was getting a ton of supportive e-mails from all over the world."

In 1988, vastly different and incompatible systems were in place. The development of protocols and standards that made e-mail feasible for broad based use took place in the nineties, not in the eighties.

The story above suggests that an international e-mail campaign served to pressure the narrow-minded administrators to change their tune. I hope that it is true that pressure was brought to bear and that the author simply confused his dates, OR that there is some other simple explanation. I'd very much like to believe that story.

Regards,
Scott Gilmore

[O'Neille]

Scott, you are one stinking smart (and observant) dude. You're right of course. UC Davis may have had an internal e-mail system, but the worldwide response is doubtful. Faxes on crinkly thermal paper is more in tune w/ '88. O'Neille

[McClef]

Being permitted or not to wear a kilt at work is a general problem not limited to any particular profession.

Clearly when there is a uniform code then individual choice is removed but at least the rules are applied equally.

When the rules are more general then you will get variations in how the dress code is applied and it's often discriminatory and often down to the discretion (or rather lack of it) of local management. It is always easier for women to get away with not wearing a tie and wearing trousers than it is for a man not to wear a tie and not wear trousers.

Many organisations have "dress down" days every month, with a small donation made for charity which can allow people to vent their full individuality.

I once had a part-time job in a pub in Bristol. My first manager was happy for me to be kilted behind the bar and in fact begged me to work one new year's wearing it.

He left for another pub and I went to work one friday night kilted only to be told by the new manager that I was "unacceptably dressed" and was told to go home and change or take the night off - I took the night off and left the job shortly after.

[cessna152towser]

The local airport which I fly from here in Briatin is currently recruiting ATCO's. I don't think you'd have a problem with wearing a kilt on duty as a civilian ATCO in Britain. Most civilian control towers and radar stations which I have visited whether privately run or government run, the staff have been dressed casually. The only place there is a strict dress code is on military ATC stations where staff are always in uniform. It sounds like the US government runs their ATC as a military style operation; while this does sound unduly restrictive of staff rights to dress comfortably, it is perhaps an understandable attitude in light of terrorist threats to civil aviation. By the way, welcome to the forum.

[NewKilt]

It sounds to me like the "business casual" dress code that the FAA has instituted is written such that your immediate manager has rather broad authority in interpreting and enforcing the code. You could attempt to educate your manager about the kilt being an acceptable article or clothing that meets the requirement for "business casual," You could point out other government agencies that do allow men to wear a kilt.

If this does not change your manager's opinion, then as another poster had mentioned, you might be able to get some help from your union. Another possibility might be to contact your congressman. But however you would elect to pursue this, in my opinion I would keep your manager informed. Your manager may not agree that the kilt is appropriate attire, but he/she should respect that fact that you are keeping them in the loop so that there are no unpleasant surprises later. Who knows, this alone might get you in the door with your manager saying, "ok, lets give it a try and see how it goes."

Darrell

[Riverkilt]

Aye detective,

Wondered about that myself. I've just figured either it was a bad memory, or a typo by whoever composed the newsletter.

The detail of the events seems real enough to me, whatever the time actually was.

The moves to stand up for freedom in a free country sure seem to be an option available to any kiltwearer.

Ron

[Sir Robert]

Really seriously dude, do go and get a new job. At some point you just have to say screw the US Government. It is so PC (for some) while dumping on others.

Wearing a kilt for me is not a bit different from wearing any other clothes. Until some Government puke make it an issue, then it becomes a Civil Rights issue.

[Sir Robert]

Really seriously dude, do go and get a new job. At some point you just have to say screw the US Government. It is so PC (for some) while dumping on others.

Wearing a kilt for me is not a bit different from wearing any other clothes. Until some Government puke make it an issue, then it becomes a Civil Rights issue.

Are you in a Union? Make it a greavance.

[mudd]

To my knowledge, in 1988 e-mail as we know it now simply didn't exist.

I've been using e-mail and posting on international chat groups since 1987.