Sir Dick heads to his comeuppance

Flight attendants asked to sing and dance during job 
interviews to demonstrate their "Virgin Flair" are taking the 
airline to the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Board.

The group of eight attendants, some experienced ex-Ansett 
employees, argue they were rejected by Virgin Blue because they 
were "too old". 

The applicants, aged 36 to 56, say the 2001 interview process was 
little more than a meat market.

The Sir Richard Branson-owned Virgin has been criticised for its 
"sexist" marketing practices that often feature media stunts 
involving Branson and young female flight attendants. In one such 
incident Branson sprayed their t-shirts with champagne.

In 2001 the airline denied claims by the Flight Attendants 
Association that it had asked female flight attendants to wear G-
strings after the union fielded complaints.

The union's Darryl Watkins says age should not be a barrier for 
flight attendants if they know emergency procedures and provide 
good service.

"We encourage all airlines to recruit regardless of age and to 
recognise the need for progressive policies such as part-time 
work and workplace flexibility", he says.

In their job interviews the applicants are asked to show they 
have the "Virgin flair" by singing or dancing. One former Ansett 
employee, Carol Dowling, put it this way when comparing a Qantas 
job interview with Sir Dick's sexploitation: "They [Qantas] were 
extremely professional and they asked me things that were 
extremely relevant. It took five hours and they didn't ask me to 
sing or dance."