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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| Ebola fears cause airport workers to walk out in New York |
| 2014-10-09 |
| [WAPO] Fearful of exposure to Ebola, about 200 of the people who clean airplane cabins walked off the job overnight at LaGuardia International Airport. The walkout came a day after health and safety experts from the Service Employees International Union, which represents many unionized airport employees, raised concerns over whether cabin cleaners were being adequately protected. “As a physician I know first-hand that it takes a team of people and proper protocols to safeguard against the spread of Ebola and other infectious diseases,” said L. Toni Lewis of the SEIU. “It’s people on the front line, like cabin cleaners, who are the first line of defense against protecting the general public from contamination. SEIU is proud to step up to provide this essential education and training.” The union said its members need to be better prepared to deal with the threat. “This workforce needs effective training – and it needs to happen now,” said Mark Catlin, also of the SEIU. “While employers – the contractors who hire airplane cabin cleaners – have primary responsibility for training their workers, SEIU is hosting tomorrow’s briefing to ensure our members are prepared. It’s imperative that a crisis situation won’t be the first time they’ve seen the required equipment.” |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #1 If this idea gets any traction, the whole US comm aviation system could be brought to a crawl, if not a stop. For once I have to agree with this union; these cleaners do not have the training nor the protection, even if the risk is not 50%; and I cannot see management soiling their hands to clean the birds. And pax would revolt if they were hustled onto a dirty plane trying to make the advertised turn around time. I think this should be encouraged; might get somebody's attention. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2014-10-09 21:55 |