Workers release documentation of serious safety & fairness issues
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - OCTOBER 17, 2012 *** Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington: sage@workingwa.org
SEATTLE - A Federal Court judge today heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by a low-wage airport contractor called ASIG against its own employees, who are responsible for safety fueling 75% of the flights at Sea-Tac. A decision on these workers' right to act together for safety & fairness is expected in 24 - 48 hours.
For months Sea-Tac fuelers have raised concerns about soft brakes, leaking fuel nozzles, and other hazardous working conditions. They have brought these issues to their managers at ASIG, the company that employs the fuelers; to the Port of Seattle, the public agency which oversees our airport; and to Alaska Airlines, the largest carrier which hires ASIG to fuel its planes.
But instead of fixing faulty trucks, broken ladders, and leaking fuel nozzles, this multi-national corporation opted to retaliate against workers and take its own employees to court in an attempt to deny their rights. The legal arguments in court today focused on whether or not the employer will be permitted to continue denying these workers their right to act together for safety & fairness.
Workers also released specific documentation of serious safety & fairness issues, including:
- Exhibit A - Hose on stationary cart continues to leak fuel, 10/9/2012
- Exhibit B - No latch on fuel nozzles; uniforms soiled with fuel, 10/6/2012
- Exhibit C - Non-functioning safety equipment on truck, 10/6/21012
- Exhibit D - Faulty fuel truck brakes, 10/5/2012
- Exhibit E - Broken trucks taken out of service prior to FAA inspection, 10/4/2012
- Exhibit F - Fuel pressure too high; no eye-wash station available, 9/18/2012
- Exhibit G - Small electrical fire started on 5,000-gallon tank truck, early 2012
A packet of documentation is available online at the link below:
http://bit.ly/safetyviolations
Aircraft fuelers are among the thousands of poverty-wage workers at our airport. Together, they are speaking out to make sure every job at our airport is a good job — one that offers a safe & healthy working environment, and a fair shot at a better future. For the latest information, visit itsourairport.org
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