** MEDIA ADVISORY FOR OCTOBER 17, 2012 ***Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington: sage@workingwa.org
Workers offer specific documentation of safety issues they have raised
For months Sea-Tac fuelers have raised concerns about soft breaks, 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 has opted to retaliate against workers and take its own employees to court in an attempt to deny their rights. Today, US District Judge Robart will hear arguments on these workers' right to strike over safety & fairness issues. Specific documentation of safety issues raised by workers is available online here.
When: TODAY: Wednesday, October 17th at 9 am. Sea-Tac fuelers will be available outside the courthouse beginning at 8:45 am to offer comment on the serious safety issues they face and offer documentation of their concerns — please call to arrange an interview.
Where: U.S. Courthouse, 700 Stewart St. in downtown Seattle. Judge Robart’s courtroom is on the 14th floor
What: Federal Court hearing on Sea-Tac fuelers right to strike for safety & fairness.
More information:
Documentation of safety issues is available online here, 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
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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