New York airline workers walk out citing Ebola fears
New York airline workers have staged a one-day walk-out citing inadequate protection against the Ebola virus.
About 200 airplane cleaners downed tools Thursday and marched outside La Guardia’s Terminal D to highlight concern over lack of protective equipment such as body suits, and specialized training.
The cleaners work for Air Serv, a Delta Air Lines contractor.
"The workers are really worried because they tend to be exposed to bodily fluids," said Amity Paye, a spokeswoman for the Service Employees International Union, which is seeking to represent the workers.
The walk-out was planned before the intense scrutiny on Ebola in the US, however the union maintains the issue was always about unsafe working conditions exposing workers to potential hazards.
Air Serv said it had updated workers last week on Ebola protocols.
"Air Serv trains its cabin cleaners in its long-standing safety procedures and cleaning protocols including for blood-borne pathogens," said Chas Strong, a spokesman for Air Serv.
This weekend officials will begin checking passengers originating from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia at New York’s JFK airport, and will expand the program next week to Washington Dulles, Newark Liberty, Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta Hartsfield.
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