A group composed of elected officials, PrimeFlight Newark airport workers and other supporters took to PrimeFlight’s offices to call for better working conditions for its employees.
At Newark International Airport, the group cited a recent OSHA investigation that revealed hazardous and life-threatening working conditions for workers there and at LaGuardia Airport.
“Nearly all of the proposed citations concerned violations deemed ‘serious’ by OSHA investigators,” stated Kevin Brown, 32BJ vice president and New Jersey director. “This is unacceptable. PrimeFlight is raking in profits while its employees are facing dangerous and in some cases life-threatening conditions here in New Jersey. PrimeFlight has a legal and moral responsibility to ensure the safety of its employees.”
Workers, elected officials and clergymen want PrimeFlight officials to sit down with them to remedy the situation. OSHA’s proposed citations for PrimeFlight (for its Newark violations) include a fine of $30,000.
PrimeFlight, a subcontractor for United Airlines, has 4,500 employees at 40 airport across the country and in the Caribbean. Some of the OSHA proposed citations included potential exposure to blood borne pathogens, safety problems with the vans used to transport workers (missing seat belts, steering issues, doors that jam or open while vehicles are being driven) and failure to provide life trucks with protections to keep workers from falling to the concrete below. OSHA said it’s “likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.”
“Airport workers like me are on the front lines. We keep the airports moving, thriving and profitable,” said Newark PrimeFlight cabin cleaner America Hernandez in a statement. “All we ask in return is to be valued, protected and have the tools and equipment we need to do our job safely.”
Workers knocked on the office door of PrimeFlight, but no one came out to talk to them. Workers also want PrimeFlight to turn over their safety logs to employees so they can make sure all worker injuries were recorded properly.
“PrimeFlight Newark airport workers who clean United Airlines planes shouldn’t have to endure unsafe working conditions,” stated Senator Raymond Lesniak, who represents New Jersey’s 20th Legislative District. “OSHA’s investigation should serve as a wake-up call to United Airlines that it needs to hire responsible contractors.”
