Sea-Tac workers threaten to strike over safety concerns
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SEATTLE -- The men and women responsible for refueling airplanes at Sea-Tac Airport are threatening to strike over safety concerns.
The workers aren't in a union and say they won't take any action in the near future, but they do want their concerns addressed.
Alex Popescu says he was suspended from his refueling job after he tried to blow the whistle about safety concerns.
While he and his coworkers aren't members of a union, he said a majority of workers have voted to walk off their jobs in protest unless their employer implements new safety measures.
Popescu and a number of supporters recently marched to his employer's airport office to protest his suspension. He's one of 75 fuelers who work for Aircraft Services International Group, or ASIG, which is one of two companies that run the fuel trucks and pump carts used to refuel planes at Sea-Tac.
"(There's a) gear shifter on 5,000-gallon pumper truck that's being held up with electrical tape," Popescu said/
He claims he was suspended after nearly a year of alerting his bosses to a number of safety concerns.
"I believe (I was suspended) because I was a whistleblower and I'm concerned with not only my safety, the workers, but with the public," he said.
Popescu said workers are willing to strike, but he won't say when.
"In order to avoid action, they need to step up, do they right thing and fix these issues," he said.
A spokesman for the Port of Seattle said they haven't seen any official safety complaints from ASIG workers.
ASIG officials didn't respond to multiple calls for comment on the story.
The workers aren't in a union and say they won't take any action in the near future, but they do want their concerns addressed.
Alex Popescu says he was suspended from his refueling job after he tried to blow the whistle about safety concerns.
While he and his coworkers aren't members of a union, he said a majority of workers have voted to walk off their jobs in protest unless their employer implements new safety measures.
Popescu and a number of supporters recently marched to his employer's airport office to protest his suspension. He's one of 75 fuelers who work for Aircraft Services International Group, or ASIG, which is one of two companies that run the fuel trucks and pump carts used to refuel planes at Sea-Tac.
"(There's a) gear shifter on 5,000-gallon pumper truck that's being held up with electrical tape," Popescu said/
He claims he was suspended after nearly a year of alerting his bosses to a number of safety concerns.
"I believe (I was suspended) because I was a whistleblower and I'm concerned with not only my safety, the workers, but with the public," he said.
Popescu said workers are willing to strike, but he won't say when.
"In order to avoid action, they need to step up, do they right thing and fix these issues," he said.
A spokesman for the Port of Seattle said they haven't seen any official safety complaints from ASIG workers.
ASIG officials didn't respond to multiple calls for comment on the story.
First step should be to contact the Washington state department of Labor and Industries. There is protection under the law. RCW 49.17.160, protects employees or representatives filing safety and/or health complaints, against discriminatory actions by an employer. The process was not followed. To threaten to strike without representation will not end well.
When I read the headline, I immediately thought,"Oh boy, it's the old, 'It's not about money' union ploy."
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Turns out they weren't Union workers. And they seem to be concerned about safety. Well, good on ya' Â Non-Union Brothers and Sisters!
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What I don't get is why one of their signs says something about fairness. Wonder what that's about?
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I don't suppose that... nah. Couldn't be. Not a purple and gold shirt in sight.
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I think "fairness" is a fall-back phrase when they have nothing more to add. I'm all for increased safety standards on high-hazard jobs and am glad to see this isn't just a play for more money.