Airplane cabin cleaning crews use Ebola scare as reason to strike, seeking union

Airplane cabin cleaning crews at New York’s LaGuardia International Airport began a strike, citing, in part, possible exposure to the Ebola virus.

Around 200 Air Serv employees who work on domestic flights to LaGuardia began their strike, seeking to unionize, as they said health and safety issues on the job – including exposure to blood, feces, and vomit without protective gear – are the main reasons.

Representatives noted that there is also concern about possible exposure to the Ebola virus, which claimed its first victim in the United States on Wednesday.

“The whole country is shivering, worried about the problems of Ebola,” said Hector Figueroa, President of 32BJ Service Employees International Union,accordingto CBS New York.

“Airport workers are on the front line of protecting the public, to protect the public we have to protect the workers.”

airserv worker speaking out against unsafe working conditions #strikeairports#povertydoesntflypic.twitter.com/AcYxVfW44q

— NY United (@1nyunited) October 9, 2014

Cabin cleaners per plane at LaGuardia have been reduced by up to half, and the time to clean planes has been cut down to as little as five minutes, workers said, as reported by CBS New York.

“These workers are essentially treated like the garbage that they have to handle every day,” Figueroa said. “They’re given no equipment, no tools, no training that is appropriate for the kind of challenges that we need for our airport to be safe for passengers and workers alike.”

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Image/CDC