Sep 12, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, Featured, Hawaiian, Home, Philippine, Safety, Spirit, United, Video
The 2019 IAM Joint Air Transport Safety Committee Conference was held at the William Winpisinger Education Center in Hollywood, Maryland. IAM safety advocates from District 140, District 141 and District 142 were joined by management safety officials from companies where workers are represented by our union. Conference attendees participated in group discussions and hands-on seminars where they shared ways to improve safety policies and procedures, how to mitigate workplace hazards and how to promote a comprehensive safety culture. They also enjoyed a presentation by professional race car driver Andy Pilgrim, founder of the Traffic Safety Education Foundation, who is passionate about promoting safety and combating distracted driving.
District Lodge 141 will feature highlights from the JATSC Conference, including Pilgrim’s presentation, at the upcoming District Safety Conference in October. More information and video presentations coming soon.![]()
Sep 10, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, Hawaiian, Home, Philippine, Safety, Spirit, United, Video
Sep 6, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, Featured, Home, Organizing, Safety, The Association
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Aug 21, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, Hawaiian, Home, Philippine, Safety, Spirit, United
The summer weather brings many challenges for airline workers, with specific risks for those who work outside. Intense sun, heat, humidity, heavy rain, and lightning storms are just some hazards that must be considered and respected to protect their own, their co-workers’ and their passengers’ safety. But inclement weather is only one of the many dangers that ramp workers face every day.
Last week, two airline ramp workers lost their lives while performing their duties.
On Sunday night, Kendrick Darrell Hudson was killed when the tug he was driving on the ramp at Douglas Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT) flipped over and pinned him underneath. Hudson was transporting baggage through an area that some workers described as poorly lit , and a police report states that the vehicle he was driving swerved to avoid hitting a piece of luggage lying on the ground. CLT is in the midst of a $2.5 Billion capital building project , and the ongoing construction work at times changes the flow of traffic and the lighting in some areas, according to IAM members there. Hudson, age 24, was an employee of Piedmont Airlines, a regional carrier and a subsidiary of American Airlines. Piedmont Airlines ramp workers in CLT are represented by CWA Local 3635. In a message to members, the local president said the union is working to support Hudson’s family and is taking part in the accident’s investigation.
Kendrick Hudson in a Facebook photo. He was killed in an accident at Charlotte Douglas Airport on August 11, 2019.
On Wednesday afternoon, Charlie Mohammed, a 19-year veteran of Delta Air Lines was meeting an arriving aircraft at JFK Airport in New York as part of a 2-man crew. While he was at the tail of the airplane hooking up a bag cart to a tug, it appears that the tug rolled unexpectedly, pinning him underneath . Not visible to his Delta co-worker, he was initially found by a fueler who alerted co-workers and called the emergency. Ramp workers rushed to his aid and had to use a forklift to remove the tug. Charlie “Mo” was taken to the hospital where he later died. Delta Air Lines ramp workers are not represented by a union and are currently organizing to join the IAM. Organizers are offering IAM resources to Delta workers to assist them with their shock and grief. IAM Local 1894 hosted an open house this week and had District Lodge 141 EAP Representatives available to speak with workers and offer support.
It is estimated that between 4 and 6 airport ramp workers die on the job each year, but exact numbers are difficult to find because accidents are investigated by different government agencies depending on the circumstances. The Federal Aviation Administration investigates incidents on runways and taxiways, while incidents near the gates controlled by the airlines and airport authorities are investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration . Because ramp accidents occur on the ground, they are not considered aviation accidents, but rather industrial accidents. Accidents on the ramp cost major airlines over $10 Billion per year worldwide, according to the Flight Safety Foundation, an industry group.
Charlie Mohammed, a Delta worker at JFK died on the job on August 14, 2019. Photo credit: Moises Cruz
Airline ramp workers navigate hazardous environments daily, in congested areas with lots of motorized and pedestrian traffic. They face immense time pressures to achieve quick aircraft turnarounds and work alongside diverse airport workers in fueling, catering, cleaning, and security. Many of these functions are outsourced to vendors who may not prioritize safety as unionized airline workers do.
The District 141 Ground and Flight Safety Committee is tasked with promoting a safety culture within our members at every airline. The importance of using the tools at our disposal, such as GSAP to report safety issues no matter where they are or which workers they immediately affect cannot be stressed enough. Alertness and effective communication between all workers is a key factor in maintaining a safe work environment. In our shared workspaces, we must remain vigilant and take proactive steps to ensure we all return to our families and loved ones at the end of our workday.
Think Safety, Work Safely. Every Day.
Fraternally,
Michael G. Klemm
President & Directing General Chairman
IAMAW District Lodge 141
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May 24, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, Home, Safety
This week marks the 40th anniversary of one of the darkest days in the history of American aviation.
On May 25th, 1979, American Airlines flight 191 crashed just outside of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, killing 272 people.
To this day, the crash of American Airlines flight 191 remains the deadliest aviation accident in US history.
The McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 assigned to service flight 191 had recently undergone upgrades to its engines at a facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
To save money, American Airlines executives ignored safety recommendations from the aircraft manufacturer and insisted on taking several shortcuts to the procedure.
Mechanics and inspectors who warned executives of the dangers of taking the safety shortcuts were threatened with lawsuits or terminations.
Unknown to the 13 crewmembers and 258 passengers that boarded the plane just before 3:00 PM on May 25th, the left engine had suffered fatal stress fractures during the engine removal and reattachment.
As a result of unseen damage caused during the rushed maintenance work, the left engine tore free from the wing, causing the massive DC-10 to begin an uncontrollable roll towards Touhy Avenue, just outside of the airport.
The plane fell from a height of about 300 feet, crashing in an open field near a mobile home park. Everyone on board died instantly. Two people on the ground also perished in the incident, and several more suffered terrible burns. The FAA grounded the entire DC-10 fleet for two months while conducting investigations into the causes of the crash.
This year, American Airlines executives announced plans to outsource future heavy maintenance to non-union facilities overseas. The move has sparked renewed outcries from mechanics and fleet service workers, who worry that safety practices may once again become impossible to properly review.
This has set up a new showdown between safety advocates at the airline on one side and executives who want to save money for shareholders on the other.
A few witnesses were able to capture images of the tragedy. The photos provided valuable clues for investigators, and continue to serve as a haunting reminder of the importance of airline safety.
A terrifying series of images were captured of the 31 seconds that the aircraft was aloft. Two of the images show the DC-10 as it completes its deadly roll, wings past the vertical position and smoke billowing from its ruined left wing.
The photos have since become iconic; a haunting reminder of the importance of airline safety.
For Tony D’Aloisio, a District 141 Safety Director for the Machinists Union, that tragedy has become a stark reminder of who should win a contest of wills between safety-minded fleet service workers and managers looking to take potentially unsafe shortcuts:
“Our families are on those planes.”
“We are employees at this airline, which means that a lot of our sisters and brothers are working those flights,” D’Aloisio said. “But, we are also one of the largest, if not the largest, group of passengers and frequent flyers that this airline has.”
“If protecting our passengers wasn’t already enough of a reason to do what’s right… remember that we are also protecting our families and our coworkers when we demand high safety standards.”
According to a representative of the Des Plaines Park Service, one of the agencies that helps maintain the Flight 191 Memorial, the anniversary will be marked at 3:04 PM on Saturday, May 25th, the exact minute that the crash occurred.
The service will begin at 2:00 PM at the memorial to the victims of the crash, located at 1201 E Touhy Ave, Des Plaines, IL. Families of victims and members of the public are invited to attend.
Families often travel together. Many of the names of the victims of the crash of American Airlines Flight 191 have the same surnames; a heartbreaking reminder of this wrenching aspect of the disaster.
The parkland that surrounds the memorial includes a small grove of trees that stand in memory of those lost on Flight 191.
Marilyn is one of the volunteers that helps keep the gardens at the Flight 191 Memorial in Chicago. She explains how her husband, who worked as a Maintenance Supervisor for American Airlines in 1979, was dispatched to the crash site. Marilyn worked for American Airlines for 41 years, and has been retired for 21. She has helped care for the grounds surrounding the memorial for the past six years.
Apr 3, 2019 | Airlines, American, Departments, Home, Safety
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The incident was included in the findings of a recently published union safety study
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The study by UnionSafe 141 recorded and tracked more than 15 thousand safety issues
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The findings come as American Airlines is under pressure by the FAA and Mechanics for pressuring employees to overlook safety concerns
A water truck that slammed into a parked American Airlines plane in January had a long history of malfunctioning, according to a safety report just released.
While servicing an American Airlines aircraft bound for Raleigh Durham, a water truck suddenly lurched into gear and lodged itself under an Airbus A320, causing the plane to be removed from service. No passengers were on board the aircraft, and no one was injured in the incident.
This week, new data is suggesting that the vehicle had a troubled history.
According to a comprehensive safety audit conducted by the Machinists Union in Philadelphia, the vehicle had been removed from service by fleet service workers at least nine times over the past year.
The truck’s safety reports included complaints about the vehicle’s transmission and brakes. Despite these mechanical issues, managers demanded the truck be returned to service without first undergoing critical safety checks.
“This is just one incident like this that we’ve recorded,” said Dennis Spencer, the PHL Fleet Service Agent and Union Safety Advocate who co-authored the report. “Our mechanics do a great job; they are literally the best in the industry. That’s not where the fault lies.”
American Airlines executives and managers are under fire for recent attempts to outsource the work of fleet service agents who perform safety audits at the airline, and for pressuring mechanics to rush inspections and repairs.
In a shocking report conducted by CBS News, 26 Mechanics at American Airlines came forward to report unethical and potentially dangerous pressure from management to look the other way when they encounter safety issues – to get the planes and equipment back into service faster.
The study by CBS News largely agrees with the findings of the Machinists Union, which systematically tracks and monitors safety issues at American Airlines in an annual report called the “Safety System Annual Report.” The study offers a comprehensive overview of thousands of safety reports filed throughout the year by airline employees.
The annual report is conducted as part of UnionSafe141, a safety program that began at PHL airport and has expanded to more than a dozen major airports around the nation. The UnionSafe141 program is carried out by fleet service workers at American. More information about the program can be found at UnionSafe141.org.
The report meticulously logged and tracked more than 15 thousand safety issues over the past year, including broken and worn-out airport equipment, injuries and other mishaps.
“I want to reassure members of the flying public; we take their safety seriously out here,” Spencer said. “Let’s be clear; we are in an era of aviation safety that’s equal to none. Our fleet service agents are some of the most capable airplane inspectors on the planet. We have a great record, and we’re committed to maintaining the high standards that we’ve set for ourselves.”
“What this incident shows is that everyone that works directly on these planes should be well-trained and committed. These jobs cannot be safely outsourced, as executives want to do.” Spencer said. “Usually, we work well with management when it comes to safety, that’s a source of pride for us. We put any adversarial relationships between our union and management aside in the name of keeping this airline safe. That’s a big part of why we’ve been as successful as we have been in terms of protecting safety. But, when managers start trying to force us to cut corners… that’s when we need to have some uncomfortable conversations.”
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