Dozens of safety leaders across the TWU’s Air Division recently gathered for a critical discussion of safety issues – an event that was sparked by discussions between locals about the importance of sharing safety information across workgroups.
The first ever TWU Air Division safety summit was held at Local 513 headquarters in Southlake, Texas with more than 70 attendees including local presidents, officers holding safety-related positions, TWU staff, and outside speakers.
“We managed to finally get the people in place and have the opportunity to hold such a great event,” said TWU Air Division Director Andre Sutton. “The events served to build stronger unity and relationships within the different workgroups. I’d like to thank all of the locals who attended the safety summit.”
Speakers touched on topics including professional standards, pushout safety, ramp safety, toxic fume events on aircraft, and an update on political and legislative affairs. The biggest purpose of the meeting was to get different workgroups in the room together to have them learn from each other. During one discussion, different TWU locals discussed different strategies they use to promote workplace safety and accountability from the bosses.
“We made it clear to the locals that they have the full support of the TWU behind them when it comes to safety issues,” said Assistant Organizing Director Sean Doyle, who was involved in putting together the daylong meeting of 18 locals. “Whether you are a Flight Attendant, Ramp Worker, Dispatcher, Flight Instructor, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, or a Fueler, there are many things we can learn from each other to keep our workplace safer for our members and the traveling public.”
Ramp Workers discussed the various dangers of working with tow bars while Flight Attendants discussed the dangerous toxic fumes that can make workers sick. In each case, the different workgroups weren’t fully aware of the issues facing other airline workers until they sat down together to talk about it.
TWU Local 555 Safety and Health Committee Co-Chair Karl Mager talked about the complexity of ensuring safe operations at a busy airport. He brought up the dangers of severe weather on the ramp and said sometimes pilots become upset at ramp crews for not being outside during a storm.
“We know the dangers of lightning on aircraft runways, but sometimes the aircraft is at the gate and the pilot says ‘Why isn’t the crew out there?’” Mager said, adding the example is why getting different workgroups from the air industry together to talk about safety issues is so important.
Jay Sleeman, Ground Safety Director and Tech Ops for Local 513, Bill Ainsworth, Safety Director at Local 513, and Karen Koziatek, Air Division Administrative Professional, were all also involved in planning the safety summit.
The unified safety meeting was further evidence of the TWU’s strength as the nation’s largest airport workers union – and recent organizing victories for Shuttle Bus Drivers, Fuelers, Dispatchers, and Flight Instructors means the next safety meeting will be even larger.
