CWAers Show Solidarity in Wake of Worker Death

Two weeks ago, members and elected officials from CWA Locals 3645 and 3641 demonstrated their solidarity alongside SEIU 32BJ union siblings at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Members of SEIU 32BJ went out on a 24-hour strike on October 14 after the September 17 death of colleague Colleen Coates. According to her coworkers, Coates had complained of not feeling well for multiple days before collapsing on the jet bridge, possibly due to heat stress. Despite first-aid attempts, Coates could not be resuscitated.

SEIU 32BJ members at CLT are employed by ABM Industries, a facilities management company. Despite repeated attempts by workers, management has refused to acknowledge a signed petition detailing the workers’ demands.

Workers cited low pay, unclear paid time off policies, and inadequate workplace safety measures as reasons for the 24-hour work stoppage.

CWA passenger service members have been demanding these same kinds of provisions from American Airlines and Piedmont Airlines. CWA Local 3641 President Rebecca Brown has been heavily engaged in this fight, as well as CWA Local 3645 President Donielle Prophete.

Members of both CWA and SEIU 32BJ plan to keep the memories of their fallen coworkers alive through their fights for better pay and safer working conditions.

 
Members of both SEIU 32BJ and CWA plan to wear pins featuring Colleen Coates in protest of the unsafe working conditions that contributed to her passing. Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and colleagues left to mourn her.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.