Unite: Airlines must stop buck passing and take immediate action on toxic air
Tuesday, 25 February 2020 12:20
Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, which represents
thousands of cabin crew, is demanding airlines take immediate
action to stop aerotoxic fume events occurring during flights.
Unite, which is taking several major airlines to court as a result
of members suffering severe health effects due to being exposed to
toxic air, made the call after the dangers to pilots and cabin crew
were highlighted in a File on Four programme which is aired at
20:00 on Tuesday 25 February. Unite...Request free trial
Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, which represents
thousands of cabin crew, is demanding airlines take immediate
action to stop aerotoxic fume events occurring during flights.
Unite, which is taking several major
airlines to court as a result of members suffering severe health
effects due to being exposed to toxic air, made the call after the
dangers to pilots and cabin crew were highlighted in
a File
on Four programme which is aired at 20:00 on Tuesday 25
February.
Unite has a growing number of members,
employed by airlines, whose health has been damaged to varying
degrees as a result of being frequently exposed to toxic air during
fume events on flights.
The ground breaking legal action Unite is
taking on their behalf is expected to be heard in the high court in
2021.
Unite has got over 200 cases, which are at
various legal stages and cover eight
airlines.
Unite assistant general secretary for legal
services Howard Beckett said: “The airlines have got
to stop buck passing and take immediate measures to stop toxic air
flooding into cabins and
cockpits.
“Airline staff are having their
health damaged by being exposed to fume events and many have been
forced out of the industry as a
result.
“These injuries can result in
life changing neurological symptoms with immunity systems
irreparably damaged. In extreme cases these poisonous toxins have
been found in staff post
mortem.
“While Unite has launched legal
action this can’t be the end of the matter. Airlines have to take
responsibility for the health and wellbeing of their staff and
customers and install filters and other measures to prevent future
fume events with immediate
effect.”
Unite is holding a health and safety
conference for members who have been affected and are concerned
about the effects of toxic air. It is anticipated that the
conference will be a launchpad for the next stages of the
campaign.
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