A Labor Department report released this week found that American Airlines purportedly docked attendance points and discouraged flight attendants from reporting work-related injuries and illnesses from toxic in-cabin fumes on its planes.
The airline is stridently disagreeing with the findings of the federal investigation.
“The safety of our team members and customers is always American’s top priority,” American Airlines asserted in a statement that was emailed to Fox Business. “We respectfully disagree with the investigator’s findings and have scheduled a conference with OSHA to further discuss the investigation.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed a laughable $6,837 in penalties following an August whistleblower investigation.
ICYMI: Following a whistleblower investigation, @OSHA_DOL found that @AmericanAir retaliated against flight attendants who reported worker illnesses caused by toxic fumes entering aircraft cabins. Read more: https://t.co/Og4nqCQdFp
— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) January 5, 2023
American Airlines retaliated against their workers for filing complaints about the illnesses they received from toxic fumes that entered aircraft cabins. The proposed fine for this labor violation is $6,837.
American Airlines took in a revenue of $13.5B last quarter alone.
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) January 5, 2023
Julie Hedrick, who is the national president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants that represents American Airlines’ 25,000 flight attendants, blasted the carrier in a statement for using a strict new attendance program to allegedly punish workers.
“The fact that American Airlines is assigning points that can lead to termination for lingering effects of toxic fume inhalation and other work-related injuries is unacceptable,” the association said, according to NBC News. “We are encouraged that OSHA has agreed with APFA and affected Flight Attendants.”
Absolutely criminal.
— rae rae [email protected] (@RaeMieA) January 5, 2023
“Our investigation found that the flight attendants engaged in protected activities when they reported illnesses related to jet fuel fumes seeping into the aircraft cabin,” OSHA Area Director Timothy Minor remarked while in Fort Worth, Texas, according to Fox Business. “Workers must feel empowered to inform managers and others about potential hazards that jeopardize workers’ safety and health.”
“Federal law protects workers’ rights to voice workplace safety and health concerns without the fear of retaliation,” he added. “When employers punish employees for doing so, they create a chilling effect that may stop workers from reporting future issues, putting their health and well-being, and that of co-workers, at risk.”
American Airlines was also another company that fired those not jabbed
— SparkyBru (@SparkyBru) January 7, 2023
American Airlines was given 15 days from the receipt of its citations and penalties to comply with the findings, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the report before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
The company was dragged on social media for the findings and for the teeny tiny fine over the fumes:
That doesn’t seem like enlightened management.
— Richard Aubrey (@RichardAubrey11) January 6, 2023
a whopping $7000 fine.
— Chris White (@ChrisWhitePE) January 6, 2023
If the COVID-1984 shot don’t get’em
The toxic fumes in the cabin WILL!!! pic.twitter.com/tuPKhQOdgh— MrSparex (@MrSparex) January 6, 2023
How did this make sense to them? Poison is poison …
— Wayne (@UnoTejano) January 6, 2023
Please tell me, that’s at least per person.
— DeadKeltheFrozen (@ksb1082) January 6, 2023
That fine is a joke to them and a slap in the face of the victims.
— Carlos Angritt (@GtrPlaynFool) January 6, 2023
yet they will pay $10k for someone to give up their seat?.. we need to just rethink everything we do… this entire planet is so off the rails right now.
— Derek “let’s say hypothetically I was high” Beland (@DerekCBeland) January 6, 2023
That seems like a finger wag.
— Rei Toei (@SparklePotion) January 5, 2023
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