Fri, May 01, 2009
NTEU's Kelley Calls for Immediate Guidance Permitting Employees
to Wear Protective Masks
OK... it may be too easy to draw a
number of allusions to others associated with the wearing of
masks... but a union leader seems to think that TSA workers are at
risk in meeting the public face-to-face. And, well, she wants them
to be masked... which might make your next pat-down a truly surreal
affair.
The ever-vociferous NTEU President, Colleen M. Kelley, has
called upon the Department of Homeland Security to 'make good on
its word' and issue guidance to permit workers to wear masks
helping protect them from contracting swine flu in the performance
of their duties. "Local managers are refusing to allow employees to
wear protective gear and that is unnecessarily putting them at
risk," said Kelley. "Employees want, need-and deserve-the immediate
right to protect their health, if they choose."
Further, Kelley complained that she has been receiving reports from
its chapters at ports of entry around the country that employees
are being told by local managers they cannot wear the masks and
employees who have donned masks have been ordered by some
supervisors to remove them. In discussions with CBP and DHS earlier
this week, NTEU claims to have pressed for CBP and TSA employees to
have the right to wear masks and gloves, and "to have frequent
breaks" so they may wash their hands. NTEU also made the point that
some employees may be particularly at risk because of certain
health conditions that make them susceptible to viruses.
To date, employees have reportedly been told to follow guidance
issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) and that they should maintain a distance
of at least six feet between themselves and someone who appears to
be ill. However, NTEU argues that this advice is impractical for
CBP Officers and TSA employees performing a variety of their
routine work tasks. TSOs are involved in 'wanding' passengers,
engaging in pat-down searches or checking boarding passes.
Likewise, CBP Officers frequently work in close contact with
travelers, checking documents and baggage. Those officers, in fact,
are constantly clearing airport, vehicle and pedestrian traffic
from Mexico.
"If employees want to wear masks, they should be allowed to," said
Kelley. "These employees are in high risk situations and should be
allowed to protect themselves."
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