ALASKA AIR GROUP HAS FAILED TO PROTECT ITS ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES AT SEATAC INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

THIS PETITION IS TO REQUIRE ALASKA AIRLINES (ALASKA AIR GROUP) TO INSTALL PLEXI GLASS PARTITIONS/SNEEZE GUARDS AT ALL GUEST FACING PODIUMS AND WORKSTATIONS AND IN SPACES IN WHICH ADEQUATE SOCIAL DISTANCE MAY NOT BE FEASIBLE OR EASILY ESTABLISHED AT SEATAC INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. 

THESE PARTITIONS/SNEEZE GUARDS ARE FOUND IN NEARLY EVERY RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT, AT TSA AGENT PODIUMS, AND AT MANY OTHER AIRLINES TICKET COUNTERS AT SEATAC INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

According to the internal employee website as of 10:45pm July 6th, 2020, AIR GROUP (Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air) have reported 137 positive COVID19 cases. "The company notifies all employees who were in prolonged, close proximity with symptomatic, confirmed COVID-19 positive employees (defined as being within 6 feet for more than 5 continuous minutes)." 

CSAs at SeaTac Airport are at constant risk of exposure to COVID19. CSAs were not permitted to wear face masks until March 27th, 2020. And they were not made required for employees until May 4th. CSA's are not permitted to wear face shields at work at this time. Often, there are no cleaning supplies offered at the gates and limited access to hand sanitizer, along with minimal, if any, means of enforcing social distance. Supervisors and leads need to be equipped with a comprehensive checklist to ensure that employees are safe and distance boundaries, as well as the wearing of masks, are enforced. CSAs do enough as it is, the added pressure and responsibility of having to police passengers at the airport is unacceptable. 

CDC and OSHA recommends that physical barriers such as clear, plexiglass sneeze guards be put in place for workers at what they define as medium risk of exposure. 

THERE ARE TWO PLEXIGLASS BARRIERS THAT ALASKA HAS INSTALLED AT SEATAC AIRPORT. ONE IS IN THE COORDINATION CENTER INSIDE THE MAIN EMPLOYEE BREAK ROOM (WHERE DUTY ASSIGNMENTS AND SCHEDULING TAKES PLACE / ONLY PROTECTING THE PERSON SITTING IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE DESK BEHIND THE GLASS) AND ONE IN THE ACCOUNTING OFFICE, WHICH TYPICALLY HAS 1-2 EMPLOYEES IN THE LOCKED ROOM AT ONE TIME. 

Alaska Airlines SAYS THAT SAFETY IS THEIR TOP PRIORITY.

ALASKA AIR GROUP NEEDS TO TREAT THE HEALTH OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AS TOP PRIORITY AND IMPLEMENT ALL CDC AND OSHA RECOMMENDED SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IMMEDIATELY. 

Alaska Airlines has had more than a reasonable amount of time to implement these measures and have failed to do so, thus failing to protect their front line workers. In fact, rather than implement common sense safety measures, measures that nearly every other retail customer service establishment (including other airlines at SeaTac as well as TSA) have taken, they are encouraging employees to take an unpaid leave of absence if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe at work. Alaska Airlines has received $992 MILLION DOLLARS in a government bailout meant to support employee pay and benefits. Chairman and CEO Brad Tilden said in a statement: "This aid will...enable Alaska to continue serving our customers and to keep our people at work." Alaska Airlines has also secured $1.2 Billion in private funding. 

When employees used the company's tool for submitting questions to the company, we received a copy and pasted reply from the "Safety" Department: "Thanks for the question. We have a task force working on social distancing measures at our airports. We have looked at plexiglass barriers, and have learned how they have worked for some airlines, and not for others. The jury is still out on whether it works and is a guest help, versus a guest hinderance. At this point we have decided not to install barriers. Employee and guest safety is a top priority and we will continue to look for ways to improve this using other employee feedback and the latest recommendations from health authorities."

Not only is this response not in line with current recommendations from health authorities, but it is a blatant dismissal of valid employee concerns for their health and safety, and for the health and safety of their families at home. 

Sign this petition and tell Alaska Air Group to do the right thing and protect their essential employees.