Unite baggage handlers in ‘weight lifting’ challenge to MPs
24th March 2009
Calling notice
Date: Wednesday 25th March 2009
Time: 12.30
Venue: Old Palace Yard, opposite House of Commons,
Westminster
Baggage handlers will gather at parliament tomorrow lunchtime,
(Wednesday) to demand government action forcing airlines to cut the
weight of checked-in bags from 32kg to 23kg to reduce high levels
of muscular skeletal injuries in the civil aviation industry.
Over 100 Unite members from airports across the UK will be
lobbying their MPs. They'll ask the parliamentarians to take part
in a ‘baggage challenge’ where MPs will be invited to lift the
heavy suitcases and other items baggage handlers are expected to
lift on a daily basis.
Unite, the UK’s largest civil air transport union, is calling on
the government to put pressure on the Health and Safety Executive
to introduce regulations to prevent injuries.
Unite baggage handlers lift the equivalent of an elephant a day
during their shift. Two years ago the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) Aviation Industry group agreed to reduce the weight of
checked-in baggage from 32 to 23 kilograms per item. The
International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also backed the
call.
However, airlines have refused to implement the new weight
limit, saying they will only comply if there is an industry-wide
approach.
Unite’s ‘Lighten Up’ campaign also highlights the positive
effect lighter luggage will have on global warming. Lighter bags
equal lighter planes, resulting in less fuel use and lower carbon
emissions. Unite will also be asking government to fund a public
awareness campaign to encourage the travelling public to travel
lighter.
Steve Turner, Unite national officer, said: “Baggage handlers
are suffering unacceptably high levels of injuries caused by heavy
bags. They lift over nine tonnes per shift. We are demanding that
the government act to reduce the weight of checked in bags to 23kg
which will reduce injuries significantly.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
• Baggage handlers are five times more like to suffer
muscular skeletal injury than any other worker in the UK.
• Baggage handlers lift around 9 tonnes of luggage per
shift.
• If every passenger on a Boeing 747 travelled with 23 not
32kg, it would reduce carbon emissions by the same
amount as removing around 30 private cars from the road for a
year.
• For more information look at www.unitetheunion.org/lightenup
For further information contact Mark Di-Toro on 07918 640 579 or
Liane Groves in the Unite press office on 07793 661 657
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