SAN FRANCISCO — Hundreds of members of the UNITE-HERE Local 2 are calling for a boycott of two San Francisco hotels: The HEI Le Meridien and the Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf, according to the San Francisco Bay Area Independent.
Workers at these hotels are seeking more respect, better job security and better livelihoods for themselves and their families and want management to respect their choice whether or not to form a union through the majority sign-up process, the story stated.
Peter Ho, a lobby porter who has worked at HEI’s Le Meridien for 19 years, said: "We want the same opportunities as other hotel workers in San Francisco. If it’s good enough for workers at other hotels, why not for us? We’ve given years of service to these hotels. We just want respect."
Despite repeated efforts by workers to adopt the majority sign-up process, HEI and Hyatt have both refused; similar efforts are under way at other hotels, including the HEI Hilton in Long Beach, the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, and the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, the story noted.
Over 340 hospitality workers and their families at these two San Francisco hotels face unfair layoffs, unaffordable health care and a lack of respect on the job, the story added.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Custodian pleads guilty in stolen check scheme
HUNTINGTON, WV — A former custodian who cleaned several offices in the St. James Building at 4th Avenue and 10th Street was sentenced to one year and one month in federal prison for her role in a stolen check scheme, according to The Herald Dispatch.
Catherine L. Scarberry and five other defendants plead guilty to conspiracy to possess and utter forged securities, the story stated.
The charges stem from several incidents in May and June 2003 when Scarberry used her position as a custodian at the St. James Building to gain access to at least four businesses; pre-printed, blank checks were taken, forged and passed off to her accomplices who then cashed them at various businesses, the story noted.
On top of the prison time, each of the defendants was ordered to pay $21,244.80 in restitution, the story added.
Catherine L. Scarberry and five other defendants plead guilty to conspiracy to possess and utter forged securities, the story stated.
The charges stem from several incidents in May and June 2003 when Scarberry used her position as a custodian at the St. James Building to gain access to at least four businesses; pre-printed, blank checks were taken, forged and passed off to her accomplices who then cashed them at various businesses, the story noted.
On top of the prison time, each of the defendants was ordered to pay $21,244.80 in restitution, the story added.
Use paper towels for hygienic hand drying
PHILADELPHIA — According to an independent study conducted by scientists at the University of Westminster in London, using paper towels to dry your hands is far more hygienic than using electric hand dryers, according to a press release.
The study measured the number of bacteria on subjects’ hands before washing and after drying them using three different methods — paper towels, a traditional warm air dyer and a new high-speed jet air dryer, the release stated.
Keith Redway, a senior academic in the department of biomedical sciences at the University of Westminster, said: "The results of all parts of this study suggest that the use of warm air dryers and jet air dryers should be carefully considered in locations where hygiene is of paramount importance, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, nurseries, care homes, kitchens and other food preparation areas. In addition, paper hand towel use is highly beneficial for improved hygiene in any other facilities open to the public, such as factories, offices, bars and restaurants."
The study, which is available for review at www.westminster.ac.uk/~redwayk, found that paper towel drying reduced the average number of bacteria on the finger pads by up to 76 percent and on the palms by up to 77 percent. By comparison, electric hand dryers caused bacteria counts to increase as much as 254 percent in some cases, the release noted.
Use of a traditional warm-air hand dryer spread micro-organisms up to 0.25 meters from the dryer while the jet air dryer, which blows air out of the unit at claimed speeds of 400 mph, was capable of blowing micro-organisms from the hands and the unit and potentially contaminating other washroom users and the washroom environment up to 2 meters away, the release added.
According to the release, paper towels showed no significant spread of micro-organisms.
The study measured the number of bacteria on subjects’ hands before washing and after drying them using three different methods — paper towels, a traditional warm air dyer and a new high-speed jet air dryer, the release stated.
Keith Redway, a senior academic in the department of biomedical sciences at the University of Westminster, said: "The results of all parts of this study suggest that the use of warm air dryers and jet air dryers should be carefully considered in locations where hygiene is of paramount importance, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, nurseries, care homes, kitchens and other food preparation areas. In addition, paper hand towel use is highly beneficial for improved hygiene in any other facilities open to the public, such as factories, offices, bars and restaurants."
The study, which is available for review at www.westminster.ac.uk/~redwayk, found that paper towel drying reduced the average number of bacteria on the finger pads by up to 76 percent and on the palms by up to 77 percent. By comparison, electric hand dryers caused bacteria counts to increase as much as 254 percent in some cases, the release noted.
Use of a traditional warm-air hand dryer spread micro-organisms up to 0.25 meters from the dryer while the jet air dryer, which blows air out of the unit at claimed speeds of 400 mph, was capable of blowing micro-organisms from the hands and the unit and potentially contaminating other washroom users and the washroom environment up to 2 meters away, the release added.
According to the release, paper towels showed no significant spread of micro-organisms.
Three-second rule unhealthy, until now
CULVER CITY, CA — A national survey of 1,000 adults, conducted by Kelton Research, found that 60 percent of Americans admit to eating food that has fallen on the floor, according to Business Wire.
Most are unaware that a typical carpet has up to 4,000 times more bacteria and germs than a toilet seat, even after it has been vacuumed, the story stated.
David Oreck, founder of the Oreck Corporation, said: "Antibacterial soap and bleach are common tools to kill germs in the home, but people often overlook what’s right beneath their feet. Now there’s a solution that allows people to clean and kill germs without any extra time, effort or expense."
Independent tests from the University of Arizona found the following number of bacteria particles on one-square-inch samples:
· Toilet seat: 49
· Kitchen counter: 1,686
· Kitchen tile: 2,546
· Bathroom floor: 18,025
· Carpet: 200,000 plus, the story noted.
According to the story, Oreck has become the first vacuum manufacturer to use ultraviolet light to clean and kill germs, bacteria, viruses, allergens and mold.
Independent tests prove this UV-C light kills more than 99 percent of many common germs it comes in contact with, the story added.
Most are unaware that a typical carpet has up to 4,000 times more bacteria and germs than a toilet seat, even after it has been vacuumed, the story stated.
David Oreck, founder of the Oreck Corporation, said: "Antibacterial soap and bleach are common tools to kill germs in the home, but people often overlook what’s right beneath their feet. Now there’s a solution that allows people to clean and kill germs without any extra time, effort or expense."
Independent tests from the University of Arizona found the following number of bacteria particles on one-square-inch samples:
· Toilet seat: 49
· Kitchen counter: 1,686
· Kitchen tile: 2,546
· Bathroom floor: 18,025
· Carpet: 200,000 plus, the story noted.
According to the story, Oreck has become the first vacuum manufacturer to use ultraviolet light to clean and kill germs, bacteria, viruses, allergens and mold.
Independent tests prove this UV-C light kills more than 99 percent of many common germs it comes in contact with, the story added.
Facilities manager arrested for arson and bomb scare
SCHENECTADY, NY — A 36-year veteran facilities manager for Mont Pleasant Middle School has been arrested and put on paid administrative leave for a 2001 arson case and a recent bomb scare, according to WRGB-TV and TWEAN-TV.
Steven Raucci is accused of setting an explosive device at a house in 2001. Police searched both the home and office of Raucci and State Police found a small explosive device at Raucci's office at the school; it was removed by the State Police Bomb Disposal Unit, the story stated.
Kristen Kwiatkowski, who has a son that attends the school, said: "I thought schools were supposed to be safe. I thought my son was safe, now I question that. Whether the children were a target or not, he endangered every single one of them by bringing that bomb into the school."
Superintendent Eric Ely said that until Friday, he was unaware of the investigation into Raucci and that he only has one complaint in his 36-year-old personnel file, the story noted.
A letter was sent home to parents explaining the incident, the story added.
According to police, additional charges are possible as they continue to investigate other incidents of vandalism, intimidation and attempted use of bombs throughout the Capital Region.
Steven Raucci is accused of setting an explosive device at a house in 2001. Police searched both the home and office of Raucci and State Police found a small explosive device at Raucci's office at the school; it was removed by the State Police Bomb Disposal Unit, the story stated.
Kristen Kwiatkowski, who has a son that attends the school, said: "I thought schools were supposed to be safe. I thought my son was safe, now I question that. Whether the children were a target or not, he endangered every single one of them by bringing that bomb into the school."
Superintendent Eric Ely said that until Friday, he was unaware of the investigation into Raucci and that he only has one complaint in his 36-year-old personnel file, the story noted.
A letter was sent home to parents explaining the incident, the story added.
According to police, additional charges are possible as they continue to investigate other incidents of vandalism, intimidation and attempted use of bombs throughout the Capital Region.
Out sick, time to update
I've been out sick with Bronchitis, but now I'm back, not %100 but better. So now it's time to update things that have happened in Facilities over the last few weeks.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Norovirus sickens some at Sparks Middle School
SPARKS, NV — More than 40 students and staff at Sparks Middle School have fallen ill from what is thought to be an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus whose eradication requires extensive cleaning of surfaces, according to KRNV-TV.
Extra cleaning crews have been assigned to patrol the school with buckets of bleach and water, wiping down common, high-touch surfaces in hallways, bathrooms, classrooms and the library in an effort to curb the spread of the virus, the story stated.
Principal Andrew Yoxsimer said: "We just need to remind parents that if their children have symptoms, they need to stay home from school for 72 hours after symptoms disappear. Some students who went home sick yesterday came back to school today. We had to send them back home and exclude them from school for 72 hours."
If parents refuse take their children out of class, the virus will continue to circulate, and because the virus constantly mutates, people can catch it repeatedly, the story noted.
The Washoe County Health Department is still awaiting confirmation that this is the norovirus, but a spokeswoman says it is "probable" that the illnesses are the result of that strain, the story added.
Extra cleaning crews have been assigned to patrol the school with buckets of bleach and water, wiping down common, high-touch surfaces in hallways, bathrooms, classrooms and the library in an effort to curb the spread of the virus, the story stated.
Principal Andrew Yoxsimer said: "We just need to remind parents that if their children have symptoms, they need to stay home from school for 72 hours after symptoms disappear. Some students who went home sick yesterday came back to school today. We had to send them back home and exclude them from school for 72 hours."
If parents refuse take their children out of class, the virus will continue to circulate, and because the virus constantly mutates, people can catch it repeatedly, the story noted.
The Washoe County Health Department is still awaiting confirmation that this is the norovirus, but a spokeswoman says it is "probable" that the illnesses are the result of that strain, the story added.
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