Custodians file grievances to University of Washington human resources

SEATTLE — A delegation of 20 custodians on campus — accompanied by union and activist allies — delivered individually signed copies of a grievance form to the University of Washington's (UW) human resources, outlining what they believe are violations of the 2009-11 contract between the university and the union that represents the custodians, according to The Daily.

According to the grievance form, UW facilities custodial managers posted on September 30 new requirements at one custodial area's clocking stations in regards to the use of custodial closets as break rooms and new standards for the custodians' timekeeping, the article stated.

The custodians allege that these new rules deny comfortable facilities for their breaks and the ability to heat meals, and that the rules violate their rights to overtime payment, the article noted.

According to the article, some of the custodians' specific concerns with the new requirements include insufficient time to travel between the clocking station and work area, and the lack of overtime payment for the extra time needed to walk back and forth, as well as insufficient break time to walk between the work area and the few custodial break rooms on campus.

Click here to read the complete article.

Touch-screen devices can harbor flu germs

SACRAMENTO, CA — Personal touch-screen devices — iPads, BlackBerrys and Droids — are now seemingly everywhere, potentially harboring the germs and viruses that turn voices raspy and send noses running, according to The Sacramento Bee.

"If you're sharing the device, then you're sharing your influenza with someone else who touches it," said Timothy Julian, a Stanford University doctoral student who co-authored a study on the spread of viruses.

British researchers provide some stomach-churning data: Mobile phones harbor 18 times more bacteria than a flush handle in a typical men's restroom, the article stated.

According to Julian's study, published online in July by the Journal of Applied Microbiology, the risks of transmitting pathogens from glass surfaces to a person's skin are relatively high.

"If you put virus on a surface, like an iPhone, about 30 percent of it will get on your fingertips," Julian said. In turn, "a fair amount of it may go from your fingers to your eyes, mouth or nose," the most likely routes of infection.

Click here to read the complete article.

Hampton Inn Hotel sued for race discrimination

INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said it is suing the owner of an Indianapolis hotel, charging that it treated black housekeepers unfairly, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal.

The EEOC's complaint against New Indianapolis Hotels Inc. is on behalf of a class of fired black housekeepers, as well as a class of black applicants who sought housekeeping jobs at the Hampton Inn hotel, the article noted.

The lawsuit alleges that the hotel denied employment to black housekeeping applicants, offered lower pay and hours to black housekeeping staff, terminated black housekeepers who complained of the less-favorable treatment and destroyed records since at least September 2, 2008, the article stated.

According to the article, the suit alleges that the general manager of the hotel advised her employees that she wanted to hire "Mexicans" who do a better job and complain less than her black housekeeping staff.

The agency is seeking damages and back pay, in addition to a permanent injunction to prevent New Indianapolis Hotels from engaging in race discrimination, the article added.

Click here to read the complete article.

University of Alberta janitors say they are being mistreated

ALBERTA, CANADA — Janitors at the University of Alberta appear to be fed up with how they're being treated, and they're taking their complaints to the Alberta Labor Relations Board, according to News i880AM.

At least one janitor claims they were fired by cleaning contractor Bee Clean for standing up for temporary foreign workers, the article noted.

The cleaners say they've had ongoing concerns over pay and other issues, but anytime they bring it up Bee Clean threatens to send them home, the article stated.

According to the article, the workers have filed an unfair labor practice and they're also going public with their complaints at a news conference.

Click here to read the complete article.

Elevator buttons hotbed of germs

WASHINGTON — A typical elevator button could be thriving with harmful germs, viruses and bacteria, according to a press release.

According to researchers, though toilet seats are considered filthy because they are crawling with millions of disease-causing germs, the innocuous elevator button touched by many people every day harbors nearly 40 times more bacteria.

Researchers from the University of Arizona carried out a study on behalf of Mircoban Europe, which manufactures antibacterial protection products, the release noted.

The investigators found only eight "colony forming units" on every square centimeter of the public toilet seat; however, an alarming 313 units of bacteria were found on an equivalent surface area of the elevator button, the release stated.

Click here to read the complete release.

OSHA announces top 10 violations of 2010

WASHINGTON — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) used the National Safety Council's 2010 Congress and Expo to announce the top 10 violations of 2010, according to a press release.

Thomas Galassi, OSHA's directorate of enforcement programs, made the announcement with Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of OSHA, the release stated.

The list was little changed from 2009, with a couple of violations switching places, the release noted.

According to the release, the top five violations were:

1. Scaffolding
2. Fall protection
3. Hazard communication
4. Respiratory protection
5. Ladders

To see the complete list of violations, click here.

Click here to read the complete release.

Pasadena Convention Center awarded LEED Gold

PASADENA, CA — Because of its commitment to sustainability, the expanded Pasadena Convention Center has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, making it one of only three U.S. convention centers to earn the prestigious Gold designation, according to a press release.

"We are proud to be one of the greenest convention centers in North America," said Pasadena Center Operating Company Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Ross.

"It is enticing to our clients, knowing they are hosting events in a facility that is actively protecting our precious resources," Ross added.

The Pasadena Convention Center achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies, the release stated.

According to the release, by using less energy and water, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

Click here to read the complete release.