Union wants baggage allowance cut
22.03.09
Air passengers will have to pack their bags a little lighter in future if a new campaign by an aviation union succeeds. Unite, the union that represents baggage handlers, is calling on the Government to force airlines to cut the weight allowance of checked-in bags from 32kg to 23kg.
The union says that the baggage allowance cut would reduce the number of muscular skeletal injuries suffered by those who have to transport bags from airport terminals to awaiting planes.
More than 1000 Unite members were due to gather at parliament earlier on wednesday to lobby MPs about the issue. They are hoping the Government will put pressure on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to introduce regulations to prevent injuries.
A 23kg weight limit was introduced by the HSE aviation industry group two years ago but airlines have said they will only comply if there is an industry-wide approach. According to Unite, baggage handlers lift the equivalent of an elephant a day during their shift.
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