Airport workers in Charlotte hold vigil for employee who died on jet bridge

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte-Douglas airport workers held a vigil Thursday for a cabin cleaner who they say collapsed and died in the intense heat last Thursday. We’re told 55-year-old Colleen Coates was on a jet bridge waiting to clean an American Airlines plane when it happened.

Co-workers say despite health issues, Coates continued to come to work for ABM, a contractor for American, because she was afraid of losing her job. Lashonda Barber says, “Many times workers know they should stay home. Colleen said she had to keep working because management have been threatening her over her attendance.”

Members of the local Service Employees International Union say they’re asking for better working conditions and pay the wake of Coates’ death.