Massport ESL Program Garners Prestigious Airport Award
Airport Minority Advisory Council Gives Massport “Award of the Organization”

The Massachusetts Port Authority’s airport-customized English for Speakers of Other Languages class for custodial workers recently received the Airport Minority Advisory Council’s “Award of the Organization.” The award, which recognizes programs promoting opportunities for minorities, was given at AMAC’s national annual diversity conference in New Orleans on June 22, 2010.

“We are proud and honored that our innovative program which enhances airport security, customer service and the quality of life for airport workers received this recognition,’’ said Thomas J. Kinton Jr., the CEO & Executive Director of Massport.

The AMAC Award of the Organization is given to an individual, airport, or a firm for significant contributions toward the realization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and/or Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) goals on an airport.

The language program, which is a joint effort by Massport, UGL Unicco and SEIU Local 615, is tailored to the airport environment with half of the 64 classes focusing on airport and security-specific components, such as the consequences of failure to implement security measures and what to do if a worker sees something out of the ordinary.

The program was announced in February 2009 and dozens of UGL Unicco custodial employees applied and had their skills assessed. The first class was 32 weeks long (64 sessions) with 90 minute classes held twice a week. Many class members have been in the US for between 10 and 20 years with few opportunities to take English classes. The first class graduated in November and a second class started this year and will end this summer.

Boston Logan, 15 minutes from the intersection of Route 128 and I-90 and five minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 70 domestic and 31 international destinations and in 2008 handled 26.1 million passengers. Boston Logan is the Air Line Pilot Association’s Airport of the Year for 2008 because of its commitment to safety. Over the past decade, the airport spent $4.5 billion on a modernization program that includes new terminals, parking facilities, roadways and airport concessions, and has been transformed into a world-class 21st Century facility. The airport generates $7 billion in total economic impact each year. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/bostonlogan and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/bostonlogan.

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates Boston Logan International Airport, the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport. Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $8 billion annually, and enhance and enable economic growth and vitality in New England. For more information please visit massport.com.

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