Window Cleaning News Round-Up

New advances in medical treatment have saved the life of Froxfield window cleaner Michael Dunne, who was told four years ago that he was dying of cancer. But now the father-of-two and grandfather has been able to receive a life-saving bone marrow transplant from a brother thanks to newly developed techniques. He owes his life, he said, to the generosity of his older brother Patrick from Swindon who readily agreed to provide bone marrow when tests showed a perfect match. Mr Dunne's wife, Joyce, has showed her thanks to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford by taking part in an abseil from the top of the 100ft high seven-storey building, raising more than £505 for a new cancer unit.

NYC window cleaners ratify contract:
NEW YORK - The union representing window cleaners for some 500 commercial office buildings in New York City has ratified a four-year contract. The contract was reached Tuesday between the SEIU Local 32BJ and the Realty Advisory Board. The terms of the contract call for a wage hike, an increase in scaffold pay and improved pension benefits.

Spectacular rescue saves highrise workers. Firefighters pluck workers from 49th floor. It was just another day at the office. The journeymen employees of Alberta Glass had been caulking the windows on the 49th floor of the east tower at 855 2 St. S.W. when the swing stage they were using malfunctioned, leaving them precariously perched about 48 storeys up. Fire crews rushed to the scene just before noon and the department's high-angle rescue team went to the roof to extract the dangling duo. Firefighter Grant Rinas said one team member was lowered about six metres down from the 52-storey roof to the scaffolding to help bring the two workers to safety. "It was relatively easy access and we could talk verbally to them from the roof," he said. "They were safe-tied to the platform and it wasn't going to go anywhere." The two workers were lifted individually in harnesses to the roof and were not injured in the incident. The rescue took about 40 minutes. George Kennedy, owner of Alberta Glass, said the two men, both in their 20s, were in good spirits and got to go home early. "It was just one of those unforeseen things," he said.
Kennedy said it appears a gear may have malfunctioned on the scaffolding, locking it in place, but with four heavy-duty cables suspending it, the workers were never in serious danger.

A new window cleaning related DVD: Features Chinese Revenge Drama Worthy of Jerry Springer. Ping Guo (Bingbing Fan) and An Kun (Dawei Tong), a young couple from the sticks, moved to Beijing in search of a higher standard of living. Thusfar, however, life in the big city has been a bit of a bust, since the only work she could find was in a sleazy massage parlor, and he had to settle for a dangerous job as a skyscraper window-washer. The two made do until the fateful day her rich boss (Tony Leung Ka Fai) decided to force himself on her. Wouldn't you know it, but An Kun just happened to be squeejeeing the plate glass of the room as Liu pounced on his wife, and he had to watch helplessly while dangling outside on the scaffolding. This is the intriguing, incestuous scenario which unfolds in Lost in Beijing, as messy a dysfunctional relationship drama as you could hope to witness on screen.

Popular goalkeeper Paul Bastock, "Bazza" is set to remain with St Albans City next season. Despite rejoining the Blue Square South club with just a few months left until the end of the season, the window cleaner won the fans' player of the year award at Clarence Park. 'Bazza' has seemingly saved the Saints from relegation single-handedly and is said to be enjoying his time with the club. He had been keen to sign for Tommy Taylor earlier in the season, but Rushden & Diamonds manager Gary Hill prevented the move.

Mr Martin (pictured), a window cleaner, was found dead in the front garden of a house in Rutter Gardens near to his Ravensbury Grove home on January 27. A 37-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a Mitcham dad-of-three. Gary Andrew Kelly of Rutter Gardens, Mitcham, appeared before the Old Bailey this afternoon. Kelly was charged in January with the murder of 40-year-old David Martin. The 37-year-old was remanded in custody before his trial which is due to start on November 24.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A freak accident on the east side. A construction worker was struck by falling debris outside 335 Madison avenue. The worker was hit by an electric cord that plunged 30 feet. Officials believe the worker was trying to move a window washing scaffold when the power cord fell to the ground--hitting him on the head. He suffered a head injury.

Seattle doorknocker scam: Beware of a “window washer” casing the neighborhood. We just had a fellow come to the door and knock very lightly. Since both of our cars were in the garage, it surely looked like no one was home. He lied about doing the neighbor’s house earlier. 40ish, scruffy beard, Caucasian, white F150 truck with light brown trim, canopy with frame and bike rack. He got away before we could get more info. Our neighborhood has had several break-ins in recent months. We reported it to 911.