Workers at some of the busiest hubs in the United States are set to go on strike starting on Wednesday in protest of what they believe are insufficient wages paid by three companies that handle the cleaning of airports and terminals.
Around 2,000 members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), consisting of baggage handlers, plane cleaners and other airport workers, will hold a strike at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Newark Liberty in New Jersey, LaGuardia and Kennedy in New York, as well as other airports in Fort Lauderdale, Boston and Philadelphia.
While it is still unclear whether the planned walk off would result in any delays in flight schedules, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday, but airline companies such as JetBlue and United said they have contingency plans to prevent possible disruptions in their operations.
Low Wages for Airport Workers
In 2014, the administrator of the New York-New Jersey Port Authority, which is responsible for operating New York City airports, pushed for the wages of airport employees to be raised to $10.10 per hour. The suggested increase, however, is still not enough according to the workers.
Some of the strikers include workers from Gate Serve, which is a subcontractor of Delta, as well as from Ultimate Aircraft and Roma, both of which are subcontractors of JetBlue.
Jean Timmer, an employee of Ultimate Aircraft and one of those planning to go on strike on Wednesday, said he gets to earn $10.10 per hour manning the overnight shift.
He said that their wages are not enough to be able support their families, adding that it is crucial for them to earn a living wage and secure medical benefits.
"Safety concerns are a really big deal and if we get injured who's going to pay for that -- we are," he pointed out.
Timmer said he decided to work at New York's JFK because there are a number of opportunities to advance in his career, but said working conditions at the airport right now are unbearable.
The SEIU has been planning to conduct a strike since sponsoring a worker's convention last month in Washington to allow the airport employees to air their concerns. The group said some of the workers even perceived threats against unionizing.
The SEIU said several lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer from New York, are scheduled to attend a press conference in Washington on Thursday to gather support for increasing the airport workers' wages to $15 per hour.
Photo: Eric Salard | Flickr
