Airport workers protest at Miami International Airport in October 2018, (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Labor unions continue battling to boost pay and benefits for a variety of low-paid workers at contractors who fill a variety of airport jobs that include wheelchair service, cleaning, catering and, at times, baggage handling.
At a Wednesday hearing, members of the House subcommittee on aviation heard from members of three unions – Communications Workers of America, Service Employees International Union, and Unite Here. Union officials and members spoke on a media call Tuesday.
“The hearing is about making Congress aware of the problems so that we can move toward legislation that will address issues with staffing and safety,” said Beth Allen, spokeswoman for the Communications Workers of America.
“We’re laying the groundwork,” Allen said. “They have not had a hearing on this ever. You cannot get to legislation until legislators and their staffs understand that there’s a problem.”
Julie Karant, spokeswoman for Service Employees International Union, said, “We are calling for more scrutiny of workers at the airports. It’s an expectation about labor standards, working conditions and the implications for well-functioning airports.”
SEIU would like “to ask for Congress to urge airlines to hire responsible contractors,” Karant said.
Marline Patrick Cooper, president of Unite Here Local 23, said oversight is needed to protect workers “in the dark corner of the airline industry” that includes catering workers. Local 23 represents about 20,000 catering workers in a dozen cities including Atlanta and Charlotte.
On the media call, Congresswoman Donna Shalala, D-Miami, said,” We have to send a clear message to subcontractors and to airlines that subcontract: They cannot go around laws that exist.
“Airport and airline contractors must comply with local wage standards and health standards,” Shalala said. “No company (should) be able to intimidate and fire someone for trying to unionize.” Shalala did not take questions from reporters.
Airlines for America, the principle airline trade organization, said Tuesday that while airline employment growth has been growing rapidly, situations exist where carriers choose to use contractors.
“Since the passenger carriers began their current economic turnaround in 2010, employment has increased 18% from 378,000 to 447,000 full-time equivalents,” A4A said. “For the past four years, job creation in the airline industry (both passenger and cargo) has consistently outpaced overall U.S. job growth. In instances when it makes sense for airlines to contract with services providers, airlines hold those service providers to the highest standards and require them to follow all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.”
However, Brian Callaci, a New York labor economist and author of a recent CWA report, said that since 2000 airlines have turned increasingly to third party contractors, who now provide about 30% of airport ground and passenger services, up from 19% in 2001.
“Wages at airlines have been rising since 2009, (while) outsourced employee wages have been stagnant since 2000,” Callaci said.
