Jan 15, New York— Today, on Martin Luther King’s birthday, more than 1000 airport workers and their supporters held a civil disobedience bridge sit down and march at LaGuardia airport to demand better wages, benefits, working standards and the right to union representation. While NY saw the biggest action of the day, airport workers in New Jersey, Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia and Boston also rallied for the same cause.
“Martin Luther King said ‘it is a crime for people who live in this rich nation to receive starvation wages.’ I work hard to help make sure the airport runs smoothly every day but I still make poverty wages,” said LaGuardia Airport Security Officer Walbert Santiago who works for the subcontractor Primeflight and joined the civil disobedience today. “We have been fighting for two years for these changes and just like we keep the airports running on time, the Port Authority should have been on time with their promise to raise our wages and benefits.”
There are 8,000 subcontracted airport workers at JFK and LaGuardia airports who, like Santiago, dream of a better life. While they have seen some beneficial changes in the last year, that dream has been delayed as the Port Authority repeatedly postpones its self imposed September, 2014 deadline to release a comprehensive wage and benefits plan.
The delay puts airport workers dreams of a better life on hold even as they continue to expose other problems at New York-area airports. A recent report found that 88% of subcontracted airport workers report at least one kind of wage and hour violation in the last year alone and more than half report multiple kinds.
“The Port Authority leadership must do everything in its power to stop these abusive wage and labor violations,” said New York Public Advocate Tish James who joined airport workers in their march at LaGuardia Airport today. “Wage theft is illegal and immoral, and these hard-working airport employees deserve better.”
Over the last year alone airport workers have filed various lawsuits and complaints for unfair labor practices, health and safety violations, wage theft and more. In 2014 various groups of airport workers bravely went on strike in the face of employer intimidation. Others have held delegations to their subcontractors, airlines and the Port Authority to help them understand the effects of poverty wages and little to no benefits on cabin cleaners, terminal cleaners, skycaps, baggage handlers and airport security officer’s lives.
“Airport workers lives and their dreams for a better life matter” said State Senator Jose Peralta. “It is my honor to stand with them today as they fight for the higher wages, benefits and the right to union representation that will make these dreams a reality.”
This will be the second year airport workers take to the streets with their supporters in the legacy of MLK. Last year dozens of airport workers, elected officials, clergy and community members were arrested sitting down on the 94th street bridge leading into LaGuardia Airport.
“It is fitting that on the birthday of Martin Luther King, we continue the fight for fair wages, benefits, and working standards. Our airport workers deserve the dignity of fair compensation and just labor practices and I am proud to be a part of this effort,” said Congressman Charles Rangel who joined airport workers this year and was arrested with them at last year’s MLK march.
This year airport workers planned an even bigger march. In the spirit of Martin Luther King, clergy members led the march this year, singing civil rights songs along with a choir from Canaan Baptist Church in Harlem. Airport workers got support from many elected officials, including Congressmen Charles Rangel and Gregory Meeks; NY State Senators Leroy Comrie and Adriano Espaillat; NY State Assembly members Keith Wright, Walter Mosley, Latoya Joyner and Michael Blake; NYC Public Advocate Letisha James, NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, various NY city council members and more.
“I stand with New York City’s airport workers in the fight for justice, respect and fair wages,” said New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer. “Rampant wage violations and wage theft are unacceptable, and the Port Authority must do more to ensure the proper treatment of subcontracted workers at our City’s airports. We need an economy that works for all New Yorkers – and that means making sure our passenger service workers are not paid poverty wages.”
Many community members and other low-wage workers– including fast food workers– marched as well, calling on the Port Authority, airlines and aviation subcontractors to make these changes quickly.
“Airport worker’s dreams of a better life have been delayed but the support they have seen at this year’s and last year’s Martin Luther King marches shows that they are not alone in the fight,” said Hector Figueroa, President of 32BJ SEIU, the union that airport workers recognized as their representative last May. “Martin Luther King called for respect and dignity in work and that is what today is all about.”
With more than 145,000 members, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service union in the country.
ELECTED OFFICIALS SOUND OFF
ON AIRPORT WORKER’S 1/15/15 MLK MARCH ON LAGUARDIA AIRPORT AND FIGHT FOR BETTER WAGES AND BENEFITS
“Airport workers have gone without a livable wage for far too long. The men and women who keep our airports running have a huge responsibility and they deserve to make enough money to support their families,” said Senator Adriano Espaillat.
“It is a shame that these airport workers would be stopped from participating in a long-standing American tradition – the right to join a union. It is a deeper shame that while these workers fight for better wages, benefits, and treatment, the Port Authority delays the release of information about wages and benefits, while the airports turn a blind eye to ongoing wage theft and unfair labor practices. It is high time that these workers are allowed to unionize in order to get the support that they both need and deserve,” said Senator Tony Avella.
“I am proud to stand here today with thousands of airport workers and 32BJ SEIU to demand a contract that compensates workers fairly and humanely. It is unconscionable that the workers in the airports that serve the greatest city in the world are not given healthcare, time off, or in some cases, even the minimum wage. I was here at a rally six months ago to demand a fair contract and I will continue to stand with 32BJ and airport workers until our demands are met,” said Senator Toby Ann Stavisky.
“It is fitting that on the birthday of Martin Luther King, we continue the fight for fair wages, benefits, and working standards. Our airport workers deserve the dignity of fair compensation and just labor practices and I am proud to be a part of this effort,” said Congressman Charles Rangel who joined airport workers this year and was arrested with them at last year’s MLK march.
“Airport workers lives and their dreams for a better life matter” said State Senator Jose Peralta. “It is my honor to stand with them today as they fight for the higher wages, benefits and the right to union representation that will make these dreams a reality.”
“The Port Authority leadership must do everything in its power to stop these abusive wage and labor violations,” said New York Public Advocate Tish James who joined airport workers in their march at LaGuardia Airport today. “Wage theft is illegal and immoral, and these hard-working airport employees deserve better.”
“The workers at our airports have been working incredibly hard to ensure that our airports are one of the best in the country. These New Yorkers deserve a wage that reflects their hard work and that they can feed their families with,” said New York City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez. “Today I stand in solidarity with these workers as we call upon the Port Authority to give these hardworking New Yorker’s a fair, living wage.”
“There are too many hardworking New Yorkers that face financial hardship because the wages they earn do not come close to covering the cost of living in our City. Airport workers dedicate their days to ensuring our City’s airports operate smoothly, yet they struggle to make ends meet,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “Today, on Martin Luther King’s birthday, we stand with them demanding the wages, benefits and working environment they deserve. We must continue to work towards ensuring that every New Yorker be paid a livable wage that allows them to build a better future for themselves and their family.”
“I stand with New York City’s airport workers in the fight for justice, respect and fair wages,” said New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer. “Rampant wage violations and wage theft are unacceptable, and the Port Authority must do more to ensure the proper treatment of subcontracted workers at our City’s airports. We need an economy that works for all New Yorkers – and that means making sure our passenger service workers are not paid poverty wages.”