Boston, MA— As vacation-goers get ready to fly out of Logan, more than 100 non-union contracted airplane cleaners and baggage will go on strike to protest unfair labor practices committed by their employer, airline contractor G2 Secure Staff. G2 is currently under federal investigation by the National Labor Relations Board for violation of workers’ rights. This contractor provides services for Delta, American and other airlines.
This is the second non-union strike at Logan since June 16, when almost 100 Logan Airport airline contractorworkers walked off of their jobs to protest unfair labor practices by two service contractors, which resulted in formal complaints issued against G2, ReadyJet and two other contractors. Since the strike, Delta contractors G2 and ReadyJet have continued to threaten employees. Workers filed charges against their employers with the NLRB and the agency is currently investigating these new allegations.
ReadyJet imposed discipline on several Delta aircraft cleaners for failing to report to work on the day of the strike. One of those workers is Francisco Luna, who also spoke at the Massport Board meeting on July 16 to inform Port Authority officials about ReadyJet’s recent conduct against employees. On July 27, ReadyJet fired Francisco, relying in part on his previous disciplinary warning for failing to report to work on the day of the strike. Francisco (a resident of Mattapan) supports himself and family members with airport wages.
In 2012 Massport wrote to its licensed operators that “your Commercial Service Operator’s Agreement with the Authority requires that you comply with all federal and state employment laws at all times.” It is time for airline clients and Massport to take action to ensure only lawful conduct and treatment of airport workers by Logan Airport contractors.
Workers have been playing by the rules. They work hard every day to keep the airport running. Now they are demanding that employers respecttheir legal right to organize.
Logan Airport, New England’s largest transportation center brings more than $7 billion in economic activity to the area, but many of the workers there do not reap the benefits. To cut costs, airlines like JetBlue outsource passenger service jobs to low-bid contractors. This low-bid system leaves cabin cleaners, wheelchair attendants and baggage handlers who allow the airport to run making as little as $10 an hour, without access to affordable health benefits or sick days.
WHAT: Strike at Boston International Airport
WHO: Airport workers, labor leaders, elected officials
WHEN: Wednesday, August 19
– 6:30 AM: Pickets lines up – press availability at Boston Airport’s Hilton Room 209 (1 Hotel Dr. Boston, MA 02128) call Eugenio H. Villasante for more information at 646-285-1087
– 11:30 AM: Rally outside South Station (Summer st. and Atlantic ave.)
WHERE: Boston International Airport and South Station.
With 145,000 members in eleven states and Washington, D.C., including 18,000 in MA, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.