Airport Workers Plan Marches and Protests to Campaign for Better Wages

Jan. 18, 2016
The planned event will take place in nine U.S. airports and may cause delays and disruptions.

As originally reported on the Chicago Tribune, airport workers from nine U.S. airports are planning to block bridges and march through terminals and protest at airline headquarters during a day of civil disobedience on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The workers - a mix of cleaners, baggage handlers, fuelers and wheelchair attendants - will risk arrest at airports and other locations to bring attention to their campaign for better wages, the Service Employees International Union said.

This is the latest action that follows airport workers campaign to have a $15-per-hour minimum wage, benefits and job protections. The workers have received backlash with subcontractors refusing to recognize their rights to form a union.

In Washington, Reagan National Airport workers and supporters -- as many as 200 -- are planning to block traffic from Independence Avenue SW, near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at the Mall, which has the potential to throw the downtown area into gridlock. The protesters will march from the memorial along Independence Avenue, culminating with the takeover of Kutz Bridge over the Tidal Basin. The event has been backed by support of public officials and members of the clergy. The goal being to raise awareness to the government about taking workers’ rights into account.

Actions are also being organized in Boston; New York City; Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia; Miami; Chicago; Portland, OR; and Seattle.

In New York, workers will march across the 94th Street Bridge to La Guardia Airport and rally at the airport entrance. At Newark and Boston, protesters will march into the terminals and pass all ticketing agents, risking arrest inside the terminal. In Portland, workers will march through the airport and do a banner drop from skybridges at the Alaska Airlines terminal.

They will rally in front of United Airlines in headquarters downtown Chicago and will protest outside the headquarters of airline contractor Eulen in Miami.

In the past few months, airport workers have held protests, rallies and prayers, bringing attention to hourly wages that are as low as $6.75, which many have said means that they are unable to provide for themselves or their families without taking on other jobs. Works have also reportedly faced discrimination, harassment and hostel work environments.

The impending event could cause significant disruptions, not only the airports where the workers will be marching out their protest, but also in other airports.