SFO Food Workers End Strike After Reaching Deal for Higher Pay

Sep. 29—San Francisco International Airport food workers on Wednesday ended a three-day strike after winning "significant raises" under the terms of a new contract, the workers' union said.

Around 1,000 workers stopped work and shut down most of the eateries at the airport, after months of unproductive contract negotiations. A tentative deal between workers and a group of restaurants was struck Wednesday night and is expected to be ratified Sunday. More details will be released after the vote.

The majority of workers make $17.05 per hour, which many said isn't enough to live on, forcing some to work multiple jobs.

"This victory shows the world that fast-food jobs can in fact be good, family-sustaining jobs, and it's all because workers had the courage to strike," Anand Singh, president of Unite Here Local 2, said in a statement. "After three years without a raise, SFO's fast-food workers were tired of working two or even three jobs just to survive — so they took their lives into their own hands and won a better future."

A representative of the restaurant owners couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The deal also maintains the workers' family health care coverage, which workers said was critical to have during the pandemic.

"Restaurants are starting to reopen. Hours and food offerings may still be limited today as workers and deliveries return to normal schedules," SFO

said in a statement.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @rolandlisf

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