Airport Workers to Protest Low Wages at Airports Around the World

The International Transport Workers’ Federation and the UNI Global Union announced that airport workers plan to hold demonstrations on October 2.  The protests are intended to call attention to the need for what the union terms fair wages.

The protests will take place at 40 airports in 13 countries. The list of airports includes Denver International, Frankfurt Airport, Los Angeles International, Newark Liberty International, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Schiphol Amsterdam airports.

The problem, according to the unions, is that airlines and airports use contract workers for jobs such as baggage handler, cabin cleaner, janitor, security officer, and wheelchair attendant, and these workers are often paid below-standard wage with no benefits such as health insurance.

Meanwhile the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International airports, will vote on Thursday on a plan to raise the minimum wage for all airport workers regardless of employer to $19 per hour by 2023.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)
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