Major labor dispute at NYC airports averted
Source: CBS News
By BRUCE KENNEDY
A labor dispute that threatened to disrupt operations at two of the nation's busiest airports was averted on Wednesday. The union working to help organize nonunion and subcontracted security workers and baggage handlers at New York's John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports said it reached a deal with their management.
The workers, employed by Aviation Safeguards (AVSG), a subsidiary of Command Security Corp. (MOC), had threatened to walk off the job after the company had allegedly threatened to fire employees who were organizing workers to demand better wages and benefits.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Command Security said Aviation Safeguards had "agreed to labor peace" with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) New York Local 32BJ as part of a process guaranteeing "that the employees of AVSG will maintain their right to choose representation or not."
Union officials said the affected airport security workers have been trying to win an order from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for "living wages of at least $15 dollars an hour and affordable health care for all subcontracted airport workers."
FULL story at link. Related video: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/workers-protest-for-15-minimum-wage
Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/major-labor-dispute-at-two-nyc-airports-averted/
