2,000 Contract Airport Workers Go on Strike at Seven U.S. Hubs

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NBC News

by M. ALEX JOHNSON

Entering one of the busiest holiday travel weeks of the year, about 2,000 baggage handlers and other airport workers at seven of America's biggest hubs went on strike Wednesday night over pay and union rights.

The work action began at John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia in New York, Boston Logan, Chicago O'Hare, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood in Florida, Newark Liberty in New Jersey and Philadelphia, said the Service Employees International Union, which wants to unionize the contract workers.

The strike is expected to last at least through Thursday, said the union, which is seeking a minimum wage of $15 an hour for the contract workers and elimination of what it says is retribution by private contractors against employees seeking to unionize.

"Intimidation, harassment and antiworker tactics don't belong in airports," the union said.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/2-000-contract-airport-workers-go-strike-seven-u-s-n466041

[Gumboot]

1. Those baggage handlers and ramp workers...

... are paid little more than minimum wage. Not enough people know that.

Anyone working on an aircraft we're about to fly on deserves $15/hr at least, for their skill, training, and attention to detail. Not to mention getting the job done 24/7, in all weather conditions.

They're working on aircraft, FFS, not just flipping burgers.

One more great American industry being gutted & pared to the bone. We don't need a race to the bottom here.

[Ouray]

2. SEIU has been doing the Fight for 15 campaign,

and then does an 180 and endorses Clinton, forcing the Fight for 15 campaign to change their motto to "Fight for 15, I mean 12"

[joanbarnes]

3. These used to be good jobs, with benefits and a living wage. I know, I had one and so did four

family members. Support these folks and other industries that have 'died.' For maximum impact, I wish they would strike next week and over EVERY major travel holiday.