Service workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in Charlotte, North Carolina, went on strike Monday morning after an overnight vote in favor of the move, which comes as the Transportation Security Administration says there may be record Thanksgiving travel this year.
Local outlet WSOC-TV said the strike involves workers employed by American Airlines contractors ABM and Prospect Airport Services, who are unhappy with “unfair labor practices and poverty wages.”
BOEING STRIKE ENDS AFTER LABOR UNION ACCEPTS CONTRACT OFFER, ANNOUNCES RETURN TO WORK
Airport service workers include cabin cleaners, ramp workers, lavatory workers, wheelchair attendants and trash truck drivers.
Many of those workers earn as little as $12.50 an hour, which is not considered a livable wage for a single person with no children in Charlotte, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) officials told ABC News.
“Airport service workers make holiday travel possible by keeping airports safe, clean, and running,” the SEIU said. “Despite their critical role in the profits that major corporations enjoy, many airport service workers must work two to three jobs to make ends meet.”
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The strike began at 5 a.m. Monday and is expected to continue over Thanksgiving week when the airport is set to see record travel, according to airport officials. Between Nov. 21 and Dec. 2, the airport predicts approximately 1.02 million passengers will depart from CLT – a 7% increase from 2023.
In addition to walking off the job Monday morning, striking workers will also hold a rally at 11 a.m. and a 1 p.m. “Strikesgiving” lunch.
“We recognize the seriousness of airport workers striking, particularly during the busy holiday travel season, and remain fully committed to addressing concerns and minimizing any disruptions to our operations during this critical time,” Prospect Airport Services told FOX Business in a statement.
ABM told FOX Business, “All year, but particularly at this busy travel time, we recognize the important role our team members play in the travel ecosystem and that is why we maintain numerous avenues for all team members to communicate any concerns or issues they might have. This includes a general open door policy for managers at our worksite, on-site human resources representatives, and a national hotline which employees can access by telephone or internet to report any concerns, even anonymously. We keep employee safety and job satisfaction at the forefront of everything we do, and we are committed to addressing concerns swiftly.”
“We are in communication with our team members and taking steps to minimize any potential impact to travelers,” ABM said.
Fox Business has reached out to SEIU for comment.
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