Washington DC – UNITE HERE Hospitality Workers demonstrated in 20 Airports across the country, calling on U.S. Airlines to end low wages and unaffordable health care in the Airline Catering Industry.
The Workers provide inflight food and beverage services for major airlines including American, Delta, United and Alaska. Though their work is essential to airline operations, requiring skill and precision to prevent flight delays and ensure food safety, Workers report that they earn unlivable wages and that the Employer-Provided Health Care Plan is too expensive.
Informational picketing took place at airports in Chicago (O’Hare), Baltimore, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Denver, Boston, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, New York (JFK), Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Miami and Orlando. Protests will continue in several airports. Protest activity, including one in Los Angeles, will continue until workers secure their new contract, UNITE HERE! Representatives said.
Erika Hernandez, a Driver for LSG Sky Chefs at O’Hare Airport in Chicago, said: “My Co-Workers and I are taking action because our work benefits the airlines and it’s not right that they should be making billions in profits while I have to choose every day between working so I can afford the things my family needs or actually spending time with them. Both my husband and I work for Sky Chefs, and we work as much as we can. Sometimes that means working seven days a week, twelve hours per day. We work that much because with the wages we earn if we didn’t there wouldn’t be enough money to pay for things like our mortgage or car insurance. But I wish I didn’t have to work so much because I want to be able to be home to make memories with my kids before they grow up. I see other catering kitchens and the workers there are earning more and they have benefits like low-cost health insurance. Now, it’s our turn at Sky Chefs, and the airlines can act to make sure that all Workers who make their flights possible are treated the same.”
Meanwhile, American, Delta, and United – combined, made over $46.2 billion in revenue last quarter, which was record breaking revenue for American and Delta.
Sky Chefs Workers have been working to negotiate a new contract with improved wages and benefits since their contract became amendable at the end of 2018.
Last year, Workers with Sky Chefs’ primary competitor, Gate Gourmet, successfully won a life-changing new contract with significant raises and better, affordable health care.
“Sky Chefs Workers deserve great wages and affordable health care,” UNITE HERE President Gwen Mills said. “After being deemed ‘essential’ during the pandemic, they have gone years without a contract. Meanwhile, the multi-billion-dollar Airline Industry reports record revenue from the flights that Sky Chefs Workers service. Our Members should not be forced to choose between food and health care. They will keep fighting until they win what they deserve.”
To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: “It’s Our Turn!”: Hundreds of Airline Catering Workers Picket Major Airlines At Airports Nationwide : UNITE HERE!
