April 7, 2015
By LaborPress
Baggage handlers, airplane cleaners, and other nonunion workers at Philadelphia International Airport staged a one-day strike Apr. 2, demanding that the airline contractors they work for obey the city’s living-wage law.
The city passed a living-wage law last year that requires employers at city-owned facilities to pay at least $10.88 an hour, but the airport workers, employed by contractors Prospect Airport Services and PrimeFlight Airline Services, make as low as $7.25. "Who can feed four kids off of $7.25?" said baggage handler Sarina Santos. "I have a mortgage, car insurance, like everybody else. We are here for respect and more money, and we ain't going nowhere until we get our money." They also want affordable health benefits and sick days. Read more
