As profits soar for US airlines, 20,000 US airline food workers refuse to continue to accept lousy wages and substandard healthcare.
This week is the busiest time to travel by air of the year and UNITE HERE members who work in the airline catering industry are standing together, speaking out, and fighting back! While major airlines have made billions in profits, their catering employees struggle to pay bills and afford health care. Starting today, they are protesting at Dallas-Fort Worth International, Los Angeles International, National Airport near Washington, D.C., and 14 other airports to say: One job should be enough. Click here to hear the stories from airline workers who are fighting back.
UNITE HERE issued a media advisory that explains the conditions workers are facing, which spurred this week of action: A survey of 581 out of approximately 4,100 Sky Chefs workers serving American Airlines at the carrier’s hubs found that 30% of the workers were uninsured and 35% rely on government-subsidized healthcare for themselves or their kids. Meanwhile, America reported a 2018 annual profit of $1.9 billion. Previous large-scale demonstrations calling attention to American Airlines have already taken place this year in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Dallas-Ft. Worth—where over 50 were arrested in a civil disobedience near American Airlines’ headquarters and largest hub airport.
TAKE ACTION
Show your support for airline workers by signing this petition.
In an article in Forbes, UNITE HERE President D. Taylor explained why airline catering workers are picketing:
“We don’t want to affect customers,” Taylor said in an interview. “We do want to get a message out. Our goal is to bring to light what’s going on with the plight of workers. We’re trying to say that airline companies make billions and we want a piece of the American dream.”
Here are the airports where actions are taking place:
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Chicago-O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW)
Denver International Airport (DIA)
Detroit Wayne International Airport (DTW)
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
Houston Bush International Airport (IAH)
Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Minneapolis International Airport (MSP)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK, New York)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA-TAC)
Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Header photo courtesy of UNITE HERE
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