Chaos is predicted for 17 major US airports as hundreds of airline catering workers are planning to protest and hold demonstrations on Tuesday 26 November.
UNITE HERE, which represents airline catering workers, expects the number of demonstrators at each airport to range from about 200 to as many as 1,000 at JFK.
will be, collectively, the largest worker-led demonstration at U.S. airports in years, workers and supporters will escalate call for American Airlines to address poverty wages, expensive health care.
“We don’t want to affect customers,” Said UNITE HERE president D. Taylor,
“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.”
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, American 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.
This past summer UNITE HERE airline catering workers at 33 airports voted overwhelmingly to strike when released by the National Mediation Board. Federal mediation of contract negotiations continues.
“You can’t take on every airline,” Taylor added.
“You have to deal with the largest. If American agrees that helps overall.”
