Travelers set to pass through Chicago's O'Hare International Airport this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday can breathe a sigh of relief. Because, according to CNN Money, the hundreds of airport employees who voted in favor of a strike have scheduled their protest for Nov. 29.
In a press conference Monday, a spokeswoman for the Service Employees International Union said the decision was made to boost public support.
"It was never their intent to disrupt travel," the spokeswoman said via CNN. "They do want to gain public support."
Last week, TravelPulse senior writer Donald Wood reported that approximately 500 baggage handlers, cabin cleaners, janitors and wheelchair attendants agreed to the strike, which they hope will result in a new $15 per hour wage.
"After building their case for $15 and union rights, O'Hare workers are ready to do whatever it takes to make sure the city, their employers and the airlines listen to their concerns," said the workers in a statement.
[READMORE] READ MORE: Are These the Worst Airports for Holiday Travel? [/READMORE]
While it's now clear that the strike won't impact holiday travel this week, it does remains to be seen just how long the strike will last.
Having hosted a whopping 77 million passengers last year, O'Hare holds the title of the second-busiest airport in America, trailing only Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Last week, AAA projected that air travel will increase 1.6 percent during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday compared to last year, with roughly 3.7 million Americans expected to fly to their holiday destinations in 2016.
Topics From This Article to Explore
