As members of Congress returned to work last week, airport
service workers from more than 15 airports called out the worsening state
of U.S. air travel and demanded legislators take action in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization
to fix the issues impacting workers and travelers alike.
Workers at 16 airports across the country also spoke
directly with travelers within the past week. From John F. Kennedy International Airport to Miami International Airport to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, workers
playing essential roles within airports shared information on Good Jobs for
Good Airports, estimating that the national wage and benefit standards would
lift at least 10,000 airport service workers and their families out of poverty,
with minimal cost to the airlines and no cost to taxpayers.
Airport service workers from 12 cities then gathered in D.C.
and held a major lobby day last Tuesday, meeting with 15 senators’ representatives
to share their stories and press the urgency of action to finalize an FAA
Reauthorization bill that includes good jobs for blue-collar airport
service workers.
“This week, I joined my fellow Ohio airport service workers
for a meeting with Senator J.D. Vance’s team, to impress upon him the urgency of
the challenges we face on the job and demand he stand up for blue-collar
workers like me – the way he has for rail workers,” said Sandra Ellington, a janitor at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Ellington added, “I am proud of my job and keeping folks
flying safely – now it’s on Senator Vance, Senator Brown and all our elected
officials to do theirs and help build an air travel system we can all be proud
of.”
Members of Congress and their staff are also being reminded
of airport service workers’ demands during their commutes as decals installed
in key locations on Capitol Hill call out the need for this crucial measure.
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