AS THE BUSIEST TRAVEL WEEK OF THE YEAR BEGINS, SERVICE WORKERS AT CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARE OFF-THE-JOB. THE EMPLOYEES WENT ON STRIKE ON MONDAY.
OFFICIALS WITH THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, WHICH REPRESENTS HUNDREDS OF WORKERS, ANNOUNCED THE STRIKE EARLY MONDAY. THE WORKERS ARE EMPLOYED BY ABM INDUSTRIES AND PROSPECT AIRPORT SERVICES.
THE TWO COMPANIES WORK WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF AIRPLANES, REMOVE TRASH AND TRANSPORT PASSENGERS WHO NEED A WHEELCHAIR. SEVERAL HUNDRED WORKERS EARN BETWEEN $12.50 AND $19 PER HOUR. THE UNION ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THE WORKERS ARE DEMANDING “AN END TO POVERTY WAGES AND RESPECT ON THE JOB DURING THE HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON. “
MANAGERS OF THE CHARLOTTE AIRPORT EXPECT A LITTLE MORE THAN ONE-MILLION PASSENGERS TO DEPART FROM THE AIRPORT BETWEEN LAST THURSDAY AND THE MONDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING. MEANTIME, THE TSA IS PREDICTING RECORD AIR TRAVEL NATIONWIDE THIS THANKSGIVING WITH ABOUT 18 MILLION FLYERS TO BE SCREENED BY SECURITY FROM THIS TUESDAY THROUGH NEXT MONDAY DECEMBER 2ND. THAT’S AN INCREASE OF
6% FROM LAST YEAR.
THE TSA PREDICTS THIS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, ALONG WITH THE SUNDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, WILL BE THE THREE BUSIEST DAYS AT AIRPORTS.
PROSPECT AIRPORT SERVICES RESPONDED TO THE LABOR ACTION IN CHARLOTTE SAYING THE COMPANY RECOGNIZES THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR A STRIKE DURING THE BUSY HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON.
FOR ITS PART ABM SAID – “ WE APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK OUR TEAM MEMBERS PUT IN EVERY DAY TO SUPPORT OUR CLIENTS AND HELP KEEP SPACES CLEAN AND PEOPLE HEALTHY.” BUT THE UNION SAYS MANY OF THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE FORCED TO WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS, JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET.