FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD AIRPORT WORKERS HOLDING PRE-LABOR DAY STRIKE OVER POOR WAGES AND WORK...
Source: New times
BY CHRIS JOSEPH
Citing what they call repeated labor violations by airline contractors, airport workers are holding a Pre-Labor Day Strike at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport on Tuesday. American Airlines, Southwest, JetBlue, and Spirit are among the airlines expected to be impacted by the strike, which began at 5:30 Tuesday morning in protest over what Service Employees International Union say are perpetual labor violations by airline contractors, G2 Secure Staff and Eulen America.
The SEIU says that workers are being kept from organizing to improve their poor working conditions and low pay.
"We simply cannot survive on the wages we are earning,” says Sandra Smith, a wheelchair attendant who works for G2 and Eulen. “I work more than 50 hours a week, assisting wheelchair bound passengers. I love my job and I love helping people. But it’s not fair that I make so little that I can only afford to live in a one-room apartment with my grown daughter. I certainly can’t afford to go to the doctor if I get sick. All we’re asking for are livable wages, decent benefits, and the respect and dignity we deserve on the job.”
Sandra says she takes two hour bus ride every day to get to work at FLL, where she earns $8.50 and $8.05 an hour, qualifying her for food stamp benefits.
FULL story at link. FULL title: FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD AIRPORT WORKERS HOLDING PRE-LABOR DAY STRIKE OVER POOR WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS
courtesy SEIU
Read more: http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/fort-lauderdale-hollywood-airport-workers-holding-pre-labor-day-strike-over-poor-wages-and-working-conditions-7222910
From SEIU: Early this morning, contracted workers at Ft. Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport employed by contractors G2 Secure Staff and Eulen America went on strike to protest repeated labor violations. Both companies, which service Spirit, Southwest, American Airlines, JetBlue, and others, are currently under federal investigation by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for violating workers’ rights.
For over two years, FLL airport workers have been organizing for living wages and better treatment on the job. Salaries are so low that 29% of workers at FLL must rely on some of government assistance, including food stamps or housing assistance.
Worker will also rally outside the Broward County Commissioners Meeting today, where elected officials, faith leaders, and community members joined workers in demanding they finally close the loophole in the County’s Living Wage Ordinance, which allows contractors to maximize their profits by shortchanging its employees.
The commission introduced a bill in May to extend the ordinance to include contracted airport workers and commissioned a study on the issue. But two more motions are needed in order to advance the measure and the study, which should have been done in July, is still not completed. Advocates say once this loophole is closed, it will inject an additional $14 million per year into Broward's economy and communities.
Can you help stand with these workers by signal boosting on social media?
Sample tweets
Striking FLL workers deserve justice on the job! RT to stand with them! #FLLonStrike #PovertyDoesntFly [post with attached image]
FLL airport workers deserve a raise. Sign petition: tell @browardinfo close the loophole, extend #livingwage to all! justiceatfll.org
Sample Facebook post
Today, days before the Labor Day travel weekend, Ft. Lauderdale Airport workers are saying enough and enough and have gone on strike to protest repeated labor violations by contractors G2 Secure Staff and Eulen America. These wheelchair attendants, baggage handlers, cabin cleaners and others, earn an average of $8.14 an hour and have no meaningful benefits and have faced threats and retaliation for trying to organize. I/We stand with them in their fight for justice and good jobs at FLL. [post with attached image]
