Hundreds rally to raise airport wages and support fired worker

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/articles/hundreds-rally-raise-airport-wages-and-support-fired-worker

By Randy Croce
December 5, 2014

BLOOMINGTON

Hundreds of workers and their supporters rallied at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to call for raising the minimum wage at the facility to $15 an hour and union rights. Many airport workers struggle to support themselves and their families on wages as low as $8 an hour.

Airport worker Abdi Ali spoke about the critical services that Delta sub-contractor Air Serv workers provide, such as wheel chair support, to elderly and disabled travelers. "Without Air Serv workers, many of our state's residents wouldn’t be able to visit their family - wouldn’t be able to use our airport," said Ali, contrasting this support with the low pay and lack of benefits these employees receive.

"As a mother of two, all the money I make goes into paying for food, rent, clothes and bus fare. I have to catch three buses to get to work, but I can't save for a car because there is no money. I only sleep a few hours at night because between work, travel and kids, I have no other time," said Randa Jama, a Wheelcahir Assistant for Air Serv.

The opposition that the 15 Now campaign faces was revealed when Kip Hedges, a baggage handler at Delta Airlines, was fired on Tuesday for his remarks in a Workday Minnesota video. He had stated that many Delta employees make less than $15 an hour and that even those who make more than that amount are concerned because low wages hurt everyone.

FULL story at link.

Published on Dec 6, 2014
http://www.workdayminnesota.org

BLOOMINGTON, MN - Hundreds of workers and their supporters rallied at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to call for raising the minimum wage at the facility to $15 an hour and union rights. Many airport workers struggle to support themselves and their families on wages as low as $8 an hour.

Airport worker Abdi Ali spoke about the critical services that Delta sub-contractor Air Serv workers provide, such as wheel chair support, to elderly and disabled travelers. "Without Air Serv workers, many of our state's residents wouldn’t be able to visit their family - wouldn’t be able to use our airport," said Ali, contrasting this support with the low pay and lack of benefits these employees receive.