SEIU Local 73 Shows Out for “Good Jobs for Good Airports” Day of Action

Airports keep the world, economy and communities connected. But it wouldn’t be possible without the workers who make it happen. Currently, airport service workers are facing a crisis created by corporate greed. That’s why on Thursday, December 8, SEIU Local 73 members and staff stood together with fellow unions in the fight to get the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act passed.

Wages for airport service workers have moved little over the past 20 years. As airport profits continue to reach all-time highs, workers struggle to afford basics like housing and groceries. On top of low pay, many workers face a lack of healthcare, insufficient staffing and inadequate protections on the job.

“For months, Swissport Cargo workers have filed complaints regarding safety hazards that put their health at risk […] Swissport Cargo must be held accountable. If it won’t be done by government entities, the workers will do it themselves,” said SEIU Local 1 President Genie Kastrup.

Airport workers and their allies are therefore urging Congress takes the necessary steps to pass the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act. If passed, workers across the country–regardless of background or ZIP code–will see meaningful raises in wages and benefit standards.

“Airport service workers are vital to keeping our world connected, our airports running, and passengers safe. For nearly three years, they’ve sacrificed their health as essential workers, only to be treated as anything but that,” says Mary Kay Henry, President SEIU. “Now, airport workers are seizing their power alongside working people across the economy – from Starbucks to Amazon, fast-food to home care and beyond – to demand more from their employers and elected officials. Congress must back their demands and pass the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act.”