Service workers at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport went on strike Monday morning during the busy week of Thanksgiving travel, according to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services voted in favor of the strike demanding higher wages Friday, according to The Associated Press (AP).
On strike ✈️ Workers at @CLTAirport voted to strike days before Thanksgiving over what they call “unfair labor practices and poverty wages.”
Full story: https://t.co/8Ioa38mMkz pic.twitter.com/ZjlVBXtq4a
— WBTV News (@WBTV_News) November 25, 2024
The SEIU announced the pause in work early Monday as dissatisfied employees protested for “an end to poverty wages and respect for the job during the holiday travel season,” the AP reported.
Several hundred employees were expected to participate. They are expected to maintain the work stoppage for 24 hours, according to union spokesman Sean Keady. The number of employees taking part is uncertain, union spokeswoman Ana Tinsly said.
Services including cleaning the inside of aircraft, disposing garbage and escorting disabled passengers are expected to come to a halt as ABM and Prospect Airport Service workers strike.
“We’re on strike today because this is our last resort. We can’t keep living like this,” Priscilla Hoyle, a cabin cleaner for ABM, told the outlet in a statement. “We’re taking action because our families can’t survive.”
Airport workers on strike told the outlet they previously expressed concerns about an inability to afford the cost of food and housing. Union officials said most of the employees make between $12.50 and $19 an hour. (RELATED: America’s Largest Turkey Company Launches New Product That Could Change Thanksgiving For Many)
Aggrieved airport workers also plan to host a late-morning rally followed by a “Strikesgiving” lunch, according to union officials. The representatives said the lunch would replace “the Thanksgiving meal that many of the workers won’t be able to afford later this week.”
“Airport service workers make holiday travel possible by keeping airports safe, clean, and running,” the union told the AP. “Despite their critical role in the profits that major corporations enjoy, many airport service workers must work two to three jobs to make ends meet.”
ABM addressed the workers’ walkout by promising to minimize disruptions to operations.
“At ABM, we appreciate the hard work our team members put in every day to support our clients and help keep spaces clean and people healthy,” a company statement issued the week before the strike said.
Prospect Airport Services also acknowledged the severity of the strike during the congested holiday travel season.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
