Airport Workers Press Airports Authority for $15 Wage

Political, religious and community allies joined hundreds of airport workers Wednesday in demanding a $15 hourly wage. "The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has the power to make airline contractors pay a living wage," said Virginia Delegate Jennifer Boysco (86th Dist.) at a mid-afternoon rally at National Airport organized by SEIU 32BJ. “"If Virginia is to continue moving forward, we can't leave airport workers behind," added Delegate Alfonso Lopez (49th Dist). And Rev. Graylan Hagler called on the airports to "have a backbone and meet a standard of dignity and respect." The mostly-immigrant workers also made a moving tribute to their home countries struggling with war and famine, raising their crossed arms in support. "32BJ! When we fight, we win!" the workers chanted in the historic Terminal A lobby before marching silently through the airport to deliver a letter to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority signed over by over 1,000 contracted wheelchair attendants, skycaps, baggage handlers, checkpoint agents and cabin cleaners, some of whom earn as little as $6 per hour plus unreliable tips. 
- report/photos by Chris Garlock/Union City; click below for the full report and more photos

---

“We hope that soon our fight will be coming to an end,” said Legesse Woldearegay, a security officer at National in a letter that was delivered along with the signed petition. “And that our light will shine on the dome of MWAA headquarters and that our voices will be heard in the board of directors’ office.” While hundreds rallied outside the MWAA, head of human resources Anthony J. Vegliante welcomed a delegation of workers and union leaders and told them “I hear you and I will share your message with the CEO and the board.”
 
The workers were part of a nationwide strike in April to protest alleged unlawful treatment by their employers, Eulen American and Airport Terminal Services. Contracted airport workers have received support from numerous high-level leaders including presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Congressmen Gerry Connolly and Don Beyer as well as actor and anti-poverty activist Danny Glover. In June, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez walked through DCA with workers who shared with him their stories of struggling to make ends meet on poverty wages and demonstrated how they keep the airport safe, clean and running smooth. 
- report/photos by Chris Garlock/Union City; click here for the Washington Post report