At the Dulles Airport Job Fair on Wednesday, contracted airport workers wearing shirts that read “Jobs with no benefits, are you sick?” peppered Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority reps with questions about why they don’t receive the same benefits as MWAA employees. As National Airport ranks #3 among U.S. airports and #8 worldwide with the most summer cancellations, contracted workers report that they believe they are understaffed and that they think lack of paid sick leave and employer-paid health care is behind the shortage. In 2018, MWAA enacted a policy that requires contractors to provide a living wage for service workers including, baggage handlers, cleaners and wheelchair agents. Likewise, says SEIU 32BJ, “MWAA also has the power to enact a policy requiring contractors to provide paid sick leave and health care benefits, which workers have been pushing for over two years.” In July, a prevailing wage law went into effect at Philadelphia International Airport that mandates $4.80 in healthcare benefits and a minimum of 11 days of paid holidays or time off. A dozen airports have requirements for healthcare or other supplemental benefits currently or will soon apply. “Those who lack health insurance can’t afford to go to the hospital, often dying as a result,” said DCA skycap Almaz Abera. “If I got hit by a car or a stray bullet, I’d tell the ambulance to take me to work, otherwise, I won’t have a job when I come back,” said Paul Blair, 71, Dulles terminal cleaner. Comments are closed.
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