O'Hare airport workers to strike next Tuesday
Hundreds of O'Hare International Airport workers seeking higher wages and benefits will strike Nov. 29, after Thanksgiving week, sparing holiday travelers the chaos a labor action could create.
"We respect families traveling to be together and that's why we're holding off on our strike," baggage handler Raquel Brito of Chicago said Monday at the airport.
Baggage handlers, cabin cleaners, janitors and wheelchair attendants, whose jobs are mainly subcontracted by airlines, announced the strike date with Service Employees International Union Local 1 officials at O'Hare. The workers are not represented by SEIU currently but said they seek a $15-an-hour wage along with health insurance and union rights.
"We take care of them like our own parents," said wheelchair attendant Fareed Syed of Itasca, describing how he and fellow workers help seniors navigate the airport.
The husband and father of two earns about $10.50 an hour. With no insurance and no sick days, "it's hard to make a living," Syed said. "You've got to pay the rent, pay for gas and you're living on minimum wages."
Chicago Department of Aviation "does not anticipate any disruption in service at Chicago's airports due to this development," spokesman Owen Kilmer said. "We remain committed to maintaining a work environment that is safe and healthy for employees and expect the same commitment from our contractors and partners."
When computers can't read luggage labels, Brito ensures bags are sent to the right flight. The $11.50 an hour she earns is quickly expended on supporting her extended family and paying for medical bills after being injured on the job. Little remains for tuition.
"I want to return to college and study to be a pastry chef," Brito said. "Hopefully, in a couple months I'll be going back to school."
SEIU Communications Specialist Nicholas Desideri said workers have pressured their employers for a year to improve conditions with no success and more than 500 voted to strike.
"This is about making sure we raise these standards so these can be good jobs where people have health care and can support a family," he said. "Turnover is astronomical."
American Airlines spokeswoman Leslie Scott said the carrier was working closely with subcontractors to prevent any disruptions.
"American supports better pay for workers across the board, but does not believe initiatives should target a specific group or industry. We also respect the right of employees and workers to organize, but we do not get involved in union representation discussions with our vendors and their employees," she said.
United Airlines officials said "we are taking the necessary steps to ensure a safe and on-time operation for our customers."