Hundreds of airport workers nationwide, including those at Reagan National Airport, rallied Wednesday to demand better pay, health care and sick days.
Union members with 32BJ SEIU have worked steadily through the pandemic, they said, and the essential work is taking a mental and physical toll.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had workers all throughout the pandemic having to choose between going to work sick and missing a day鈥檚 work without pay.鈥� , the union鈥檚 executive vice president for the capital region. 鈥淣o worker should have to make that choice.鈥�
Union workers also created a pledge and delivered them to airlines at roughly 20 airports where the rallies occurred, asking airline executives for a promise to boost pay and offer health care.
Locally, the union delivered the pledge to American Airlines.
鈥淚 should be valued as a worker. I deserve to be paid a living wage,鈥� said one airport worker during the demonstration at Boston鈥檚 Logan International Airport. 鈥淭his whole time, I鈥檝e had depression. We are getting paid so low and I don鈥檛 have money to take care of my mental health. That鈥檚 very unfair to us.鈥�
In addition to the D.C. area, airport workers rallied in New York City, Miami, Philadelphia and Orlando. Baggage and wheelchair handlers, cabin custodians and some security officers make up the bulk of the union鈥檚 membership.
Contreras said that without health care and sick days, working through the pandemic for airport employees becomes a public health issue.
鈥淭hey interact with the general public,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese workers are not only risking themselves but their families and communities.鈥�
