The essential airport workers who clean airplanes, escort elderly and disabled passengers to their gates, and clean and secure our airports stood together and urged members of Congress to include the American people in the bailout—not just corporations—and they won. The stimulus deal reached by the Senate includes $3 billion to save jobs for the 125,000 contracted airport workers on the frontlines of the COVID19 epidemic.
“Contracted airport workers just showed that when we stick together, we can win for our families,” says Mary Kay Henry, President of SEIU. “This was an incredible show of union solidarity that serves as an example to working people everywhere. Now we’re calling on the airline industry to stop the layoffs of thousands of contracted airport workers.”
Airport workers are applauding Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Chairman Peter DeFazio and other members of Congress for responding to their demands to put working people first.
In an unprecedented victory, what started as a $60 billion airline bailout ended up with $29 billion going to airlines and $32 billion going to the people who keep our airports running every day.
"This is the power of a union. We stood together for our jobs and our families and we won,” says Andre Cooper, a cabin cleaner at Newark International Airport. “With this global crisis all around, this gives me a little peace of mind that my hard work will be rewarded."
While many workers will benefit, this bill is only a starting point for Congress as it addresses many new challenges facing our country during this crisis. Airport workers and other SEIU members are calling on Congress to ensure that every working American has paid sick days, affordable health care, and free coronavirus testing and treatment, no matter their immigration status, the color of their skin, or what kind of job they do.
