Congressman García Joins SEIU, Airport Service Workers on Good Jobs for Good Airports Day of Action
WASHINGTON, DC– Today, Congressman Jesús “Chuy'' García (IL-04), member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and co-founder of the Future of Transportation Caucus, joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry, SEIU 32BJ, airport service workers, and other allies on the U.S. Capitol grounds to demand action on the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act. Following is Congressman García’s statement:
“As a former Teamsters myself, I understand the persistent and ongoing challenges unions face to attain the dignity and respect their members deserve. Because of this — 7 months ago, I introduced a bill along with Rep. Holmes Norton, Senator Markey and Senator Blumenthal to improve the job quality for hundreds of thousands of airport service workers.
“This bill would prevent ANY - small, medium, and large hub airports from accessing federal funds unless airport service workers get the pay they deserve. It’s time to get up and speak out against corporate greed. And it’s time for Congress to legislate against it.
“This legislation is nothing short of life-changing for airport workers. Working people are the engines of our economy and they are rising up to demand the dignity and compensation they deserve for their essential labor.
“It’s the holiday season and millions of people will be going through airports on the way to see family and friends, and airport workers will be going the extra mile making sure we all travel safely. Yet, these workers, many of whom are Latino and Black, receive poverty wages and are barely making ends meet.
“We need to make sure airport workers nationwide get the same benefits and wages that workers fought for and won at Chicago’s airports and a number of others across the country.
“Improving wages and benefits for frontline aviation workers would address issues across the industry such as high turnover rates, high occupational fatigue and stress, and persistent high overtime rates as a result of understaffing. In addition, this legislation will stabilize air travel by fixing staffing shortages, reducing turnover, and ensuring there is ample, trained staff driving a safe and secure aviation system.”
During the Good Jobs for Good Airports National Day of Action, workers who clean planes, handle baggage, assist wheelchair passengers and keep airports running held events and public activities at more than 15 airports across the country.
Pictures of the event can be found here.
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