“It’s Our Turn!”: Hundreds of Airline Catering Workers Picket Major Airlines At Airports Nationwide
NATIONWIDE—Hundreds of airline catering workers and their supporters spoke out in actions today at nearly 20 U.S. airports, calling on U.S. airlines to act to end low wages and unaffordable health care in the airline catering industry. The workers provide inflight food and beverage services for major airlines including American, Delta, United, and Alaska. They are members of UNITE HERE, the hospitality workers’ union.
“My coworkers and I are taking action today because our work benefits the airlines, and it’s not right that they should be making billions in profits while I have to choose every day between working so I can afford the things my family needs or actually spending time with them,” said Erika Hernandez, a driver for LSG Sky Chefs at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. “Both my husband and I work for Sky Chefs, and we work as much as we can. Sometimes that means working seven days a week, 12 hours per day. We work that much because with the wages we earn, if we didn’t there wouldn’t be enough money to pay for things like our mortgage or car insurance. But I wish I didn’t have to work so much because I want to be able to be home to make memories with my kids before they grow up. I see other catering kitchens and the workers there are earning more, and they have benefits like low cost health insurance. Now, it’s our turn at Sky Chefs, and the airlines can act to make sure that all of the workers who make their flights possible are treated the same.”
Airline catering workers prepare, pack, and deliver food and beverages served aboard flights for American, Delta, United, Alaska, and other major U.S. airlines. Though their work is essential to airline operations, requiring skill and precision to prevent flight delays and ensure food safety, workers report that they earn unlivable wages, and that the employer-provided health care plan is too expensive. Meanwhile, American, Delta, and United combined made over $46.2 billion in revenue last quarter. That was record breaking revenue for American and Delta.
Sky Chefs workers have been working to negotiate a new union contract with improved wages and benefits since their contract became amendable at the end of 2018. Last year, workers with Sky Chefs’ primary competitor, Gate Gourmet, successfully won a life-changing new contract with significant raises and better, affordable health care.
“Sky Chefs workers deserve great wages and affordable health care,” said UNITE HERE President Gwen Mills. “After being deemed ‘essential’ during the pandemic, they have gone years without a contract. Meanwhile, the multi-billion dollar airline industry reports record revenue from the flights that Sky Chefs workers service. Our members should not be forced to choose between food and healthcare. They will keep fighting until they win what they deserve.”
Informational pickets or leafletting took place at airports in Chicago (O’Hare), Baltimore, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Denver, Boston, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, New York (JFK), Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Miami, and Orlando. A picket at LAX Airport is scheduled for August 8. Protest activity will continue until workers secure their new contract.