
Contract workers employed
by JetBlue subcontractors FSS and ReadyJet at Boston Logan Airport ended
their strike for union representation, better wages and benefits after
two days.
Although
they have yet to reach an agreement with their employers, the workers
met with Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration officials who said they
would be putting pressure on MassPort and the two subcontractor
companies to allow their workers to form a union.
The
strike also gained support from Mayor Martin Walsh, Boston city
councilors and state legislators Rep. Adrian Madaro and Sen. Joseph
Boncore.
Amity
Paye, spokeswoman for 32BJ SEIU, the service labor union that has helped
organize the strike, said that the airport workers decided to end the
strike “after seeing the amount of support on the local and state
level.”
She added,
“They haven’t seen that level of political support in the past.”
However, as the workers continue to meet with elected officials over the
next couple of weeks to find a solution, Paye said, “Their fight isn’t
over ... they were very clear with that.”
The
employees, who help run the airport as cabin cleaners, wheelchair
attendants, baggage handlers and skycaps, began leaving their posts last
Wednesday evening and allege that their employers have used threats,
intimidation and illegal surveillance to interfere with their organizing
for workplace changes.
They also say they have
experienced 10-hour work days with only half-hour breaks and instances
of wage theft from their companies.
During
the previous week, about 100 airport workers had many participated over
the two voted to strike, but it’s unclear how days, as airport
officials said only a handful walked off, while strike organizers
estimated the number In front of the Airport Blue to be more than 150.
Line
T station last Wednesday night, around 35 airport workers and their
allies marched in a picket line, as rain poured down, demanding justice.
One
of the demonstrators, experience working as a cabin Sonia Ramirez, 46,
described her cleaner. “We want a better future for our families and a
better salary for everyone,” she told the Banner in Spanish. “We go to
work whether it rains, snows, there’s a storm, whatever. They expect us
to give our all, but for us, there are no benefits.”
Official support
Earlier
that afternoon, District 1 City Councilor Lydia Edwards filed a
resolution to support the sage to FSS and ReadyJet that airport workers
and send a mes- “enough is enough.”
“The
fact that these companies operate in such a way in this great city of
Boston is shameful. We as a city council need to stand together and say,
that is not how we allow business to be done here,” said Edwards,
addressing her colleagues, the airport workers and 32BJ SEIU members in
the Iannella Chamber in City Hall.
As the council voted
unanimously to approve the resolution, At-Large City Councilor Ayanna
Pressley offered additional remarks about why it was important. “It’s an
affirmation and reiteration of our values,” she said.
She
told the workers sitting in the public stands, “I want to thank every
one of you for your bravery because we recognize you are risking your
own livelihood and your ability to provide for your families.”
Mayor
Walsh, Rep. Madaro and Sen. Boncore have publicly condemned FSS’ and
ReadyJet’s business practices and voiced support for the workers.
“We
and the companies owe you respect, we owe you fair treatment and the
same rights every other person wants in their life, every single day,”
said Walsh at a 32BJ SEIU press conference two weeks ago.
Previous violations
Both
ReadyJet and FSS have been fined multiple times in the past for wage
theft and safety violations at Logan Airport and charged by the National
Labor Relations Board for interfering with workers’ right to organize.
Roxana Rivera, vice president of 32BJ SEIU, spoke with the Banner at City Hall last Wednesday.
“The
workers want a fair process for them to be able to choose to have a
union without interference from the company, without fear,” she said.
“They provide critical services to passengers and they want to better
those jobs so that it will make for a better and safer airport for
everybody.”