WHO: UNITE HERE union leaders in the airline catering industry, and 32BJ SEIU, CWA airline contracted service workers
WHAT: House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation hearing on Oversight of Working Conditions for Airline Ground Workers
WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2167
WHEN: Wednesday, January 15 at 10:00 a.m. ET
***LIVESTREAM LINK AVAILABLE: onejob.org/hearing
WHY: Following a year of escalating public actions, airline catering workers who prepare, pack, and deliver food and beverages served abroad airlines such as American, Delta and United will bring their message demanding that major U.S. airlines take responsibility for the crisis of poverty wages and unaffordable healthcare in the industry straight to members of Congress. Predominantly people of color and immigrants, catering workers earn some of the lowest wages in the airline industry, and many are unable to afford employer health care coverage because it is prohibitively expensive.
According to a survey of 2,240 out of approximately 14,000 airline catering workers that UNITE HERE conducted in 2019, nearly 1 in 3 workers depend on government care for either themselves or their children, 25% reported being uninsured, and 26% reported skipping or delaying doctor or hospital care, prescriptions, or other necessary medical treatment for themselves or their families in the past 12 months because of the cost their families would have to pay.
In June, more than 15,000 airline catering workers voted to authorize a strike if released by the National Mediation Board. UNITE HERE members in cities across the country have participated in airport protest actions, including a national mobilization on November 26 that saw 200 people participate in civil disobedience at seven airports.
Contact Diana Hussein, 313-460-3119, [email protected]
