30 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • AUGUST 2021
AIRPORT WORKERS RATIFY CONTRACT
BY BILLY PARRY
After negotiations that lasted more
than 3 months, a committee representing
more than 10,000 mostly Black
and immigrant airport workers across
JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports
overwhelmingly ratified a new 3-year
contract that averted a strike.
As passenger levels continue to rise,
the contract is set to provide the contracted
airport workers with guidelines
on the implementation of the
Healthy Terminals Act (HTA), which
will provide healthcare to frontline
airport workers, in addition to improved
health and safety guidelines
and increased protections against
discriminations on the job.
“This contract not only addresses our
current needs, but also sets us up for
a future where we can avoid many of
the devastations we faced during the
pandemic,” said Venice Russell, a cabin
cleaner at JFK and a member of the
bargaining committee. “For airport
workers, healthcare justice is a racial
justice issue. As we continue to keep
the airports running, having healthcare,
discrimination protections and
the affirmation that essential workers
are valued is going to allow us to
move forward, rebuild, and lift up our
families and communities during this
recovery and beyond.”
Airport workers represented by 32BJ
Service Employees International (32BJ
SEIU) include contracted passenger
service representatives, cabin and
terminal cleaners, baggage handlers,
security officers, wheelchair attendants,
and skycaps working for 23
airline contractors. The contract also
includes extension of recall rights for
workers laid off during the Covid-19
pandemic.
“Throughout the negotiations, the airport
workers garnered support from
state and local elected officials including
Healthy Terminals Act sponsors
state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi and
Assembly member Alicia Hyndman,”
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards said. “I want to congratulate
32BJ and our airport workers on the
ratification of a new contract implementing
the HTA. Airport employees
have risked their lives to keep our
airports safe and our economy strong
during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it
is so important that the new contract
contains provisions protecting these
vital workers’ health.”
On July 1, healthcare coverage through
the HTA kicked off at JFK and LaGuardia
airports for more than 2,000
workers who have worked through
the pandemic. The historic, statewide
legislation — the first of its kind in the
nation — provides a benefit supplement
that can provide meaningful and
sustainable healthcare benefits with
no monthly co-premium for airport
workers.
Labor management committees will also
now meet quarterly and have greater
access to information to ensure
compliance with health and safety
guidance, including CDC, Department
of Health, and OSHA regulations, as
well as review policies pertaining to
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),
social distancing, contact tracing and
other procedures.
The contract includes protections
against discrimination based on
natural hair or hairstyles closely associated
with racial, ethnic or cultural
identities such as braids, dreadlocks,
or Afros. The bargaining committee
also preserved Martin Luther King Jr.
Day as a paid holiday, widely regarded
as a major victory in the airport workers’
fight for racial justice.
“Our bargaining committee worked
tirelessly to achieve this strong new
contract, and we are happy to see that
the hard work paid off,” 32BJ SEIU
President Kyle Bragg said. “Airport
workers play a key role in our post
pandemic recovery. After a year that
was defined by calls for racial justice
and the safety of our essential workers,
this contract will propel our airports
to a recovery that puts working
people first.”
This article first appeared in the
Queens Courier.
STRIKE AVERTED
Airport workers rallied at JFK and LaGuardia airports demanding improvements in health and safety regulations and discrimination protections in their new
contract. (Photo Courtesy 32BJ)
“For airport workers, healthcare justice is a racial
justice issue,” said Venice Russell.
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
