6
QUEENS WEEKLY, JULY 26, 2020
AIRPORT WORKERS RALLY AT JFK AIRPORT TO
DEMAND PASSAGE OF HEALTHY TERMINALS ACT
BY BILL PARRY
Dozens of airport service
workers rallied with
Councilman Donovan
Richards and Assemblywoman
Alicia Hyndman
outside JFK International
Airport Thursday demanding
the passage of
the Healthy Terminals
Act, a bill that would provide
tens of thousands of
workers with quality, affordable
health insurance.
Honoring the death of
Leland Jordan, a baggage
handler who died in April
after contracting COVID-
19, lawmakers dedicated the
legislation in his name and
called for swift passage.
“My dad was a giving
man who loved helping his
fellow workers,” Jordan’s
daughter Dazilia Anthony
said. “I know he would
have wanted us to continue
fighting so that all airport
workers have peace
of mind that they can go to
the doctor when they get
sick.”
Anthony also spoke of
the heartache of losing her
father while still having
to deal with the hospital
bills that his unaffordable
health insurance did not
cover.
“During the COVID-19
pandemic, essential airport
workers have risked
their lives simply by coming
into work to make a
living,” Hyndman said.
“So today, we’re honoring
Leland Jordan, a baggage
handler who was dedicated
Essential airport workers rally outside JFK calling for passage of the Healthy Terminals Act. Courtesy 32BJ SEIU
to passing the HTA
and making the airport
a better place to work.
New York cannot wait any
longer to pass this bill.
Thousands lack the most
important protection to
keep themselves and passengers
safe, health care. I
urge my colleagues to vote
to pass this bill so thousands
of people and their
families can take proper
care of themselves.”
The HTA would require
employers at New York
airports to compensate
workers with a $4.54 benefits
supplement that can
be used to acquire health
insurance. Many essential
workers are immigrants
and people of color who
are disproportionately affected
by COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease
Control note that the lack
of access to health insurance
is one of the factors
behind the disproportionate
impact of the coronavirus
on minority communities.
When compared
to whites, Hispanics are
almost three times more
likely to be uninsured, and
African Americans are almost
twice as likely.
“Essential airport
workers have been putting
their lives on the line every
day, securing terminals,
sanitizing bathrooms, and
ensuring that passengers
are safe,” 32BJ SEIU Vice
President Rob Hill said.
“Workers must not be left
behind as travelers once
again move through the
airports during the pandemic.
The workers who
check tickets, handle baggage,
push wheelchairs
and clean and sanitize
planes are at risk because
at the airport the world
comes to them.”
Vladimir Clairjeune
was a baggage handler at
JFK for more than 11 years
before he was laid off in
April.
“Millions of passengers
rely on frontline airport
workers every year for service
and safety,” he said.
“Without us, the airport
couldn’t keep their doors
open. We need the dignity
and respect we deserve —
healthcare — so we can
survive.”
Clairjeune’s coworker,
Freddy Briosco, chooses
between rent and medication
for his hypertension
every month.
“I am not alone. Thousands
of people who work
here have to make the
same choice, and it’s no
way to live,” Briosco said.
“I beg New York to pass
the Healthy Terminals
Act now so I can live with
dignity.”
The legislation would
enable 25,000 essential
airport workers to access
health insurance.
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by e-mail at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4538.
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