Workers at Charlotte airport go on strike during Thanksgiving travel week

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WCSC/WBTV) – Air passengers departing from Charleston International Airport to connecting flights in Charlotte need to be aware of a strike that began Monday morning.
Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte Douglas Airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike during a busy week of Thanksgiving travel to demand higher wages.
The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, union spokesperson Sean Keady said.
Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs.
Workers say they previously complained that they can’t afford basic necessities, including food, housing or car repairs. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn between $12.50 and $19 an hour, union officials said.
“We’re on strike today because this is our last resort. We can’t keep living like this,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said in a statement. “We’re taking action because our families can’t survive.”
Several hundred workers were participating in the work stoppage. About 800 workers were affected by the union’s push for higher wages, but an exact number who walked off work was unclear, union spokesperson Ana Tinsly said.
Charlotte airport officials have said this holiday travel season is expected to be the busiest on record. An estimated 1.02 million passengers will depart the airport between last Thursday and the Monday after Thanksgiving.
AAA estimates a total of 6 million people will fly domestically during the Thanksgiving holiday, a 2% increase over last year and a nearly 11% increase over 2019.
Charlotte Douglas officials said in a statement Monday morning that they were “monitoring and actively engaged with all partners to ensure terminal operations are not impacted,” noting that the striking workers aren’t employed by the city’s aviation department.
In addition to walking off the job, striking workers plan to hold a late-morning rally and a “Strikesgiving” lunch “in place of the Thanksgiving meal that many of the workers won’t be able to afford later this week,” union officials said.
“Airport service workers make holiday travel possible by keeping airports safe, clean, and running,” the union said.
ABM said it would take steps to minimize disruptions from any demonstrations.
“At ABM, we appreciate the hard work our team members put in every day to support our clients and help keep spaces clean and people healthy,” the company said in a statement last week.
Prospect Airport Services said last week that the company recognizes the seriousness of the potential for a strike during the busy holiday travel season.
Workers are expected to return to work for their 5 a.m. shifts on Tuesday.
FlightAware data shows that as of 11:30 a.m. Monday, 44 flights had been delayed and none were canceled, WBTV reported.
Copyright 2024 WCSC/WBTV. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.