Charlotte airport workers on strike Thanksgiving week
Charlotte airport workers plan to strike during busy Thanksgiving travel week
Source: DANIEL SLIM / Getty
Service workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport have gone on strike during the busy Thanksgiving travel week to protest low wages.
Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services began the work stoppage on Monday, demanding an end to poverty wages and respect on the job.
“We’re on strike today because this is our last resort. We can’t keep living like this,” ABM cabin cleaner said in a statement. “We’re taking action because our families can’t survive.”
The workers, who provide services for American Airlines, say they can’t afford basic necessities and are living paycheck to paycheck.
Most of them earn between $12.50 and $19 an hour, which is well below the living wage for a single person with no children in the Charlotte area, union officials said.
The strike is expected to continue throughout Monday, with workers holding a rally and a “Strikesgiving” lunch.
Despite the record number of passengers expected at the airport, ABM has stated it will take measures to minimize disruptions from the demonstrations.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport officials have said they expect an estimated 1.02 million passengers departing the airport between last Thursday and the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Source: CBS News
