Joined by hundreds of supporters, airport workers from O’Hare International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport employed by subcontractors – Prospect Airport Services, PrimeFlight Aviation Services – called on United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz to invest in responsible contractors that provide good jobs and in turn offer United Airlines passengers great service. After pressure from hundreds of protesters, Munoz agreed to meet with the airport workers to discuss low standards for workers and passengers alike. While contracted workers are the front-line employees of United Airlines’ operations at Chicago O’Hare, Newark Liberty, and Los Angeles International Airports, United Airlines allows the subcontractors they work for to continue to pay workers poverty wages with no meaningful benefits.
“Our country deserves world-class airports, but airlines like United Airlines are unwilling to invest in the working people who help keep them profitable,” said SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff. “This needs to change. O’Hare should be an economic engine for our entire city, and United needs to step up for working people at our nation’s airports.” Airport workers believe that United Airlines’ passengers deserve more and also share the company’s commitment to providing employees with the tools that they need to give customers great service. However, when United Airlines allows bottom-feeder contractors, like Prospect and PrimeFlight, to undercut jobs at the airport, it undermines the safety and security of all.
