By: Ashmar Mandou

On Wednesday morning, SEIU Local 1, O’Hare Airport workers, Chair of the Chicago Black Caucus Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer (6), Chair of the Latino Caucus Alderman George Cárdenas (12), and Aldermen Chris Taliaferro (29), Proco Joe Moreno (1), Carlos Rosa (35), Rick Muñoz (22), David Moore (17), John Arena (45), called on the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and the Illinois Department of Labor to investigate and address allegations of extensive wage theft at O’Hare Airport. The charges, which were filed on behalf of the workers by SEIU Local 1, include 60 minimum wage ordinance violations and 20 Department of Labor violations.

O’Hare workers vocalized the immense pressure and harassment from contractors like Scrub Inc. and Prospect Airport Services that facilitates wage theft. Already struggling to get by on minimum wage or less, these workers outlined how wage theft inhibits their ability to build a better life for themselves and their families. “Many O’Hare workers are already struggling to get by on minimum wage or less, and stealing their wages is just ludicrous,” said SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff. “Any income lost through wage theft is money that isn’t going towards paying the bills, making rent on time, or putting food on the table for their families.” “If we want O’Hare to be a world-class airport, we need to make sure it treats workers like me right,” said Prospect passenger service assistant and security officer Oliwia Pac. “We’re asking the city and state to step in and make sure O’Hare workers are protected from wage theft.” Wage theft occurs in many forms, from minimum wage violations to pressuring workers to work off the clock. With most O’Hare workers already struggling to make ends meet, the wage theft they experience can be devastating.