Philadelphia International Airport’s baggage handlers and other non-union employees went on strike and began protesting early Thursday morning.
More than 500 employees from local SEIU 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union are expected to join the protests for an increase in minimum wage they say hasn’t been implemented despite a successful ballot initiative in May. Voters approved an initiative for a minimum-wage hike to $10.88 per hour.
Employees say that contractors Prospect Airport Services and PrimeFlight Airline Services are paying as little as $7.25 per hour, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.
Rob Hill, vice president of SEIU 32BJ, told a local ABC affiliate that Mayor Michael Nutter also signed an executive order for city contracts and subcontracts to include pay of at least $12 per hour.
“The company’s continue to ignore that, and the workers have said they’ve finally had enough,” Mr. Hill told the station.
The have been no delays reported at Philadelphia International Airport
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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