Unite Here, which represents about 35,000 workers at airports across the U.S., this week sent letters from several peer labor unions supporting airports’ efforts to pass an increase to the $4.50 passenger facility charge cap.
Leaders from nearly 30 unions in cities, states and regions across the U.S. expressed their support through letters and statements. They range from several chapters of the AFL-CIO to the Chicago Federation of Labor, the Boston Metropolitan Building Trades Council and the Southern Nevada Central Labor Council, and they represent workers who unload cargo, people who clean terminals and several other professional realms affecting airport operations.
It’s really common sense that airports that are self-governed should be able to support themselves financially as they need to, just as airlines are able to negotiate financial deals for themselves, says Bhav Tibrewal, senior research analyst with the Unite Here Airport Group.
“All of these folks are hospitality workers who really pride themselves on serving and taking care of the traveling public,” he says. “As the union for the workers whose job is it to look out for their success and really ensure the industry as a whole is succeeding in order for them to succeed, the PFC is really a common-sense issue for them and for us.”
Adam Yalowitz, a research analyst with Unite Here, has been studying the PFC issue. He says it’s disingenuous for airlines to fight against a PFC increase when many of the infrastructure projects that are needed in the airport industry are causing an increase in flight delays across the country.
Improved terminals and runways will help airports compete and ultimately help the union’s members, he says.
“We think the PFC is great at helping U.S. airports compete and creating good jobs for more hard-working Americans,” Yalowitz says.
Unite Here in June launched its Campaign for On-Time Flights. More information can be found at OnTimeFlights.org.
Tibrewal says Unite Here is talking with Airports Council International-North America to see how they might be able to work together in support of the PFC increase. ACI-NA and the American Association of Airport Executives have been working for more than a year to establish a coalition of partners fighting together to get a PFC increase passed.
