Improved Working Conditions Promised For PDX Airport Workers
Friday, April 10, 2015
The decision comes after months of deliberations, complaints, and collaboration from the Port of Portland, workers, and local labor unions.
“I’m just so happy at last something changed,” said Kasil Kapriel, who works in the Airport pushing wheelchairs for passengers between flights. “We are all just so happy and thankful something is happening for people working at the airport.”
Over 10,000 subcontractors work at PDX Airport under other employers, for jobs such as airplane cabin cleaners or in food service. Since last fall, Port leaders have been discussing the initiative that would set standards for airport contractors and their employees who work at PDX Airport.
Airport subcontractors have been working for better working standards and wages with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 49 for the past two years.
SEIU 49 surveyed 148 subcontracted PDX Airport workers in 2014, finding 37 percent make minimum wage, while the median wage was $10.30 an hour. Close to 67 percent said their employer doesn’t offer health insurance.
“To make sure that my lights didn’t get cut off, Immigrant Refugee Community Organization paid my power bill this month,” Kapriel said in the survey. “We shouldn’t have to depend on public assistance to get by when we work at the nation’s best airport, an airport owned by all of us.”
The survey also revealed issues with working conditions. Half said they lacked needed supplies and 41 percent experienced exposure to chemicals. High turnover rates, understaffing, and fear of retaliation for speaking against conditions were other concerns highlighted in the survey.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been investigating one of the airport contractors—Prospect Airport Services—since the beginning of March this year. Airplane cargo, ramp, and cabin service employees filed a complaint against the company for unsafe working conditions.
Workplace Initiative
The Board of Commissioners passed the PDX Workplace Initiative, 7-1, which summarizes the problems recognized by the Port and how they will be moving forward to make sure contractors follow guidelines for employees. A worker benefit work group will carry on the process of establishing details in the following months, according to spokesperson Kama Simmons.
“It’s a nod to move forward. The workers benefits work group will be established and set in motion in the coming months,” Simmons said. “Folks have been reacting to it positively and with some concerns or giving feedback. It’s a very dynamic process, in a positive way.”
The First Step
Meg Niemi, president of the SEIU Local 49, said she is happy to see the Port of Portland taking steps to protect the workers who contribute to making the the airport a pleasant place.
“It’s a good first step, we are glad to move forward,” Niemi said. “They are changing how they deal with subcontractors and making sure there is a process.”
Yet Niemi said there were some areas SEIU wishes the Port had gone further to change, such as workforce retention to make sure workers keep jobs, even if contractors change. More details around wages and benefits was another concern.
Other airports around the United States have been adopting similar standards for their subcontracted employees, such as Los Angeles or San Jose. San Francisco led the way in the early 2000s, and saw reduced turnover and increased production.
SEIU 49 and the airport workers hope things will continue to move forward in a positive direction.
“By standing together, we’ve been able to get a fair minimum standards policy passed at our airport, and today’s vote means that our voices have been heard,” said Tina Cummins, a cabin cleaner at PDX Airport. “We hope the Port will continue to listen to workers on the ground and hold the airlines -– who do business here – accountable for making sure jobs at our airport are good jobs.”
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