Sea-Tac airport workers demand good jobs

MORE THAN 300 workers and their supporters at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) rallied April 28 to demand "good jobs for all workers." About 4,000 workers--from baggage handlers to food service workers--don't have union contracts at Sea-Tac.

As a result, Sea-Tac workers across the board receive low wages and few, if any, benefits. They are either denied health care or charged so much for it that many can't afford it. Many of the nonunion jobs at Sea-Tac used to be unionized.

Alaska Airlines, Sea-Tac's largest airline, subcontracted out its jobs years ago. As a result, the jobs went from decent-paying union jobs to low-wage nonunion jobs. For this reason, Alaska Airlines is one of the key targets of the campaign for good jobs at Sea-Tac.

Sponsored by One America, an immigrant rights group, and Working Washington, a labor-community coalition, the rally gathered at a park outside the airport. Union officials and workers at the airport explained the conditions they are fighting against. Unions backing the rally included the Teamsters, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), hotel and restaurant workers, United Food and Commercial Workers and flight attendants.

"We're the ones vital to their success," said one worker. "All airport workers deserve a living wage, affordable benefits and respect. I shouldn't have to choose between putting gas in my car and feeding my family."

Ikran, another airport worker, described the degrading conditions. "Since I started in 2008 as a carpet cleaner, I have spoken out against bad working conditions," he said. "Because I spoke out, they put me on the graveyard shift. If you refuse graveyard, they'll fire you."

"If you don't speak good English, they treat you like a donkey," Ikran continued. "There is no respect. I have to pay $125 out of each paycheck for health care. When I complain, management says, 'If you don't like it, you can pack your bags and go home.' Today, I am sick, but have to go to work because I am trying to pay off medical bills. The Port of Seattle depends on the hard work of me and 4,000 other workers. I call on you, brothers and sisters, to tell Alaska Airlines, 'Make All Jobs Good Jobs!'"

After the spirited rally, the workers marched to a park a half-mile away. On the way, they chanted, "You have record profits, we have empty pockets!" and "Listen Port Authority, we are the majority!"

A large number of Sea-Tac workers are immigrants, and the spirit of solidarity among workers from around the world at the demonstration was inspiring. Several chants made this solidarity explicit: "Somalis deserve rights! Ethiopians deserve rights! Latin Americans deserve rights! We all deserve rights!"

Supporters from far and wide joined the airport workers and added their own grievances into the mix. Home care workers represented by SEIU Local 775 condemned the state budget cuts that undermine proper home care. Port of Seattle truckers also came in large numbers as they are facing off against the same agency--the Port of Seattle--for the right to unionize.

At the conclusion of the march, people gathered at the park for an excellent South Asian dinner provided by some of the workers. Alaska Airlines has a shareholders' meeting on May 15 where the movement will bring its demands next.