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500 USWW Members Meet to Discuss “Restoring the California Dream”

California Attorney General Jerry Brown From across California, 500 janitors, security officers, airport workers, residential workers, arena, stadium and racetrack workers, food service workers, window cleaners, higher education workers, and others came together on August 14-15 to discuss the future of California. The theme of our convention was “Restoring the California Dream,” and the 500 leaders came out of the convention with an exciting plan to rebuild California on a base of stable, quality jobs that allow people to raise a family with dignity.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown and Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom addressed the convention and discussed the future of California, answering questions from USWW members.

Security Officers Who Protect Kaiser Permanente Hospitals Nationwide Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify First-ever Union Contract

“Winning healthcare and wage increases is not only a momentous victory for security officers at Kaiser, it also demonstrates that when workers come together and form a union they can win a path to the middle class. All parties should be applauded for coming together to reach a fair and just agreement.”

—Eddie Iny, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU United Service Workers West

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LAX workers reach labor agreement

The deal covers 1,900 sky captains, baggage handlers, wheelchair attendants, airplane cabin cleaners and security personnel. It improves wages but not healthcare benefits, union officials say

LA Times

By Tami Abdollah, LA Times Staff Writer
September 27, 2008

An agreement has been reached between 1,900 passenger service workers at Los Angeles International Airport and their airlines' service contractors, officials said today.

The workers belong to Airport Workers United, which is part of Service Employees International Union Local 1877 and represents sky captains, baggage handlers, wheelchair attendants, airplane cabin cleaners and security personnel who monitor terminals and cargo areas.

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Senator Barack Obama Releases Statement in Support of California Airport Workers

CHICAGO, IL - Sept. 4, 2008 – Senator Barack Obama issued the following statement today in support of passenger service workers at airports throughout California:

“I stand with the airline service workers who temporarily went on strike at Los Angeles International Airport last week. The demands they’re fighting for aren’t unreasonable – access to health care, adequate training, proper equipment, wages that can support a family – they’re what America’s workers deserve. Their efforts send a strong signal that it’s not good for workers, passengers, or the industry when business fails to live up to its end of the bargain.

“By supporting the security personnel who don’t have the staffing or training to ensure passenger safety or deal with high turnover rates, the crewmembers in dangerous conditions who can’t afford health care, and the service workers who after more than a decade on the job still don’t earn a living wage that makes ends meet, we all benefit.

"For the airline industry meeting these demands is inextricably tied to passenger safety, quality service, and the health of our economy. Our airlines have a responsibility to their workers and passengers to come back to the bargaining table so that union members can go back to work."

Laboring harder, slipping behind

LA Times

By David Lazarus, Consumer Confidential
August 31, 2008 - Every day is Labor Day for Ruben Rangel.

The 48-year-old Compton resident works most days from 1:30 to 9:30 p.m. as a baggage handler at Los Angeles International Airport. Then he changes clothes and pulls a shift as janitor at a Ralphs from midnight to 9 a.m.

Rangel, a single father, works about 80 hours a week to provide for his five kids, ages 8 to 20. His jobs pay a combined $45,000 and provide health coverage for the family.

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Stand for Security Press Releases

Tell the Airlines To Support Quality Jobs and Quality Services

Tell airlines such as United, American, and Southwest that passengers and airport workers deserve dignity and respect. We're tired of the race to the bottom in the airline industry and demand effective service, improved security, and better jobs for our communities.

Tell the airlines we want real improvements for passengers and workers NOW.

Airport Workers United News Coverage

Striking LAX workers return to jobs
By David Zahniser and Tami Abdollah, Los Angeles Times
Aug. 29, 2008 - Striking Los Angeles International Airport workers returned to work this morning, less than 24 hours after baggage handlers, security personnel and janitors walked off the job Thursday following months of failed negotiations with their employers.

LAX workers go on strike, threatening Labor Day weekend disruptions

By Dan Weikel, Los Angeles Times

Aug. 28, 2008 - Threatening to inconvenience air travelers throughout the Labor Day weekend, several hundred airline service workers -- including baggage handlers, security personnel and janitors -- walked off the job today at Los Angeles International Airport after months of inconclusive contract talks with their employers.

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