HOUSTON – Several airport employees plan to protest compensation before going on vacation.
On Tuesday, TSA and Houston Airport officials advised customers to expect a busy Thanksgiving travel season.
“We just ask everyone to plan ahead and prepare now. Just to give you an idea, we expect over 1.9 million passengers to fly through both Bush and Hobby airports (for the Thanksgiving holiday), ”said Augusto Bernal, Houston Airports Public Information Officer.
Meanwhile, Kabbah Mansaray said he made $ 12 an hour without sick pay while working as a cart driver for Unifi, the contractor that primarily serves United Airlines at Bush Airport. He said he planned to take part in a very different discussion.
“I think the pay doesn’t match what we’re doing because we’re doing a lot. So we deserve to get a higher salary, ”said Mansaray.
On Wednesday, he and others such as wheelchair users, baggage handlers and cabin cleaners who work for airline-contracted companies plan to protest the perceived inadequate remuneration and resources required to carry out their jobs.
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“I drive them (travelers) from one place to another and sometimes push off the jetway when I drop them off at the gate when we don’t have anyone to pre-board,” said Mansaray.
Workers say they want at least $ 15 an hour and adequate health care.
Service Employees International Union or SEIU Texas President Elsa Caballero said the airlines hiring contractors on the lowest bid basis can afford to negotiate fairer contracts because they have received tens of billions of dollars in federal aid.
“This is public money, money that we pay. We pay taxes so the airlines get that money. What did you do with that money? ”Said Caballero. “Workers are generally very tired of being taken for granted.”
On Tuesday, a United Airlines official told KPRC 2 that responsibility for compensating workers rests with the contractors they hire.
We asked Unifi for a comment but haven’t heard anything yet.
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The protest is scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. in front of the Bush Intercontinental Airport.
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