U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sherrod Brown
(D-OH) recently sent letters to the CEOs of major airlines, urging for a living wage, benefits and workplace protections for subcontractors.
Subcontracted positions include skycaps, wheelchair attendants and baggage handlers.
Wages for subcontracted positions fell 14 percent between 1911 and 2011. Half of full-time workers are on public assistance. The highest paid subcontractors earn less than directly employed workers did 10 years ago.
Unsafe working conditions also are an issue. Several airports have been cited by the Occupational Safety Hazard Administration for workplace violations.
The letters were sent to American Airlines Group, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Travel Co., Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
Each airline “has a remarkable opportunity to improve the economic conditions of thousands of men and women who every day work tirelessly in support of the airline and its passengers,” the letter said. “In the process, you have an opportunity to set a new standard for the airline industry when it comes to the fair treatment of subcontracted workers.”
The CEOs were asked to provide the senators with their airline’s number of subcontractor workers, the workers’ positions, whether this work was previously done in-house, the length of contracts, and if subcontractors are trained on company procedures. The CEOs were also asked to provide wage and benefit information.