CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Hundreds of contracted airport employees are prepared to strike during what Charlotte Douglas International Airport is calling the busiest Thanksgiving travel period ever. WCCB Charlotte's Zane Cina heard from some of those workers who say they don't earn enough to live.
Contracted airline workers say they are fed up. Dorothy Griffin is one of nearly 700 workers employed by American Airlines Contractors, ABM and Prospect. Many of those workers took a vote Friday that will decide if they will go on strike this holiday season. "We don't want to strike, but with what they pay us we cannot make it," Griffin said.
A 32BJ Service Employees International Union representative said these hundreds of workers keep the airplanes clean at Charlotte Douglas Airport. Some of those employees also escort passengers in wheelchairs. Contracted employees are upset as many of them only earn between $12.50 and $19 an hour. Employees said they can't survive off that pay. The union added that management has discouraged these employees from organizing. Some employees said they were not given access to water while at work.
The employees' vote to strike will be counted this weekend. If the strike happens it will be for 24-hours at some point during the holiday season. A Union representative said the timeline is unclear for now, but the strike could happen during the Thanksgiving travel period or the Christmas travel period. This strike could impact the more than one million travelers Charlotte Airport expects to service through December 2nd. Airport officials said this is the busiest Thanksgiving travel period ever.
The Union confirmed that votes are still being collected from contracted employees. The results of the vote to strike will be announced during the weekend.
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