Menzies Aviation Workers at Sea-Tac International Walk Off the Job Over Unfair Labor Practices

(SEATAC)— In the backdrop of the Seattle’s public school teachers’ strike over improved working conditions, and the victory for fast food workers in New York who won a $15 per hour minimum wage, baggage handlers, cabin cleaners and ramp workers employed by Alaska Airlines contractor Menzies Aviation at Sea-Tac International Airport are walking off the job this morning to protest against unfair labor practices—including intimidation, threats, and harassment— by their employer.

Today’s strike by Menzies Aviation workers is the latest in a series of coordinated actions taken by airport workers at major origin and destination airports across the country to exercise their rights to join together to demand a $15 hourly wage and union rights.

The all-day roving strike at Sea-Tac will be punctuated by a rally at 10 a.m. where Menzies workers and their supporters, including community and faith leaders, will send a clear message to Menzies that any further disregard of the law will not be tolerated.

As part of their strike, the Menzies workers are enlisting the traveling public’s support to send a message to Alaska Airlines’ CEO Brad Tilden and encourage Alaska Airlines to tell their contractor Menzies Aviation to respect the law.

The Menzies workers’ strike comes on the heels of another work stoppage a couple of weeks ago by airport workers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, were workers employed by airline contractors Eulen America and G2 also went on strike against their employers’ bullying anti-worker tactics.

WHAT: Sea-Tac workers strike over unfair labor practices by Alaska Airlines’ contractor Menzies Aviation

WHO: Airport workers including cabin cleaners, baggage handlers, and ramp agents who work for Menzies Aviation and community leaders including clergy

WHEN: Friday, September 11, 2015

WHERE: 4:00 AM to 4 PM: Roving picket lines outside of the Alaska Airlines baggage claim located at carousel 14 (Sky bridge 5)

             10:00 AM: Rally with workers and community supporters outside of Arrivals Terminal (Next to Carousel 1)

For press availability with striking Menzies workers throughout the day on Friday, contact Marc Goumbri at 202-340-8614.

VISUALS: Striking Menzies workers in their work uniforms, holding colorful signs, and banners.

Background:

Menzies workers at Sea-Tac have been standing together for the last few years to raise standards at Sea-Tac and make the airport safe and secure for both the traveling public and airport employees. The workers’ attempts to improve their livelihoods, including banding together to demand a $15 hourly wage and better working conditions have been met with continued intimidation tactics and other boss antics from their employer. Below are some of the ways in which Menzies Aviation is attempting to prevent their workers at Sea-Tac Airport from exercising their legal rights.

• Menzies’ policies deny their Sea-Tac workers the right to contact attorneys and government officials to protect their rights, including their right to a safe workplace, and to report Menzies’ failures to comply with the law;
• Menzies’ policies prohibit workers from criticizing in public and in the media actions by the company in failing to pay their workers a wage of $15 per hour;
• The company has engaged in actions subjecting workers to surveillance by company supervisors and security agents while workers attempt to peacefully exercise their right to speak out on working conditions including their right to be paid $15 per hour;

·       Menzies Aviation threatened to discipline one of their employees for speaking out to the press regarding unsafe working conditions.