Jan. 20—Concession workers gathered on the steps of Ontario International Airport's administrative offices Thursday, Jan. 19, chanting "we will be back" after the airport authority delayed action on a new food and beverage contract.
The workers rallied at the Ontario International Airport Authority meeting to demand the airport implement a workers retention policy, which will ensure that workers keep their jobs and maintain their seniority, before ONT considers signing a new vendor contract.
The airport's current contract with Delaware North is coming to an end and ONT is considering a new 20-year contract with SSP America. Delaware North is currently responsible for the food, beverage and retail concessions at the airport. Those who work concessions at ONT were hired under Delaware North, leaving many wondering what will happen to their jobs when the airport signs on a new vendor.
"Well, apparently our contract was up for Delaware North so we don't know if we are going to have a job," Yvonne Sosa, a 20-year airport employee, said before the meeting.
Sosa and several of her colleagues had gathered at the meeting for the chance to speak to OIAA commissioners and express their concerns over the lack of protections for concession workers as the airport looks to a new company for its concessions contract.
The meeting ended quickly after OIAA commissioners chose to move the contract to a future agenda in order to give staff more time to research the issue.
"We are extremely sensitive to the concerns expressed by those who have been employed by Delaware North, and have worked closely with the new vendor to ensure that they have every opportunity to keep their jobs," said Ontario airport CEO Atif Elkadi in a statement. "With the anticipated expansion of services and amenities throughout the airport, we expect even greater career opportunities for many of those employees."
Several workers spoke at the meeting Thursday to share their experiences working at the airport and their concerns for their future.
Rocio Granados, 61, has worked at the airport for 23 years. As a single mother, Granados said, she is dependent on her income to take care of her son.
"When contracts switch hands workers should not lose their jobs," said Robin Rodriguez, an organizer with Local 11, a labor union representing hospitality workers in Southern California.
Rodriguez and other speakers asked OIAA commissioners to create a worker retention policy before they sign a contract with another vendor.
Workers pledged to continue to return to meetings as they wait for the airport to make a decision regarding worker retention.
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