Menzies Aviation Paying $15.24/Hour to Its Sea-Tac Employees
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Menzies Aviation, a global provider of ground handling services, announced today that effective February 15, 2016, the base rate for its employees at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was increased to $15.24. The rates for leads and supervisors have also been increased in line with the new wage rates. This wage increase affected more than 900 of its Seattle employees.
“We work diligently and in consultation with our airline partners throughout North America to ensure that our wages are competitive in each of the markets we serve,” said Menzies’ Vice President Philip Harnden. “In Seattle, we felt this wage increase was consistent with that approach and Menzies’ policy of continually investing in its employees. We also determined to do so despite Proposition 1 continuing to be debated in the courts.”
Harnden continued, “Our investment in our employees is about more than just wages. In addition to its competitive pay packages, Menzies Aviation also invests considerable resources and time into training and helping its employees with career growth and development. We believe that is why we have been able to attract and retain a dedicated and hard-working group of core employees who have been the cornerstone of our success at this important hub location for our key airline customers.”
The Company noted that all new Agents are required to complete two weeks of classroom training and orientation before they are permitted to start work at the airport. An additional four weeks of working airside followed by specific equipment training and testing is then required before a new Agent is permitted to operate any ground support equipment (GSE). The Company is extremely proud of its record of delivering career development opportunities to its employees, with 100% of its current Supervisors having progressed to that position from Agent level.
The Company also stated that it remains optimistic that the recent citations from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries will be resolved through the appeal process. The Company believes that many of the citations were inappropriately issued as they relate to wider airport infrastructure issues over which it has no control. For example, some of the suggestions for modification would require not only a massive reconfiguration of the airport itself, but also changes to the baggage systems and ground handling equipment used. In an industry where consistency of systems and processes is essential to the safe and efficient operation of the air transportation network these changes would have far reaching implications for all airlines and contractors having operations at Sea-Tac.
