CWA Advocacy Leads to Government Report on Airport Service Workers

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) this month released a report that documents the critical role airport service workers play in the safety and security of our aviation system. The report is the result of continued advocacy from unions representing airport workers, including CWA, who worked alongside Congress to advocate for airport service workers in the FAA Reauthorization Bill.

The report is a comprehensive review of airport workers' labor, including its impact on the aviation economy. While airport service workers struggle to make ends meet, the GAO report finds that revenue generated from their labor accounts for nearly 30 percent of the annual operating revenue at the nation’s busiest airports.

“Air travel would not be possible without the dedication of airport and airline service workers—the workers who clean aircraft, handle baggage, operate on the tarmac, assist passengers, and ensure airport security,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr.. “The GAO's analysis makes it very clear: despite conducting these vital services, many of these workers are simply not being paid a fair day's wage for a fair day's work. We are committed to working with Congress to end poverty wages and ensure that this vital workforce has access to affordable healthcare, paid leave, and strong workplace protections.”

CWA represents more than 20,000 passenger service agents working for American Airlines and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Envoy Air and Piedmont Airlines. CWA members at Piedmont Airlines are still fighting for a fair contract. The bargaining team is continuing to meet with the company while awaiting the start of federal mediation. You can show your support by sending a letter to CEO Eric Morgan letting him know you stand in solidarity with CWA members at Piedmont Airlines in their fight for a fair contract.

You can read the full GAO report here.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.