Philadelphia Airport Workers

On July 12, 2016, Philadelphia airport workers voted (461 to 5) to strike by walking off the job during the Democratic National Convention (DNC), July 25-28. The DNC was expected to attract 50,000 attendees. The airport workers hold positions like baggage handlers, wheelchair attendants, and airplane cleaners, who are subcontracted by the PHL airport. The next day, expressing his support for the workers' right to unionize and to be paid a living wage, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said "There is no question that these workers deserve a living wage, paid leave and the right to form a union without interference from their employer." The mayor also said, "While we don't anticipate these demonstrators will interfere with Airport service during the DNC, that fact does not make these working conditions any less of an issue ... Supporting these workers is not just the right thing to do for the DNC, it's the right thing to do. We urge the subcontractors to step up for its employees." The mid-Atlantic chapter of SEIU 32BJ, a union of property service workers, has tried to unionize airport workers around workers' interests in more efficient scheduling, disciplinary and sick pay systems. The union's area vice president, Gabe Morgan, stated that workers received wage increases up to $12 after past protests. The Pennsylvania state minimum wage at the time of the July 2016 vote matched the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour