title
Motion of the Council of Allegheny County expressing support of airport service workers and the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act (HR1499/SB753) or national wage and benefit standards in FAA reauthorization.
body
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIA) is a critical publicly-funded infrastructure facility that is essential for driving the economy of our city and region, and at which PIA service workers help people connect and power our global economy; and,
WHEREAS, these airport service workers serve on the frontlines of our national aviation system, and include cleaners, wheelchair agents, baggage handlers, concessionaires, and security personnel keep airports safe and running smoothly even through a global pandemic, climate disasters, and busy travel seasons, but who are underpaid and under-protected; and
WHEREAS, in the past, baggage handlers, fuelers, passenger assistants and other service workers who support airlines and airports could raise a family, live comfortably and retire with dignity on the wages that they were paid, but these employees’ wages have stagnated; and
WHEREAS, low industry wages and inadequate benefits are pervasive for this workforce that is essential to our entire national aviation system, and coupled with the tight labor market and high turnover, airline and airport employers are failing to maintain a well-qualified workforce; and
WHEREAS, labor instability and inexperience in the industry are reducing airport and aviation safety and security, and leading to travel slowdowns.
WHEREAS, nationally airports receive billions in federal funding every year to operate and PIA service workers believe that airlines have a responsibility to use public resources to serve the public good, which means ensuring good jobs and benefits for every worker; and,
WHEREAS, at some point, another emergency will impact air travel, and airports need to be prepared to respond before it happens; this level of preparedness starts with building a workforce that is highly trained with good pay and benefits; and
WHEREAS, while a growing number of states, localities, and airport authorities have adopted wage and benefits standards applicable to airport service workers, there are a number of major airports for which there is no minimum standard other than the minimum wage; and,
WHEREAS, PIA service workers are joining together to demand that every airport worker has wages that enable them to support their families, critical additional support like paid leave and affordable health care, and manageable schedules, all of which is vital to balance the air travel industry and make it work better for everyone- passengers and workers alike; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed Good Jobs for Good Airports Act (HR1499/SB753) will set national wage and benefits levels for airport service workers at major airports that receive federal funding, ensuring every airport job is a good job that aims to put workers on a path to a livable wage; and,
WHEREAS, it is the judgment of Council that the airport service workers at the Pittsburgh International Airport, residents of Allegheny County, and all individuals who utilize PIA would benefit from the adoption of national minimum wage and benefit standards;
The Council of the County of Allegheny therefore hereby moves as follows:
First, that Allegheny County Council urges Pennsylvania congressional delegation to support the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act; and
Second, that Allegheny County Council proudly stands with airport service workers calling for inclusion of Good Jobs for Good Airports national standards as part of the FAA reauthorization legislation that Congress must pass before the current authorization expires at the end of September, 2023.