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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.
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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 bui...
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