American Airlines lounge staff have voted overwhelming to authorize a strike at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as other airport workers prepare for a day of protest.
LAX Strike Authorized After Vote By American Airlines Lounge Workers
On Monday, 98% of HMS Host workers employed at the American Airlines lounges in Terminal 4 and the satellite terminal voted to authorize a strike. A walkout may be announced “any day” according to the union which represents them. While that strike is still pending, a protest will take place outside Terminal 4 on Wednesday between 9:00a.m. and 4:00p.m.
Already, lounge workers have been passing out leaflets to travelers in Terminal 4 and 5 asking them to contact American Airlines to encourage wage raises:
Local 11 members continue to remind travelers at #LAX Terminal 4 & Terminal 5 how they can contact customer service for the @AmericanAir Admirals Club lounges run by @HMSHost:
☎️ Call 800-237-7971 or
🖱️ Submit online https://t.co/U1cq9HwHli #PaxEx pic.twitter.com/i33ryfFZOh— UNITE HERE Local 11 (@UNITEHERE11) December 18, 2021
Hundreds of airport food workers will stage a day-long protest over what UNITE HERE Local 11 calls stalled wages throughout the airport. Wages have risen over the last few years due to mandatory hikes in the minimum wage in Los Angeles, but the union accuses HMS Host of dragging out a long-running labor dispute, resulting in no raises beyond the statutory minimum.
HMS Host employees food and beverage workers at LAX, including at all airport Starbucks, the American Airlines Admirals Club, and many other airport concessions.
According to the labor union, uniformed concessions workers will march, chant, and drum wearing festive holiday accessories, red t-shirts, and signs that say “Raise LAX.”
The goal is to bring awareness to LAX workers and help secure wage increases ahead of the new year.
CONCLUSION
American Airlines contracted lounge staff and other airport workers will stage a protest at LAX on Wednesday. As wage negations are ongoing, UNITE HERE Local 11 hopes that a public protest will pressure HMS Host to raise wages beyond the statutory minimum. A service disruption in the American Airlines Admirals Clubs is now being threatened.
This seems like a great reason for AA to end their contract with HMS Host. Lounges will be disrupted in one of the busiest days of the year for what is no fault of their own, but they have to suffer the consequences while HMS Host operates without the traveling public even knowing who they are.
Who are the 2% of HMS Host workers who DIDN’T vote to strike? These scabs need to be outed. Crossing the line must have consequences.
A) That’s not what a scab is.
B) Are you serious? I don’t have words to describe how wrong everything you said is.
You are stupid. Will you put your home address on your communications. Coward.
I agree.
I hope they win. That will encourage other underpaid and exploited workers to fight for better pay and conditions. Catering to a bunch of rich people (most Lounge patrons) for such a low wage – no wonder they’ve had enough!
Go Unite Here!
When I was a kid my father travelled frequently on American (in the lightening bolt livery era) and he was invited to join the Admiral’s Club. Yes, in those days one had to be invited to join. I spent much time in the LGA club and in the DTW club, on trips to and from boarding school in CT from Michigan. It was great for a adolescent a much better place to hang than the filthy terminals.
Boarding school…..explains a lot.
What does it explain, Dave? Did you have a sad childhood?
What does it explain?
Be strong AA management. Just roll in carts of Pastrami Turkey sandwiches and passengers will be overjoyed.
This comment for the win!
This strikes me as bizarre? Why, if you claim to not be making ‘enough’ money to be happy, are you a) wanting to remain with such an employer and b) even bothering with the hassles of working at LAX (logistics, security, etc)? Then wanting to go on strike at a time of low unemployment and high workplace mobility…the public’s sympathy just isn’t going to be there, unless I’m missing something.
Is there any indication of what the actual pay rate is for the employees? It would be nice to have a sense of perspective. Are the staff getting screwed or are they paid a living wage? I suspect the lopsided vote gives the answer.
Sounds like they are being paid whatever the minimum wage is in Los Angeles: “no raises beyond the statutory minimum.”
Effective July 1, 2021, for “Airport Employees,” the living wage and health benefits hourly rates will increase to $17.00 per hour and $5.67 per hour, respectively, or $22.67 per hour without health benefits.
The article does a poor job of explaining what’s going on here.
The employees of Host can make all the noise they want on their on time and not on their employer’s property, but if union members don’t show up for work, that is a violation of labor law just as it would be if employers locked them out while negotiations are taking place.