Any Philadelphia
International Airport subcontractors paying their workers less than $12 an
hour, better up their wages to the city mandated minimum wage or they could be
forced out of PHL.
Back in December, Mayor Jim
Kenney told a group of Philadelphians at a Town Hall in Strawberry Mansion
that once he was in office, he would evict any PHL
subcontractors who are violating the pay rate set in the agreement.
About four months into his term, airport workers say they are still dealing
with subcontractors paying unfair wages.
The Mayor's Office issued a statement early Thursday
morning that reinforced his previous stance on the subcontractors – the target
of numerous protests, including one that began Wednesday night and went into Thursday morning, by employees who say they are paid
below the $12 hourly rate required by the city's lease agreement with the airport.
On Thursday, a spokeswoman for the Mayor said:
"...as for evicting them, the Mayor is still committed to using that tool
and any other means possible to get them into compliance."
The Mayor's Office also said Kenney sent a letter to the
airport subcontractors last week stating all parties – regardless of their
airline affiliations – must comply with the city's lease agreement with the
airport.
This letter is to inform you of a change in policy at
Philadelphia International Airport. As you may be aware, Section 8 B. of the
existing Airport Rules and Regulations require each Ground Handling Service
Contractor (“GHSC”) performing work at the Philadelphia International Airport
to enter into a Ground Handler Licensing Agreement with the Philadelphia
Division of Aviation.
The Philadelphia Division of Aviation has previously
interpreted this requirement to be applicable only to GHSC’s who provide
services to an airline which has not entered into a Use & Lease Agreement
with the City. Effective immediately, we are requiring all (bold in
original) GHSC’s performing work at the Philadelphia International Airport to
enter into a Ground Handler Licensing Agreement with the Philadelphia Division
of Aviation, regardless of which airline they provide services for.
Please note that the fee schedule identified in the
Ground Handler Licensing Agreement will be waived if your firm provides
services to an airline which has signed a Use & Lease Agreement with the
City. Additionally, Labor Peace language has been added which is identical to
the language agreed upon between the Signatory Airlines and the City in the
Airport-Airline Use and Lease Agreement.
Essentially this letter declares a slight language change
to ensure all subcontractors fall under the established lease agreement.
The letter, which picketing workers saw for the first
time Thursday morning, invigorated the demonstrators who specifically accused
two subcontractors, Nashville-based PrimeFlight
and Philadelphia-based McGinn
Security, of paying unfair wages. The district leader of 32BJ Service
Employees International Union, which does not represent the airport workers but
has assisted the group in their efforts to organize, called Kenney's letter a
win.
“Mayor Kenney has taken [an] important step in holding
subcontractors accountable," said Daisy Cruz of 32BJ SEIU. "This is a
victory for workers and means that airline subcontractors cannot treat the most
important economic engine of our city—the airport—like a sweatshop. For far too
long, subcontractors have operated at PHL like it’s the Wild Wild West. This
lack of accountability has allowed subcontractors to run amok, applying the
city’s laws unevenly as they see fit, and aggravating ongoing labor
disputes."
The union has accused several subcontractors of failing
to comply with the lease agreement since it went into effect last year. Demonstrations
over their alleged failure to pay the $12 hourly rate have occurred regularly,
the most recent rally ended Thursday morning shortly after several City Council
members joined the protest.
“The licensing requirement simply reinforces what the
city’s lease with American
Airlines states—that recurring disruption at the airport will not be tolerated,
and that subcontractors must abide by the city’s laws," Cruz added.
A PrimeFlight spokesman did not return calls requesting
comment and McGinn Security declined to comment. Representatives from PHL and
American Airlines, which has a hub at the airport, have declined to comment on
previous rallies by the contracted workers since they are not their employer.
Source: Philadelphia
Business Journal
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