SEATAC, Wash. — Some 100 SkyChef airport food preparation workers, members of the UNITE HERE union, and their supporters rallied at the airport here Aug. 7, above, part of a National Day of Action. Overall, some 10,000 SkyChef workers are involved in the fight for a new contract, and rallies were held at 15 airports. The workers haven’t had a new contract since 2016.
Flight attendants, airport food workers at Gate Gourmet, and members of Service Employees International Union Locals 6 and 775, the United Food and Commercial Workers, and Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers unions joined the lively picket in front of international arrivals at the airport. SEIU Local 6 Organizer Anthony King, representing wheelchair pushers and other workers inside the airport, brought greetings. They are fighting for a contract as well, and will hold a rally at the same location Aug. 15.
A message of support from SMART-Transportation Division Local 324 President Nate Morris was read by Local member Henry Dennison. Rail workers face the same draconian restrictions on their right to strike as airport workers, including those at SkyChef, under the notorious Railway Labor Act. That doesn’t stop them from fighting for an acceptable contract.
Paula Isla-McGill, president of the Seattle local of the Association of Flight Attendants at Alaska Air, spoke, as well as SeaTac Mayor Mohamed Egal.
The rally got bigger when a group of workers coming off shift joined in. “We fight, together with the union, to get more money,” SkyChef worker Rose told the rally. “But without the union, SkyChef pays minimum wage.”