SAN FRANCISCO — After six months of negotiations without reaching an acceptable contract, food and other concession workers at the San Francisco airport picketed outside the international terminal here June 18. The workers, members of UNITE HERE Local 2, are fighting against a coalition of companies demanding they be required to bid on their work schedules as often as every week. This would mean their schedules could constantly change at the whim of the employers.
“I used to work at the airport as a cook. I had two jobs as well as children,” UNITE HERE staff member Priscilla Paris-Huerta told the Militant. “No way could I have been changing schedules all the time. We have to put a limit on it.”
The union is bargaining with a multi-employer workforce that includes cooks, baristas, cashiers, lounge assistants and dishwashers at different food and other concessions. Beathea Faye, who works at one of the newer concessions, said she is glad they have union recognition. “I’m against what they are demanding on schedules,” she said. “And I want to keep the medical care the union has won.”
The workers are demanding a wage increase to keep up with inflation. So far the employers have only raised their offer from 25 cents an hour for a year to a still insulting 50 cents.
In 2022, after three days on strike, airport concession workers won a $5 raise over two years and were able to keep their family health plan with no premiums and less than $30 co-pays for most doctor visits.