Airport Approves Landmark Policy Improving Job and Safety Standards at LAX

Airport service workers, elected officials, community leaders, and disability rights advocates applauded Monday’s decision by Los Angeles airport officials to approve a policy establishing higher standards for contractors providing services to passengers and airlines at Los Angeles International Airport.

The April 21st vote by the airport’s governing board came in response to a year-long campaign by LAANE, the Service Employees International Union, Local 1877, and community and disability rights activists to improve training and job quality for the workers responsible for baggage handling, security in the terminals , wheelchair assistance, and airplane cleaning.

“Airport service workers provide important security and passenger assistance, but subcontracting these jobs to the lowest bidder has created a weak link in efforts to provide a safe and secure experience for passengers at LAX," said Jack Weiss, Los Angeles City Councilmember.

The new policy will institute a competitive pre-qualification process so that contractors must compete based on service quality and not cost alone, thereby improving job quality, safety, security and service at California’s largest airport.

Earlier in the month, community, labor and disability rights activists launched a statewide effort to improve quality jobs, service and security at California’s top airports. On April 9th, workers and activists gathered at LAX and SFO to call on the major airlines to address the safety and security issues raised in the 2007 LAANE study, Under the Radar: How Airline Outsourcing of Passenger Services Compromises Security and Service Quality at LAX.

According to the report, changes in the airline industry have led to a proliferation of low-bid contracting for passenger services at LAX and other airports around the nation. The result is an undertrained, understaffed and poorly compensated workforce, and a system that—with little oversight from public agencies—compromises safety, security and quality service. There are an estimated 20,000 airline service workers in the state.

“The airlines can do a lot more to improve services to their airline passengers and airport security, while at the same time making these good jobs for our families and our communities,” said Fanny Fuentes, who provides wheelchair assistance to passengers with disabilities at LAX. Fuentes, like most airport service workers, earns only $9.71 an hour and has inadequate medical benefits. She is sometimes forced to use broken wheelchairs, ad has been asked to push more than one passenger at a time.

“L.A. airport officials acted to increase oversight of airline service contractors. Now it’s up to airlines like American, Southwest, and United to do their part and invest in this workforce,” said Carolina Briones, who directs LAANE’s airline service project.