Airport Workers, Supporters to March to United Airlines HQ and Call for $15/hr, Unions for All
SEIU Texas and UNITE HERE Local 23
Press Advisory
: September 13, 2019
Media Contact: Nora Olabi | 713-742-2239 | nolabi@seiutx.org
After a New Report Exposes United Airlines Singles Out IAH with Extreme Low Pay
Protesters Highlight the Urgent Need for Racial Justice in the Country’s Most Diverse City
HOUSTON—A day after the Democratic debate at Texas Southern University in the Third Ward, presidential candidates are invited to join airport workers in a march to United Airlines’ headquarters to call on the airline to stop singling out the nation’s most diverse city with exceptionally low pay.
Just yesterday, airport workers called on the city to support Unions for All and adopt a $15 an hour minimum wage for all airport workers—white, Black, and brown, native-born and newcomer—as SEIU released a new report that reveals that many airport workers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) are paid less than half of what people are paid to do the exact same jobs at many of United Airlines’ other hubs. United Airlines keeps wages low in Houston despite making $2.1 billion in profits last year. Nearly half of contracted airport workers, the majority of whom are people of color and immigrants, report they are paid the bare minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
WHAT:
Democratic presidential candidates are invited to join Houston airport workers in a march to United Airlines’ headquarters to urge the airline to prioritize racial equity and support $15 an hour and union rights.
WHO:
Contracted airport workers like wheelchair attendants, catering workers, baggage handlers, and cabin cleaners with SEIU TX and airport concessions and airline catering workers with UNITE HERE Local 23, and community supporters
WHEN: Friday, September 13 at 2:15pm
WHERE: March begins at Market Square Park, 301 Milam St. and ends at United Airlines’ Headquarters, 609 Main St., Houston, Texas
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About SEIU Texas
SEIU Texas represents more than 6,000 health care workers and janitors in Corpus Christi, El Paso and Houston. SEIU Texas has a track record of improving wages, benefits and working conditions for workers in the Lone Star State. SEIU Texas recently helped contract municipal security officers win the first security officer union in Texas in June 2019. SEIU TX launched its latest campaign to organize Houston airport workers. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter