Workers Hold Rally, Demand Delta Air Lines and City of Atlanta Raise Wages

The first of May is an important date in labor history.

May Day.

So it was not lost on most people why Monday, May 1, was the date chosen by service workers at the nation’s busiest airport to hold a rally.

Some members of the Service Employees International Union (SEJU) rallied Monday to demand living wages for the service workers who help keep Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport safe, clean and running. Airport service workers called directly on the City of Atlanta and Delta Air Lines, which effectively sets wage and benefit standards for the service workers who power the nation’s busiest airport.

Joined by union Regional Director Chris Baumann, union and not-yet-union airport service workers proudly held signs that read “Atlanta Airport Pays Poverty Wages!” and chanted “Do better Delta” as they raised their demands to be respected, protected and paid living wages. The workers are seeking an increase to $15.00 an hour.

“It doesn’t make sense to me when I see what we all go through while airlines are enjoying record profits. They can do better,” said Rio Bryant, Zone Lead in the wheelchair department at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in a statement. “With each day it becomes more clear why we need Congress to take action now to pass the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act and set wage and benefit standards at major airports nationwide. If we were paid livable wages I think our customers would feel appreciated and workers would be valued. That’s a win-win for every person who travels or works in an airport.”