Southwest Airlines Workers Picket At Mineta San Jose Airport Over Stalled Labor Contract
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— Southwest Airlines ground crew workers upset over stalled labor negotiations picketed at Mineta San Jose International Airport Tuesday. Baggage handlers and operations workers say the lack of pay raises is one of the main issues.
Employees have been staging similar protests at airports around the country.
"We've been without a contract for going on four years. The company's been in a concessionary mode since we've had 40 percent (roughly) of our members haven't had a raise in four years or better. Last year there were profits made of over $750 million," said Mike Roach with Transport Workers Union Local 555.
He added that the use of larger aircraft is also putting more of a strain on the workers.
"When you have flights coming in now that have 175 seats versus 137, you've got another 50 to 60 bags coming off then you had before and another 50-60 bags going on, and they expect two people, maybe you get a third person to help unload and load those flights, it's ridiculous," he said.
Southwest sent a statement to KCBS that said they've made multiple offers to the union that have gone unaccepted or ignored.