New Jersey, New York Airport Workers May Get Raise To $19/Hour

NEWARK, NJ — Workers at the Port Authority’s three airports – Newark, JFK and LaGuardia – could be earning a minimum wage of $19 per hour by 2023 if a proposed salary hike gains final approval in June.

On Thursday, the Port Authority Board of Commissioners gave the thumbs-up to a tentative plan that would give a major economic boost to thousands of employees at the three facilities, regardless of whether they work for subcontractors or directly with airlines.

Under the proposed plan, workers at Newark Airport would see their wages increase from $10.45 to $12.45 as of September 1, 2018, and to $15.60 by September 1, 2019. At that point, wages at Newark Airport would be equal to the those of workers at JFK and LaGuardia, who currently earn a minimum wage of $13 because of the state’s minimum wage law, the Port Authority stated.

Following the scheduled increases later this year and in 2019, the minimum wage of all airport workers will increase to:

• $16.20 in 2020
• $17 in 2021
• $18 in 2022
• $19 in 2023

A 60-day public comment period will begin in early April and run through early June to determine if any modifications to the draft proposal are warranted. The board is then scheduled to take action on the proposal at its June 28 meeting.

Offering support for the proposed wage hike, Port Authority Board Chairman Kevin O’Toole said that an airport is only as good as the people who work there.

“People cannot be expected to do their jobs well if they aren’t paid well,” O’Toole said. “This board has heard the voices of airport employees who’ve shared their stories with us over the years. We know that higher wages won’t only make a difference to them personally, but will have a significant impact in workplace morale and productivity that will directly enhance the experience of the traveling public visiting our airports.”

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said that the proposed wage increases will result in “significantly reduced staff turnover,” ultimately making for safer airports.

“Studies have shown that higher wages for airport workers decrease turnover by as much as 40%,” Cotton said. “This will enable more extensive security training, and better trained workers will be more effective in assisting overall security efforts as well as in emergency situations. A higher-paid staff will improve morale, reduce turnover and yield better training opportunities – all of which will result in improved security, our top priority.”

A LONG AND DETERMINED FIGHT

The Port Authority board’s announcement comes after years of grassroot efforts and high-profile protests from local airport workers and their supporters.

Spokespeople with labor union 32BJ (SEIU), which represents 14,000 baggage handlers, skycaps, cleaners, security, wheelchair and passenger service workers at the three airports, called the proposed wage hike a “historic victory.”

“New York and New Jersey airport workers have led the way and shown that when we work together in unity, we can win,” 32BJ President Héctor Figueroa said. “Providing family-sustaining wages will help keep more workers on the job longer and help them build their expertise to make our airports safer and run smoother.”

• See related article: Christie Vetoes Pay Raise For Newark Airport, Hoboken Terminal Workers
• See related article: Fight For Living Wage Continues At Newark Airport

Gertrudes Lopez-Ortiz, a cabin cleaner at Newark Liberty International Airport, said that the proposed wage hike was a “dream come true” for her and her co-workers.

“We did this together,” Lopez-Ortiz enthused. “We fought for so long and we won!”

“This will change our lives and give our families brighter futures,” said Canute Drayton, a security agent at JFK. “I have seen so many colleagues leave their airport jobs because they couldn’t afford to support their families on such low pay. Now I think they’ll stick around.”

• See related article: Airport 'Job Outsourcing' Bill Would Protect Workers, Senators Say

32BJ spokespeople pointed out that 26,000 retail and food service workers at the airports not affiliated with their union will also benefit from the wage hikes.

Dozens of these workers – some affiliated with Unite Here - rallied at a Port Authority board meeting last month to raise the minimum wage at the three airports.

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Photos: 32BJ (SEIU)