Last week, essential workers at two major airports in Florida — Tampa International (TPA) and Orlando International (MCO) — held actions with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 32 BJ, to call attention to low wages, as well as issues like short-staffing, paltry job benefits, and intimidation from employers for workplace organizing.
On Tuesday, workers at Tampa International Airport held a press conference outside of the airport, and organized a “turkey-less” Thanksgiving display to symbolize the poverty many of the workers live in, with hourly rates as low as $7 for tipped jobs. Two days later, wheelchair assistants at Orlando International struck for a day, to call attention to low wages as well as health and safety concerns.
Check out the full story on Medium, and read my coverage of the Tampa action (co-reported with journalist Justin Garcia) for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay here.
McKenna Schueler 