Hundreds of airline catering workers held demonstrations at nearly 20 airports across the United States, urging major airlines to address low wages and high health care costs in their industry. The workers, represented by the hospitality union UNITE HERE, provide inflight food and beverage services for carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines.
Erika Hernandez, a driver for LSG Sky Chefs at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, said: “My coworkers and I are taking action today because our work benefits the airlines, and it’s not right that they should be making billions in profits while I have to choose every day between working so I can afford the things my family needs or actually spending time with them. Both my husband and I work for Sky Chefs, and we work as much as we can. Sometimes that means working seven days a week, 12 hours per day. We work that much because with the wages we earn, if we didn’t there wouldn’t be enough money to pay for things like our mortgage or car insurance. But I wish I didn’t have to work so much because I want to be able to be home to make memories with my kids before they grow up. I see other catering kitchens and the workers there are earning more, and they have benefits like low cost health insurance. Now, it’s our turn at Sky Chefs, and the airlines can act to make sure that all of the workers who make their flights possible are treated the same.”
The airline catering workforce is responsible for preparing and delivering meals served on flights operated by several major U.S. airlines. Workers say their jobs require skill to maintain food safety standards and prevent delays but report wages that do not meet basic living expenses along with costly employer-sponsored health plans.
In recent financial results reported by American Airlines Group Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., and United Airlines Holdings Inc., these three carriers together generated more than $46 billion in revenue during the last quarter—a record-breaking figure for both American Airlines (https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2024/American-Airlines-Reports-Second-Quarter-2024-Financial-Results/default.aspx) and Delta Air Lines (https://ir.delta.com/news/news-details/2024/Delta-Air-Lines-Announces-June-Quarter-Profit-and-Outlook/default.aspx).
Workers employed by LSG Sky Chefs have been seeking a new contract since their previous agreement became amendable at the end of 2018. Negotiations focus on improved pay rates and better benefits. Last year, employees of Gate Gourmet—Sky Chefs’ main competitor—secured a new contract featuring substantial wage increases along with more affordable health coverage.
