Workers and advocates are urging Charlotte City Council to take up the issue directly with American Airlines, whose lease renegotiation is coming up in June.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ City leaders are joining the call for improved conditions for Charlotte Douglas International Airport workers, as new data shows a majority of employees struggle with the cost of living and unsafe conditions they say could affect all travelers.
Workers and advocates are urging Charlotte City Council to take up the issue directly with American Airlines, whose lease renegotiation is coming up in June.
The new report from 32BJ SEIU shows:
- 74% of airport workers struggle to afford basic necessities
- 71% have come to work sick due to a lack of paid time off
- 80% of cabin cleaners say there isnโt enough staff to clean planes as trained
- 88% of wheelchair agents report issues with wheelchairs, including inadequate brakes, faulty handlebars, chairs that cannot support passengersโ weight and cleanliness issues
“Sometimes we have to skip tray tables, skip wiping down seats and only vacuum what we see on the plane,” Richard Bertolini, a former cabin cleaner, said. “The toilets don’t always get wiped down. Some of the cabin cleaners don’t have time to wipe down the baby changing tables. It’s dangerous.”
Neicy Brown, who is helping lead the push for higher pay and better conditions, said the stakes extend beyond the workers themselves.
“It is time for Charlotte City Council to wake up, because we know that when workers are safe, passengers are safe. It’s a domino effect,” Brown said. “City Council, the power is in your hands.”
Charlotte City Councilmembers Dimple Ajmera and JD Mazuera Arias joined the calls on Friday.
“I have seen firsthand how workers push multiple wheelchairs at once. I personally witnessed that when I was helping my mom travel,” Ajmera said. “This issue is bigger than just wages. It’s about safety. It’s about having better workforce standards, and it’s about having dignity for workers.”
Last June, a divided City Council voted down a proposal to place an ordinance for better conditions and higher pay on a future agenda, citing concerns that state law limits the council’s ability to address wages. But with three new council members โ including Arias โ advocates say there could be more momentum this time around.
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