Sabrina Novotny
This week, hundreds of workers at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) participated in a 24-hour strike, demanding higher wages. The walkout, organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), started at 5am Monday morning then transformed into a picket and a rally where workers voiced their personal struggles working for what they are calling poverty wages.
At the rally, one worker spoke on their dire conditions: “I’m trying to figure out where I’m going to sleep at night. I’m really speaking for a lot of people I know… This can’t go on forever.”
Their strike aligns with one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, with Charlotte Airport expecting to serve over a million passengers this Thanksgiving week, a record high. Despite providing essential services, including cabin cleaning, trash collection, and wheelchair assistance, most workers earn only $12.50 to $19 an hour, forcing many of them into precarious conditions. A recent SEIU survey revealed that 40% of Charlotte Airport service workers experience housing insecurity, with some forced to sleep in cars or shared rented rooms.
While the energy of the striking workers was high on Monday, workers returned to their shifts the following day without receiving any concessions from their employers, ABM and Prospect Airport Services. Before the strike, Prospect issued a letter threatening disciplinary action, including termination, and claiming the strike was illegal under federal law.
By Wednesday, CLT was teeming with Thanksgiving travelers, and workers had resumed their tasks necessary for the airport’s smooth functioning. Some, wary of speaking about the strike, declined to share their perspectives. One man collecting trash chuckled and gestured to a colleague who quickly deflected questions. “I’m sorry, miss… I can’t hear you,” he said with a knowing smile.
However, a gate agent from a different union expressed solidarity with the strikers. She remarked that the turnout was noticeably low. “A lot of their new workers are young,” she said. “I don’t think they understand the impact it would have for them to all show out.” She also cited management’s efforts to discourage participation.
One young wheelchair assistant disclosed that she hadn’t participated in the strike. “I just started here,” she said quietly, citing fears of jeopardizing her employment. Another young wheelchair assistant, employed at the airport for over a year, echoed similar concerns. “I just need money,” he explained. “I support the cause though. I appreciate the people who did it.” Although he didn’t strike, he had signed the ballot authorizing it, frustrated by stagnant wages despite rising living costs.
Their fight is far from over. As one worker proclaimed at the rally, “Until things are changed, we’re gonna continue to fight not just for ourselves but for our families… ‘Cause when we fight, we win!” Her words were met with cheers, as the crowd of workers echoed the chant.
Photo: CLT workers walked off the job on Monday and went on strike.
