US: Airline catering workers planning protests at major airports Thanksgiving week

Hundreds of airline catering workers are protesting this week at some of the largest US airports to demand higher wages and better benefits during what’s expected to be a record Thanksgiving travel period. Some of those workers, who prepare and deliver meals to airlines and are represented by the Unite Here labor union, are planning to block airport roads or stage sit-ins around ticket counters and pre-security areas on Tuesday at airports including those serving New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Philadelphia. Others plan to picket and hand out pamphlets about their demands, according to the union, which represents more than 20,000 airline catering workers. Airlines for America expects a record 31.6m travellers to fly on US airlines during the 12 days around Thanksgiving, up nearly 4% from last year. The workers are employed by LSG Sky Chefs and Gate Gourmet, which big airlines subcontract to provide on-board food and beverages. The union contends that some workers don’t earn enough to keep up with the cost of living and is arguing for a nationwide wage of at least $15 an hour.<br/>