Hundreds of MIA Airline Catering Workers to March for a Living Wage

Sky Chefs workers sound the alarm for South Florida workers’ economic crisis, call for a $20 minimum wage.

WHO: 200 airline catering workers who prepare in-flight food and beverage for companies including American Airlines at LSG Sky Chefs with the UNITE HERE Local 355 union and allies.

WHAT: March and press conference

WHERE: 3500 NW 24th St, Miami, FL 33142

WHEN: Wednesday, October 11 at 3:00 pm

WHY: Hundreds of Miami International Airport (MIA) airline catering workers will march outside their workplace at LSG Sky Chefs for higher wages on Wednesday, saying they can’t keep up with Miami’s expensive cost of living. This week, the County living wage for thousands of covered airport workers increased to $20.34 – but for Sky Chefs, the minimum is just $14.00. Airline catering workers prepare, pack, and deliver food and beverages served aboard flights for American Airlines and other major U.S. airlines. Two-thirds of the food and drink on board flights departing from MIA are prepared by airline catering workers at Sky Chefs. Though their work is essential to airline operations, the median wage for a worker at the catering contractor LSG Sky Chefs is $16 per hour. Workers are calling for an immediate raise to $20 per hour.

As strikes break out across the country, the airline catering workers’ union UNITE HERE Local 355 says that these workers are putting a face to what the fight looks like in Miami-Dade. Sky Chefs workers voted by 99% to authorize a strike at any time. While hospitality workers are going through economic crisis, –they’re marching to call attention to the crisis. Their union says that airline catering workers are often invisible to travelers, but flights cannot depart on time without them.

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UNITE HERE Local 355 is the hospitality workers’ union in South Florida, representing 6,000 workers in hotels, airports, restaurant, stadiums, and casinos.