Charlotte, N.C. — This Thanksgiving week is shaping up to be one for the record books at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, but not just for holiday travelers. A significant strike has erupted among service workers at the airport, highlighting the growing discontent among employees over low wages and working conditions. Services employees including cleaners and wheelchair attendants affiliated with ABM and Prospect Airport Services have walked off the job, demanding higher pay as they confront what they describe as 'unlivable wages.'
The strike began on the morning of the busiest travel week of the year after employees cast ballots to authorize the work stoppage. According to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the action was taken to address what members have repeatedly referred to as "poverty wages" and the need for respect on the job during this peak travel season. These employees are responsible for various tasks at the airport: cleaning aircraft, escorting passengers, and making sure the airport runs smoothly.
“We’re on strike today because this is our last resort. We can’t keep living like this,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle stated, emphasizing the desperation felt by many workers. She is among those who expressed severe frustration about being unable to afford basics such as groceries and housing with salaries typically between $12.50 and $19 per hour, far below the estimated living wage of $23.26 for individuals without children in the Charlotte region.
Holiday travel has become increasingly hectic, with over 1 million passengers projected to pass through the airport between November 21 and December 2, the airlines are bracing for record demand. Charlotte Douglas is the seventh-busiest airport hub in the U.S., and airport officials noted the demand for services would be at its peak during this Thanksgiving period.
Many protestors plan to ramp up their efforts during the strike, organizing rallies and even holding what they call "Strikesgiving" meals to highlight the contrasts between their struggles and the festive spirit of the season, which will be markedly absent for many of them. The union asserts the importance of airport workers during the holiday season, stating, "Airport service workers make holiday travel possible by keeping airports safe, clean, and running." Their actions spotlight the ironies of the airline industry's profitability versus the precarious financial positions of those who contribute to its success.
“I am homeless,” shared Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair agent with Prospect Airport Services. “It’s hard when my only affordable option for a home is a storage unit.” Testimonies like these reveal the harsh realities faced by workers who form the backbone of airport operations, yet struggle to secure stable living conditions. Among them, statistics reveal alarming trends: 40% of airport service workers report experiencing housing insecurity, and many have voiced concerns about covering their monthly utility bills.
The union’s efforts to advocate for living wages are underscored by horrifying revelations about the current state of workers' financial lives. Many labor under the pressure of juggling multiple jobs, often without basic benefits such as paid sick leave or vacation days. Ismaail Qaiyim, part of the Charlotte Housing Justice Coalition, remarked, “It’s outrageous to endure homelessness and housing instability due to low wages.” These workers represent the heart of travel, but their tales tell of enduring strife during one of the most community-focused times of year.
Airport employee Dorothy Griffin voiced frustration over her struggles to meet basic financial demands: “I am tired of struggling and living paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes I can’t even order groceries for the week because I barely make anything.” Many echoed similar sentiments, indicating the strike was both necessary and overdue.
Meanwhile, both ABM and Prospect Airport Services have acknowledged the seriousness of the workers’ concerns. ABM issued statements thanking the employees for their hard work but also noted they will take steps to mitigate disruption from any strike activities. Similarly, Prospect reiterated their recognition of the challenges and the need for discussions on worker welfare moving forward.
The decision to strike was made amid rising frustrations surrounding economic hardships exacerbated by inflation and the high costs of living, which pose continuing challenges for low-wage workers. These expressions of outward frustration highlight not just local issues but resonate as part of broader national trends where workers across various sectors have begun to push back against substandard compensation and working conditions.
Despite the potential fallout of this action, many workers maintain hope for positive outcomes—citing the need for sustained pressure to effect real change. Organizers have vowed to keep the momentum alive as they fight for living wages and improvements to working conditions, committing to their cause even as they face the uncertainties of the holiday travel season.
“One job should be enough,” said Hoyle, encapsulating the frustration felt by many. Striking airport workers hope to draw attention to their circumstances and move beyond just surviving to truly living. Whether their efforts will yield progress remains to be seen but is certainly igniting discourse around labor rights, economic justice, and the realities of the American work culture this holiday season.
