Workers at Los Angeles International Airport took to the picket lines on Wednesday as they seek better wages.
Wednesday is the first of a planned three-day protest, and dozens of people held signs and chanted outside Terminal 4.
Unite Here Local 11, the hospitality workers union, placed the blame on Areas USA, the company that employs more than 400 people as cooks, baristas, cashiers, bartenders and more.
“During the pandemic, airport concessionaires, like Areas USA, received millions of dollars in federal relief and cut labor costs and staffing,” the union said. “In 2024, despite the return of travel and business rebounding at the airport, hospitality workers struggle to afford a place to live and are forced to move further away because wages are not keeping pace with the cost of living.”
The strikers have been working without a union contract since Nov. 19, and they’re not alone. Ultimately, unions representing thousands of airport workers are in negotiations with their employers.
For example, flight attendants protested on Tuesday, pushing for better pay and working conditions.
Also protesting are Uber and Lyft drivers, prompting a Lyft spokesperson to issue a statement.
“We are constantly working to improve the driver experience, which is why just this month we released a series of new offers and commitments aimed at increasing driver pay and transparency,” the statement said. “This includes a new earnings commitment and an improved deactivation appeals process. Now, drivers will always make at least 70% of the weekly rider fares after external fees. It’s all part of our new customer-obsessed focus on drivers.”
The spokesperson added that typically, such protests do not meaningfully impact wait times or service levels.
