LAX workers reach labor agreement

[billyoc]

The deal covers 1,900 sky captains, baggage handlers, wheelchair attendants, airplane cabin cleaners and security personnel. It improves wages but not healthcare benefits, union officials say

By Tami Abdollah, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
1:20 PM PDT, September 26, 2008

An agreement has been reached between 1,900 passenger service workers at Los Angeles International Airport and their airlines' service contractors, officials said today.

The workers belong to Airport Workers United, which is part of Service Employees International Union Local 1877 and represents sky captains, baggage handlers, wheelchair attendants, airplane cabin cleaners and security personnel who monitor terminals and cargo areas.

Workers were asking for better job training, increased pay, improved medical coverage, equipment and staff support, said Mike Chavez, a spokesman for the union. He said workers are paid an average of $10 an hour and 97% have no family healthcare.

Union officials would not disclose the terms of the new agreements reached with Air Serv, G2 Secure Staff, Aero Port Services and Aviation Safeguards until they are ratified. Three of the four agreements were reached last week and ratified this week. The last deal was brokered Wednesday with Aviation Safeguards, Chavez said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lax27-2008sep27,0,1711800.story