New York flights are expected to be disrupted over the next few days after a walkout by 700 staff at the city’s three main airports
It could affect some flights for United Airlines, American Airlines and JetBlue at New York’s JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports over the coming days.
Hundreds of wheelchair porters, baggage handlers, customer service agents, cabin and terminal cleaners walked out late Tuesday citing unjust labour practices by employer PrimeFlight Inc.
PrimeFlight subcontracts workers to the airlines.
The strike began yesterday and is expected to continue today (Thursday), and is due to workers’ long standing attempts to unionise being blocked by PrimeFlight.
That was even after the National Labor Relations Board found the company had violated employment laws.
Workers cited intimidation by PrimeFlight, which is also accused of cutting corners on the supply of safety equipment for workers.
The action kicked off with a picket and rally at Newark’s Liberty International Airport on Tuesday night and a picket line is planned for JFK today.
Some of the company’s workers at Philadelphia and Denver are also expected to walk out.
