O'hare Airport Workers' Strike: What Happened And Why?

On Tuesday, hundreds of workers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport went on strike to protest low wages, demanding a $15 minimum wage and union rights. The strike was organized by the Service Employees International Union Local 1 and involved baggage handlers, janitors, cabin cleaners, and wheelchair attendants. While the Chicago Department of Aviation reported no disruptions to flights or services, the striking workers, many of whom make the city's $10.50 hourly minimum wage, hoped to gain public support for their cause. This strike is part of a broader Day of Disruption organized by the activist group Fight for $15, which includes protests by Uber drivers, fast-food workers, and home care aides.

O'Hare airport workers strike over wages

Hundreds of workers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport went on strike on Tuesday, demanding a $15 hourly wage. The strike included janitors, baggage handlers, cabin cleaners, and wheelchair attendants, many of whom make the city's $10.50-an-hour minimum wage. Some workers even claimed to sleep in the airport because they could not afford apartments. The strike was part of a broader "Day of Disruption" organized by the activist group Fight for $15, which campaigns for a higher minimum wage.

The Service Employees International Union supported the strike, although the workers themselves were not union members. The Chicago Department of Aviation stated that the strike was not expected to affect flights, and federal employees such as air traffic controllers and security screeners did not participate. Nevertheless, the strike may have caused some operational issues, such as planes not being fully cleaned and baggage handling delays.

Kisha Rivera, a 41-year-old cabin cleaner who addressed the crowd at the rally, said, "We're not asking for special treatment, we're asking for decent treatment... We're not asking, we're demanding."

The strike at O'Hare was one of a series of nationwide protests that day, including demonstrations at nearly 20 airports and in 340 cities across the country. The protests also advocated for social justice causes that activists felt were under threat by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

While the strike did not disrupt flights, it served as a powerful statement by the workers demanding fair wages and better working conditions. It remains to be seen what impact the strike will have on negotiations and whether further action will be taken if their demands are not met.

Workers demand $15 minimum wage

Hundreds of workers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport went on strike to demand a $15 hourly wage, currently earning between $7.25 and $12 an hour. Workers included janitors, baggage handlers, cabin cleaners, and wheelchair attendants, many of whom are not unionized. The strike was part of a broader "Day of Disruption" organized by activist group Fight for $15, which advocates for raising the minimum wage. The group planned a series of nationwide protests involving non-unionized workers across various industries, including airport workers, fast-food employees, graduate assistants, child and healthcare workers, and Uber drivers.

The workers at O'Hare, who are contracted by Prospect Airport Services, AirScrub Inc., and the city of Chicago, are not seeking to disrupt travel but to gain public support for their cause. They emphasized that they are not asking for special treatment but decent treatment, and that their wages are not enough to live on. Kisha Rivera, an airplane cabin cleaner, shared that some of her coworkers sleep in the airport because they cannot afford apartments. Another worker, Oscar Morales, shared that he is unable to support his family and pay his mortgage on his current wage.

While the Chicago Department of Aviation reported no disruptions to flights or services, the strike could cause some operational issues, such as planes not being fully cleaned and potential delays in bag handling. The striking workers were joined by others protesting low wages at a rally outside the airport, with concurrent rallies taking place at nearly 20 airports across the country. The Service Employees International Union, which is backing the striking workers, stated that if their concerns are not addressed, they will return with a larger strike to shut down the airport.

The strike's impact on airport operations

On Tuesday, hundreds of workers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport went on strike to protest low wages. The strike was organised by the Service Employees International Union Local 1, and included baggage handlers, janitors, cabin cleaners, and wheelchair attendants. Many of these workers make the city's minimum wage of $10.50 an hour, and they are asking for a $15 hourly wage. The strike was part of a broader "Day of Disruption" planned by activist group Fight for $15, which advocates for raising the minimum wage.

Despite the large number of workers involved, the Chicago Department of Aviation reported that the strike had little to no impact on flight operations. American Airlines and United Airlines, for whom O'Hare is a hub, said they had prepared for the strike to avoid inconveniencing travellers. However, transportation expert Joseph Schwieterman noted that "some planes may not get fully cleaned, and bag handling may have some snafus".

The striking workers were contracted by Prospect Airport Services, AirScrub Inc., and the city of Chicago. They were employed by subcontractors hired by the airlines and did not include federal employees such as air traffic controllers and security screeners. The workers were careful to plan their strike after the Thanksgiving travel rush to avoid interfering with holiday travellers. They also emphasised that they did not want to disrupt travel but were seeking to gain public support for their cause.

While the strike did not cause any flight disruptions, it was part of a series of nationwide protests that involved non-unionised workers across various industries. The protests were intended to send a message to newly elected leaders, including President-elect Donald Trump, that activists would "not back down" from their demands for social justice and higher wages. The Fight for $15 campaign has gained significant momentum, with low-wage workers winning $61.5 billion in annual raises since 2012, affecting 19 million people.

United Airlines flight attendants union votes to strike

On August 28, 2024, United Airlines flight attendants voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike, with 99.99% of the union's over 28,000 flight attendants voting in favor. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) has been negotiating for a double-digit base pay increase, higher pay for time spent working on the ground, retroactive pay, schedule flexibility, and work rule improvements.

The last contract became eligible for an amendment in August 2021, and the flight attendants filed for federal mediation through the National Mediation Board (NMB) last year. Even with the strike authorized, flight attendants cannot legally walk off the job until the NMB determines that both parties have reached a standstill and further negotiations would not be productive.

The situation unfolds amid new contract negotiations in the U.S. and Canada, where cabin crews at carriers are also seeking compensation for on-ground duties. This vote marks the first time since the 2005 bankruptcy negotiations that United Airlines flight attendants have voted on strike authorization.

In a statement, Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of the AFA, said:

> As Labor Day travel begins, United management is reminded what's at stake if we don't get this done.

In December 2024, hundreds of Chicago O'Hare International Airport workers went on strike, protesting low wages. The strike was organized by the Service Employees International Union Local 1 and involved baggage handlers, janitors, airplane cabin cleaners, and wheelchair attendants, many of whom were calling for a $15 minimum wage and union rights. The Chicago Department of Aviation reported no flight or service disruptions as a result of the strike.

The Fight for $15 campaign

On Tuesday, December 19, 2024, hundreds of workers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport went on strike as part of the Fight for $15 campaign. The strike was organized by the Service Employees International Union Local 1, and included baggage handlers, janitors, airplane cabin cleaners, and wheelchair attendants. Many of these workers make the city's $10.50-an-hour minimum wage. The strike was one in a series of nationwide protests that day, which included nonunionized workers in airports, fast-food employees, graduate assistants, child and healthcare workers, and Uber drivers.

The success of the Fight for $15 campaign is notable, as it has helped win over $61.5 billion in increased pay for approximately 22 million workers since 2012. The campaign has been supported by the Service Employees International Union, which has provided funding and assistance to workers in establishing their own organizations to chart the agenda and build the campaign. Despite this progress, organizers of the Fight for $15 campaign continue to push for more, arguing that many workers still lack a living wage and union representation.

The O'Hare strike caused no flight disruptions, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. However, some operational challenges were anticipated, such as planes not being fully cleaned and potential delays in bag handling. The striking workers were not aiming to disrupt travel but to gain public support for their cause. They were joined by others protesting low wages at a rally outside the airport, with concurrent rallies taking place at nearly 20 airports across the country.

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