Hundreds To Stage Noisy Healthcare Protest At LAX Today
Hundreds of airport workers will descend on LAX this afternoon to march and rally for healthcare. Aviation Safeguards, the contractor providing passenger services at LAX, recently announced plans to terminate its contract with employees. As a result, workers will lose their healthcare benefits on February 1.
"Aviation Safeguards is leading a race to the bottom by the greediest 1% at LAX to make even bigger profits by breaking agreements with workers and taking away health care," said Mike Garcia, president of Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW), according to a Good Jobs LA release. "It's time to fight for an airport that works for everyone." Aviation Safeguards' biggest clients, which include Virgin Atlantic, United Continental, Air France and Alaska, reported over $2.5 billion in net profits in 2011.
Aviation Safeguards wheelchair dispatcher Jennifer Mendoza said, "I am expecting my first child in April. I want my baby to be healthy, but I can't afford pre-natal care without health coverage."
More than 200 protesters employed by Aviation Safeguards, who are represented by SEIU-USWW, will assemble at 1:30pm today on the LAX departures level between Terminal 6 and 7. Armed with picket signs and banners, protesters will march throughout LAX terminals while banging drums and chanting.
