Published 13 Apr, 2011
Bustling midtown Manhattan was met with chants of “It’s Our Terminal, It’s Our Work” and a giant inflatable rat as hundreds of TWU members rallied outside of Qatar Airways U.S. headquarters on April 12 to protest the airline not using TWU Local 501 members when it begins operations at JFK International Airport.
Qatar is moving operations to JFK Terminal 8 which is operated by American Airlines, but unlike other foreign carriers, is not using American ground service workers who are members of Local 501. Instead the company is contracting out the work to a third party. This move, with American’s approval, is an attack on the wages, working conditions and job security of Local 501 members at JFK.
“Qatar Airways is coming into an American Airlines terminal at JFK, but they are not utilizing our members who have a 66-year history of top quality service for airline passengers,” said Dave Virella, president of Local 501. “Qatar Airways is a five-star operation—but they can’t maintain that reputation if they cut corners on critical areas of passenger service. Furthermore, they are throwing a monkey wrench into the gears of American’s ramp operations at JFK. If Qatar doesn’t want to make use of the trained and experienced workforce at the American Airlines terminal, they should taken their business elsewhere.”
In other parts of the country, foreign carriers who partner with American Airlines are moving operations into American’s facilities and using American’s workers. Only two weeks ago, the Japanese airline, JAL, relocated its gates at O’Hare Airport in Chicago to American’s gates and the work remained with TWU members, enhancing efficiency and maintaining the highest standards of passenger service.
TWU locals from around the New York area came to show solidarity and support for Local 501, including other air division locals, as well as transit and service locals. Hundreds of TWU members delivered the message to stop corporate greed and respect the rights of workers.