by Tula Connell, Apr 15, 2011
Members of Transport Workers (TWU) local unions from throughout the New York area, joined by Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) 153, rallied yesterday outside Trump Tower in Manhattan, headquarters of Qatar Airways. Qatar is moving operations to Kennedy Airport Terminal 8, operated by American Airlines, but, unlike other foreign carriers, is not using American ground service workers who are members of TWU Local 501.
The company instead is contracting out the work to a third party. The union says this move, with American’s approval, is an attack on the wages, working conditions and job security of Local 501 members at Kennedy Airport.
Says Dave Virella, president of Local 501:
If Qatar doesn’t want to make use of the trained and experienced workforce at the American Airlines terminal, they should take their business elsewhere.