Workers set to strike five US airports

Wage unrest is bubbling up again in the US airport sector.

A swathe of airport staff, including cabin cleaners, baggage handlers and wheelchair attendants, have threatened strike action this week at a number of US airports. JFK, Philadelphia, Newark, La Guardia and Denver are the targets and the action has been prompted by growing dissatisfaction with United Airlines and American Airlines.

The unrest has been occasioned by the reluctance of the latter to negotiate on wages; and dissatisfied staff have highlighted unfair labour practices arising from any attempts to unionise.

Citing having to work in a hostile environment, the affected staff are not alone: strike action over wage demands in various locations has been making the headlines regularly in the past 24 months.