Airlines Could Lose Slots At NYC Airports Unless They Raise Low-Wage Contract Worker Pay

BY KEN LOVETT

Gov. Cuomo’s executive director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is threatening to boot three major airlines from their city airport slots unless they agree to hike the pay for thousands of low-wage contract workers, the Daily News has learned.

In a letter to the heads of JetBlue, United, and American airlines, Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye wrote that a requirement for better pay for contract workers at both New York City airports will be part of the lease provisions for the new central terminal building at LaGuardia Airport.

The Port Authority, which oversees the operations of LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark airports, is pushing for the three airlines to enact the raises sooner rather than later. Foye’s demands only impact LaGuardia and JFK.

"Providing an improved wage and benefits package to the thousands of hardworking men and women that make our airport system the largest in the country is something that cannot wait,” he wrote.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2014/02/airlines-could-lose-slots-at-nyc-airports-unless-they-raise-low-wage-contrac-0