Thousands of airport workers walked off the job Thursday in a national demonstration over alleged wage theft, understaffing and unsafe working conditions. That protest extended to Newark Liberty International Airport where workers for the international cargo services company Swissport Cargo are striking for 24 hours, delaying mail and packages handled by the U.S. Postal Service.
The workers are accusing Swissport of violating last year’s Healthy Terminals Act by taking too long to give them extra pay for health care. Swissport has also been accused of trying to intimidate employees out of unionizing, and workers filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in October.
“We want to come to a place where we work hard. Pay us fairly. We don’t want to continue working from check to check,” said cargo agent Osarugue Aibangbee.
