LAX workers demand living wages

South Gate resident and LAX airport worker Laura Esquivel joined dozens of co-workers Monday morning to protest in favor of a living wage ordinance in Los Angeles and a fair working contract. 

Esquivel, who has worked as a janitor for 22 years at the airport, said she felt very disappointed last week after learning that the Los Angeles City Council postponed the Living Wage Ordinance vote to December 11. 

The ordinance intends to amend changes to an existing ordinance for hotel and airport workers.

It would raise the minimum wage from around $20 to $25 on February 1st, increasing each year until it reached $30 per hour by July 1, 2028, right before the start of the Olympics. 

Esquivel said she suffers because, as a mother of four working night shifts from 10 pm to 6 am, she not only deals with dangers in public transportation but also with a low income that can’t help her provide enough for her family. She said while the City tries to combat homelessness, they are neglecting workers on the verge of losing their homes if they don’t receive better wages. 

“There are many co-workers who are like me or worse than me. Some can’t even pay their rent. In these days that should be of happiness, there are a lot of people who can’t afford food to eat,” said Esquivel.

 The protestors gathered outside Terminal 3 with signs and speakers chanting, “Airport workers black and brown, we will shut this airport down” if their demands are not met. The LAX members work as janitors and handle baggage, maintain safety at the airport, and assist wheelchair passengers. They are members of the SEIU-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) and said the City Council’s inaction is causing them to lose about $1,000 in monthly wages. 

Another worker in the protest was Armando Muñoz, who had been working as a passenger service agent for the past 14 years. He said the workers feel the City of Los Angeles prefers corporations over the working class. However, the workers are the ones who make the airport and the city better. 

While he lives in South LA and his commute is short, he said some of his co-workers come from cities as far as Lancaster or Riverside, and others live in their cars. “Unfortunately, some of my co-workers can’t be here, so I’m here for them. Some are being kicked out of their apartments, or they can’t afford food,” Muñoz said, reassuring that he fights not just for himself but for his co-workers.

After the protest, the workers received Thanksgiving meals thanks to the collaboration of the LA Federation of Labor. 

Rejecting the ordinance 

CALÓ News tried to obtain a comment from Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) but hasn’t received a response. 

In September, the Hotel Association of Los Angeles sent a letter to the City Council stating that the wage ordinance is misguided and could have a negative economic impact. They said they haven’t recovered to pre-pandemic levels and the dramatic increase in labor costs. 

During last week’s council meeting, the Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson directed the City’s chief legislative analyst to answer questions of any councilmember previous to the December 11 meeting. If the council approves the ordinance on that date, city lawyers will rewrite it and then hold another vote later to approve the new wages. 

Muñoz said the protest will not stop until they see the changes they need. 

“[The City Council] said they represent us, but they have just shown their true colors. So we are here today. We will be here on Christmas and New Year’s if needed to defend the living wage,” he said.

About 80 million Americans are expected to travel this year during the Thanksgiving weekend. At LAX the airport projects over 2.2 million passengers during this time, with the busiest day expected to be Sunday, November 24.