FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Airline workers picketed outside the Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) Monday.
It was the first informational picket the airport has ever had, according to officials.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) Union gathered ramp workers together to picket for higher wages and better benefits.
The workers are contracted through Piedmont Airlines, which falls under American Airlines.
However, they say their labor deal with Piedmont expired more than a year ago.
“We’ve been in contract negotiations for over a year now, which has been very difficult… The company’s not offering much money. They’ve had record-breaking profits, but yet they’re not giving their first-line workers any substantial raises,” CWA 9408 Vice President Cleo Cabrel said.
Cross Agent Manuel Hernandez has worked at the Fresno airport for three years and says the Piedmont employees are paid an average of $19 an hour. He says the company is offering them a $00.16 raise in the new contract.