Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Supporting Airport Service Workers
Purpose: Supporting airport service workers for increased salary, wages and benefits.
Sponsor(s): Council President, LaMonica R. McIver
Additional Information:
This Resolution urges The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to amend its minimum wage policy to increase wages, require health insurance, paid vacation and holidays for airport services workers.
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”) owns the land on which Newark Liberty International Airport (“Newark Airport”) resides; and
WHEREAS, over a thousand (1,000) airport service workers at Newark Liberty International Airport are also residents of the City; and
WHEREAS, airport workers at Newark Liberty International Airport provide valuable services to the airport and thereby to the City; and
WHEREAS, Newark and New York City airports are some of the most heavily trafficked globally, and they rely on an experienced, well-trained, highly-motivated workforce to assist in identifying security issues, emergency response, operating equipment safely, and providing experienced customer service; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (the “Port Authority”) amended its minimum wage policy for non-trade workers to bring the minimum wage for airport service workers at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty Airports to Nineteen Dollars and Zero Cents ($19.00) by September of 2023, with no scheduled increases beyond this date; and
WHEREAS, the United States has seen its highest inflation in four (4) decades since the Port Authority last implemented a wage policy; and
WHEREAS, the Port Authority’s policy did not require that employers provide their employees with a health insurance supplement or paid leave; and
WHEREAS, the New York and New Jersey Healthy Terminals Acts, adopted in 2020 and 2021, created uneven coverage between the two (2) states, which now sets Newark Airport and New Jersey employers at a competitive disadvantage; and
WHEREAS, a uniform Port Authority policy mandating healthcare and paid leave would eliminate the discrepancies between New York and New Jersey policies, ensuring equal access for all airport service workers and equal contributions from all airport contractors; and
WHEREAS, airport service workers are essential workers, who risked their own health and safety to keep the rest of our country and economy up and running during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are especially deserving of and in need of adequate healthcare; and
WHEREAS, research finds that increased compensation decreases turnover across industries and specifically at airports; and
WHEREAS, according to various reports, high worker turnover at airports, results in an inexperienced workforce, which can be detrimental to airport safety; and
WHEREAS, a paid leave, health insurance, and wage increase requirement will allow airport contractors to compete with other local employers to attract and retain a skilled and stable workforce to operate airport infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, it is in the interests of the traveling public to have experienced, quality airport workers to safeguard traveler and airport safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey should amend its minimum wage policy to increase its minimum wage and require health insurance and paid vacation and holidays for all airport service workers at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International Airports.
2. Copies of this Resolution shall be sent to The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
STATEMENT
Resolution supporting airport service workers for increased salary, wages and benefits and encouraging The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to amend its minimum wage policy to increase wages, require health insurance, paid vacation and holidays for airport services workers.