Thread: SEA-TAC Workers get Raises, No effect on Airline Employees

So, wait... why exactly does this not affect airline employees? Is there some exemption for them for some reason?

I'm so lost. Our managers keep giving us conflicting info. I work for Delta but don't think we'd get the raise. Personally I think it's a load of crap and would've voted against it given the chance. I wonder what that's going to do to our employment. I think we'll have a hard time keeping people if they can work for $15 elsewhere.

Originally Posted by sfgiants13

I wonder what that's going to do to our employment. I think we'll have a hard time keeping people if they can work for $15 elsewhere.

That's exactly what's going to happen. I can't really complain with how it's worked out for me to this point, but when I decided to attempt an aviation career 7 years ago(already, wow!), I found that I would make more money working at the airport McDonalds or the gas station across the street than to work for a regional airline. I chose to take the pay cut for the opportunity to follow my passion. I know others do this as well, but I don't think it's a very large number. In many situations, more talented people go to McDonalds to make hamburgers, and less talented people are relegated to lesser tasks with regionals or ground handlers, such as communicating load information to flight crews, and deicing airplanes full of passengers who are trusting their lives to the rampers. There are plenty of very talented and hard working rampers all over the world, but I think this will only serve to greatly dilute the talent pool. Good luck man. Let us know how it works out.

I am looking at this in a different way. I see the price of everything at the airport going WAY up to cover the cost of the raises. Passengers will protest the price increase - especially since you can't bring a lot of things through security to mitigate the higher costs.

It looks like we'll get a ruling before Jan 1 on this from the courts. I've tried digging in on this to see if airline employees are exempt. I know for a fact that pilots/FAs, etc are. But, I can't seem to find where they draw the line. Everywhere I've read has made no mention of airline rampers, CSAs, etc. The lists I see quite often on the sites supporting/against the measure make no mention of airline employees at all. I can't help but wonder how this will turn out for those who are airline employees but not on the pay scale (ie: Delta ready reserves...aka me.) We're employed by the airline without the benefits. An in house outsourcing if you will. I don't know if there is specific language to address this issue in the proposition.

edit: Also, with regard to prices going up, the vendors at the airport are only allowed to charge up to what they would pay on the streets for the same product. It's why prices aren't jacked up at SEA like a lot of other airports. I see there being a lawsuit over this for sure.

After reading the initiative again it looks like airline workers are in fact excluded. The language states something along the line of


A transportation worker, except those working for a certificated air carrier performing services for itself.


I wonder if Alaska will dump Menzies and hire them back on at their current rate to get around the law.