During its second hearing on job quality and workforce development opportunities for workers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Port of Seattle Commission heard about efforts at other airports to implement policies that support higher wages and career ladders.
“Today was about learning from other airports around the country that have innovative policies for wages, benefits and career opportunities for workers,” said Commission Co-President Courtney Gregoire. “As we craft our quality jobs policy, we want to improve labor standards and opportunities for advancement for workers, while providing a thriving business environment and meeting our passengers’ expectations for world-class service at Sea-Tac Airport.”
At the hearing, Bill Wong and Cathy Widener from San Francisco International Airport shared their experiences in implementing a wage ordinance beginning in 2000. The current minimum hourly wage rate for non-concessions employees at SFO is $13.16 and $12.66 for concessions employees. Employers are required to offer 12 paid days off, additional unpaid leave and meet minimum health coverage standards. Employee turnover decreased dramatically after the adoption of the policy and was reported at 12.5 percent in 2013.
Port of Seattle staff also shared experiences from other airports, including a three-tiered structure from St. Louis Airport that includes a minimum wage without health benefits ($16.18/hour) and with health benefits ($12.37). Tipped employees can be paid less by employers ($8.09 without health benefits or $6.19 with health benefits) if their tips make up the difference. Similarly, airports in Oakland and Los Angeles have instituted higher minimum wages for employers that do not provide health benefits than those that do. More than 140 jurisdictions across the country have adopted different models for living wage ordinances.
In addition to higher minimum wages, some airport workers are benefiting from innovative training programs. Adine Forman of the Hospitality Training Academy in Los Angeles described how UNITE HERE Local 11 joined hotel and restaurant employers to develop a non-profit skills center that boosts career opportunities for food-service workers. The academy helps employers find the skilled workers they need to fill vacant positions and provides additional training for current hospitality workers to help advance their careers. Workers can access English language education, culinary skills updates, server and cashier training, and other practical tools for the workplace. More than 1500 hotel and food-service workers, including many at Los Angeles International Airport, have used the academy since 2010.
Closer to home, Chancellor Jill Wakefield shared how Seattle Colleges works with local employers, such as Vigor Industrial and Filson, to develop training programs that serve the needs of both the worker and the business. Wakefield noted that these occupational training programs benefit when employers identify the needed skills, develop the career pathways and contribute funding to support the training opportunity.
At today’s hearing, commissioners also learned more about the current picture of employment and wages at Sea-Tac Airport, including the wide variety of employment models used by dozens of airport tenants and service providers. While the port employs around 1100 at the airport, 671 other businesses employ more than 14,500 other workers who serve passengers in the terminal or the airlines. The commission continues to explore how best to support job quality in a complex system.
As the commission moves forward with policy development, it continues to encourage written comments from the public at qualityjobs@portseattle.org.
The full video of today’s hearing will be archived at: https://meetings.portseattle.org/.
