Concessions workers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport just secured a major victory. These workers — who serve food and retail at our city's main airport — won a new contract that raises their minimum wage to $20 per hour. Workers with more than one year on the job will earn $20 now, jumping to $21 in October. Before this contract, some workers made as little as $14.50 per hour. The workers are represented by UNITE HERE Local 23, a hospitality workers union that represents 3,000 workers across Houston. The new contract also includes cheaper family healthcare, a paid Juneteenth holiday, and stronger workplace protections. An amazing 99% of workers voted yes on this deal. This victory matters because airport workers are the face of Houston for millions of travelers. When these workers earn fair wages, they can better serve visitors and support their families. This follows similar wins by hotel workers in Houston who struck for better pay last year. Mayor John Whitmire praised the agreement, calling these workers "ambassadors of our city." If you work in hospitality — hotels, restaurants, airports — and want to learn about union organizing, contact UNITE HERE Local 23. They help workers negotiate for better wages and working conditions across Houston.
Unionized concessions workers at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport ratified a new contract Tuesday, securing a minimum hourly wage increase to $20, according to their labor union.
The contract between UNITE HERE Local 23 members and OTG — an airport employee contractor — was ratified by 99% of workers, according to the union. UNITE HERE Local 23 said workers with more than one year on the job will now earn $20 per hour, which will increase to $21 per hour in October. Workers will also pay less for family healthcare, receive a paid holiday for Juneteenth and "many more benefits protecting workplace rights," the union said in a Wednesday news release.
UNITE HERE is a hospitality workers union that represents 3,000 workers in Houston and over 28,000 nationwide in states such as Georgia, Mississippi, Indiana, Denver, New Orleans, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Virginia.
Kia Howard, a cashier at the airport, said in a news release from the union that the contract will drastically increase her hourly pay.
"I am excited and proud of what we have accomplished in this contract," Howard said. "I will go from $14.50 an hour to $20 an hour now. ... This is life-changing."
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Speaking at a Houston City Council meeting Wednesday, Houston Mayor John Whitmire congratulated the workers on their new contract and said it was modeled after the contract that UNITE HERE workers at Hilton Americas-Houston secured last year following a 40-day strike.
"This is a great example of what can be accomplished when workers and employers sit down together in an atmosphere of respect and resolve their issues," Whitmire said in a separate statement on social media. "The food service and retail workers at IAH are ambassadors of our city."
OTG did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the new contract.
UNITE HERE Local 23, which also represents workers at the Marriott Marquis, said in a statement it has made “good progress” in negotiations with the downtown Houston hotel.
