NEW LEGISLATION INTRODUCED ON MINIMUM PAY AND LABOR STANDARDS FOR SERVICE WORKERS AT AIRPORTS
June 13, 2022
Members of the U.S. House and Senate are planning to propose new legislation, known as the “Good Jobs for Good Airports Act” to require that airports set minimum pay and labor standards for service workers employed by vendors at their facilities. A copy of the first draft of the Act is available here.
If enacted as currently written, the Act would require small, medium, and large hub airports to certify that “airport service workers are paid the prevailing wage and benefits”, or in other words, to ensure that airport service workers are paid a living wage and provided adequate health benefit coverage. This would mean that airports would be required to ensure that service workers are paid the higher of (1) a minimum of $15 per hour; (2) the minimum hourly wage for the appropriate locality and classification as determined in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 67; (3) the minimum hourly wage required under any Federal regulation, policy, or directive issued by the President pursuant to 40 U.S.C. subtitle I; or (4) the minimum hourly wage required under an applicable State or local minimum-wage law that applies to covered service workers. For benefits, airports would have to ensure that service workers are provided the higher of (1) the minimum fringe benefits for the appropriate locality and classification as determined in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 67; or (2) the minimum fringe benefits required under an applicable State or local law (including a regulation) or policy that applies to covered service workers. The legislators seeking enactment of the new legislation reasoned that the Act is necessary as several studies have shown that paying airport service workers a living wage and benefits could improve airport services and security by reducing employee turnover and ensuring that airports have an experienced workforce to serve passengers and respond to emergencies. We will continue to provide updates on the progress of the legislation as we receive them.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com 202-659-6665).
Share This Post
Authors
