July 12, 2017
A strike planned for Wednesday that could have halted hundreds of contracted workers at Philadelphia International Airport has been suspended.
The threat of a strike was raised Tuesday night, as the workers hoped to drive American Airlines back to the negotiating table with Service Employees International Union 32BJ. SEIU 32BJ represents about 1,400 people at PHL, including wheelchair attendants, baggage handlers and cabin cleaners.
Rob Hill, vice president for the union, said in a statement early Wednesday that talks would resume at 11 a.m. The workers, employed through the airline's contractors PrimeFlight Airline Service and Prospect Aviation Services, were planning to hit the picket lines at 11:30 a.m., remaining until 6:30 p.m.
"While the strike is suspended as negotiations get underway, the airport workers are ready to go back on strike should talks fall apart," Hill said in the statement.
The workers at PHL were to be joined by others at Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy and Denver international airports, whose strikes were also suspended after beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The group threatened to protest ahead of last year's Democratic National Convention.
