Passengers flying Alaska Airlines from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) on Thursday can still expect their in-flight meals, even as the workers behind those meals prepare to stage a protest.
Roughly 800 airline catering employees responsible for preparing and delivering food to Alaska Airlines flights will hold an informational picket at Sea-Tac. The demonstration, organized by the labor union Unite Here Local 8, aims to bring attention to what the union describes as persistently low wages and insufficient health benefits.
According to Anita Seth, president of Unite Here Local 8, these employees are essential to airline operations but are not fairly compensated despite the carrier’s strong financial performance over the past year. Seth noted that while Alaska Airlines has enjoyed record profits, the catering staff, who load planes with beverages, prep meals for first-class and international flights, and deliver food carts to the aircraft, are often paid little more than SeaTac’s minimum wage, which is slightly above $20 an hour. She pointed out that this is less than what many other airport employees earn for comparable work.
In addition to seeking higher pay, the catering staff are pushing for improved healthcare coverage. Seth described the current insurance options as subpar, explaining that although the workers technically have access to health care, the plans come with high deductibles and limited quality. Among all the members represented by Local 8, she said this group is the only one without affordable, high-quality health care.
While the picket is not expected to disrupt flight operations or meal services, union leaders hope it will prompt negotiations toward better compensation and benefits for those who help keep in-flight service running smoothly at Alaska Airlines.
