O’Hare workers delay strike until after Thanksgiving weekend

Workers at O’Hare International Airport have chose to hold off on going on strike until after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

“It was never their intent to disrupt travel”, a SEIU Local 1 spokeswoman said while announcing the strike. However, when the strike does finally start, they say that O’Hare won’t be the only airport affected.

The workers are seeking a minimum wage of $15 per hour, along with union rights.

Workers were joined last Thursday by city officials-including several prominent aldermen, such as Ald.

Those going on strike are contracted workers employed by Prospect Airport Services, Scrub Inc., and the city of Chicago.

We have heard of the “fight for $15” before, but as seen in many cases, raising the minimum wage only costs some people their jobs and some employers their entire business.

The workers, some of whom earn the IL state minimum wage of $8.25 per hour, are demanding $15 an hour and union rights.

But airline representatives tell ABC News’ David Kerley that even if there is a strike, the companies will bring in non-union workers to counter potential delays. The strike comes during the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel week.

Balanoff said a walk out could slow but not shut down airport operations.

Travelers with disability should check in with their airline before heading to the airport to ensure accommodation.

AAA says more than 48-million Americans are traveling at least 50 miles from home this holiday week.

The union argues that the support staff at O’Hare and other airports deserve better wages at a time when the number of people flying has hit records and the carriers have been fattened by profits.

27 million Americans are expected to travel by air over the Thanksgiving weekend, with hundreds of thousands of those passengers departing, arriving or connecting through O’Hare’s 189 gates.