Religious leaders are challenging the City of Phoenix to probe SSP America, the contractor that manages concessions at Sky Harbor International Airport, over allegations of racial pay disparities and unsanitary conditions. With a diverse group of 31 clergy members backing the call, the city council received a letter highlighting stark discrepancies in wages among Black, Latino, and white workers, as reported by Phoenix New Times.
The letter, supported by labor organizers and Unite Here Local 11, also details the untidy working conditions faced by the airport staff, with a November strike undertaken by over 400 SSP workers bringing the plight of the workforce to the forefront; another strike ensued just days before Thanksgiving, in the struggle to keep up financially as Phoenix housing costs skyrocketed, the Phoenix New Times detailed.
The strife at Sky Harbor has not been confined to just service workers — on February 13, flight attendants from various airlines protested, demanding updated union contracts and better working conditions during an organized walkout detailed by Cronkite News. This action was part of a broader movement with 30 airports across the country witnessing similar demonstrations clamoring for fair pay, workday reductions, and schedule flexibility — reflecting a sector feeling overlooked and pressing for acknowledgment.
Amid these challenges, Jasmine Glass a former SSP America employee gave her account at a press conference of discrimination and wrongful dismissal after coming forward as a whistleblower — with allegations leading to her termination when SSP America claimed a cash register shortfall occurred on her watch, Glass recounted her attempts to secure a coveted server position were hindered by onerous requirements not demanded of her peers, according to Phoenix New Times.
