Labor protest disrupts LAX Thanksgiving traffic
-
1 of 4By Al Seib / Los Angeles Times
A few hundred members of the SEIU union march west on Century Blvd towards Los Angeles International Airport on the Wednesday November 21, 2012 to protest LAX contractor violations of the City's Living Wage Law.
click to collapse -
2 of 4By Christina House / For The Los Angeles Times
Activists prepare to be arrested by LAPD for disobeying police orders at the intersection of Sepulveda and Century Boulevards during an action on Thanksgiving Eve to protest LAX Contractor's Violation of City's Living Wage Law and Elimination of Affordable Health Care for Airport Workers on Wednesday, November 21, 2012.
click to collapse -
3 of 4By Christina House / For The Los Angeles Times
Activist Melissa Chadburn is arrested by LAPD for disobeying police orders at the intersection of Sepulveda and Century Boulevards during an action on Thanksgiving Eve to protest LAX Contractor's Violation of City's Living Wage Law and Elimination of Affordable Health Care for Airport Workers on Wednesday, November 21, 2012.
click to collapse -
4 of 4By Christina House / For The Los Angeles Times
LAPD on horseback head towards LAX on Century Boulevard during an action on Thanksgiving Eve to protest LAX Contractor's Violation of City's Living Wage Law and Elimination of Affordable Health Care for Airport Workers on Wednesday, November 21, 2012.
click to collapse
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES -- A march by hundreds of union members and supporters on streets near Los Angeles International Airport frustrated some Thanksgiving travelers on Wednesday as 13 people were arrested, mostly for a planned refusal to disperse.
The permitted march was organized by the Service Employees International Union, which is in a dispute with an airport services company, Aviation Safeguards, which no longer has SEIU contracts.
The protest began after the airport's peak travel period of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., and police had arranged traffic diversions, but some people driving into the airport in the early afternoon ended up in backups during various road closures over about two hours.
"People trying to make their flights were delayed," said police Cmdr. Andrew Smith.
Airlines, however, reported no major issues with passengers missing flights during the demonstration, airport public relations director Nancy Suey Castles said in a statement. Traffic through the central terminal areas also flowed smoothly, she said.
The march ended with the planned arrests of 12 people who sat down in a street and disobeyed a dispersal order, Smith said. A 13th person was arrested for investigation of shoving into a police line.
At a news conference, union members accompanied by Rep. Janice Hahn, D-San Pedro, said it was proper to stage a protest on the busy travel day because the issue affects all working people.
Hahn said she did not mind taking extra time to catch her own flight to speak on behalf of airport workers who are usually "invisible" in jobs such as cleaning planes and pushing disabled people in wheelchairs.
Mary Kay Henry, international president of the SEIU, said the union supports efforts to prevent changes to the health care plan for Aviation Safeguards workers even though the employees voted to sever ties with the union.
Jose Lobera, 77, a 10-year Aviation Safeguards employee, accused the company of splitting workers -- single employees were not as concerned about an increase in family health care coverage premiums as those with dependents.
Other employees, however, said in a press release that a majority had signed petitions to leave the union and called upon the SEIU to cancel the demonstration.
Aviation Safeguards Regional Vice President Joe Conlon was quoted in the release as saying the company respected employees' right to choose representation.
Facebook
Twitter
Mobile
RSS
Most CommentedMost Popular
Responding to what he called a case that “has consumed the media and our community,” Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said Tuesday he has asked the FBI to conduct a “parallel” investigation into the death of Bakersfield father of four David Sal Silva, who died May 8 after he was beaten by...
Two cellphones confiscated last week from witnesses to the in-custody death of David Sal Silva were returned Wednesday to the attorney representing the witnesses.
About two dozen protesters stood in front of Kern County Superior Court next to the Liberty Bell Thursday morning to make a statement about police brutality.
The death of a man in custody following a prolonged struggle with Kern County Sheriff's deputies and CHP officers and the subsequent fracas over confiscated witness cellphones have gained international attention and raised concerns here that the incidents could tarnish the county's emerging...
Blood stains are still visible on the sidewalk at the corner of Flower Street and Palm Drive, where a Bakersfield man struggled with as many as nine officers and later died this week.
Responding to what he called a case that “has consumed the media and our community,” Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said Tuesday he has asked the FBI to conduct a “parallel” investigation into the death of Bakersfield father of four David Sal Silva, who died May 8 after he was beaten by deputies.
A war of words erupted Friday over video footage taken of David Sal Silva’s deadly encounter with law enforcement officers.
Bakersfield College will vacate its 2012 state football championship and forfeit its regular-season wins from the 2011 and 2012 seasons because of California Community College Athletic Association rules violations.