Union Shames American Airlines Catering
Joe Cortez August 23, 2017
Informal picket targets LSG Sky Chefs for catering provided to carrier at Los Angeles
Service worker union Unite Here Local 13 is once again taking action against American Airlines and LSG Sky Chefs by taking their grievances directly to flyers. Travel blog View From the Wing reports that the union has begun distributing flyers to American passengers departing from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The notices warn flyers about the conditions in which food is assembled for service aboard American flights. This includes allegations of spoiled food, bugs infesting the assembly area and washing stations that are malfunctioning. The note, featuring quotes from kitchen workers, ends with a bold statement: “Disgusting.”
Unite Here has previously called on American to increase how much they pay employees of LSG Sky Chefs for catering services, holding rallies in June 2017 to demand raises. Select workers also attended the annual American Airlines Group shareholder meeting to express their frustrations with their low pay. During one back and forth, airline executive Doug Parker said he would be willing to work with the catering company, but the employees needed to speak directly to LSG Sky Chefs about the issue.
“I’m sorry LSG Sky Chefs has not gotten there yet,” Parker told the employee, according to TheStreet. “We will do what we can to make sure your employer understands that we’re willing to do our part.”
American has not commented directly about the informal picketing taking place at LAX. After the annual meeting, LSG Sky Chefs issued a statement defending the wages paid to food service employees.
“The airline catering sector has historically and continues to remain a low-margin sector within the airline industry,” Shane Sumrow of the catering company told TheStreet. “We have a collective bargaining agreement signed by both ourselves and our recognized trade union that provides an agreed-upon process to address issues with wages, to which we remain committed. ”
[Photo: Shutterstock]
I didn't understand this article at all. Who wrote it? He bases news on a Travel Blog "View From the Wing?"
So, as an LSG employee or the Unite Here union, you care so little about your fellow human, you would serve spoiled food, food prepped in bug infested areas? The only thing that would fix it, is more money to the employee/union? You are disgusting human beings. Inless of course it is all hyperbole, and all that happened is the faucet went out for a couple hours, someone found bugs in a box of lettuce that was tossed out.
American pays less than others. They get the lowest quality food and worst service from LSG
If it is the conditions the food is assembled in....why is American the only carrier being picketed? LSG Sky Chefs supplies for more than just American at LAX. Not to mention American at LAX uses 3 different catering companies depending on the flight. American is catered by AirFayre and Gate Gourmet as well.
Back in the 1980s I was unemployed for a time and did temp work in the Twin Cities area. One of my assignments was the company that made coach meals for Northwest Airlines, back in the days when there were such things as coach meals. Let's just say it put me off coach meals.