Rain, sleet and low pay: Charlotte Douglas airport workers say they’ve had enough
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Union rallies at CLT urging city to use lease talks to improve pay.
- Union says ~40% face housing instability; wages start around $12.50.
- Union requests a 90-day review before City Council approves a new 10-year lease.
In a steady rain Thursday, Charlotte airport workers and union members gathered at the corner of Wilkinson Boulevard and North Josh Birmingham Parkway. Their goal — to demand better wages and improved working conditions as American Airlines negotiates a new contract at the airport.
Members of the Service Employees International Union 32BJ are urging the city to use its lease negotiations with the airline to improve passenger safety and reduce employee turnover by ensuring workers receive better pay and benefits.
American accounts for about 90% of the flights in and out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The workers hold jobs like wheelchair agents and cabin cleaners employed by third-party vendors. The union does not represent the workers.
“Today is a great example of people who are really fed up and tired, and we’re ready to do something,” said Niecy Brown, district director of SEIU Workers United North Carolina. “Whether it’s rain, snow or sleet, we are out here to send a message that we have had enough.”
The rally drew support from local leaders, including Charlotte Councilman JD Mazuera Arias and N.C. Rep.-elect Rodney Sadler of House District 106.
“I want you to know that you are not alone in this fight,” Arias told the crowd.
Sadler emphasized that the struggle for a living wage is a communitywide issue. “The work is not done until we have a living wage and affordable health care for all workers,” he said.
Labor conditions and retention at CLT
According to the union, about 40% of the Charlotte airport’s workforce struggles to find stable housing.
Some employees report sleeping in their cars or inside the airport terminals between shifts. With wages starting as low as $12.50 an hour, workers say they are plagued by understaffing, unsafe conditions and a lack of accessible health care.
Bill McGee, a senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, described Charlotte as “Exhibit A” for the consequences of airline consolidation. Speaking at the rally, he noted that American holds a near-monopoly at CLT.
“It is the most consolidated and monopolized hub in the United States,” McGee said. “That’s not sustainable when you have that type of domination by one airline.”
McGee warned that worker hardships eventually trickle down to the flying public. “When people are working dangerous jobs on the ramp near the tarmac, and they’re tired because they slept in cars or are undertrained and new, that affects all of us,” he added.
Union wants city council to take action
The labor dispute has intensified as workers turn their focus toward Charlotte City Council, which oversees lease agreements for the city-owned airport. The current agreement is set to expire June 30.
The union is requesting a 90-day review period before the city commits to a new 10-year agreement.
“City Council, you all are the ones who own this airport,” Barber urged. “How about coming to Charlotte airport and protecting the workers who live in the community?”
However, airport officials maintain that their role is limited.
In a statement to The Charlotte Observer, CLT officials explained that the airport handles the business side of operations — such as gate assignments and construction — but does not set pay or benefits for private-sector workers. They noted that the SEIU does not have a formal labor agreement in place at CLT.
American Airlines echoed this sentiment, stating that while it respects collective bargaining, the SEIU does not officially represent any employer at the airport.
“American does not get involved in discussions between other companies and their employees,” the airline said. “It’s disappointing to see the SEIU’s ongoing narrative misaligned with the facts — particularly regarding the airline’s involvement in vendor wage discussions.”
Union claims Charlotte airport workers face economic disparities
Charlotte passengers pay the nation’s highest prices for domestic nonstop flights, averaging $119 more per ticket than other hubs, according to the union. Meanwhile, CLT remains one of the cheapest major U.S. airports for airlines to operate, according to provided reports from added: DWU consulting, LLC and New Soil Analytics B.V.
LaShonda Barber is a high-lift driver who removes trash from planes for American Airlines. After recently losing her daughter, Barber is the sole provider for her grandchild and struggles to make ends meet.
Even with health insurance, Barber said out-of-pocket costs are so high that she frequently skips necessary medical appointments.
“Our passengers are happy when they can leave and go wherever they want to go around the world, when we can’t even do that,” Barber said. “Most of us haven’t even been on a flight before.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 4:56 PM.
