Photo Courtesy of Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato’s Office
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic many of my constituents have been employed as airport workers and it is vital that they receive the same protections as every other front-line worker and that includes fair compensation and access to healthcare,” Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato said.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Elected officials recently joined 32BJ airport workers at John F. Kennedy International Airport to celebrate the passage of the Healthy Terminals Act, which, if signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, would provide life-saving health care benefits to as many as 25,000 airport workers, including predominantly black and immigrant subcontracted airline workers.
The measure, which passed the State Senate and Assembly last month, ensures that airport workers are paid fair wages and have access to certain healthcare benefits. The landmark act comes in the midst of the airline industry receiving a $30 billion taxpayer bailout from the CARES Act with billions more expected. The act will require employers at New York airports to compensate workers, including sub-contracted passenger services workers, at least a $4.54 benefits supplement that they will be able to use to acquire the quality health insurance they desperately need. Workers could use this supplement for health insurance or employees working under collectively bargained contracts could negotiate to use this supplement to provide affordable, quality health insurance directly.
According to 32BJ, airport workers are currently exposed to a hodge-podge of employer-provided health plans, including many that won’t even qualify as health insurance, with sky high premiums, co-pays and deductibles. Many often choose to go without health insurance.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic many of my constituents have been employed as airport workers and it is vital that they receive the same protections as every other front-line worker and that includes fair compensation and access to healthcare. I am confident that this legislation will ensure equity for these workers,” Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) said last Wednesday when she visited union workers rallying at JFK.
“We are here today to thank our legislators in the Senate and Assembly for what they’ve done. But the fight is not over. We’ve got to get this bill signed,” said Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference. “We’ve been confronted with COVID-19 that has devastated our communities. And now it is time to make sure that workers have health care; hat they don’t have to choose between rent, buying groceries, and receiving quality healthcare. The airport workers who make it safe for the passengers of the airlines, we want to make sure they are taken care of too.”
The bill’s Senate sponsor, Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx and Westchester), added, “The passage of the Healthy Terminals Act is fueled by the tireless organizing and strength of essential airport workers, labor advocates, immigrants, and working families. Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman and I introduced this bill well before the arrival of COVID-19, because it should not take a pandemic for us to value workers’ lives and fulfill their right to healthcare. By enacting the Healthy Terminals Act, we can provide tens of thousands of airport workers, including those who work for subcontractors, with the ability to purchase health insurance without falling into poverty.”
The legislation has been sent to Gov. Cuomo for signature.
