LOS ANGELES, (CNS) Thursday’s Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved a settlement with the union representing airport workers. This agreement includes commitments from LAX in relation to the airport’s transition towards electric vehicles and onsite production of renewable energy.
According to the board, the agreement is intended to avoid future litigation and administrative problems during the airports Airfield Modernization Project.
What You Need to Know
- Los Angeles World Airports, which manages LAX, has committed to renewable energy and to operating a Micro Transit Shuttle on-demand to service workers who commute to LAX.
- LAWA also committed to implement a carpool incentive program to reduce the monthly parking fee for LAX employees who carpool and a subsidized transit pass program for LAX employees to encourage them to take public transportation to work
- The airport also agreed $500,000 to fund a Ground Support Equipment incentive. Half of the incentive will be in Fiscal Year 2023. This incentive encourages the use of old diesel ground service equipment to be retired and converted to electric.
- LAWA will also allow the Bureau of Contract Administration the ability to audit at least three companies each year to ensure compliance to the Living Wage Ordinance or Worker Retention Ordinance.
We are very proud of the hard-fought wins this agreement brings to those who live and work near LAX and the city, said David Huerta (President of Service Employees International Union United Service Workers West, SEIU-SWW).
Our fight for better working conditions for our Black and Brown workers also includes fighting climate change to ensure communities have clean air in the future. We look forward to working with the LAWA in order to implement the important agreements.
Los Angeles World Airports, which manages LAX, has committed to implementing a Micro Transit Shuttle on-demand to service workers who commute to LAX. It also plans to implement a carpool incentive program to lower the monthly parking fee for employees who carpool, and a subsidised transit pass program for employees of LAX to encourage them to use public transportation to get to work.
The airport also agreed:
- To encourage the retirement and conversion to electric of old diesel ground-support equipment, $500,000 is available for a Ground Support Equipment Incentive, with half beginning in Fiscal Year 2023.
- Within six months, adopt an updated Electric Vehicle Purchasing Policy to require that 100% of airport’s light-duty sedan fleet purchases be made electric by 2031
- LAWA to generate 15% of its power from renewable energy by 2035
Los Angeles World Airports is building the airport that our city deserves. We are also a good neighbor and ensure sustainability. Los Angeles World Airports stated in a statement that the Airfield and Terminal Modernization Project is a combination of runway and runway improvements, a new concourse and terminal on the existing airport footprint, and roadway improvements that reduce local traffic congestion.
The project will create thousands more jobs and opportunities for residents and businesses. Each aspect of the project has sustainability elements. This settlement agreement is consistent in our core values and shared objectives. We thank SEIU-USWW as well as Councilmember (Mike Bonin) for engaging in productive dialog on issues of importance to our workers and communities. We are excited to see the future of LAX and that agreement has been a win-win.
LAWA also agreed in an exposure and health study to assess the effects of air pollution on workers and their neighbors. The airport will share data on LAX’s air quality and other pertinent information for the study.
LAWA will allow the Bureau of Contract Administration (which includes contracted companies that provide passenger service, baggage handling, security, and other services) to audit at least three companies each year to ensure compliance with the Living Wage Ordinance. LAWA will also fund increased labor compliance outreach at LAX, including one-hour training for all employees.
Bonin stated that building LAX’s world-class airport means protecting those who live in and around the airport.
I am proud to have helped broker this agreement between SEIU USWWW and airport leadership. It will ensure that workers have longstanding concerns about fairness and environmental justice. The agreement also plans for a more sustainable, connected, and modern airport. Our workers deserve the best.
SEIU-USWW claimed that the agreement was the product of grassroots organizing and appeals over last year led airport workers, environmental groups, and community organisations concerned about the airport’s noise and long-term health and air quality.
