Tuesday before Thanksgiving easy for travelers, challenging for Phoenix airport workers on strike
In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, some travelers from Phoenix and beyond enjoyed a relatively smooth experience, while concurrently, many airport service workers were reportedly grappling with alleged labor law violations.
On Tuesday, bustling crowds of travelers flowed in and out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Thursday's holiday was expected by AAA to have the third-highest travel volumes on record and the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fortunately for some travelers, it wasn't too hectic of an experience.
"It's not as bad as we thought it'd be," said John Asher, a Phoenix resident traveling with his wife to North Carolina to visit his brother-in-law for Thanksgiving.
The days leading up to Thanksgiving are usually more hectic at Sky Harbor. In 2022, the Transportation Security Administration screened between 2.1 million and 2.4 million passengers per day from Nov. 17-23, the seven days before the holiday, as shown by data. The busiest day to fly was Nov. 23, the day before Thanksgiving, with more than 2.4 million passengers.
Despite these high numbers, the crowd levels can vary depending on the day and time of travel. Asher noted that before going through TSA, everything felt relatively easy, and the airport seemed less crowded than anticipated. He acknowledged that the situation might differ for travelers on the following day.
"I have a feeling today is going to be a lot easier than tomorrow. Tomorrow's likely to be more challenging," he said.
Other travelers who arrived in Phoenix on Tuesday had the same sort of experience as Asher's.
A 12-year-old boy from New York, accustomed to travel, mentioned that the airport wasn't busy when they arrived about 6:30 a.m. He noted that Thanksgiving is usually hectic, but going through security and disembarking the plane was relatively hassle-free. The boy mentioned his visit to Phoenix was to spend time with family.
Ingurr Bates said her traveling experience from Memphis, Tennessee, was "OK," mainly because of issues with her flights staying on time.
The family has a tradition of spending Thanksgiving in different places each year, and this year, they chose Phoenix for its mild climate. However, during the journey, the traveler experienced a challenge with a one-and-a-half-hour layover at another airport, which, according to Bates, was not sufficient time.
"We were running through the airport," she said. Besides that experience, Bates said things were fine.
All three travelers were expecting to leave their holiday destinations and return home on Saturday.
While these travelers were arriving in and departing from Phoenix, a group of airport workers in red shirts could be observed chanting and striking outside with picket signs at the northwest corner of terminal three.
No. 1: Why Phoenix Sky Harbor is the best U.S. airport, per the Wall Street Journal
Amid the bustle, airport workers protest alleged labor law violations
Since 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sky Harbor airport concession workers were on strike in protest of numerous alleged labor law violations by their employer, SSP America, according to a news release from Unite Here Local 11, the union that represents the workers.
The union filed numerous pending charges with the National Labor Relations Board against SSP America and the strike started during what was expected to be a record-breaking travel season, the news release said.
According to the news release, SSP America, a subcontractor with Phoenix, employs more than 400 workers at Sky Harbor in various roles, including as cashiers, cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, servers and baristas. These employees work in well-known establishments like Matt's Big Breakfast, Dunkin' Donuts, Four Peaks Brewing Co. and Pita Jungle.
Allegations against SSP America include attempts to automate certain positions using QR codes and self-serve kiosks, which were perceived as a threat to employment opportunities for workers. The news release said these changes were made without negotiation with the union. Another charge accuses SSP America of not providing requested information regarding efforts to address alleged vermin issues affecting workers, as well as the company's hiring and promotion practices.
Meschelle Hornstein, a nine-year employee and server with Phoenix Beer Company in Terminal 3, said the most important issues to her were the protections against technology.
"They want to introduce automation and that would just give them a big shoe in the door to eventually remove the necessity for servers," she said. "You can't take servers out of customer service. We call ourselves 'America's friendliest airport' and that's because of real human interaction."
Hornstein, a single mother, said she is also fighting to preserve her way of life so that she can have the ability to take care of her daughter. But she said she is also fighting for the hourly workers.
"They have been desperate for a pay raise for a really long time and they're being paid poverty wages right now," Hornstein said. "They deserve to live comfortably and not be afraid to miss a day of work because it'll make or break them."
Chaska Coggeshall, a barista primarily stationed at Dunkin' Donuts in Terminal 4, suggested that customers could support their cause by opting for human interaction and refraining from patronizing SSP America establishments such as Dunkin' Donuts and Peet's Coffee until at least Saturday.
The union's news release mentioned that workers have filed complaints with the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health, alleging the presence of what seemed to be rats and cockroaches in their workplaces at the airport. Chaska Coggeshall spoke about this issue as well.
"There's cockroaches everywhere. Not just at Dunkin' Donuts, literally everywhere," she said.
Coggeshall also said she has encountered rats at Dunkin' Donuts and that she has had to clean up the aftermath several times.
Protesting: Restaurant workers at Phoenix airport, downtown Sheraton hotel workers strike
Hornstein said she had been at the airport since 4 a.m. Tuesday.
"It's not a big deal, it's a small price to pay," she said.
She said she planned to be there most of the day and the workers would be striking through Thanksgiving. She said she hopes at that point serious negotiations would be on the table.
Hornstein said they do not plan to return to the negotiating table until about Dec. 12.
"They've made no attempts to do anything sooner, and I feel like it's almost purposeful trying to draw it out as long as possible," Hornstein said.
She said they had sent negotiation dates in April before their contract expired in May, but there was "radio silence."
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Republic reporter Michael Salerno contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Sky Harbor travelers have it easy; airport workers strike
