Teamsters joined unionized Avis airport workers to rally for higher pay on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, ahead of their upcoming contract negotiations.
About 50 International Brotherhood of Teamsters leaders from across the country joined local Democratic politicians for the rally at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Their signs invoked the spirit of Dr. King, reading “Avis: Offer Teamsters a contract that reflects MLK’s Dream,” and “All Labor Has Dignity.”
The Avis workers – all customer service, ramp and gate agents with Teamsters Local 528 in Jonesboro – say they can’t afford to live in Atlanta on what Avis pays. Drew Julien said he only makes $15 per hour after working for the car rental company for five years. “It’s not the 90s, unfortunately, so it’s not a livable wage,” said Julien, the Teamsters’ Avis shop steward. Many of his colleagues work several jobs to get by, he added.
“Avis is the third largest rental car company in America — and starting pay is $11.50 an hour,” Chuck Stiles of Teamsters Local 528 told the crowd. That news was met with cries of “Shame!” from the Teamsters leaders, who’d traveled to Atlanta from across the country for a meeting.
Avis and the Teamsters started bargaining a new contract for the Atlanta airport workers in November, and negotiations are set to resume next month. Julien said the Teamsters asked Avis to raise base starting pay ranges from $22 to $25 per hour, depending on the roles. He said Avis countered with an offer of only 20 to 30 cent per hour raises.
Stiles said low pay is a problem at Avis branches nationally. The Teamsters aren’t ruling out further labor actions at their other unionized Avis airport locations, he added. Those include airports in Los Angeles, Hollywood Burbank, Miami, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, and Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac).
“We remain committed to ongoing dialogue to reach an agreement that is fair and reasonable for our employees and allows us to continue providing a seamless rental experience for our customers,” said Avis Budget Group in a statement.
Local politicians at the rally decried corporate greed and encouraged people power in the tradition of Dr. King. “This is the movement right here. This is the continued legacy of MLK right here,” said Rep. Gabriel Sanchez (D-Smyrna), one of the Democratic Socialist politicos who turned out.
He was joined by fellow Democratic Socialists Kelsea Bond, a former labor organizer newly elected to Atlanta City Council, and Jeremiah Olney, who is challenging Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Atlanta) in the Democratic primary for House District 57. Rep. Lydia Glaize (D-Fairburn) also joined the rally.
Sanchez emphasized that change comes through people organizing together. “I’m a politician, right? But I’m not a superhero. I’m not some guy wearing a cape who is going to save the day,” he said. “It’s up to us to save all of us.”