I’m a people person and love to help others. That’s why I love my job as a wheelchair agent at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. But the current working conditions and low pay are leading to high turnover. This means the critical work of assisting those passengers who use wheelchairs is left to workers who are stretched thin or new and inexperienced. That’s why me and my coworkers are joining together in our union to fight to improve our jobs so we can provide the best service possible to all passengers.

Navigating the busy airport can be an overwhelming experience for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for passengers who need wheelchair assistance. I take a lot of pride in the work I do and making sure that passengers feel respected and taken care of.

We know how important our jobs are, but the low wages and lack of benefits like affordable healthcare and paid time off does not show us that we are valued.

We also lack the proper training to fully understand and know how to take care of each and every passenger.

The major airlines depend on us, but don’t ensure that we are paid fairly and have what we need to provide the best possible service.

The airlines’ priority is getting people on and off the plane as quickly as possible so they can get passengers back in the air. They should make it a priority to ensure that every worker is trained on how to assist all passengers.

We know the airlines won’t act on their own to do what is right. So, we are coming together and demanding improvements in our jobs. We demand better for ourselves and for our passengers.

We know that together in our union, we can win the change that is needed. Because we’ve already fought and won life changing improvements in our pay and working conditions!

When I first started, I made $5.65 plus tips, less than minimum wage. I was relying on tips from passengers and working two other jobs to make ends meet. When we won our union in 2015, everything changed for the better. We raised our wages. We now make $15, nearly three times what I made before.

Airport service workers have and will continue to fight for better conditions for ourselves and for the passengers we serve. We want to ensure that everyone gets the quality service and care they deserve when flying.

A more experienced workforce leads to safer flying experiences for all.