The Metropolitan Airports Commission approved a new sick-day policy for several companies that do business at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
MAC adopts sick-day policy for MSP workers
Decision affects more than 2,000 people who are employed by firms at Minneapolis-St. Paul International.
December 16, 2014 at 11:06PM
The new policy, which was unanimously approved by the board on Monday, calls for companies with 21 or more employees to provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked.
These companies include those under contract to clean airplanes, provide baggage handling services and assist travelers with wheelchairs and electric carts.
About a dozen companies with more than 2,000 workers could be affected by the new policy, which goes into effect in January, MAC spokesman Patrick Hogan said.
In a news release, a union supporting workers at the airport pressing for sick time called the new policy "an important victory." SEIU Local 26 noted the measure was adopted a week after workers engaged in a protest at the airport that called for a $15-an-hour wage, paid sick leave, fair scheduling, the right to unionize airport employers and "the end to intimidation."
The latter refers to Kip Hedges, a baggage handler for Delta Airlines for 26 years who was recently fired by the airline for making "disparaging" remarks regarding worker pay.
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