Burbank Airport workers picket on first day at new terminal to demand that Marshall Retail Group offers to retain all existing retail workers
Burbank, Calif.–The new terminal at the Hollywood Burbank Airport was set to open today with concessionaire Marshall Retail Group poised to take over retail operations. The day of the opening, workers are sounding the alarm over Marshall’s failure to keep the airport’s existing retail workforce.
From the beginning of the bidding process, the Commission governing the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority made it clear that retaining current airport employees was a priority. It voted to award Marshall’s bid to take over retail concessions after being told that all current workers would be retained.
However, workers report that Marshall has hired unbadged outsiders and not offered employment to the majority of veteran security-badged staff. In failing to keep most of the outgoing concessionaire’s employees, Marshall has relied in part on what appears to be a drafting error in its concession agreement with the airport. The purpose of the worker retention requirement is to ensure the retention of the airport’s existing workforce, and to avoid dislocation of employees during the transition. Marshall’s conduct undermines this purpose.
“When I learned that Marshall would not automatically retain me, I applied twice for a position with them and still have not received a job offer. I rely on this job to pay my bills, and I’m not sure what I would do without it,” said Diego Rosales, a current retail employee at the airport who has yet to receive an employment offer from Marshall.
“I have dedicated 20 years of my life to serving passengers at the Burbank Airport,” said Karla Williams, another employee. “I have always worked the morning shift so I can pick up my 7-year old daughter from school. Because Marshall hasn’t agreed to let me keep my shift, I am left in limbo. Meanwhile, the company struggles to fill open positions with people off the street who have no experience and no badge.”
“When the Airport Authority awarded Marshall Retail this valuable contract, it was told these workers’ jobs would be protected. Now most of them haven’t even received an offer. These are experienced, dedicated, hardworking people. They and their families deserve better,” said Robin Rodriguez, Organizing Director for UNITE HERE Local 11.
Workers are demanding that Marshall offer to retain all existing retail workers. The union has also sent a letter to the Airport Authority requesting that the Commission take steps to correct and conform the existing worker retention requirement to accurately reflect the Commission’s intended directives, and investigate Marshall’s conduct on worker retention to date.
