Airlines say baggage handlers strike won’t disrupt service

More than 100 baggage handlers at Philadelphia International Airport plan to stop work and demonstrate for higher wages outside the airport Thursday morning at 7 a.m.

The walkout follows the firing of worker Misha Williams after she demonstrated for higher wages, local 32BJ SEIU, a property services’ workers union representing the workers, wrote in an e-mail.

The workers say their employer, PrimeFlight, is disregarding an executive order by Mayor Michael Nutter issued in May raising the minimum wage for city contractors to $10.88 an hour.

The workers receive a salary, on average, of $7.25 an hour.

U.S. Airways and American Airlines, which use PrimeFlight, said the demonstration won’t affect their passengers.

“We won’t have a disruption in our services. … In terms of bags being checked in and boarded on planes, that’s all handled by American Airlines employees,” said Victoria Lupica, a spokeswoman for both airlines. “We’re not replacing them [the PrimeFlight employees], but our employees will supplement their service.”

PrimeFlight did not respond to request for comment.