Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport workers call for stronger enforcement of heat safety ordinance

With summer looming, some airport workers are calling for higher wages and expanded protections from extreme heat.

Phoenix’s City Council last year passed an ordinance to require some employers who contract with the city to provide water, shade and heat safety training for outdoor workers. The ordinance applies to many outdoor jobs at Sky Harbor International Airport.

But members of the union Airport Workers United, which represents baggage handlers, wheelchair agents, fuelers, cabin cleaners and other Sky Harbor workers, held a rally at the airport Monday to say the ordinance is not being consistently enforced.

Janae Van De Kerk is now a ticket agent, but formerly worked in passenger services. She said she switched roles because the heat made her old job so grueling.

“We’d be on jet bridges that would get into the triple digits, have no water and weren’t even allowed to sit down. During the summer I felt sick all the time,” Van De Kerk said.

Airport Workers United is calling on Phoenix City Council to broaden the heat ordinance to include a clearer process for workers to report violations and to dedicate more city resources to enforcing the ordinance. They’re also calling for the City Council to pass an ordinance to require higher wages for airport jobs.

District 7 Councilmember Anna Hernandez attended the rally and told airport workers she would encourage her fellow councilmembers to support those actions.

“I know that you all worked on a really amazing and life changing heat ordinance, now it’s time to expand that,” Hernandez said.