DETROIT (WXYZ) — Hundreds of Detroit Delta Airline catering workers have voted to go on strike. The vote took place Thursday as 97 percent of workers voted in favor of the strike, according to a press release from Unite Here, an international labor union that represents 30,000 hospitality workers in the U.S. and Canada.
The strike will take place "if and when released by the National Mediation Board," according to the release.
The workers are members of Unite Here Local 24 and are employed by subcontractor LSG Sky Chefs.
The same vote is taking place in 21 other cities across the country during the week.
According to Unite Here, 74 percent of DTW airport food workers make less than $15 and hour. And over the last five years, the three largest airlines in the country – American, Delta and United – earned more than $50 billion in combined profits.
“The airlines make billions off the backs of catering workers like me,” said DTW airport food worker Shandolyn Lewis. “I have to work almost 20 hours overtime every week to afford the $400 per month company insurance plan I need to tend to my daughter’s chronic asthma.
“I voted yes today because we deserve more, and because One Job Should Be Enough to survive in the city of Detroit.”
The move to strike comes after months of bargaining for a living wage and company health insurance. In 2018, only 47 percent of airline cateriing workers at DTW had company health insurance.
