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Sea-Tac Airport workers rally for better pay, benefits

SEATAC, Wash. — Hundreds of Sea-Tac Airport workers rallied Saturday afternoon for improved wages and benefits.

The workers marched down International Boulevard in SeaTac to Angle Lake Park.

Gary Yancey, who has been an aircraft fueler for 14 years, spoke with KIRO 7 Eyewitness News and said he has to work two jobs to support him.

“The cost of gas is going up, and rent and everything. It’s really hard to get by on two jobs. I work 12 hours a day.” Yancey said.

The picketers at the event said many airport workers are immigrants who may not always understand their right to organize, and that’s a point they wanted to drive home ahead of International Workers’ Day, which is on Tuesday.

“Today, unfortunately, the workers don’t have rights, they’re not respected on the job, their salaries are going down because they’re contracted. They don’t have the same kind of hours or benefits and we’re saying there’s no reason for that,” OneAmerica’s executive director Pramila Jayapal said.

Rally speakers included airport workers, SeaTac residents, local elected officials, and Congressman Adam Smith.