PHOENIX – As their strike continues into the busiest travel season of the year, members of the Phoenix Airport restaurant union are accusing concessionaire HMSHost of wage inequality along racial and ethnic lines.
Meanwhile, HMSHost downplayed the impact of the work stoppage, saying that around 84% of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport employees showed up.
HMSHost operates 12 concession brands in Sky Harbor, including Starbucks, Chelsea’s Kitchen, Olive & Ivy, SanTan Brewing, and Zinburger.
“HMSHost continues to proudly serve guests during this busy vacation travel season thanks to our dedicated staff,” a company spokesman said in a press release on Tuesday.
Unite Here Local 11 on Tuesday officially called on the Federal Equal Opportunities Commission to investigate the remuneration practices of HMSHost, the largest concession operator at the state’s largest airport.
“The data received from HMS Host indicate significant differences in recruitment, promotion and remuneration by race and ethnic origin,” the complaint said.
Local 11 claims that HMSHost black workers earned 69.7% of what white workers made per hour in 2019, and Latino workers made 81.9% of their white counterparts.
“Among non-executive employees, the sharp disparities in pay along the racial line appear to be due to the disproportionate representation of white workers in better paid positions and the disproportionate representation of black workers in less well paid positions,” the lawsuit said.
HMSHost did not respond to KTAR News 92.3 FM’s request to respond to the allegations.
Local 11’s open-ended strike started on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, on its third day and is traditionally the busiest day of the year.
The union members are calling for staff increases, salary increases, affordable health insurance, a company pension contribution and tip protection.
DAY 3: Phoenix @HMSHost The indefinite workers’ strike continues. @ UNITEHERE11 housekeepers joined the line in #solidarity this morning! #PHXstrike #StrikesGiving pic.twitter.com/knydxSO85V
– UNITE HERE Arizona (@ UNITEHERE11AZ) November 24, 2021
HMSHost said it is offering a deal that includes 12% pay increases and benefits that cover 90% of employees’ health care costs.
“HMSHost has proposed wages and benefits that are top-notch in the marketplace and we encourage the union to take up our offer to increase wages and reduce healthcare costs for HMSHost employees without further delay,” said the company spokesman.
11 local workers make up less than half of the company’s hourly workforce in Sky Harbor, according to HMSHost.
Before the strike began, the company said it had a plan to mitigate the effects of downsizing.
HMSHost said it anticipates most of its restaurants, bars and airline lounges will remain open, with the exception of two Starbucks in Terminal 3 and one at the baggage claim area of Terminal 4. The company said Zinburger may also close temporarily got to.
Local 11 is a hospitality workers union in Arizona and Southern California with more than 32,000 members, of whom approximately 470 work for HMSHost in Sky Harbor.
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