Janitors 'Sick-Out' Strikes Oakland International Airport

Janitors 'Sick-Out' Strikes Oakland International
Airport 
KTVU.com, CA

POSTED: 12:04 PM PST February 11, 2004

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland International Airport
officials said Wednesday that custodial and clerical
workers have staged a sickout but management has
stepped in and everything is running smoothly at the
airport.

Airport spokeswoman Cyndy Johnson said, "Our primary
goal throughout this walkout is maintaining the safety
and security of the traveling public and there is no
disruption to our operations."

Johnson said, "Travelers should continue to come to
the airport and the only difference they may see is
that instead of seeing a custodian cleaning the
bathrooms they may see a management person." 

Johnson said that the sickout has not affected
passengers' ability to get on a plane or on the
ability of planes to take off.

The sickout began with the late night shift beginning
about 11 p.m. last night and is expected to continue
throughout the day, she said.

Johnson said if the job action continues after today
that there is a contingency plan in place in which
management employees would step in for

union workers. The workers belong to Service Employees
International Union Local 790 and are primarily
custodial employees, as well as some clerical and
maintenance workers, she said.

Spokeswoman Marilyn Sandifur of the Port of Oakland,
which oversees the airport, said 315 port employees
belong to Local 790.

Johnson said she will work a shift Wednesday night
herself cleaning bathrooms, as she's one of the
management employees who are stepping in.

Local 790 leaders were not immediately available for
comment.

Sandifur said port management is negotiating "in good
faith" work Local 790 leaders and hopes to achieve "a
reasonable contract that's good for the public, good
for our employees and good for our overall
operations."

The employees' contract expired back in June 2002, she
said.

Sandifur said she can't disclose the details of the
contract negotiations, but she said economics are a
major issue.

"Our revenues and activity are growing, but our
operating expenses are growing even faster," which
means that management wants to control labor costs,
she said.

"Everyone has a vested interest in keeping the port
viable both for now and for the future," she said.

Tough economic times forced the port to lay off 41
employees last year, Sandifur said. 
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