Workers refueling planes at John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens are planning to strike on Friday, creating uncertainty for travel plans over the busy Memorial Day weekend, The Washington Post has learned.
Teamsters Local 553, which represents 300 workers and mechanics who refuel commercial and cargo planes at the airport, said it is at odds with Allied Aviation Services, a private company that maintains aircraft at local airports.
The union said it has been working without a collective bargaining agreement since June 30, 2023, after decades of continuous contracts.
The union went on strike in 2005 over disputes over compensation and health care.
“We’ve been without a contract for almost a year, and Allied Aviation is not negotiating in good faith because they’re making it a condition of the new contract that we waive the right to strike or fight for our members in the future. It’s just not a good start for us,” said Demos Demopoulos, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 553.
“We will never give up our right to strike and fight for our members, a right recognized by the National Labor Relations Act,” he said.
Allied is JFK’s sole fuel services provider and the only company airlines can use to receive, store, test and deliver jet fuel, the union said.
Labor disputes are matters in which national labor agencies, namely the National Labor Relations Board or the National Arbitration Board, have jurisdiction to oversee contract disputes.
Labor unions have greater protections and the right to strike under the NLRB, but the coalition is challenging that, the unions said.
“This is a concerted effort by Allied at airports across the country to get unions to give up on this jurisdiction issue,” said Demopoulos of the Teamsters.
“They’re trying to get other unions to give up their rights in exchange for a contract. They may have been successful in some cities, but they failed us in Newark and they will fail us again here at JFK.”
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey oversees JFK Airport.
Asked about contingency plans if a strike were to occur, PA spokesman Seth Stein said: “We work closely with our airport partners to minimise disruption over this busy holiday travel weekend. We are not involved in any negotiations between contractors and unionised staff.”
Brian Xavier, director of allied services at JFK Airport, said he was “not aware” of the union’s strike plans.
“I can’t comment on this,” he said.
During the last attack, Allied used administrative personnel to refuel the plane.
