The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act aims to ensure fair compensation for airport service workers across the United States. It mandates that employers at small, medium, and large hub airports provide their employees with wages and fringe benefits that meet or exceed specific standards. This initiative seeks to stabilize the airport workforce, enhance public safety and security, and ensure effective airport operations by reducing turnover and promoting a highly trained staff. The bill broadly defines "covered service workers" to include individuals performing various functions related to air transportation, concessions, airline catering, and hotel services on airport property. Employers of these workers must pay wages and benefits that are at least the higher of the prevailing rates determined by the Secretary of Labor under the Service Contract Act , or any applicable State or local minimum wage and benefit laws. Employers are also required to submit monthly certifications, under penalty of perjury, affirming their compliance with these labor standards. The Department of Labor is responsible for issuing wage and benefit determinations and enforcing the wage and fringe benefit requirements, utilizing authority similar to the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Department of Transportation oversees the certification process and can impose penalties for non-compliance or false certifications. The bill also allows for civil penalties up to three times the standard amount for violations and grants interested persons the ability to bring civil actions for enforcement. Importantly, the Act does not preempt State or local laws that offer greater protections or higher compensation for airport service workers.
The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act aims to ensure fair compensation for airport service workers across the United States. It mandates that employers at small, medium, and large hub airports provide their employees with wages and fringe benefits that meet or exceed specific standards. This initiative seeks to stabilize the airport workforce, enhance public safety and security, and ensure effective airport operations by reducing turnover and promoting a highly trained staff. The bill broadly defines "covered service workers" to include individuals performing various functions related to air transportation, concessions, airline catering, and hotel services on airport property. Employers of these workers must pay wages and benefits that are at least the higher of the prevailing rates determined by the Secretary of Labor under the Service Contract Act , or any applicable State or local minimum wage and benefit laws. Employers are also required to submit monthly certifications, under penalty of perjury, affirming their compliance with these labor standards. The Department of Labor is responsible for issuing wage and benefit determinations and enforcing the wage and fringe benefit requirements, utilizing authority similar to the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Department of Transportation oversees the certification process and can impose penalties for non-compliance or false certifications. The bill also allows for civil penalties up to three times the standard amount for violations and grants interested persons the ability to bring civil actions for enforcement. Importantly, the Act does not preempt State or local laws that offer greater protections or higher compensation for airport service workers.