Over 150 Sea-Tac aircraft fuelers vote 'overwhelmingly' to authorize strike

[Omaha Steve]

May 6, 2025, 4:50 PM | Updated: 7:06 pm

BY FRANK SUMRALL
MyNorthwest Content Editor

More than 150 union Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International aircraft fuelers have voted “overwhelmingly” to authorize a strike against Swissport, Teamsters Local 174 confirmed via a news release Tuesday.

The union wrote the strike could bring air travel at Sea-Tac to a “standstill,” but Perry Cooper, spokesperson for the Port of Seattle, told KIRO Newsradio this is not the case. He said Swissport, a company that provides airport ground services, has plans to avoid disruptions.

The union aircraft fuelers work with major airlines including Alaska, American, Delta, and United.

“Swissport’s greed has forced our members to take action,” Rick Hicks, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 174 and Teamsters Western Region International Vice President, said via the news release. “Our members perform dangerous, physically demanding work, and Swissport’s success was built on their backs. No one wants to walk off the job, but this company has a duty to its workers and the flying public to negotiate in good faith.”

FULL story: https://mynorthwest.com/local/sea-tac-strike/4084306


A Swissport employee fuels an airplane. (Photo courtesy of Teamsters Local 174)

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Kick ⛽

Last edited Wed May 7, 2025, 08:08 AM - Edit history (1)

I was a fueler 35 years ago for American Airlines, then at an FBO (Mt Hawley Airport, Peoria, IL) for a few years. Solidarity w/ my fellow fuelers!