Sky Harbor Food Workers On Strike: 2 Starbucks Shut During Strike

PHOENIX, AZ — Sky Harbor Airport food service workers are on strike during the busiest travel week of the year.

Employees of HMS Host, the company that employs the workers who staff places like Starbucks and SanTan Brewery in the airport, began their strike at 5 a.m. Monday, according to a news release.

The workers represented by the union, Unite Here Local 11, say they will continue their strike indefinitely until HMS Host agrees to a contract that meets their demands. Local 11 workers voted Thursday to go on strike.

HMS Host implemented a contingency plan to continue operations at Sky Harbor during the strike. This might mean managers, temporary employees, and associates from other HMS Host locations will fill in for striking workers.

HMS Host expects that most eateries, bars and lounges will stay open during the strike. Two Starbucks locations within the airport will close: The one in Terminal 3 north and the one at the baggage claim in Terminal 4. Zinburger may temporarily close as well.

Workers are demanding new contracts with fair raises, affordable health insurance, company-paid retirement contributions, protections for workers’ tips, and strong contract language for equal opportunity and protection from discrimination, according to the news release.

"Unite Here Local 11’s decision to strike only serves to hurt the traveling public and the HMSHost associates who continue to work during this difficult time," said an HMS Host spokesperson via email. "We are doing whatever it takes to minimize any inconvenience over this busy holiday travel time and have supplemented services with managers, temporary employees, and associates from other HMSHost locations, as well as increased our offerings of fresh, pre-packaged food items and self-pay stations."

Workers with Local 11 have been negotiating with HMS Host for improved pay and benefits since 2017. Contract delays have meant stagnant wages and and a hold on official COVID safety protocols, according to Local 11.

HMS Host says it is offering 12 percent wage increases as well as better benefits, such as paying 90 percent of employee health care costs.

HMS Host says it is proposing insurance plans to its employees at $55 per month for an individual and $164 per month for a family, as well as offering a retirement plan with a matching contribution of up to 4.5 percent of income.

Lines at airport eateries and coffee shops have already been lengthy in the past several months because of short staffing.

Local 11 represents more than 32,000 hospitality workers in Southern California and Arizona who work in hotels, restaurants, universities, convention centers and airports.