SOUTHSIDE: These airport workers are pushing for more pay,

Atlanta City Council members voted to hold off on approving a contract for janitorial services at Hartsfield-Jack- son International Airport, saying they wanted more information on how much workers are paid at the airport.

The vote came after labor union representatives said janitorial workers, who labor under a different contract for cleaning the terminal, raised concerns about pay.

e been very frustrated with the wages,” Chris Baumann, a representative for Service Employees International Union affiliate Work- ers United, told the council’s transportation committee. He said most workers on the contract make $8.50 an hour. “We

we’re world class, but our wages are low class.”

Cynthia Hartsfield told the transportation committee in public comments she has worked at the airport 35 years and makes $12.10 an hour.

Atlanta airport officials were seeking approval for an $892,584 contract with American Facility Services for janitorial work in cargo buildings, commercial vehicle lots, perimeter security guard booths and other facilities.

Council member Amir Farokhi said there’s a desire for airport workers to be paid a living wage.

Air p ort manager John Selden said American Facility Services plans to pay $13.75 an hour. “In the end, it is the traveling public that would pay most of the costs,” he added.

Committee members voted to hold the resolution instead of approving it, saying they want more info on pay, includ- ing a comparison to other airports and what the city could require from compa- nies vying for city contracts.

Separately, Hartsfield-Jackson is moving forward with a plan to cut rent for its struggling duty-free operator while extending its lease.

Selden said Duty Free Americas Peachtree LLC has lost $39 million over the seven-year contract and told the airport the current minimum rent of $15 million a year is not financially feasible. The airport plans to reduce the rent to $10.5 million annu- ally while exercising a threeyear lease extension option.