Houston Mayor John Whitmire has signed an executive order raising the required minimum hourly rate for airport workers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) from the current $15 per hour to $20 per hour immediately, and to $23 per hour by 2028.
“Improving working conditions and the quality of life for airport workers benefits the city and our millions of visitors,” said Mayor Whitmire in a press conference on the matter. “Houston is an international city that relies on our airports to run smoothly and provide a world-class traveling experience for visitors.”
“This is an important milestone for airport workers who work long and hard and deserve a raise. It’s also a win for the airport,” said Elsa Flores, president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Texas. “This couldn’t have happened without workers coming forward to tell their stories and share the difficulties of what it means to work with low wages. These workers, with pro-worker leaders like Mayor John Whitmire and Councilmember Joaquin Martinez, will pave a better future for Houston.”
