Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Houston Mayor Signs Executive Order Raising Wage for Airport Workers

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order (EO) last week that will provide major wage increases for thousands of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Airport workers.

Members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) attended the signing of the EO, which compels air carriers, and concessions and airport contractors to immediately raise pay to $20 an hour. Over the next two years, the wage rate will continue to grow, reaching $23 an hour by January 2028.

“Today we celebrate a big victory for airport workers who have worked long and hard for a raise,” said Elsa Flores, president of SEIU Texas. “This wage increase is the product of workers coming together as a union and having the unwavering support of pro-labor leaders like Mayor John Whitmire and Council Member Joaquin Martinez.”