Sea-Tac Airport

Sea-Tac workers aim for pay raise with ballot initiative

Ashley Gross — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:01:00 +0000

Workers at Sea-Tac Airport are trying to get a big pay raise by way of a ballot initiative. If approved, the increase would put them 60 percent over the state’s minimum wage of $9.19 per hour.

Sea-Tac baggage handlers and cabin cleaners sign union cards

Ashley Gross — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:36:00 +0000

(Editor's note May 23, 2013: Corrects to clarify that workers have signed cards to join unions but haven't been recognized as unions by their employers. Until they're recognized, they don't have legal status as collective bargaining units.)

After a year of agitating over working conditions, more than 1,000 workers at Sea-Tac Airport say they have now signed cards to join unions.

Sea-Tac airport worker complaints spark state investigation

Ashley Gross — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:56:44 +0000

State inspectors have opened an investigation after more than 50 workers at Sea-Tac International Airport filed complaints over working conditions.

The complaints come from a wide range of ground-crew workers – people who operate refueling trucks, people who clean airplanes, people who push passengers around by wheelchair. Some say they’ve had to clean up blood and vomit without proper training or protection like gloves. Others say they have to work with inadequate equipment, like nozzles that leak jet fuel and trucks with faulty brakes.

Taxis threaten to stop Sea-Tac Airport service over town cars

Ashley Gross and KPLU News Staff — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:02:37 +0000

Claiming town cars are breaking the rules, Seattle taxi drivers are threatening to stop taking passengers to Sea-Tac Airport.

TSA PreCheck coming to Sea-Tac's north checkpoint

The Associated Press — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:03:03 +0000

The Transportation Security Administration says it will be using Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's north security checkpoint for its new expedited screening program.

TSA is testing its new PreCheck system at 28 airports this year.

Mentally ill man's bomb threat ruled 'true threat' to Sea-Tac

Paula Wissel — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:14:16 +0000

If you threaten to blow up an airport, you'll face jail time. According to the Washington State Court of Appeals, that's true even if you're mentally ill and the threat is not considered credible.

Back in 2009, James S. Ballew called 911 and, after asking to speak with a specific officer with the Port of Seattle Police, told the dispatcher he had five friends who had placed bombs in and around Sea-Tac Airport.

The call was traced to Harborview Medical Center’s psychiatric ward.

Armed at Sea-Tac: TSA finds 2 handguns in carry-on bags

The Associated Press — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:33:17 +0000

SEATAC, Wash. — Security officers found handguns two straight days at checkpoints at Sea-Tac Airport.

The Transportation Safety Administration says a .22-caliber was found in the carry-on bag Thursday of a man flying to San Francisco. It was loaded with eight rounds, including a bullet in the chamber.

Smoking landing gear and other problems today at Sea-Tac

The Associated Press — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:05:53 +0000

Problems with two planes and a suspicious bag kept emergency crews busy Tuesday at Sea-Tac Airport.

Spokesman Perry Cooper says there were no injuries or serious damage.