Updated: Strike averted at JFK, LGA Wed. Night

UPDATED 4:43 p.m.: News4New York reports that Aviation Safeguards and the Union has reached a deal to avoid a strike at JFK and LGA airports. Details have not been released. 

END OF UPDATE
More than a 1,000 security personnel, baggage handlers, and wheelchair attendants at New York’s John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia Airports are scheduled to walk off the job at JFK’s Terminal 7 Wednesday night, reports Bloomberg Business.

The Service Employees International Union’s Local 32BJ voted unanimously to strike, which will begin at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22 at JFK’s Terminal 7 and end at 1 a.m. on Thursday, July 23 at 1 a.m.

According to Travel Pulse, if an agreement is not reached, the strike will resume at 6 a.m. the same day at LaGuardia.

British Airways, United Airlines, and Cathay Pacific Airway use Terminal 7 in JFK, while Delta makes up almost a quarter of LGA’s flights.

The workers, who are employed by Aviation Safeguards, argue that the company has made attempts to stop employees from unionizing in order to attain higher wages and benefits.

Aviation Safeguards’ security personnel patrol the corridors and other areas of the airport and aren’t employees of the Transportation Security Administration. Checkpoints and baggage screening will not be affected.

Delta said in a statement that it is “taking measures to ensure that our more than 35,000 customers booked through LaGuardia on Thursday are not affected.” United says it has contingency plans in case the strike does occur.