Groups of workers at Miami International Airport walked off the job Thursday in an effort to draw attention to what they say are issues with health insurance.
Workers employed by Ultra Aviation, which subcontracts workers for international airlines such as Air France, LATAM and more, left their posts starting at noon Thursday for 24 hours.
Workers say the company violates a living wage ordinance in Miami-Dade County – one that requires county workers or contractors be paid at least $15.52 an hour unless health insurance is provided. If that is the case, employee pay can be dropped to $12.63 an hour.
Employees and their representatives say the policy provided by Ultra does not meet standards for a health care plan – saying it is a cash plan that puts a fixed amount on what they will pay for procedures, prescriptions and more.
Ultra Aviation said in a statement that the county ordinance was repealed two years ago by the Florida Legislature and Miami-Dade officials never did anything to replace them.
“There is no way Ultra can violate a set of requirements that don’t exist,” the statement read in part.
State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez, a Democrat from Miami-Dade County, says that the company is violating the federal health care laws, commonly known as Obamacare.
Local
“Obamacare is the law of the land,” Rodriguez said. “One of the things Obamacare puts in place is that there are minimum standards.”
And for that health plan, Rodriguez says companies not only can deduct pay in Miami-Dade, but also receive benefits.
