About 100 non-union JFK Airport security officers say they voted Thursday to authorize a strike set for Thursday, Dec. 20.
It's the start of one of the busiest travel times of the year but it remains unclear how a walkout would impact travelers.
The workers who voted Thursday work for Air Serv. Workers at another company, Global Elite, plan a Friday vote.
The workers claim their companies are trying to silence them from complaining about passenger and worker security and safety concerns.
The security officers have previously complained about wages, benefits, and efforts to block unionizing. The workers handle security issues for the facilities, such as directing traffic in front of the terminals and making sure non-passenger areas like the tarmacs are secure.
Air Serv issued a statement to Fox 5 News saying: "These issues have only just come to our attention this week. We are now in the process of reviewing them. As our policies make clear, we value employees' input on matters of concern to them. Accordingly, we will be speaking with employees on these matters in the days and weeks to come."
Global Elite also issued a statement saying: "These are the actions of the service workers' union that is making false statements and allegations and not that of our employees. Our employees are and have always been our most valuable asset. Every level of management is in constant dialogue with our trained and professional field staff."
The security officers is being helped by Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ.
The union has also supported several other recent walk-outs by non-union workers at fast food restaurants and car washes.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates JFK Airport, did not comment on the possible strike.
Sunday, May 19 2013 10:57 PM EDT2013-05-20 02:57:40 GMT
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:47 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:47:54 GMT
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:06 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:06:34 GMT
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:17 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:17:42 GMT
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City.
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City. In a report released Thursday, dozens of daycares cited by the Dept. of Health for serious and critical health code violations since 2010, have not fixed the problems and continue to operate without penalty.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-16 03:08:35 GMT
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 9:54 PM EDT2013-05-15 01:54:43 GMT
The FDNY must subject itself to court supervision for five years to ensure it does not discriminate against blacks and Hispanics in its hiring practices, a federal appeals court said.
The FDNY must subject itself to court supervision for five years to ensure it does not discriminate against blacks and Hispanics in its hiring practices, a federal appeals court said.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 3:59 PM EDT2013-05-14 19:59:22 GMT
USDA photo
The tree-killing Asian longhorned beetle has been eradicated from Manhattan and Staten Island, but remains a problem in Brooklyn, Queens, and parts of Long Island.
The tree-killing Asian longhorned beetle has been eradicated from Manhattan and Staten Island, but remains a problem in Brooklyn, Queens, and parts of Long Island, according to state agriculture officials.
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