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Sen. Josh Becker was issued a citation and his hands zip tied at a May Day demonstration at SFO airport for workers rights. Photo by ProBonoPhoto.org/Thomas Hunter II.

State Sen. Josh Becker was arrested and his hands bound with zip ties on Friday during the May Day protest at San Francisco International airport for workers rights. 

The demonstration began with chanting and speeches from leaders. As the protest continued, some protesters moved into the road at the international departure dropoff area and blocked traffic. They refused to leave when asked by the police. 

At least 20 demonstrators were issued citations at the event, including Becker, D-Menlo Park, and San Francisco Supervisors Rafael Mandelman and Connie Chan, KQED reported. 

“Unfortunately in the Bay Area, so many have to work two, three jobs or more just to put food on the table, to make ends meet,” said Becker. “It’s also important that employers pay a living wage to folks. That’s really what this action was about.” 

Protesters at SFO aiport advocated for a $30 per hour minimum wage for airport workers. Photo by ProBonoPhoto.org/Sammy Braxton-Haney.

The May 1 demonstration took place on International Workers’ Day and were led by the airport’s passenger service workers, who are in contract negotiations with airline and service companies. Central to those discussions is the demand for a $30 hourly minimum wage. 

“These are people who clean the airplane cabins,” Becker said. “They push the elderly around the airport and other similar kinds of jobs, and their contract expired. This is really about supporting them in their contract and negotiation at a time when the airlines have had record profits.” 

Becker described getting arrested as a surreal and powerful experience, and characterized the citation he received as an expression of civil disobedience. 

“One job should be enough to support and hopefully raise a family in the Bay Area,” said Becker, whose state Senate district encompasses most of San Mateo County as well as northern Santa Clara County, including Palo Alto and Mountain View.

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Hannah Bensen is a journalist covering inequality and economic trends affecting middle- and low-income people. She is a California Local News Fellow. She previously interned as a reporter for the Embarcadero...

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2 Comments

  1. More complete hypocrisy from Josh Becker. Every day he works to support policies and overburdensome regulations that increase the cost of living in California. But then he wants to demonstrate that prevailing wages aren’t high enough to live here? What a hack!

    I would also highlight, although the airport dedicated space at the terminal for the demonstration, Becker and rest of the clown car of local “progressive” politicians, felt the need to be extra performative and block traffic to get arrested. I know it won’t happen, but I would love to see a judge issue massive fines to those who disrupted traffic and added to need for extra policing of the event.

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