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To: Delta and the Metropolitan Airport Commission

Tell Delta: “Our Voices Will Not Be Silenced”

15 Now

Kip Hedges has reached a settlement with Delta Air Lines in his wrongful termination lawsuit. The terms of the settlement, which was filed Aug. 13 in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, were not disclosed. While not able to provide details, Hedges said, “I’m very happy with the settlement. I thank everyone for standing with me.” He said he will not be returning to work at the airline. (Barb Kucera, Workday MN)

Delta Airlines fired Kip Hedges, a baggage handler for 26 years, simply for supporting a $15/hour minimum wage at the Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) Airport.

Delta management told Kip he was being fired for “disparaging remarks” made in a video posted on the 15 Now Facebook page. Anyone who watches the video, linked below, will be outraged. All Kip said was: “A lot of Delta workers make under $15/hour... a lot of the better paid workers also understand that the bottom has to be raised otherwise the top is going to fall as well.”
View the whole video here (Kip starts at 1:38): http://15now.org/kip-hedges

Join us in calling for Kip Hedges to be immediately reinstated and for an end to these intimidation tactics.

Why is this important?

The timing of Kip’s termination on December 2nd is no accident. It came in the midst of a national week of action for “$15 and a Union,” and just as three different union drives at Delta, and their subcontractor AirServ, kick into high gear. Over 200 rallied on December 5th at MSP Airport, blocking traffic, to demand $15 and a Union and that Delta re-hire Kip.

Delta thinks firing Kip, a leading 15 Now and union activist, will silence other airport workers from standing up for their rights. They couldn’t be more wrong. With your support, and the mobilization of the wider labor movement, Delta’s blatantly illegal and unjust actions will only deepen workers’ resolve to fight for $15/hour and union rights.

We call on Delta and the Metropolitan Airport Commission, which governs operations at MSP Airport, to immediately reinstate Kip Hedges and to make clear that these intimidation tactics will not continue.

We stand in solidarity with Kip and with all workers fighting for $15 and a union!

Partner

Updates

2015-08-27 13:04:18 -0400

Petition is successful with 10,900 signatures

2014-12-20 19:45:52 -0500

10,000 signatures reached

2014-12-18 16:07:18 -0500

5,000 signatures reached

2014-12-07 19:23:27 -0500

1,000 signatures reached

2014-12-05 10:20:45 -0500

500 signatures reached

2014-12-04 08:55:59 -0500

100 signatures reached

2014-12-04 02:39:23 -0500

50 signatures reached

2014-12-03 23:25:05 -0500

25 signatures reached

2014-12-03 22:52:59 -0500

10 signatures reached