DENVER — Employees at Denver International Airport want a raise and they're starting a drive petition on Thursday to gather the signatures needed to get the proposal on Denver's ballot in May of 2019.
The union representing the workers, Unite Here, posted an event on Facebook about a scheduled gathering outside Denver's City and County Building Thursday morning.
Workers said they want minimum wage at DIA to increase to $15 an hour by 2021. There are long-time employees who still make less the $12 an hour, they said.
"I see people working there 20 years," said warehouse worker Amelton Archelus. "Me and my wife and niece work there. We have never seen $15 an hour."
Under the proposal, the minimum wage would first increase to $13 an hour and would go up to $15 an hour by 2021.
A total of 35,000 people work at DIA, but the Denver Post reports the minimum wage increase would only affect 6,300 workers.
Proponents say some airport businesses simply couldn't afford the pay increase.