Airport Police Stage a One-Day Sick-Out

Faced with a one-day sick-out by airport police, officials at Los Angeles International Airport were scurrying Sunday to avert more than the usual traffic tie-ups on what traditionally has been one of the busiest air travel days of the year.

By early afternoon, with airport parking lots already filled and holiday traffic approaching its peak, airport officials said they were still managing to keep traffic moving with the help of supervisory personnel deployed to pick up much of the slack.

Members of the airport’s independent police force, involved in a contract dispute with the city over wages and other labor issues, began calling in sick Sunday morning. Only one of 25 line officers reported to work as scheduled for the morning shift and a similar level of absences was expected during the busier afternoon shift, an Airport Police Bureau spokesman said.

Acting Police Chief Bernard J. Wilson added, however, that about 75% of the officers had been replaced by supervisors and that the Los Angeles Police Department had agreed to provide additional backup from officers at the department’s airport substation.

“It’s a heavy traffic day no matter what,” Wilson said, noting that more than 100,000 airline passengers and about 60,000 cars were expected at the airport on the last day of the Thanksgiving holiday. “We’re trying to minimize the impact (of the sick-out) and we’re hoping for the best.”

Airport police officers were expected to return to work today, said Sylvia Kellison, an attorney representing the 230-member Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Assn.

Kellison pointed out that the officers have been working without a contract for the last 18 months. She said that an impasse developed as officers sought a $1,000-per-month pay increase to bring their $2,000-per-month salaries in line with those of Los Angeles police officers. The city countered with a 5% pay increase offer. No further negotiations were scheduled.