Airport traffic officers cite lack of licensing; demand that Kansas City make it right
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- SEIU filed a complaint saying LAZ lacked registered private security licenses.
- LAZ says it believes it met contract obligations and is verifying license needs.
- Contract requires compliance with federal, state and local laws and permits.
A labor union representing traffic control officers at Kansas City International Airport alleges that LAZ Parking, the officers’ employer, is violating the law by failing to secure private security licenses for its staff.
Service Employees International Union said in a news release that it filed a complaint with the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners’ Private Officers Licensing Unit, which processes applications, about the lack of licensing.
The union said the licensing office confirmed that LAZ Parking, a Connecticut-based company, has not registered any licenses for the officers.
The complaint comes as the officers are in the process of forming a union with SEIU Local 1 to improve working conditions, as well as safety and training protocols. It also comes as the airport is experiencing increased traffic from a surge of soccer fans visiting the city for the FIFA World Cup.
Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners rules show that traffic control officers are required by state law to possess a license that authorizes them to serve as unarmed uniformed officers to control traffic and to issue citations for parking violations. The union called on local city and police officials to investigate whether the LAZ Parking is in compliance with those requirements.
Chris Rak, the union’s vice president, said officials should “act immediately” to protect the officers and the public that travels through the airport every day.
“Workers should not be placed in a position where they are asked to perform public-facing traffic control duties without the proper licensing, training, and legal protections required for the job,” Rak said.
Jackson Overstreet, a spokesperson for the city, said the aviation department received the complaint and is currently investigating.
Todd Rosen, a senior vice president for LAZ Parking, said the company believes that its traffic control operations had met contractual obligations, and the company is working to verify whether the licenses are required.
“If we find any part of our operations noncompliant, we will promptly make the necessary adjustments,” Rosen said. “We value the people who perform this important work and are committed to ensuring they have the proper licensing, training, and support to do their jobs safely.”
Union efforts
The city contracted LAZ Parking to manage curbside traffic for the airport last year. According to city documents, the city entered a one-year contract with the company worth $1.8 million for the current fiscal year. The city can renew the contract each year until 2031, increasing in value each year for a total cost of about $10.5 million.
The contract notes that the company must comply with federal, state and local laws, including maintaining licenses and permits needed to operate. The agreement does not list which licenses are required for traffic control officers.
The City Council recently recognized the traffic control officers’ efforts to unionize, noting that the workforce faces high turnover rates while working outdoors for long periods at a time.
Sixth District Council member Johnathan Duncan praised the traffic officers for doing the dangerous job of corralling traffic at the busy airport.
He said some of the safety improvements the officers are seeking through a union are traffic sticks that light up so drivers can better see the officers and communication equipment to help the traffic officers talk to each other.
“Those are the folks that make sure you don’t get run over when you’re trying to cross the street,” Duncan said. “We’re talking about folks who are dealing with people who are probably not at their best, and they deserve the right to organize.”
