Laura Sturza
AIRPORT DISTRICT -- Local airport workers called to active military
duty will not suffer any setbacks in pay, even if their soldier's wages
are less than their civilian salaries.
The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority voted Monday to
maintain the pay of contracted employees who are called to active
military duty. The resolution, which passed 8-0 with one commissioner
absent, will affect workers whose pay or benefits are reduced by leaving
their post at the airport to serve in a military unit.
"The discussion was overwhelmingly in support of the resolution and
the resolution was readily adopted," said Victor Gill, Airport Authority
spokesman.
The issue originated when two airport firefighters, Eric Maricelli and
Mark Torres, were called to join their reserve units in early October.
So far, they are the only two airport employees -- in their case,
subcontracted employees -- who have been brought to the attention of the
Airport Authority, Gill said.
Several guidelines for compensating employees called to active duty
are outlined in the new policy. Included among them are that those
affected must be called for at least 30 days during a local or national
emergency.
In addition, the new policy provides for compensation to be
retroactive to the first day of service and requests that contractors
adopt the authority's policy.
