[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6046055,"mediaKeyId","3573523-52f5d259d74428db3a9b483511025c5a","parentId",3573523,"title","Contracted airport workers ask Fort Worth to press DFW board for higher wages","audioSeconds",475,"startMs",1023000,"endMs",1498000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3573523-52f5d259d74428db3a9b483511025c5a&start=1023&end=1498","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3573523-52f5d259d74428db3a9b483511025c5a/thumbnail_1023000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6046055/Fort-Worth/Tarrant-County/Texas/Contracted-airport-workers-ask-Fort-Worth-to-press-DFW-board-for-higher-wages","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046055-c4887c1e366b2c79a5d4131cf8e206b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140354&Signature=lHg53q25qNvn~z~MeoaDyhB~0buyCesNN2MGxeT7a~qtfp7vlU16Udo8wrn8aRC1btuqCR6q3VO3BnOXCagOS7VNmTFRqJlM-ryrwuP8fY-TKkMBSPAOte~Qn3ERC7-9whyV7augqw98NPTxTgFjTTUK5Y5Vk~vINzEqdey90BNlxNlxCz8l882D-ZRr4e6QdnO2jraLVQy9006N4nFnAsGZubr7zKLOXupDBB9iQtflS8dzQEUJJ6a69S1MvIoCZpwhbkfhUcRpEx6NIGjOr07RVAV7Hf8VoKhV21iYSl1VcxHa0OFoW3k3jHeN6XiQvTbY9sYwN~WQQdcppzK6Qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Fort Worth","date","2025-05-07T11:36:13Z","article","Contracted airport workers told the Fort Worth City Council during public comments that some DFW Airport service employees earn as little as $10 an hour and asked the council to urge the DFW Airport Board to raise wages for contracted workers.

\"At DFW Airport, we are overworked, underpaid. My salary doesn't even cover my rent or my electricity bill,\" said William Merkredov, who identified himself as a District 8 resident and an airport door guard. \"You could ensure that thousands of people in DFW area to keep the lights on, roof over their heads, and food's on their table by asking the DFW board to raise the minimum wage at the airports.\"

Peyton Abrams, speaking for unaccompanied-minor escorts, wheelchair agents and cabin cleaners, said some colleagues earn as little as $10 an hour and that low pay leads to high turnover and safety risks. \"Poverty wages and poor conditions don't just hurt us. They put everybody at risk,\" Abrams said.

Baggage service agent Esther Avelar, who said she lives in District 5, told the council that other large airports pay contracted workers $20.22 to $25 an hour and asked why DFW workers are left behind. \"We find pride in saying that DFW Airport is one of the best airports in the country, but other airports are doing more to address the needs of their workers,\" Avelar said.

Speakers asked the council to call on the DFW Airport Board to raise wages for contracted service workers. They argued that higher pay would reduce turnover, improve safety and let workers live in the region where they work. No formal council motion or vote on the request was recorded during the meeting.

Council previously has discussed city employee wages, but the speakers requested that the city use its influence with the DFW Airport Board and airport operators to seek higher pay for contracted staff. The commenters did not provide a proposed ordinance or specific city funding requests during the public-comment period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Public Comment Meeting | May 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Contracted airport service workers told the council they earn as little as $10 an hour and asked Fort Worth to call on the DFW Airport Board to raise wages to match other major airports.","taxTitle","Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas","taxId",2814,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6046061,"Residents urge city to help keep De Zavala open as Fort Worth ISD faces TEA warning",1210,465000,1675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3573523-52f5d259d74428db3a9b483511025c5a&start=465&end=1675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3573523-52f5d259d74428db3a9b483511025c5a/thumbnail_465000.jpg","/articles/6046061/Fort-Worth/Tarrant-County/Texas/Residents-urge-city-to-help-keep-De-Zavala-open-as-Fort-Worth-ISD-faces-TEA-warning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046061-c34f5d9fcdf5a953ba2bdd0a9cd6b717/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140354&Signature=DowkHrsmGwv8zPzhHBowBVQ21jWxxI1sJKAgEfoM92Beg47XwONV9SPzY0vv55qOibE5jOgnpLIdDhLKtZmBhX4PGafsYvZp4dIR54-LP9LQNy-wNJTELsyaiF-~ZUve5Zy-TtQgxbR58rK~wzlEIPeE9vFSbbCerg8UiSAizfA9iTUTNloYkrU5H3xNiBYaCjpMTs-vi3x2Pniy0W~a7of55cJTzoU2mQma28B0N3Eti9ppK7x2PqNBYY-FKHHkSUSIQtvQADBLj6SyJfVIdI47NMqogI6892BAP0F6gLjkLTK5zwyq7aCUCA-eP0Azed9Tjv42roQhFAO0a1QvLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents told the Fort Worth City Council during public comments that De Zavala Elementary should remain open and that the city should act to protect high-performing neighborhood schools as Fort Worth ISD faces a warning from the Texas Education Agency.

\"De Zavala stands tall as a school that demonstrates the promise of the American dream, changing the lives of students to put them on a different trajectory than most other schools in our district would afford,\" said Heather Tolkstorf, a De Zavala parent and PTA member.

Speakers said the issue matters beyond the school itself because De Zavala has posted consecutive high ratings amid broader district struggles. \"Rather than face closure, we should be the shining example of what Fort Worth ISD can actually be,\" said Patrick O'Neil, who identified himself as a 10-year resident of Fairmount and a grandfather of students at De Zavala.

Annette Cribilaro, who identified herself as a Fort Worth ISD parent, PTA member and licensed social worker, told the council that \"TEA has warned that Fort Worth ISD is at risk of state takeover due to failing ratings for five consecutive years at schools,\" and she raised concerns about the district's facilities master plan that she said proposes closing high-performing campuses.

David Martinez, a resident who spoke later in the meeting, also urged the city to help neighborhoods that will face ripple effects from school closures, citing Carter Park Elementary as a school slated to close and saying residents are organizing to press the district for help.

No council motion or vote on school closures or a formal request to the district was recorded during the meeting. Speakers asked the council to \"stand with\" families, to urge Fort Worth ISD to preserve high-performing, neighborhood schools, and to provide support to communities facing school consolidations.

The comments came during the meeting's public-comment period; council staff reduced speaking time because the meeting risked losing quorum. Council members did not respond with any formal action on the record during the public-comment period.

Residents requested that the city use its influence with the district and assist community organizing around affected schools. The speakers provided both statistical claims and personal testimony: they said De Zavala has earned an A rating for multiple consecutive years and described the school as serving a diverse, largely Title I student population. The total number of district schools referenced in public comments varied in the remarks and was not specified precisely to the council.

Speakers and community members said they expect further public engagement with the district and called on council members to publicly support keeping neighborhood schools open.","Several Fort Worth residents urged the City Council to press Fort Worth ISD to keep De Zavala Elementary open and to help neighborhoods affected by possible school closures after the Texas Education Agency warned the district it could face state intervention.","actionData","errors"]

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Contracted airport workers ask Fort Worth to press DFW board for higher wages

Residents urge city to help keep De Zavala open as Fort Worth ISD faces TEA warning