Several airport workers and union representatives used the public-comment period to urge Clark County to address long-running contract disputes at the airport involving disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) employers.

Ted Papa George of the Culinary Workers Union said the union represents about 60,000 members and that 10 DBE employers operate about 20 outlets at the airport and have not settled contracts in four years. "The cooks and servers there, they're four, three or four dollars an hour behind the rest of the workers at the airport," he said, adding that many DBE employees lack comparable health plans and pension benefits. Papa George asked the commission to consider a DBE recertification process and said the union would return with proposed language for the board to consider.

Two DBE employees spoke in support. Sylvia Ruiz Orendine, who said she has worked at the airport for nine years, told commissioners she has not received a raise in four years and said, "I will not receive any raise for a four years and I am not a second class citizen." Adam Miller, who works at Jamba Juice, said the work is no different than that done under larger contractors and that DBE workers deserve the same pay and health insurance.

Union representative Paul Catha alerted the board to a strike deadline: "We have a strike deadline of November 14th for the DBEs at the airport," he said, and warned of potential short-term or rolling strikes if contracts remain unsettled.

The comments were delivered during public comment on item 26; the transcript records the public comments but does not show an immediate board response or action during the meeting.

Next steps: the Culinary Union said it will present draft language to county staff in a future meeting and seek the commission's consideration.