PHOENIX — Just down the road from Sky Harbor International Airport, a protest was held by workers.
They gathered just outside the Prospect Airport Services office. A company Cecelia Ortiz worked for nearly two years as a passenger service assistant who helped senior flyers get to and from their gate.
A job she loved but would criticize when she believed work conditions were not adequate. Ortiz said she believes voicing her criticism is what led to her getting fired.
"This termination came because of how active I've been with SEIU," Ortiz said.
SEIU stands for Service Employees International Union, which Ortiz claims she got involved in early in her career with Prospect.
She has called for affordable healthcare and higher wages for workers and played a key role in the heat safety ordinance that was approved by the Phoenix City Council. It required contractors, like Prospect, to have cool drinking water for employees, shaded-areas for those who work outside and hydration breaks for employees.
Ortiz claimed that even after it passed, Prospect didn't implement any changes, which led to her holding protests inside Sky Harbor demanding change.
"I've always been a voice for my co-workers," Ortiz said.
On Tuesday morning her former co-workers came out to support and speak out for her. They called on Prospect to rehire Ortiz. Phoenix City Council member Betty Guardado was among those calling for action.
“What’s happening with Cecelia is very unjust," Guardado said.
The group of more than a dozen people walked into the Prospect office and asked to speak with a manager. After a few minutes, an employee spoke with the group and asked them to leave.
As they walked down the stairs, their chants continued.
12News reached out to Prospect's corporate office for a statement regarding Ortiz's termination and the reason behind it. At this time, no response was given.
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