New York airport workers celebrate signing of Healthy Terminals Act

Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx), the bill’s sponsor, said the law is dedicated to the memory of Leland Jordan, a baggage handler at JFK Airport who was one of the first airport workers in the state to die from COVID-19.

“This is a victory for all New Yorkers as we take an integral step to protect some of our most vulnerable workers in the wake of the global pandemic,” Biaggi said. “Long before COVID, mostly Black, brown, and immigrant airport workers have served this state on the frontlines without access to the healthcare they need to keep themselves and their families safe.

“With the signing of (this bill), these essential workers will finally have access to affordable healthcare coverage,” she added.