Airport travel interrupted as 2,000 strike

Members of the SEIU take to Boston streets to strike for better airport worker pay.

Air travel at seven major airports in the nation was hampered after an estimated 2,000 contract workers went on strike for better pay and more employment rights.

Among those affected: John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia ports in New York, Logan in Boston, O'Hare in Chicago, Fort Lauderdale Hollywood in Florida, and Newark Liberty in both New Jersey and Philadelphia.

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The Service Employees International Union is demanding the right to unionize the contract workers, NBC News reported. The union's also demanding a minimum $15 per hour wage for baggage handlers and other contracted airport workers, as well as an immediate stop to harassment of those seeking to unionize.

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"Intimidation, harassment and anti-worker tactics don't belong in airports," the union said, in a statement.

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Some airlines, like American and Delta, say the strike won't impact travelers at all because the contract workers only handle baggage and cleaning duties, and are easily replaced. Other airlines, like JetBlue and United, said they've implemented contingent plans so fliers won't feel the pinch, NBC News reported.

But the strike comes as America prepares to enter its busiest travel season, the days right before Thanksgiving. The auto club AAA estimated 3.6 million people are expected to travel the nation's ports this week alone.