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Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama today endorsed the efforts of airline service workers at Los Angeles International Airport who recently went on strike for a day to improve wages, training and working conditions.

"The demands they're fighting for aren't unreasonable -- access to healthcare, adequate training, proper equipment, wages that can support a family," said Obama (D-Ill.). "They're what America's workers deserve."

After two months of inconclusive contract talks, hundreds of baggage runners, security personnel, skycaps, wheelchair attendants and aircraft cabin cleaners walked off the job on Aug. 24 at five terminals that serve major airlines.

The action threatened to inconvenience travelers during the Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest times of the summer for LAX. Less than 24 hours later, Service Employees International Union Local 1877 called off the strike after Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa requested a three-week cooling-off period.

"Obama's statement really shows how iconic and significant the workers' fight is for the nation and the airline industry," said Mike Chavez, an SEIU spokesman. "We are hopeful the airlines will see the importance of this and respond with leadership and responsibility."

The SEIU's airport division represents approximately half of about 5,000 airline service workers at LAX who are employed by private companies that contract with airlines. Union officials said Thursday that negotiations with some of the companies resumed this week.

dan.weikel@latimes.com

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