Wage concerns halt aid for travelers at MSP security checkpoints

Travelers at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport needing help getting to the security checkpoints will be on their own, at least temporarily.

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Airports Commission terminated its contract with Tennessee-based PrimeFlight after problems with wages developed.

PrimeFlight was hired to provide security checkpoint queue management at both Lindbergh Terminal 1 and Humphrey Terminal 2 beginning Jan. 1.

In mid-January, PrimeTime said it had made an error in its bid and was paying its employees less than the amount stated in the contract. The MAC sent the company a letter, saying it was in default for not paying employees the contracted rate, believed to be $16 per hour. According to a memo to MAC commissioners dated Feb. 10, a contract was issued to PrimeFlight by the MAC but never signed.

On Feb. 2, PrimeFlight notified the MAC that it wanted to void the contract effective March 4, according to the memo.

On Tuesday the MAC voted to terminate its contract with PrimeFlight and begin negotiations with G2 Secure Staff LLC, which submitted the second-highest-ranking proposal.

"Staff has entered into those negotiations with a goal of retaining the employees currently providing the services, ensuring they are paid at least as much as they make now — hopefully more — at a cost that is reasonably comparable to what we would have paid PrimeFlight for the services," said airport spokesman Patrick Hogan.