group or industry,” spokeswoman Leslie Scott said.

United Airlines spokesman Charlie Hobart said “we are taking the necessary steps to ensure a safe and on-time operation for our customers.”

Wheelchair attendant Fareed Syed of Itasca said last week that it’s “hard to make a living” on $10.50 an hour. “You’ve got to pay the rent, pay for gas and you’re living on minimum wages,” he said.

In announcing the strike, organizers explained they would wait until after the busy Thanksgiving holiday to avoid disrupting passengers.

“Two factors benefit travelers,” DePaul University transportation professor Joseph Schwieterman said of the strike. “They pushed it to one of the slowest times of the year ... and everyone’s had ample lead time.”