Worried Newark Workers Ask United Airlines: Are We Getting Fired?

NEWARK, NJ — Thousands of catering workers employed with United Airlines say they’re worried their jobs may be at risk, despite a massive “taxpayer bailout” meant to save livelihoods during the coronavirus pandemic.

The airline’s response? Stay tuned – nothing is set in stone.

On Wednesday, New Jersey-based members of labor union Unite Here took part in a national day of protest, showing up en masse at Newark Liberty International Airport in solidarity with their peers in Houston, Denver and Honolulu.

Forming a picket line outside United Airline’s gate at Terminal C, dozens of catering workers held up signs that read “UNITED: Taxpayer Bailout” and “UNITED: Am I getting fired?”

Here’s why they were protesting, according to a statement from their union:

“One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, United Airlines has already received $7.7 billion from the U.S. government in order to keep workers employed, and is able to receive billions more. But at a time when airline workers need job security, United has announced plans to contract out inflight catering work, without giving workers any assurances that their jobs, pay and benefits will be protected. Meanwhile, United has disclosed millions in bonuses for top executives if they stay with the company for three years or until federal restrictions expire.”

Union spokespeople continued:

“United Airlines directly employs approximately 2,500 airline catering workers, including 1,000 in Newark, who are currently covered by the Payroll Support Program. However, the airline is putting all 2,500 of those jobs in jeopardy with a request for proposal out now, soliciting bids to outsource the catering functions that has been done in-house for decades as soon as this fall. United catering workers are overwhelmingly people of color and immigrants. United’s stock price has increased 40 percent year-to-date and reached levels this March triple its pandemic low. United expects its profit margin to exceed 2019 levels by 2023.”

“Many United employees have been there for decades and are dependent on these jobs,” a union spokesperson told Patch.

“United should not subcontract these jobs,” said Donald “D.” Taylor, president of Unite Here International Union.

“This is not what Congress intended when it approved unprecedented support for the airline industry,” Taylor added.

• See related article: COVID Bailout Is For People, Not Stocks, NJ Congressman Tells United

Those on the picket line Wednesday included Jenkins Kolongbo from the Newark United Airlines catering kitchen.

According to Unite Here, four of Kolongbo’s coworkers died from COVID-19 last year. Kolongbo himself caught the virus, and while he recovered, he temporarily found himself out of work and without health insurance.

• See related article: Catering Employees At Newark Airport Mourn Infected Co-Workers

Although Kolongbo is back at work in the kitchen, he’s worried that he may not be for long, the union said.

“After United catering workers risked their health to prepare its in-flight food and beverage in big industrial kitchens during COVID-19, United’s announcement means that these workers could all be out of work by October,” a spokesperson said.

UNITED: NO DECISIONS MADE YET

However, according to the airline, no decision regarding potential outsourcing – or the jobs of catering workers in Newark – has been made yet.

United Airlines offered Patch the following statement on Thursday in response to the union’s concerns:

“Although United has submitted an exploratory RFP, we have not made any decisions to move forward with a third-party vendor at this time. Given the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on our business, United continues to explore ways to do things differently and become more efficient wherever we can – this RFP is part of that effort. We regularly explore third-party partnerships that have the potential to make us more efficient and improve the experience for our customers.”

United is the only U.S. carrier that still operates its own kitchens.

Throughout the pandemic, the airline has repeatedly said that it’s been complying with the conditions of the Payroll Support Program under the federal CARES Act.

In addition, United has maintained that its catering workers aren't the only people at the company who have been affected by the pandemic. For most of last year, the company’s CEO and president had their base salaries cut by 100 percent, and corporate officers' base salaries were cut by 50 percent.

It’s all been taking place amid a massive drop in passenger volumes that is still plaguing airlines across the nation.

• See related article: Coronavirus Still Impacting Travel At NJ And NY Airports, PATH
• See related article: Cargo Flights Are Helping United Airlines Weather COVID Crisis

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