United has announced once again that they are planning on outsourcing Union employees at 28 airport locations across the United States.  The Union jobs that are at jeopardy for these employees fall into the category of Airport Operations and include baggage handlers, ramp workers and inside customer service agents.  These workers who are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) were given notice Monday morning that their jobs may be sourced to an outside vender. 

United stated these cuts are inline with other major competitors.  This is the third round of Union jobs being outsourced to outside venders since 2013.  Nearly 500 jobs were cut in 2013 and more than 600 were cut in 12 airport locations in 2014.  Recently we have seen the results of United’s outsourcing Union jobs at Denver International Airport (DEN) when they replaced the SkyWest Unionized baggage handers with the vender Simplicity USA.  Denver Airport is still recovering from the baggage issues due to the airlines outsourcing. 

Today IAM and the company are meeting to discuss ways to keep the work with United under different labor terms.  We stand in Solidarity with our Sisters and Brothers as they wait to see the how the discussions between IAM and the company conclude.  We understand and know very well the sacrifices these front line employees have made to ensure our airline continues to thrive and make record profits.  Now is not the time to eliminate jobs, but rather to invest in employees who will ensure our passengers return and continue to invest in our airline.