United Airlines will soon outsource 637 union jobs at 12 airports, according to Reuters.
The aviation giant's announcement is part of their strategic efforts to slim down costs since merging with Continental in 2010. Part of these money-saving measures also included the closure of an airport in Cleveland.
United plans to move the positions from its current payroll, in order to bring on workers from other businesses on staff, USA Today reported. The company's strategic adjustment affects ticket agents, gate staff and baggage handlers in Salt Lake City, Charlotte, N.C., Pensacola, Fla., Detroit, and Des Moines.
"This is a difficult decision, but we need to ensure that our costs are competitive," acknowledged Christen David, a spokesperson at United.
The affected employees can stay with the company if they are willing to move to another airport. Those not wanting to change regions will receive a furlough, and the right to return to the company.
On a brighter note, United will put 365 new customer service positions in Albuquerque, N.M., Buffalo, N.Y., Charleston, S.C., Charlotte, Columbus, and El Paso, according to Reuters. Sioux Falls, S.D., Witchita, Denver, Washington-Dulles, and Honolulu are also receiving new workers.
"This is a bad business decision for United Airlines," stated James Carlson, a spokesman for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers - United's union group.
"We have offered opportunities to flight attendants for both voluntary furloughs and job-sharing programs in order to mitigate involuntary furloughs, but these programs did not generate enough volunteers and we are faced with the difficult step of furloughing 688 flight attendants," another United Airlines spokesman told WGNTV when the carrier announced in January that 688 flight attendants would be out of a job due to the merger with Continental. "We are disappointed that on three occasions the subsidiary United AFA rejected a voluntary cross-over program that would have provided flying opportunities to hundreds of flight attendants that may otherwise be involuntarily furloughed."
