July 17--COLONIE -- United Airlines has notified the state Department of Labor that it will eliminate the jobs of 42 employees at Albany International Airport and outsource the work. The jobs include ramp and customer service, the people who check in customers, load and unload the baggage and take care of other tasks at the airport gate.
United didn't say who it would contract with for the work, and whether its workers could apply for the jobs.
The job reductions are expected to take effect during a two-week period beginning Oct. 15. In the same notice, United said it is eliminating 40 jobs at the airport in Rochester.
The United employees are represented by the International Association of Machinists. United, now the third-largest carrier at Albany after its merger with Continental Airlines, has reduced the amount of mainline flying it does at Albany, and most service is now provided by regional carriers operating smaller regional jets and turboprops under the United Express banner.
On its most recent schedule, only one full-size aircraft is included in the mix of 19 daily departures.
A Machinists union spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment.
"We are considering transitioning some of our operations work at select airports to an outside vendor," a United spokesman said Tuesday. "These are difficult decisions, but we must continually look for new opportunities to run a more efficient and financially sustainable business."
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