Feb. 18--Delta Air Lines says that no workers will lose jobs in April when it switches contractors for regional jet cabin cleaning and ground handling work at Detroit Metro Airport.
The airline announced in a statement that it has commitments from the new contractors to rehire all affected workers employed with DAL Global Services, a Delta subsidiary.
DAL Global Services last week notified the State of Michigan that it would lay off 741 workers on or about April 15 as a result of losing the contract work.
The two new contractors are Menzies Aviation and Chicago-based Prospect Airport Services.
The work does not affect Delta's larger jets, just the 50- to 76-seat regional aircraft. Prospect, which says it pays slightly higher wages than DAL Global Services, already has the contract for cleaning work inside the large jets.
"No loss of employment for any worker is expected as they become employees of Prospect and Menzies," Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant said in a statement. "The required government notice filed by current provider DGS last week does not clearly state this assurance and Delta apologizes for any misunderstanding caused."
The affected jobs include 380 ramp agents, 141 cabin service agents and nearly 60 lavatory workers.
More than 18,000 people work at Detroit Metro Airport and more 32 million passengers pass through each year.
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