United Airlines has informed union employees at 28 airports that their work may be contracted out.
"We need to ensure our costs are competitive and we are considering transitioning some of our operations at select airports to an outside vendor," United spokesman Luke Punzenberger confirmed.
Workers represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District Lodge 141 at such airports as Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, Bradley International in Hartford, Conn., San Antonio International, St. Louis and Kansas City were given notice Monday morning that their jobs are on the line as the airline reviews costs.
"As many of you know, our major competitors in these locations — like Delta and American — have workforce arrangements, including market competitive sourcing, that allow them to operate in these stations at significantly lower costs that are more in line with local markets," United Senior Vice President of Operations Jon Roitman said in a letter to affected employees Monday.
United reported third-quarter 2014 net income of $1.1 billion — an increase of 99 percent over third quarter 2013, and its highest-ever quarterly profit.
More details here.
