Newark Airport Workers to be Laid Off as United Switches Cleaning Contractor

July 30, 2019
PrimeFlight Aviation Services Inc. plans to lay off 735 workers who clean airplane cabins and lavatories for United Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport on Oct. 8, according to a notice filed.

Hundreds of workers who clean airplane cabins and lavatories for United Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport will lose their jobs this fall after the company that hires them terminated their contract with the airline, officials said Monday.

The workers will be offered jobs with the new cleaning company, officials said.

PrimeFlight Aviation Services Inc. plans to lay off 735 workers on Oct. 8, according to a notice filed with the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

“Prospect Airport Services will begin performing cabin cleaning and lavatory/water services on behalf of United at Newark Liberty starting this fall,” United spokesman Robert Einhorn said in an email.

Einhorn said in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement that Prospect has with the Service Employees International Union, Prospect “will hire all of PrimeFlight’s employees.”

“Prospect has a proven track record as an outstanding service provider and we look forward to welcoming them to our Newark operation later this year,” Einhorn said.

Einhorn said PrimeFlight’s contracts were up for renewal “and PrimeFlight opted to terminate their contract, which factored into this decision as well.”

“Prospect secured this work as part of a normal competitive bid,” Einhorn said.

PrimeFlight did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

The news comes less than two weeks after PrimeFlight announced told labor officials in Colorado that it plans to lay off 439 employees and that its contract with United will end Sept. 18.

Last year, more than 800 workers at the airport were laid off in Newark after United Airlines changed contractors, but the employees were given a chance to re-apply for similar jobs.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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