The Chicago Tribune is reporting that United Airlines plans to lay off 1,200 workers early next year. They are among the 7,000 that the airline plans to eliminate to match the shrinking economy and airline operations. It will also ground 100 airplanes.
United plans to lay off 700 mechanics, 150 of whom are based at its Chicago hub. The announcement was made earlier but deferred until after the busy holiday travel season. Some 300 will be cut in San Francisco and the airline is also closing its repair shops at LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, and Philadelphia International Airport.
Leaders of the Teamsters Union will meet December 11 and 12 to ensure that United won’t be outsourcing the jobs they are eliminating and to discuss the upcoming furloughs. Earlier, David Bourne, director of the union’s airline division, vowed to ensure that the company does not use the upcoming furloughs as an excuse to outsource maintenance work to any third-party vendor, according to the Tribune.
Some 490 customer service agents will also be furloughed at three airports. United sent letters warning of job cuts to 253 full- and part-time workers at O’Hare. 387 pilots will also be laid off in January.
