Fri, Dec 05, 2008
First Wave Of Layoffs Will Start After Holidays
United Airlines has confirmed that
the first of 7,000 promised layoffs will begin just after the
holidays.
Spokeswoman Megan McCarthy told the Chicago Tribune Wednesday
that about 1,200 jobs will be cut as 2009 starts. About 700 will be
mechanics, including 300 at United's San Francisco maintenance
base, and 150 at Chicago O'Hare.
Other sources has earlier reported the airline will cut as many
as 490 customer service reps, and 387 pilots, also in January.
McCarthy commented, "These are part of the difficult but
necessary actions we are taking companywide to enable United to
compete in this challenging economic environment."
Analyst Michael Derchin, aviation analyst with FTN Midwest
Securities, says the airlines can't afford to assume the current
dip in fuel prices will last. "They don't have great visibility
beyond the next month or two," he said.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents the
mechanics, and union leaders plan to meet with United officials
next week. David Bourne, the union's airline division director,
told workers in a letter announcing the cuts that the union will,
"...ensure that the company does not use the upcoming furloughs as
an excuse to outsource maintenance work to any third-party
vendor."
Many of the cuts happening in January were announced earlier
this year, but United held off implementing them until after the
holiday travel season. Overall, United plans to park about 100
jets, or about 20 percent of its fleet.
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