United received billions in Covid aid. Now thousands of workers could lose their jobs

Few industries were hit as hard as airlines when the coronavirus pandemic hit the US last year. To stop what looked like the imminent collapse of a major employer, the government stepped in with $15b in support. “We thank Congress and the administration for quickly passing legislation to protect the paychecks of tens of thousands of United Airlines employees,” said Frank Benenati, the United Airlines spokesperson. A year on, the $5b United received from the $2.2t Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Cares Act) has helped the airline hand back billions to shareholders and millions to executives. But for 2,500 United catering workers who struggled through the pandemic, it’s a different story. The company is now weighing plans to outsource their jobs to a contractor. Jenkins Kolongbo has worked at United Airlines in Newark, New Jersey for four years as a food catering employee. In 2018, Kolongbo and his coworkers voted to unionize against the background of an aggressive anti-union campaign by United. Workers voted to join the Unite Here union with a 72% vote in favor. Now Kolongbo and 2,500 catering workers at United Airlines at five airports, Newark, Denver, Houston, and Honolulu could lose their jobs. “The company was not being fair and the best way to articulate and push for most of our rights is by having a union,” said Kolongbo. Story has more.<br/>