8 S'poreans join suit over 'unfair' United Airlines dismissal

Eight Singaporean flight attendants who were part of the United Airlines' team based in Tokyo's Narita Airport are suing the airline in Japan over the termination of their employment last year. They are among a group of 83 flight attendants who filed papers in February alleging unfair dismissal, a claim the American airline has reportedly asked the court to dismiss. The group is seeking to be reinstated as employees of the airline, and want to be backpaid their salaries from the date they were "separated" - a term used by UA when notifying them of their dismissal last year. The lawsuit comes after UA closed three of its international bases - one each in Germany, Japan and Hong Kong - in Oct 1 last year as part of its efforts to cut costs amid the Covid-19 pandemic. It currently has only one international base, which is in London. UA said during the announcement of the closures in June last year that over 800 jobs in the three bases would be affected. While some crew members could relocate to the United States as they were eligible to work there, over 600 flight attendants found themselves at risk of losing their jobs.<br/>