United Moves Forward with Plans to Outsource Kitchens
Joe Cortez July 30, 2021
Over 2,000 United employees working in kitchens will lose their jobs in October 2021 but could still find work with other aviation catering companies. The airline will move forward with closing their internal food service operations, outsourcing to three different companies across five airports.
As the federal moratorium on airline layoffs end, United Airlines is planning to release over 2,000 workers employed in the catering department in favor of outsourced services. The Houston Chronicle reports the airline will close their kitchens and split the contracts between three companies at five major airports.
New Kitchens Responsible for Meal Design and Prep, Plans on Hiring United Layoffs
Cutting the catering group has been planned for several months and protested by employees at the affected air bases. While United said at the time they were “exploring efficiencies,” the move to cut the 2,036 kitchen workers will become official in October 2021.
In Houston, French company NewRest will take over catering operations. Gate Gourmet will be the caterer of choice in Denver, Honolulu and Newark. At former Continental Airlines hub Cleveland, Sky Café will take on the catering duties. United employees affected by the cuts will be offered jobs with the new companies, while managers and administrative employees will have to re-interview for employment.
While the airline notes 70 percent of employees will keep their union representation, employees in Cleveland and Houston will not have collective bargaining. Both Sky Café and NewRest do not have union representation. The move frustrates organizers for Unite Here in Houston, which currently represents the kitchen employees.
Lawmakers Call Foul, Claiming Moves Could Violate Previous Agreements
While United says the move will allow the airline to “prioritize our current employees and advance our kitchen capabilities to improve the United customer experience,” lawmakers say the layoffs should violate terms of their support agreements. In May 2021, New Jersey Democrat senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker sent a letter to U.S. Treasury secretary Janet Yellen, the two encouraged future support talks to prioritize not removing staff while paying executive bonuses.
United says the new contracts will begin in October, with full integration expected by the end of November.
