Bill Text: NJ SR103 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Condemns United Airlines for laying off over 800 employees at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-10-15 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee [SR103 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-SR103-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Rice
SYNOPSIS
Condemns United Airlines for laying off over 800 employees at Newark Liberty International Airport.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution condemning United Airlines for laying off over 800 employees at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Whereas, Newark Liberty International Airport is New Jersey's busiest airport, serving more than 43 million total passengers each year, employing about 21,000 people, and contributing $27.2 billion in annual economic activity to the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region; and
Whereas, United Airlines serves approximately two-thirds of total flights and passengers at Newark Airport, making it the largest airline at the airport; and
Whereas, More than 800 workers at Newark Airport will be laid off after United Airlines announced it was switching contractors for certain wheelchair, security, and passenger services; and
Whereas, A notice from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development indicates that 821 employees of ABM Aviation, who perform contracted work for United Airlines at Newark Airport, will be discharged at the beginning of November 2018; and
Whereas, United Ground Express, a subsidiary of United Airlines, will take over approximately two-thirds of the existing work that ABM Aviation provides for United Airlines at Newark Airport; and
Whereas, Although United Airlines and ABM Aviation have publicly stated that workers impacted by these layoffs will be able to reapply for open positions, hundreds of workers, most of whom earn low wages, will still face uncertain employment futures; and
Whereas, The announcement of these layoffs came just over two weeks ahead of a scheduled meeting in which the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is expected to approve a minimum wage increase for workers at Newark Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport, to $19 per hour by the year 2023; and
Whereas, Currently, minimum wage for workers at Newark Airport is $10.45 per hour; and
Whereas, The timing of these layoffs certainly calls into question United Airlines' motives as the PANYNJ is poised to adopt a livable wage for hard-working airport employees who are often on the front lines of ensuring safety and a quality traveling experience for customers; and
Whereas, These layoffs made by United Airlines not only put over 800 workers' livelihoods in jeopardy, but undermine the tireless efforts that airport workers and their union representatives have made towards attaining a livable wage; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House condemns United Airlines for laying off over 800 employees at Newark Liberty International Airport following a change in contractors for certain services, just weeks before the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is set to approve a minimum wage increase for airport workers at Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines and the President of United Airlines.
STATEMENT
This resolution condemns United Airlines for laying off over 800 employees at Newark Liberty International Airport following a change in contractors for certain wheelchair, security, and passenger services.
A notice from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development indicates that 821 employees of ABM Aviation, who currently perform contracted work for United Airlines at Newark Airport, will be laid off at the beginning of November 2018. United Ground Express, a subsidiary of United Airlines, will begin handling much of the work that ABM Aviation provides.
The announcement of these layoffs came about two weeks before the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) is set to increase the minimum wage for airport workers. On September 27, 2018, the Board of Commissioners of PANYNJ is expected to approve a minimum wage increase for workers at Newark Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport, to $19 per hour by the year 2023. The timing of these layoffs, therefore, is suspicious and calls into question United Airlines' motives as PANYNJ is poised to finally adopt a livable wage for these airport employees, who for quite some time have campaigned for higher wages. These layoffs not only put over 800 workers' livelihoods in jeopardy, but undermine the tireless efforts airport workers and their union representatives have made towards attaining a livable wage.
