• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  United Airlines  >  United Airlines Considers Outsourcing Catering Workers While Lavishing Bonuses On Executives
United Airlines

United Airlines Considers Outsourcing Catering Workers While Lavishing Bonuses On Executives

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 8, 2021April 8, 2021 8 Comments

Catering workers picketed at Denver International Airport yesterday after United Airlines hinted it is considering replacing them with cheaper contractors as soon as it legally can.

United Airlines May Outsource Catering Workers At Its Flight Kitchens

To be clear, United Airlines has announced no catering job cuts. As the recipient of massive federal aid, United cannot furlough workers until at least December 26, 2021 when Cares Act 3 funding expires.

But that has not stopped United from issuing a RFP (request for proposal) to explore outsourcing its catering kitchens, as American and Delta have already done (and United has already done at many stations).

A United spokesperson explained:

“United continues to explore ways to do things differently and become more efficient wherever we can – this RFP is part of that effort. We regularly explore third-party partnerships that have the potential to make us more efficient and improve the experience for our customers.”

United Here is the union representing United catering workers at stations across the United States. A spokesperson noted:

“They have received $7.7 billion in taxpayer bailout and are able to receive billions more and meanwhile disclosed $7.5 million bonuses for top executives if they stay with the company for three years or until federal restrictions expire. It doesn’t appear that United has disputed any of these facts.”

The $7.5 million in bonuses were recently disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Due to restrictions placed upon the receipt of such bonuses as a condition of accepting taxpayer bailouts, these bonuses are in the form of long-term contingent cash awards.

Economics 101 Or Predatory Corporate Socialism?

Amelton Archelus is a United Airlines employee and refugee from Haiti. He’s been with United for 20 years. Speaking to ABC 7 Denver, he said:

“I don’t see me going to look for another job. We need the public to know what United is doing isn’t fair for us, for me and my coworkers. We need the politicians to know because… they voted for the money to go to United, so they have a right to know exactly what United is doing.”

On the one hand, it is hardly surprising that United is looking to streamline operations after tremendous losses related to the pandemic. If American and Delta do not maintain their own flight kitchens, it is not unreasonable for United to explore why it cannot have the same work done for less.

And yet to even considering cutting staff while offering lavish bonuses for executives (even if contingent) and accepting billions in taxpayer aid strikes me as deeply problematic.

Furthermore, if catering staff is furloughed then rehired by a contractor like Gate Gourmet at lower wages and those workers seek government aid to compensate, United is simply passing the buck to taxpayers once again.

The Racial Component

United Airlines has made race front and center of the conversation by embarking upon an ambitious program to offer preference to people of color and women at its pilot training training academy.


> Read More: United Airlines Targets Women, People Of Color In New Pilot Recruitment Campaign


But United Here notes “United catering workers are overwhelmingly people of color and immigrants.” When the rubber meets the road, what does it mean to give lip service to hiring minorities and people of color while firing them to save a few bucks an hour?

These are issues United must carefully consider.

CONCLUSION

In ordinary times, outsourcing labor is just part of business. United cannot be faulted for wanting to pay less for catering-related expenses. But these aren’t ordinary times and even once United is legally able to furlough workers again, it should think twice about both the optics and ethics of replacing long-term workers with contractors after milking U.S. taxpayer for billions.

image: United Airlines

Previous Article United Airlines Trials Free Messaging Onboard
Next Article Tucker Carlson Blasts United Airlines

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • United Airlines Wants Flight Attendants To Create “Wow Factor” Onboard

    March 30, 2023
  • United Airlines Crew Hold Times

    Flight Attendants At United Airlines Asked To Self-Report Poor Service Via “Marginal Service Reports”

    March 27, 2023
  • United Airlines MileagePlus CEO

    United Airlines Names New MileagePlus CEO

    March 25, 2023

8 Comments

  1. Mowogo Reply
    April 8, 2021 at 8:20 am

    The people in that kitchen were very nice when I toured the facility a few years ago. I definitely get what the company is trying to do, especially when you understand that their facility at DEN has lost a lot of its business over the past few years. In addition to being the United catering, it also provided catering to the international airlines and produced packaged foods for the local Kroger company stores. United is probably looking at right sizing the operation, and given likely cuts that will remain permanent, sees zero reason to operate the Denver Airport Catering facility themselves.

  2. Paolo Reply
    April 8, 2021 at 9:29 am

    Just as predicted by people such as Sanders, Warren and AOC. How ludicrous it is that the grifters and hucksters running these airlines claim to be running them on strictly commercial lines, and with full transparency, but in reality they’ve been supping on the public teat forever ( and now more than usual), always crying poor/looking for a handout, but paying themselves mega bucks and bonuses. They are utterly shameless. I’d throw the lot of them in prison for defrauding taxpayers…and it’s not just the US, this is a universal problem. The airline industry seems to attract the biggest ratbags on the planet.

  3. Christian Reply
    April 8, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    At best a tasteless move by United. It’s like there’s something in Kirby’s DNA that won’t let whatever airline he’s involved with look good for a couple of weeks without shooting himself in the foot.

  4. joanie adams Reply
    April 8, 2021 at 12:54 pm

    Couldn’t agree more. If they outsource catering what will all our illegals have to do? This world has numbered its days and I’m no prophet. Burning in it’s greed.

  5. Right-This-Way Reply
    April 8, 2021 at 3:08 pm

    “But that has not stopped United from issuing a RFP (request for proposal) to explore outsourcing its catering kitchens, as American and Delta have already done (and United has already done at many stations).”

    Exactly — they’ve done it at all other stations and quite a few years ago at that. If United has seen fit to have a certain percentage of outsourced people working at ticket counters, overseas call centers, ramp, etc., — and this is with union representation for these groups, no less, do these kitchen catering employees really think they were going to remain exempt indefinitely? It’s a miracle they held these jobs as long as they have – in Denver and Newark only.

    I’m absolutely no fan of outsourcing = dumbed down to bad service and bad products, loss of jobs and/or then offered as a gesture of goodwill jobs at one third the pay, horrible vendor management, constant turnover, no representation, etc. etc. etc. Don’t like it? – shut up and train your replacements or be fired sooner. Does anyone really think United and dozens of other monopolies really care about their employees ??

  6. Hadassah Reply
    April 9, 2021 at 1:11 am

    Keeping the stock price from cratering is JobOne. Cheap wages support a increased stock price. Executive Bonuses are tied to the stock price. I’m anticipating that the recently hired “ diversity hires” are brought on at salaries 70% less than current pilots in a multi tiered system that eventually replaces the legacy pilots w the equivalent of Uber pilots. It’s called American Exceptionalism

  7. Right-This-Way Reply
    April 9, 2021 at 12:08 pm

    Isn’t this the same United that is currently on the diversity, tolerance, equity, equality, representation of the underrepresented, people of color, people who look like me, single mothers, social services bandwagon? The majority population employees of these flight kitchens are exactly of all of those groups. Oh I get it United, you just don’t want them on YOUR payroll with benefits but you want to be contradictory and still say you care about your employees and continue to open up all opportunities. Hypocrites.

  8. Pingback: Airline Lounge Price Increase, United Wants To Lay Off Workers As Soon As Government Allows - View from the Wing

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines Wants Flight Attendants To Create “Wow Factor” Onboard March 30, 2023
  • Homeless Man Steals Luggage
    Homeless Man Helps Himself To Luggage In Atlanta Airport March 30, 2023
  • Delta SkyMiles Schedule Change
    UPDATE: Delta Air Lines Strands Senior Citizens In Middle East After Absurd Schedule Change March 29, 2023
  • Turkish Airlines IndiGo 777
    New Turkish Airlines 777: Only 7 Business Class Seats, 524 Economy Class Seats March 29, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Kayleigh Scott United Airlines
    The Tragic Death Of A United Airlines Flight Attendant March 21, 2023
  • Delta SkyMiles Schedule Change
    UPDATE: Delta Air Lines Strands Senior Citizens In Middle East After Absurd Schedule Change March 29, 2023
  • Southwest Airlines Wife Slap
    Enraged Husband Attacks Man On Southwest Airlines Flight After He Bumps Wife March 8, 2023
  • United Polaris Lounge LAX Review
    Review: United Airlines Polaris Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) March 24, 2023

Archives

March 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Feb    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.