Hundreds of Philly airport workers losing jobs, union says

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Hundreds of workers at Philadelphia International Airport are getting laid off from their jobs as flight cancellations soar because of the spreading coronavirus, a labor union official said.

Gabe Morgan of Local 32BJ of Service Employees International Union told The Philadelphia Inquirer that some workers received layoff notices Wednesday, and he estimated that between 600 and 1,000 of its members will be laid off through Monday.

“The folks who would bear the brunt of this would be the lowest wage workers,” Morgan said.

The workers are employed by American Airlines subcontractors PrimeFlight Aviation and Prospect Airport Services.

The union represents 1,400 subcontracted workers such as wheelchair attendants, baggage handlers and cabin cleaners at the airport.

PrimeFlight and Prospect did not immediately respond to a request for comment, the Inquirer reported. American Airlines also declined comment on the layoffs, the Inquirer reported.