NEWARK, N.J. – This week, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter to United Airlines’ CEO Scott Kirby expressing concerns over the transition of its subcontracted workers with Prospect Cleaning Services (Prospect) at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to the airline’s wholly-owned subsidiary United Ground Express (UGE). Prospect employees at EWR are represented by Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ (SEIU 32BJ) operating under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and are nearly entirely full-time workers. The transition to UGE threatens their full-time employment, healthcare, and other labor protections for hundreds of workers.
Booker wrote: “[T]he change of subcontractors, primarily for cabin cleaning services at EWR’s Terminal A from Prospect, represented by Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ (SEIU 32BJ), to UGE, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), presents a number of challenges to hundreds of working families in New Jersey.
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“As you know, in June 2025, more than 600 Prospect employees received notice of a change of subcontract and a conditional job offer from UGE. In communications to impacted workers, UGE stated to employees that the transition would reduce the current workforce of nearly 100 percent full-time employees to just 20 percent full-time employees.”
Booker concludes: “I am very concerned that the change of hundreds of full-time employees to part-time employees will lead to a potential loss of healthcare benefits, a significant reduction in income, and hardship for many New Jersey workers. Further, the lack of clear communication from UGE to its prospective employees is creating uncertainty for workers and exacerbating an already incredibly difficult situation.”
The full questions the Senator Booker posed can be found below:
How many employees will be offered full-time employment by your wholly-owned subsidiary UGE at the end of the transition process?
What is the percentage change in full-time employees from Prospect to UGE?
What steps can United Airlines take to support the several hundred workers that will see their hours severely cut by this transition?
What steps can United Airlines take to support the several hundred workers that will see their benefits and jobs protections altered by transitioning to a non-Collective Bargaining Agreement subcontractor?
What steps can United Airlines take to support the workers that will transition to a part-time role and no longer be eligible for the healthcare coverage provided by their current full-time employment with Prospect?
A full copy of the July 28 letter can be found here and below:
Dear Mr. Kirby:
I write today regarding United Airlines’ decision to transition its subcontracted work with Prospect Cleaning Services (Prospect) at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to your wholly-owned subsidiary United Ground Express (UGE). I appreciate United Airlines’ efforts to support thousands of jobs in New Jersey that help sustain families and bring opportunities to so many in New Jersey and across our nation.
However, the change of subcontractors, primarily for cabin cleaning services at EWR’s Terminal A from Prospect, represented by Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ (SEIU 32BJ), to UGE, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), presents a number of challenges to hundreds of working families in New Jersey. I hope to partner with you to ensure that wages, benefits, hours, and jobs are protected. I know we share the goal of doing everything we can to support the workers that keep our planes clean, keep our airports running, and conduct the work that helps make EWR one of the most important gates of entry to the United States.
As you know, in June 2025, more than 600 Prospect employees received notice of a change of subcontract and a conditional job offer from UGE. In communications to impacted workers, UGE stated to employees that the transition would reduce the current workforce of nearly 100 percent full-time employees to just 20 percent full-time employees.
This shift would have a significant impact on hundreds of working families. Subsequent communications from United Airlines on behalf of UGE also presented differing information regarding expected employment outcomes for workers. I am very concerned that the change of hundreds of full-time employees to part-time employees will lead to a potential loss of healthcare benefits, a significant reduction in income, and hardship for many New Jersey workers. Further, the lack of clear communication from UGE to its prospective employees is creating uncertainty for workers and exacerbating an already incredibly difficult situation.
I request the following information on behalf of the impacted workers:
How many employees will be offered full-time employment by your wholly-owned subsidiary UGE at the end of the transition process?
What is the percentage change in full-time employees from Prospect to UGE?
What steps can United Airlines take to support the several hundred workers that will see their hours severely cut by this transition?
What steps can United Airlines take to support the several hundred workers that will see their benefits and jobs protections altered by transitioning to a non-Collective Bargaining Agreement subcontractor?
What steps can United Airlines take to support the workers that will transition to a part-time role and no longer be eligible for the healthcare coverage provided by their current full-time employment with Prospect?
I appreciate your attention to this letter, and I look forward to working with you to ensure a transition that results in the best possible outcomes for workers in New Jersey.