United Airlines has increased starting wages for its 1,700 employees working in customer and ramp services at Dulles International Airport, signaling a continued push to retain employees and attract more.
The Chicago-based airline (NASDAQ: UAL) as of Sunday bumped up the hourly starting pay from $15.33 to $17.14, effective for all current and new employees on those teams at Dulles, said spokesman Russ Carlton. United is also offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus for new hires for the airline’s ramp-service team.
Across the country, the travel industry is struggling to fill empty positions, as employment levels for leisure and hospitality sectors are low despite added jobs over the last few months, per data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Combined with the surge in travel demand as Covid cases decline, airlines are doubling down on recruiting efforts, but still in some cases have had to cancel flights. The staffing need applies to United, too, Carlton said; right now, the airline…
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