Grounded: Airline Layoffs Begin
Tens of thousands of airline workers are being furloughed after Congress and the White House failed to reach a new COVID-19 relief deal. NBC's Jay Gray reports.
(NBC News) — Furloughs have started for more than 30,000 airline employees.
Pilots, flight attendants, ramp workers, ticket agents, office staff and others are being laid off after $25 billion dollars in federal payroll assistance funds ran out with no new deal in place.
Congress is debating a new comprehensive COVID relief plan that would include more money for the airlines, but there is no current timeline on when a bill may be passed.
“Hopefully we can find common ground on this and do it soon,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday.
The airlines forced to make cuts say if that happens they’ll bring employees back.
Still, the future is cloudy for those stuck in the middle.
“I don’t have a backup plan. I’m going to be on the unemployment line like so many other people,” says flight attendant Amanda Steinbrunn.
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