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Massive Airline Layoffs Loom Unless Feds Extend Payroll-Protection Aid

By BOB HENNELLY
Posted 8/19/20

Tens of thousands of unionized airline workers are slated to be laid off at the end of September when Congress's payroll-protection program for their industry lapses, according to John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union of America, which represents about 70,000 workers  in the industry.

In March, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a bipartisan coalition persuaded Senate Majority Mitch McConnell to approve and President Trump to enact a $32-billion support package for the airlines, conditioned on their continuing to employ their workers for six months despite a 90-percent drop in passenger volume caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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