As New Jersey prepares to host some of the biggest events of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium, airport workers at Newark Liberty International Airport worry about United Airlines' plan to switch contractors and resulting instability at one of the region's most important transportation hubs.

On July 1, United Airlines is expected to replace Omni-Serv with United Ground Express (UGE), United's subsidiary contractor. The transition could affect approximately 250 workers who provide critical airport services, including passenger assistance, baggage support, aircraft transportation, and other frontline operations that help Newark Airport function every day.

Workers and advocates warn that the move could replicate what many employees say occurred during United's previous contractor transition in 2025, when hundreds of workers reported reduced hours, the loss of full-time positions, higher healthcare costs, and weakened workplace protections. Those concerns later led to a formal labor complaint alleging violations of New Jersey's Healthy Terminals Act.

"This is not just a worker issue. This is an airport readiness issue and an affordability issue impacting New Jersey families overall," said Ana Maria Hill, Vice President and New Jersey State Director of 32BJ SEIU. "New Jersey is preparing to welcome the world. The last thing Newark Airport needs is a contractor transition that creates instability for the experienced workforce responsible for helping passengers move safely and efficiently through one of the busiest airports in the country. Travelers deserve reliability, and workers deserve the stability and healthcare protections they have earned."

Labor advocates say the timing of the transition raises serious concerns as Newark Airport prepares for a surge of international travel associated with the World Cup. Newark serves as one of the primary gateways for visitors arriving in the New York-New Jersey region and is expected to play a major role in moving fans, athletes, and international delegations throughout the tournament.

"We built our lives around these jobs. We raised families. We planned for the future. And now many of us are being told we have to accept less," said Karlene Bradbury, an Omni-Serv Newark Airport worker. "Less stability. Less protection. Less opportunity. As United continues to expand at Newark, airport workers are fighting to protect the jobs, healthcare, and dignity they have spent years earning."

Workers say they are particularly concerned about losing fully employer-paid healthcare, seeing full-time positions converted into part-time jobs, and facing increased out-of-pocket medical costs at a time when affordability remains a major challenge for working families across New Jersey.

"I help care for four grandchildren. After five years of service, I should not be standing here wondering whether I can afford to take care of my family," said Sabrina Reliford, an Omni-Serv Newark Airport worker. "As this contractor change approaches, many of us are worried about losing our full-time status and the healthcare our families depend on. No worker should have to choose between healthcare and paying the bills while a billion-dollar corporation continues to profit."

Community leaders who joined workers at a recent mobilization said the contractor transition reflects a broader pattern of frontline workers being asked to sacrifice while large corporations continue to expand.

"We are fed up with the injustice. We are fed up with the disrespect. We are here today to say: give us our rights, give us our hours, and give us our healthcare. Because you need us. There would be no Newark Airport, and there would be no United Airlines as we know it, without each and every one of these workers," said Essex County Commissioner A'Dorian Murray-Thomas.

"It is frustrating to be here yet again after a pandemic where you worked and supported this place, putting yourself and your families at risk when we didn't know what COVID was. And now, even more so with all the other threats that are happening these days," said East Orange Board of Education Member and Candidate for Essex County Commissioner Medinah Muhammad.

Workers fear the transition could result in:

• More part-time jobs and reduced hours
• Loss of fully employer-paid healthcare
• Increased out-of-pocket medical costs
• Loss of legal and training benefits
• Greater instability for longtime airport workers
• Increased turnover and operational strain at Newark Airport

Advocates argue that the issue extends beyond workers alone. They warn that experienced airport workers are essential to maintaining smooth operations, particularly during major international events when airports face increased passenger volumes and heightened operational demands.

"What we are seeing is a dangerous race to the bottom," Hill added. "Newark Airport runs because of these workers. As millions of people are preparing to visit our region for the World Cup, United should be investing in stability, training, and retention—not creating uncertainty for the very workers responsible for keeping airport operations running. If United truly values safety, reliability, and operational readiness, then it must stop balancing profits on the backs of working people."

The World Cup will bring the world's attention to New Jersey. Workers say the state should be showcasing a stable, experienced workforce—not forcing hundreds of airport workers to worry about whether they can afford healthcare, pay their bills, or remain in the jobs they have dedicated years to.