Key U.S. lawmakers back unions’ call for new airline bailout – ZAWYA

Key U.S. lawmakers back unions’ call for new airline bailout – ZAWYA

key u.s. lawmakers back unions' call for new airline bailout airline unions on wednesday asked lawmakers to sign on to the defazio letter    a delta airlines boeing 737-900er airplane is seen at sfo airport in san francisco, california, u.s., march 28, 2019. reuters/lucy nicholson. image used for illustrative purpose.washington/chicago- key u.s. house democrats are backing a push by airline unions for a new round of government bailouts to keep workers employed in the face of tens of thousands of possible layoffs this fall.representative peter defazio, who chairs the house transportation and infrastructure committee, and other democrats are circulating a letter to colleagues calling for the extension of payroll assistance. in march, congress approved $32 billion for airlines and contractors in exchange for the companies keeping workers on the job through sept. 30. airline unions in june sought another $32 billion to keep workers employed through march 31.the lawmakers' letter said "with the current resurgence of covid-19 in several states across the country and a vaccine for the virus yet to be developed, passenger demand for air travel will not recover before" sept. 30 and "hundreds of thousands of airline workers may be fired or furloughed starting october 1."representative peter