NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - United Airlines is laying off 472 employees at Newark Liberty International Airport and shifting their duties to an outside contractor.

The employees include cargo agents, customer service agents and customer service coordinators. Those who move cargo between airplanes and cargo facilities will not be affected.

United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson tells The Record newspaper the jobs are not a core function and can be performed by other companies at a lower cost.

Johnson says laid off employees can look for other jobs with United or with the contractor that will take over the work.

The layoffs will affect about 4 percent of United’s 13,000 employees at Newark.

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