The informational picket was organized by United customer service representatives, who are members of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, regarding the outsourcing of jobs at six airports.

The airports are in Albany and Rochester, N.Y.; Tucson, Ariz.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Cincinnati and Grand Rapids, Mich. Jobs include those of gate agents, customer service agents and baggage handlers.

United and members of IAM nationwide are currently in union contract negotiations.

United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said the decision to use an outside vendor was a difficult one for the airline but “we have to look for new opportunities to be more efficient and run a financially sustainable business.” Affected employees had the right to transfer to other airports, and the airline offered an “early-out” program, she said.

The decision to outsource was unrelated to the merger of United and Continental, McCarthy said. No similar move has been announced for Chicago O’Hare, where United is the largest airline.