American Airlines sends layoff notices to 11,000 expects 4,400 jobs to be cut
American Airlines sent layoff notices, “warnings,” to over 11,000 employees as an American spokesman says the company expects the job losses to be “closer to 4,400,”
2010 photo/Lasse Fuss
US Today details the notices, effecting mechanics and ground workers, as part of the company’s bankruptcy restructing.
American Airlines spokesman Bruce Hicks said Tuesday that fewer than 40% of those getting notices will lose their jobs. Hicks said federal law requires the company to notify anyone whose position could change, including those who could get “bumped” by more-senior employees whose jobs are eliminated or outsourced.
American said in February that it planned to cut 14,000 jobs, including 13,000 held by union workers. But if Hicks is right, the final job losses will be about a third of that.
Under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Fort Worth-based airline must file a notice at least 60 days before layoffs. Layoffs would begin in mid-November.
The Texas Workforce Commission already is working with American “to mitigate those job losses” and establish transition programs for dislocated workers, said spokeswoman Lisa Givens.
American Airlines WARN Letter to Texas Workforce Commission 9-17-12
In related problems, American Airlines and American Eagle say they will cancel 300 flights this week to cope with a high number of pilots reporting sick and an increase in maintenance reports filed by crews.
The two airlines had already canceled 249 flights this week by Wednesday afternoon, a flight-tracking service said, suggesting that cancelations might far exceed American’s estimate.
AMR said Wednesday that it canceled the flights in advance to avoid inconveniencing passengers. Earlier this week, American said it would cut its schedule through the end of October by up to 2 percent.
American has seen an increase in flight cancelations since early this month, when a federal bankruptcy judge allowed the company to impose new pay and work rules on pilots. The pilots had rejected the company’s last contract offer in August.
