16 seconds ago 2009-12-01T20:50:02-08:00
FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines has sent notices to 469 employees at airports in five U.S. cities that they may lose their jobs in November as the airline continues to cut back on flights.
A total of 353 workers at Chicago O'Hare International Airport received the notices. The remaining notices went to workers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
The letters were sent to gate and ticket agents, ramp workers, automotive mechanics and airport-based management and support staff, American spokeswoman Tami McLallen said in a story for Wednesday's online edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Mark Burdette, American's vice president of employee relations, said in a letter last week to the Transport Workers Union, that fewer people would be needed to operate the airline as the operating schedule is cut due to high oil pries and the softening economy.
Airline officials hope to reduce the number of layoffs with a voluntary early retirement program.
