American Airlines issues layoff warnings to thousands of workers

Nearly 3000 union workers at American Airlines in Tulsa are learning they soon may find themselves in the unemployment line.

The airline has informed Transport Workers Union Local 514 that 2,994 workers at the Tulsa maintenance base may lose their jobs as the company restructures under bankruptcy.

A WARN notice to the union indicates the lay-offs may come as early as November 16th, with another round slated for December 16.

WARN stands for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act.

In the WARN notice the airline said: “We continually review every aspect of our business to ensure we remain competitive and are able to sustain our long-term business objectives. As part of our restructuring, each workgroup was obligated to reduce costs necessary for the successful reorganization of American Airlines. Regrettably, reducing our costs requires that we must make a number of tough decisions. Several of these very difficult decisions involved modifying work rules so as to allow American Airlines to outsource certain work across the American Airlines system, which will result in a reduction in force.”

Last week American Airlines won bankruptcy court approval for new cost-cutting labor agreements with unions for mechanics and flight attendants.

American is trying to reduce its’ labor costs by more than $1 billion.