NEW YORK — Wanted: A few good recruits for an airline that’s seen better days.
To
replace some of its departing staff, American Airlines will hire 1,500
flight attendants starting next month, with training beginning in
January.
The airline said Wednesday that 2,250 of its flight
attendants have taken $40,000 buyout offers to leave the company.
Briefings on the buyouts were standing-room only, according to
representatives of the flight attendants union. Sign-ups to take the
offer, which were open to those who had been with the company for at
least 15 years, ended Sept. 20.
The payments were part of a
concessionary contract that flight attendants approved with the airline,
which is trying to cut its work force and labor costs while it’s under
bankruptcy protection. The buyouts were designed to reduce the need for
layoffs at American, which had said it wanted to cut about 2,000
flight-attendant jobs. The company didn’t immediately say Wednesday how
or when it would further reduce its ranks after hiring a new batch of
1,500 flight attendants.
The contract attendants voted on in
August would impose tougher productivity rules but give the attendants a
3 percent stake in parent AMR Corp. after it emerges from bankruptcy
protection.
American just asked Tuesday for another month to
present its reorganization plan. If approved, it would push the deadline
for that plan to late January.
American is operated by AMR Corp.
and is based in Fort Worth, Texas. The company said Wednesday that it
lost $238 million in the third quarter on employee severance payouts and
other costs related to its bankruptcy.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com
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