American Airlines, days from reaching an agreement on $660 million in concessions from its pilots, wants to lay off as many as 1,000 pilots in addition to cuts already included in talks, their union said.
The carrier denied increasing its demands, saying the layoffs were “already accounted for” before it sought worker concessions. The union represents 13,500 American pilots.
“We have not asked for more, absolutely not,” said Bruce Hicks, an American spokesman. “This is not a new issue. They’ve known about it for some time.”
The $660 million is part of $1.8 billion in total worker concessions American has said it needs to avoid a bankruptcy filing. It also is seeking $2 billion in other annual cost reductions.
“Unfortunately, it appears that management is now moving the playing field,” said a statement from the Allied Pilots Association. “It appears to us to be bad-faith negotiations.”
Hicks said negotiators for both sides are still meeting, and the dispute should not delay talks.
American has laid off 1,078 pilots since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.