American Airlines to cut nonunion labor

DALLAS – American Airlines wants to eliminate 1,200 nonunion jobs as it cuts costs while under bankruptcy protection.

That pushes the company’s overall job-cut target to 14,200. It announced plans in February to cut 13,000 union pilots, flight attendants and ground workers.

American, the nation’s third-biggest airline, has about 73,000 workers.

American outlined the cuts for many nonunion workers on Wednesday.

The company wants to outsource the jobs of all airport skycaps and cargo agents, cancel a planned lump-sum payment that was due for nonunion workers next year, freeze their pension plan, cut vacation and paid holidays, and reduce medical benefits.

The airline said it will close a reservations call center in Tucson, Ariz., and lounges at Washington’s Dulles Airport and Kansas City International Airport.

The changes for agents and similar employees are expected to save $95 million, which American said would match the 20 percent cost-cutting targets for all other labor groups.

In February, American announced plans to get rid of thousands of flight attendants and ground workers, as well as 400 pilots, and make other cost reductions designed to reduce annual labor costs by $1.25 billion.

A hearing is scheduled to start Monday in New York on the company’s request to throw out union contracts and impose new pay, benefits and work-rule terms.