American Airline Expected to Send 170 Tulsa Maintenance Workers Furlough Notice

The union president who represents all the mechanics at Tulsa's American Airlines maintenance base is speaking out after the company announced its plans to eliminate thousands of jobs by October.

Related Story: American Airlines Plans 19,000 Furloughs, Layoffs In October

In an online video Transport Workers Union 514 president Dale Danker said 170 maintenance workers at the Tulsa base will get an email Thursday to let them know they're being furloughed.

American Airline said Tuesday 19,000 workers throughout the company are at risk of losing their jobs.             

Congress gave the airline industry $25-billion earlier this year with the promise they would not lay off workers through the end of September.     

American says if another bailout doesn't happen by October, its workforce will shrink by 30%. Danker said he's concerned American Airlines is using the pandemic to get rid of U.S. workers.

"I'm hopeful that as this begins starting Thursday that the company will continue to find ways to bring work in instead of lay American Airlines, U.S. citizens, off and send the work out to foreign vendors," said Danker.

Danker said the union has asked the company if American Airline bases in other countries are being impacted, but said they haven't been answered yet.

He says the last day of work for those furloughed in Tulsa will be September 30, unless Congress comes up with a stimulus plan before then.