American Airlines prepares to furlough 19,000 employees

American Airlines says it will lay off or involuntarily furlough 19,000 employees on October 1.

CONGRESS.THE WORLD'S LARGETS AIRLINEEMPLOYS MORE THAN -133-THOUSANDPEOPLE-- AND NEEDS TO REDUCEIT'S HEADCOUNT BY "AT LEAST"-40-THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.THE COMPANY SAYS - SOME HAVEAGREED TO LEAVE THE COMPANYWITH EARLY RETIREMENT, BUYOUTPACKAGES, OR VOLUNTARILYFURLOUGHS.FIREFIGHTER WALLET-VA FIREFIGHTER - BATTLING A FI