Air-France cuts +5000 jobs
'(Reuters) - French carrier Air France unveiled plans to cut more than 5,000 jobs by the end of next year as part of an effort to slash costs and debt to return to growth in the face of increased competition and soaring fuel bills.
The airline, under pressure from France's new Socialist government, pledged to try to avoid forced layoffs by encouraging early retirement, voluntary departures, part-time working and work-sharing.
But the carrier warned forced redundancies would be "unavoidable" if unions refused to support management's plans.'