United to furlough 685 flight attendants as too few take leave

[CHICAGO] United Airlines is preparing to furlough 685 flight attendants after offers of leave and part-time work failed to produce enough volunteers to forestall job cuts at the world's second-largest carrier.

Negotiations between the airline and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) are still underway, and the current furlough total may fall, Christen David, a United spokeswoman, said on Wednesday.

"Successful airlines do not lay off workers, they work with the union for solutions," Greg Davidowitch, president of United's AFA chapter, told members in a letter on the union's website. "We continue to meet with management and offer creative solutions to an involuntary furlough; while also addressing the company's needs to mitigate an overage in manpower."