Is it true that AP must offer buyouts to employees before cutting staff?
No. AP is not obliged to offer buyouts. It will if its operating circumstances allow it to do so. It will solicit volunteers in the affected classifications up to the total number it wants to reduce. If the number of volunteers exceeds the number of buyouts offered then the most senior employees will receive them. The volunteers will have to sign a resignation agreement and a release of claims that would waive recall, re-employment and other contractual rights.
