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Unions have called on airlines to proceed cautiously and not fall back on massive job cuts to weather the current crisis. In a communique sent to workers in the aviation industry, the CC.OO (Workers Commissions) and UGT (General Workers Union) pointed out that the terrorist attacks in the US “have had repercussions in air transport, causing a drop in demand,” and at the same time called on management not to take decisions which add “an unnecessary and inopportune dramatism to a situation which has not yet been evaluated.” Regarding the staff cuts which Iberia is planning and could affect ten per cent of its workforce (about 3'000 persons), STAVLA, the flight attendants' union, said that the national carrier could easily ride out a challenge such as this, without the workers having to pay, as its economy is buoyant and in profit. A union spokesperson pointed out that Iberia “has a limited market with the United States, so its situation cannot be compared with others such as American Airlines, United, Northwest, Delta or British Airways.” The union said that the bulk of Iberia's business is in South America and Europe, “which, fortunately, gives us an advantage in this conflict.” STAVLA also said that if the company did have to make cuts then “it should start by cutting the leasing of planes and crews it has contracted with other companies, such as Air Atlanta, Air Europa and Air Nostrum.”