1.   All three executives said they hoped to avoid layoffs as a result of losing their Citibank assignments.

2.   And even the companies that have avoided layoffs say they do not know how long they can hold out.

3.   And pilots at AirTran Airways agreed to a temporary pay cut to avoid layoffs.

4.   Barrett told reporters the goal was to avoid layoffs.

5.   A company spokesman said this approach to date has avoided layoffs.

6.   After the attacks, Southwest employees began asking how they could help save money and avoid layoffs.

7.   By avoiding disruptive layoffs, Levine said, the city got the unions to agree to reduce the size of government.

8.   By shuttling workers among companies in a conglomerate and by reducing payrolls through attrition and retirements, Japanese companies avoided outright layoffs.

9.   Cortines said he hopes to avoid layoffs, instead eliminating positions through retirements or perhaps early retirement incentive packages.

10.   Delta avoided mass layoffs and instead cut jobs through voluntary leave and exit programs, but the AFA argues that unions at other airlines negotiated severance and voluntary packages.