11.   Both carriers promised that there would be no job reductions or service cuts as a result of the alliance.

12.   But a spokesman for Compaq said he had no idea where that number came from and said it was premature to speculate on job reductions.

13.   But company officials did not disclose the nature of those cost cuts, or say whether they will involve job reductions.

14.   But industry analysts assert that the proposed merger could produce significant job reductions.

15.   But Mullin said most of the job reductions in a merger with Delta would have resulted from attrition.

16.   But the magnitude of its job reductions and other cutbacks was considered a surprise.

17.   But the threat of job reductions raises political concerns.

18.   Coca-Cola spokesman Ben Deutsch said waiver forms targeting future litigation are common in job reductions.

19.   Comsat Corp. and Hechinger Co. also announced job reductions recently.