University Daily Kansan, October 12, 1983
Page 7
By United Press International
Eastern Airline flight attendant Dotty Dittmar makes "on strike" picket signs at the Transport Workers Union hall. The flight attendants, who have been working without a contract for 18 months, have threatened to walkout at midnight tomorrow.
Airlines face union problems
By United Press International
Eastern workers may strike
MIAMI — Eastern Airlines' flight attendants threatened to strike yesterday when contract negotiations bogged down over the issue of the airline using non-union stewardesses on Latin American flights.
"We're going to walk," said Sandra Morton, Transport Workers Union national strike coordinator. "I don't see a strike can be avoided at this time."
The flight attendants, who have been working without a contract for 18
months, have threatened to walk out at 11:01 p.m. CDT tonight unless a new contract is signed.
FEDERAL MEDIATOR Harry Bickford shutted between two rooms at a motel near Miami International Airport trying to resolve the dispute. Negotiators for the financially pressed airline, which has lost $300 million in the past three years, and the 5,800-member Eastern branch of the TWU have not held face-to-face talks since last week.
"The company moved backwards in its last proposal," said Patricia Finch. "She was very much nervous."
TWU. "They did not even take the time to look at our proposal. It appears the company does not intend to negotiate in good faith on this issue."
The dispute stems from Eastern's takeover of the Latin routes from Bramif Airlines last year. As part of the takeover, Eastern agreed to continue hiring Latin American nationals to keep their attendant positions on those flights.
A federal judge ruled that the company - while bound by the Braniff pact to hire Latin Americans - also must adhere to previous agreements with the union that prevent hiring non-union workers. He suggested that the matter be worked out in labor negotiations.
Continental replaces pilots
By United Press International
HOUSTON — Unions striking against Continental Airlines yesterday asked at bankruptcy judge to dismiss the company "fair" chapter 11 reorganization petition
Continental, still operating despite the strike, continued nationwide interviews for pilots to replace striking pilots. A spokesman said nearly half of the aircraft that had been hired from outside the company to replace striking attendants.
72 hour boycott of six daily Continental flights from Sydney to Honolulu; Auckland, New Zealand; and Fiji. Those flying there were being sent to alternate airlines.
Australian trade unions imposed a
bad faith."
THE PILOTS, FLIGHT attendants and machinists unions charged in their motion to dismiss that Continental's bankruptcy petitions "were not filed in good faith, but rather . . . to circumvent destors' obligations" under labor law.
The company contends that its bankruptcy petition stands on firm legal ground.
"Bankruptcy law is not a mechanism for a company to avoid bargaining with its employees," pilots spokesman Gary Thomas said. "The petition was filed in
No hearing was scheduled before Bankruptcy Judge R.F. Wheless on the unions' motion, and Houston lawyer Marc Zito said he did not expect one for several weeks. The Supreme Court is nearing consideration of similar cases.
Continental file for Chapter 11 reorganization on Sept. 24 listing losses of $471 million in four years. The airline then cut its work force from 12,000 to 4,200, brought back at half pay and longer work hours and on Sept. 27, started flying to 25 of the 78 U.S. cities it once served.
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