Enforced Delay In Airline Strike

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29855, 22 June 1962, Page 11

Enforced Delay In Airline Strike

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) WASHINGTON, June 20. A threatened strike by 10,500 employees of American airlines, scheduled for midnight on Friday, was barred today for at least 60 days when President Kennedy invoked legislation setting up an emergency board to study the dispute.

Meanwhile, efforts were continuing in a separate dispute to halt an imminent strike by flight engineers against Trans World Airlines. the Associated Press reported. The airline employees represented by the Transport Workers’ Union are threatening to strike over a work contract.

President Kennedy headed off this walk-out, at least temporarily, by invoking the Railway Labour Act, which also applies to airlines, and setting up an inquipr board which has 30 days in which to report its findings. Under this procedure, a further 30 days must elapse to allow time for further efforts to reach agreement. The employees involved are 9000 maintenance, stores and communications workers, and 1500 stewardesses. Terms Studied

The flight engineers* threatened strike against T.W.A. is being held off on an hour-to-hour basis, while the men's union studies the terms of a settlement proposed at late night talks yesterday with the Secretary of Labour (Mr Arthur Goldberg).

This dispute is over a proposal that the cockpit crews of jet airliners be reduced from four to three, with the third pilot combining the duties of the flight engineer.