Union Ordered to Cross TWA Picket Lines

A federal judge today granted a preliminary injunction sought by Trans World Airlines that will force machinists to cross picket lines set up by the airline’s 6,000 striking flight attendants.

U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs, who refused a TWA motion last Friday for an temporary restraining order to force machinists to cross picket lines, issued his ruling late this morning.

In his order, Sachs also said an arbitrator, not a judge, must interpret the machinists union’s no-strike clause to determine its application in relation to the flight attendants’ strike.

Effective Immediately

Sachs said his order is effective immediately, though there was no word on when the machinists would actually return to work.

The airline and the attendants agreed to resume negotiations to try to end the walkout. (Story, Page 4.) A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday morning in Philadelphia with National Mediation Board member Helen Witt and staff mediator Robert Brown.

Ken Weber, treasurer of Local 1650 of the International Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said 99% of the 3,500 local members have been observing picket lines at TWA’s maintenance and inspection headquarters in Kansas City.