Top Federal Negotiator Enters Eastern Airlines Talks With Machinists

Intense negotiations between troubled Eastern Airlines and its largest union, in a contract dispute for more than a year, began today under the direction of the chairman of the National Mediation Board.

Management negotiators headed by Tom Matthews, senior vice president for human resources, and Machinists negotiators led by District 100 President Charles E. Bryan began meeting this morning at an undisclosed location. No deadline has been set.

Chairman Walter Wallace of the National Mediation Board flew here Thursday from Washington to oversee the talks, which will continue daily late into the night, unless Wallace and mediator Harry Bickford decide the two sides are making no progress.

A federal declaration of an impasse would trigger a 30-day cooling-off period, after which the 8,500-member union could strike and management would impose its own work conditions.

“Mediators are always optimistic, but we have a ways to go,” said Bickford, who has directed the mediation since Jan. 26. Mediation began then after negotiations stalled.

Wallace’s presence adds to the pressure on the negotiators to settle. Entry of such a high-level mediator usually would not occur until the 30-day cooling-off period.

Eastern spokesman Robin Matell said management wants a settlement, although Eastern executives have been lobbying for months for declaration of an impasse. They say a 30-day deadline will get the talks moving.

The two sides have been $200 million apart since July. The Machinists’ last offer called for a $50-million raise; the company asked $150 million in wage concessions, mainly from such non-mechanics as baggage handlers and janitors, who make up about half the Machinists union.