Eastern Airlines rejected binding arbitration in the...

Eastern Airlines rejected binding arbitration in the 16-month-old contract dispute with its largest union. The National Mediation Board began mediating the Eastern-Machinists talks a year ago. Under its rules, the refusal of one of the parties to submit to binding arbitration will lead to declaration of an impasse. That triggers a 30-day “cooling-off period.” If there is no settlement, the union may strike and the company may impose its own work conditions on the union employees.