Eastern Rehiring 90 Pilots Who Went on Strike in ’89

Eastern Airlines will rehire 90 union pilots who struck the carrier more than a year ago in the first such recall since picket lines were withdrawn in November, a company spokesman said today.

“We are bringing back 90 pilots,” said Bob Hunter, a spokesman for Eastern.

Hunter said the recall did not result from negotiations between union and company negotiators, but rather from company efforts to rebuild its business in the wake of the crippling strike and subsequent bankruptcy filing.

“This is simply due to the fact that we are expanding our schedule this summer and need more pilots,” Hunter said.

A spokesman for the pilots union was not available for comment.

Hunter said the recall notice did not include flight attendants.

“There is no mention of flight attendants at this time,” he said.

Earlier this spring, 215 attendants were recalled after the union signed a back-to-work agreement.

Eastern filed for bankruptcy March, 1989, five days after unions representing its pilots, flight attendants and ground workers launched a crippling strike.

The Air Line Pilots Assn. and the Transport Workers Union, which represents Eastern flight attendants, ended their walkouts in November. The International Assn. of Machinists remains on strike.

Eastern’s current work force includes 915 pilots who were recruited as replacement workers, as well as about 860 pilots who crossed the picket line.

An estimated 1,200 to 1,400 pilots are waiting to return to work.

Hunter declined to be specific about Eastern’s expansion plans. The Miami Herald has reported that Eastern’s court-appointed trustee Martin Shugrue wants to expand the airline’s service in the Southeast.

Hunter declined to confirm that report.

“We are looking at several different options,” he said.

Hunter said the pilots will be recalled based on the time they signed the company’s recall list and on their qualifications.