Evening star., 1939-04-14
Eastern AirIines
Mechanics on
Strike in Capital
II Join Others Of
System in Demand
For Increased Woqes

Twelve Eastern Airlines me-
chanics went on strike here today,
joining an undetermined number of
fellow employees who walked out ut
the lines other three key" bases
in Newark, Miami and Atlanta.
The strikers+all members of the
Air Line Mechanics Association In
ternational, an independent union
began picketing the company's Of
fees at the Shoreham Building,
Fifteenth and H streets NV.
The strike marks the first SYSTEM
wide walkout in airline history.
Chief Mechanic Remains.
Union officials here said that only
one employe, directly affected in the
strike, remained on duty At Wash.
ington Airport when the walkout
was called at 1901 am. He was the
chief mechanic, they said. Company
officials, however, explained that
men had been brought here from
Miami to bolster the maintenance
crew to 30.
Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker. president
and general manager Of the airline,
said in New York that approx.
mately 81 of . total of $50 main.
tenance men throughout the sys.
tenn had walked out. The union,
however, claimed that the strike II
not intended to affect directly stock
room workers and maintenance EN-.
ployes other than field mechanics.
The strikers elsewhere have been
replaced by mechanics from over.
haul shops in Miami, Capt. Ricken.
backer stated.
Capt. Rickenbacker said company
operations and flight schedules had
not been affected by the walkout.
At Chicago Robert H. Stoy, editor
OF the Air Line Mechanic, the asso-
cations official publication, said q
canvass of the Eastern Airlines air.
ports disclosed a 100 per cent walk.
out at Newark, 80 per cent at Mi.
ami, 100 per cent in Atlanta and
Chicago. the Associated Press re-
ported.
The pickets at the Shoreham
Building are working in shifts of
two. union leaders said, adding that
they would endeavor to obtain q
permit from the Labor Department
to begin picketing near the airport.
They have been denied permission
to picket on the airport grounds.
Employees Of the National Labor
Relations Board had to pass through
the picket line to reach their
Offices in the Shoreham Building
this morning.
The Labor Board, however, Is not
concerned with the strike, as the
mechanics come under terms of the
Railway Labor Act. The union.
claiming bargaining agency status
by election, served notice on the
National Mediation Board March l3
that q strike would take place If
Eastern Airlines did not sign q con.
tract with their union, granting
certain wage increases.
Demands Of Union.
A. P. Martin, president OF the
association, said the union Is de-
manding hourly wages of 46 to Sc
cents for apprentices 65 cents for
junior mechanics, 80 cents for me.
chanics, 80 cents for senior me.
chanics and 81 for master mechanics
and also 48-hour, six-day week
and seniority rights.
Commenting on the unions de-
mands, Capt. Rickenbacker said: II
gave them what I could, but would
not give any more He declined to
reveal his offer.
William Matthews, chairman of
the local here, said the union is
not concerned with gaining a closed
shop. Airline mechanics are re.
quired to have a Government lie
cense.
Mr.. Matthews stated the union
already has contracts with Amer.
ican Airlines, Braniff, Delta, North
west. Continental, Chicago and
Southern and Western Air Express.
He said the association has offered
to arbitrate, but that the manage
ment has declined.
Company officials explained they
already have a contract with air.
craft employees of the International
Association of Machinists, an anil
late of the American Federation Of
Labor.