Date: 1989-03-15
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise today In support of H.R. 1231. a bill directing the President to appoint an Emergency Board to Investigate and make recommendations on the Eastern Airlines labor/management dispute. I support H.R. 1231 and hope that my colleagues will support this bill today. I hope this bill will move expeditiously through the Senate and be sent quickly to the President for his signature. I regret that the administration has not Intervened In this matter sooner. because I believe that this strike by the International Association of Machinists [IAM] and bankruptcy filing by Eastern Airlines could have been averted. Specifically. I think the President should hays taken the necessary action that would have delayed the strike. This would have allowed both sides some time to cool off and hopefully resolve this problem in a satisfactory way. to both sides. This also would have prevented the undue hardship that has occurred to the traveling public. Mr. Chairman. on March 7. the Aviation Subcommittee of the Public Works and Transportation Committee held a hearing on H.R. 1231. The subcommittee hearing. chaired by Mr. OBERSTAR. was a very Informative hearIng. The witnesses on both sides of this Issue presented moving testimony. However. the witnesses that represented the striking workers stated very clear that they want to see Eastern survive as a viable airline. I am convinced that these hard working men and women believe very strongly and passionately that the action that they have taken is the right action. Mr. Chairman. I agree with the striking workers In this matter and regret that the administration did not intervene. At the March 7 hearing. It was stated that Eastern was losing $1 million a day before the strike. As a result of the strike. Eastern is losing a lot more. Eastern Airlines Is one of the three major airlines that services the U.S. Virgin Islands. In fact. Eastern carries more passengers to and from the U.S. Virgin Islands than any other airline. Most are tourists who are coming to see our beautiful islands. Before the strike. Eastern had five flights daily to the islands carrying more than 600 passengers each day. Those are 600 very important seats because tourism is the lifeblood of the U.S. Virgin Islands and February and March are the peak months of the season. Although this strike is only 1 week old. it is hitting us In prime time and has already begun to have a damaging effect. especially on our hotel industry. and retail stores. Tourism statistics show that air travelers pump far more money into the economy than cruiseship visitors. Because of or dependence on tourism. we feel the effects of air strikes Immediately. The longer this strike continues. the harder and broader the impact on our economy. Recently. an official with the Virgin Islands Economic Development and Agriculture Department stated that the territory will lose approximately $4.9 million a week If the Eastern flights to the Islands remain grounded. The Eastern strike has resulted in a 36percent drop In the number of flights from the United States. Additionally. the second largest travelpackage wholesaler In the Virgin Islands filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week. less than 1 week after Easterns filing. This company depended heavily on Eastern to deliver over 250.000 of its customers to the Caribbean annually. I am sure that other Members can also cite examples of how this strike Is affecting the economy In their districts. Mr. Chairman. I congratulate the chairman of the full committee Mr. ANDERSON. and the chairman of the subcommittee. Mr. OBERSTAR. for moving so quickly on this very important bill. The President could have Intervened earlier and allowed both sides to cool off. But. he did not and now. we have a major airline In bankruptcy. with the possibility of thousands of hardworking men and women being without a job. We must do our best to resolve this problem. quickly. and prevent this from continuing. I would hope that my colleagues will support H.R. 1231 and that the Senate will follow our lead and pass this bil to prevent any further hardship to the public.