Judge Orders Eastern to Suspend Layoff Plan

WASHINGTON —  A temporary court order against Eastern Airlines’ plans to scrap routes to 14 cities was limited Thursday to halting 4,000 layoffs when the carrier cited logistical difficulties with obeying a wider ban.

U.S. District Judge Barrington D. Parker ordered Eastern to suspend plans to lay off 4,000 pilots, flight attendants and other employees as part of the broader plan to curtail service after Aug. 31, according to union lawyers who attended a closed session with the judge.

Parker scheduled an Aug. 11 hearing on a bid by three employee unions for a preliminary injunction to prevent Eastern from reducing service by 201 flights per day.

He also extended the temporary restraining order, which was issued Wednesday, until Aug. 19.

In Miami, Eastern President Phil Bakes said in a statement: “We are pleased that the court refused to adopt the plaintiffs’ proposed order, which would have been extremely disruptive to the flying public and the nation’s travel agents.”

The reorganization proposed by the financially troubled airline also includes plans to close the Kansas City, Mo., hub and to concentrate service on the East Coast and to Latin America.

A copy of Parker’s written order, however, was not released by his chambers and won’t be made public until today.

Difficulties Cited

“He is trying to create a standstill in a way that minimized the harm to Eastern if they win and minimized the harm to us” if the unions ultimately prevail, labor attorney Robert Burka said.

During a hearing convened earlier in open court, Eastern attorney Michael Madigan told Parker “there were numerous operational difficulties” to complying with a blanket order to halt implementation of the schedule changes.

“The scheduling of an airline is an incredibly complex problem that must be done in advance,” Madigan said at the hearing.

The temporary restraining order was obtained by the Air Line Pilots Assn., the International Assn. of Machinists & Aerospace Workers and the Transport Workers Union. The unions argued that the reorganization violates federal labor law.

Eastern has already taken steps to implement the new schedule, which involves allowing pilots to bid on certain flights under union work rules, Madigan said.

There are also problems posed by using airport slots and scheduling maintenance crews, he said.

Chance to Work Out Terms

Madigan said the airline would be in contempt of Parker’s order if it were required to undo the steps it has already taken to reorganize its schedule.

But Eastern was willing to carry the 4,000 employees it wants to lay off on its payroll while the issue is argued in court, Madigan said.

Parker adjourned the hearing to give attorneys for both sides time to fashion the specific terms of the order.

The judge later joined the parties in a discussion in the jury room behind the courtroom in an attempt to work out a settlement.

During the session, Parker indicated the terms of the order that he would issue, according to attorneys who attended the session.