Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 1, 1991 TAG: 9102010751
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GERALD W. MEADOWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
America has shown that it will not accept a second-rate airline, one that abuses its long-term employees and takes shortcuts with the maintenance of its aircraft.
The people of Roanoke and Southwestern Virginia should take pride in the fact that they were not swayed by the Madison Avenue hype and glitter that Eastern and some of our valley's leaders threw at them in an attempt to cover up Eastern's shortcomings.
Even before Eastern came to Roanoke, concerns about its safety were being raised in the press, and it was under indictment for falsifying maintenance records. Yet City Manager Bob Herbert had the nerve to tell the media on Sept. 6, 1990: "Eastern's coming here is a feather in Roanoke's cap."
Harold Holt, Eastern's regional vice president who the same day predicted Eastern's "bright future in Roanoke," resigned from the airline 11 days later. Thank goodness Roanoke is safe again from this sham of an airline.
Shame on those who would take a seat on Eastern to save a buck, for they just cheapen themselves. Shame on those who would help Eastern break a union, for as Martin Luther King Jr. once put it, "It is better to walk in dignity than to ride in shame."
Well, I would rather walk to Atlanta in dignity than to fly Eastern in shame.
Competition is needed, and the Roanoke United Central Labor Council will assist the Airport Commission in welcoming a reputable airline to our valley with open arms.
But to those who say any airline service is better than none, we say, "Either first-rate, safe, and union - or none!"
by CNB