
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 2, 1991                   TAG: 9103040272
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

AIRLINE BROUGHT DOWN BY UNSKILLED LABOR

ON THE Commentary Page Feb. 1, Gerald Meadows expressed happiness at the death of Eastern Airlines, which was caused by a bunch of people whose IQ is slightly higher than their ages.

The International Association of Machinists at Eastern was made up mostly of airplane cleaners and baggage handlers. It took about two days to train a ramp serviceman (or baggage handler) and maybe three days to train a lead ramp serviceman. The union also included mechanics, but they were heavily outnumbered in their own union by a bunch of people with absolutely no skills other than busting baggage.

IAM's Bryan, who hated Frank Borman and Frank Lorenzo blindly, was very happy to see a good bunch of people out of work. I would estimate, with service organizations and suppliers, that at least 60,000 people, including Eastern's 32,000, lost their jobs. The real kicker: If these baggage handlers get a job with another airline, it will be at a greatly reduced salary. JAMES W. HESS GALAX

by CNB