ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, March 7, 1997                  TAG: 9703070046
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 

IN BUSINESS

CHICAGO - American Airlines and its pilots said Thursday they are willing to resume mediated talks next week but will not compromise on the biggest obstacle to a contract settlement.

The Allied Pilots Association and the airline said they will accept an offer by Robert Harris, chairman of the President's Emergency Board, to mediate a renewed effort to settle the dispute over wages and who will fly new regional jets.

Harris' three-member board has heard both sides of the issues from the pilots and management and has until March 17 to come up with a recommended settlement.

Pilots' spokesman Jim Philpot said the key obstacle to an agreement is the question of who will fly the airline's regional jets.

American's pilots fear they will lose jobs to the American Eagle commuter affiliate if Eagle pilots are allowed to fly the small regional routes in planes with 40-70 seats.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ford, GM won't match Chrysler

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. representatives said they aren't planning to match a sweetened dealer incentive program unveiled this week by Chrysler Corp.

Chrysler is offering payments of several hundred dollars for each car sold to dealers who can match or increase year-earlier car sales in March. Analysts have cut their first-quarter earnings estimates for the third-largest automaker, saying the program will cut profits.

-BLOOMBERG NEWS

Locksmith shop opens

Construction of a new locksmith shop and a garage that will handle auto lock business has started at B & D Lock Co. Inc. of Roanoke. The new shop is going up directly behind the company's present location on Williamson Road. The project should be completed by late spring, said company president Robery Frydrych.

-STAFF REPORT

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