USA: PRESIDENT CLINTON BLOCKS AMERICAN AIRLINES PILOTS STRIKE UPDATE

Описание: (15 Feb 1997) English/Nat

A strike by American Airlines pilots was just four minutes old when U-S President Bill Clinton intervened to prevent the shutdown at the start of a busy holiday weekend.

While the pilots continue to fly, a three-member emergency board named by Clinton will take 30 days to propose a settlement.

The union and the airline then have 30 days to reach an agreement.

Failing that, Congress could impose a settlement.

The jets of American Airlines have been arriving at their destinations Saturday.

It's the most obvious sign of President Clinton's overnight action to avert a strike by American pilots.

The airline cancelled flights and grounded aircraft Friday, preparing for a pilot strike that would strand some 40-thousand people at U-S airports.

Relieved passengers arriving in Washington, D-C from Dallas, said the Airline worked hard to keep travellers happy.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I'm glad to be here, I was a little scared that they were gonna cancel flights, but I think they did a great job, they put me in through United and this one made it. I think everything went fine."
SUPER CAPTION: American Airlines passenger

American's short lived strike also means the airline's 90-thousand employees are on the job.

Most were relieved that the pilot walkout was avoided.

Many pilots expressed frustration that a deal wasn't made. But some say they're glad pilots won't be blamed for halting travel for thousand of travellers.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Happy to be flying, I just flew in from Buenos Aires and into Miami last night and came on up here to go home. And it's nice that we're not on strike. Hopefully it will get settled in an amicable way. They will be a win situation for both."
SUPER CAPTION: American Airlines pilot

Analysts say some 200-thousand passengers would have been affected by a shutdown of the airline.

And passengers were thanking President Clinton Saturday for stepping in to deal with American's labour-management feud.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Sometimes the President has to make these types of decisions, sometimes, you know, you can't leave it to the people. somebody has to do it and I guess he did a good job."
SUPER CAPTION: American Airlines passenger

American faced losses of some 200 (m) million dollars a day from a pilots strike.

Now the airline's top officials and its pilots are facing the reality of more talks to solve a major labour-management dispute.

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