Eastern Loses Round in Court: A federal...

Eastern Loses Round in Court: A federal judge ruled that union pilots who joined a strike against Eastern Airlines have the right to replace trainees hired during the carrier’s rebuilding. “It’s clearly a major victory,” said E. J. Breen, spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Assn., which challenged an Eastern claim that returning pilots were not needed. But Eastern appealed the decision and officials said there will be no immediate effect on current employees or operations. Pilots ended their strike last November, but fewer than 50 have been recalled to the Miami-based airline.