Eastern Pilots Authorize Strike: Eastern Airlines pilots...

Eastern Pilots Authorize Strike: Eastern Airlines pilots union said its members authorized union leaders to call a strike if they fail to reach a new contract with the airline by Aug. 11. If called, a strike likely would affect fewer than 50 working pilots, since they are the only ones the airline took back after 3,600 pilots went on a sympathy strike with Eastern’s machinists last year. The rest of the 1,800 active pilots at Miami-based Eastern are replacement workers, technically represented by the union but not likely to heed its leadership.