Pilot Video, undated

The John Chaknis Eastern Airlines strike collection, 1986-1990, consists of correspondence, strike updates, newsletters, newsclippings, flyers, legislative documents, briefings, a research survey, audiocassettes and videocassettes created during the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) strike against Eastern Air Lines. The collection was accumulated by John Chaknis, pilot for Eastern Air Lines and member of the ALPA, and reflects strike issues from the pilots' perspective.

Correspondence from Eastern Air Lines executives provides information about the financial situation of the airline and their view of the strike (1986-1989). Correspondence from ALPA and Eastern pilots provide information regarding events, concerns and issues leading up to the beginning of the strike as well as information and updates during the strike. Additional correspondence from Congress concerning airline deregulation and labor-management problems at Eastern Air Lines provides additional views of the strike.

Mailgram Updates (1986-1990), sent by ALPA and by Eastern Air Lines, provide frequent updates, especially during the strike. Eastern Airlines Council Minutes (1986-1989) contain agenda and meeting minutes of ALPA's Council #7. ALPA newsletters contain company, union, strike and mediation updates.

Newsletters, including Eastern Pilots' Checklist, Council #7's The Natural, Family Awareness, Eastern Falcon, Straight and Level, and the Transport Workers Union Express contain company and union information, editorials, and coverage of strike issues. Newsclippings, flyers, press releases, and other documents contain strike information and viewpoints from a variety of sources.

The videocassettes include panel discussions with union leaders; situational updates and other strike-related presentations; excerpts from the Subcommittee on Aviation hearing on Eastern Air Lines (1989); senate testimony; teleconferences; and other instructional and informative videocassettes for striking Eastern Air Lines workers.