Some striking pilots have found work elsewhere, but there are still many more pilots than jobs.

In the last six days, about 250 striking pilots have returned to work, said Eastern officials who asked not to be identified.

He walked off his job along with other striking pilots and mechanics at the troubled airline in March 1989.

As part of the plan, Eastern has begun to replace some of the 4,500 striking pilots.

Also, about 700 striking pilots crossed the picket lines and returned to work in that time.

The pilots also demanded at least 2,400 jobs for striking pilots, people close to the talks said.

That meant that even the new proposal would have given work to only 1,200 of the striking pilots.

Neither the striking pilots, nor the replacements were to be brought over in the merger.

Eastern's striking pilots and mechanics will be able to find other jobs.

Comair and its striking pilots reached a tentative agreement today, on the 81st day of a strike.