The lunch that never was
Thompson, Mark
The Lunch that never was On the mast bumping story. The company;s stance was perhaps best summed up by a ferse message Bell delivered to the newspaper midway through the series: "This is to...
...Bell iofficialswho had witheld coment on the substance of my stories while waiting for the commissions's findings-have continued to maintain their stony silence...
...The company;s stance was perhaps best summed up by a ferse message Bell delivered to the newspaper midway through the series: "This is to advise you that, effective immediately, you are to take the necessary steps to removel all Fort Worth StarTelegram news dispensing racks from all Bell Heliocopter Textron facilities in Tarrant County," I'm still waiting for the lunch...
...In a letter to the StarTelegram's publisher, Horner wrote that the newspaper's conduct had been "unconscionable...
...An Army official said that the solesource awards would be permitted because of the "urgent need" for the fixes...
...The Army responded by grounding some 600 Huey helicopters made by Bell...
...In August the Army said the millions of dollars in contracts to modify the helicopters will be funneled directly to Bell without any competition...
...Instead, from the top man down, they complained that their economic interests might be threatened by such publicity...
...As the serieis would down, Bell denounced it in an advertisement in the Star-Telegram, in a letter to the paper's publisher in 13-page information kits to key congressmen, and in packets Bell distributed to its subcontractors and suppliers...
...But every cloud has its silver lining...
...When the Army's outside experts released their study, they criticized both the company and the military for inaction...
...Horner led the charge by asking if the Star-Telegram had considered what impact the articles might have "on jobs here in the Forth Worth community," and warned they might be used against Bell by foreign firms "at a time of international trade deficits...
...Taking a hint from management, Bell union members canceled then subscriptions, flooded the op-ed page with letters protesting the series, and unsuccessfully tried to take out a full-page ad in the paper urging an advertiser boycott...
...Mark Thompson...
...The employees didn't respond to the questions raised about mast bumping in the articles...
Vol. 16 • October 1984 • No. 9
