51.   But he has assured diplomats he will not take sudden drastic measures to avoid crippling strikes like those that hit France in December.

52.   But he has assured diplomats he will not take sudden drastic measures, so as to avoid crippling strikes like those that hit France last December.

53.   Chavez, whose government has met with dozens of businessmen, media owners, clergy and others to avoid the strike, predicted Thursday that it will fail.

54.   Eager to avoid new strikes, government officials called anew Sunday for talks.

55.   GM Canada spokesman Greg Gibson said Sunday that he expected contract talks would be difficult, but that he was optimistic a strike could be avoided.

56.   He wants unions not to demand excessive salary raises and private businesses and government to avoid strikes by negotiating with unions.

57.   Just a day after avoiding a strike at its St. Louis division, Boeing Co. won two major contracts from the Air Force.

58.   Midwest Express Airlines canceled more than a dozen weekend flights and pilots picketed Friday as a deadline loomed for negotiators to reach a contract to avoid a strike.

59.   Midwest Express Airlines canceled more than a dozen weekend flights and pilots picketed Friday as negotiators worked passed their initial deadline to reach a contract to avoid a strike.

60.   Neither the union nor the employers organization believed the strikes could be avoided on Monday afternoon.