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To All Members —5— October 4, 1941

ing for National. The fact remains that they both stood the acid test for losing their jobs fighting for the principles upon which the present hard-fought-for standards of the air line pilots are based.

I wish to point out that any of our members who come in contact with these two young pilots should do everything within their power to keep them make good because they are of the mettle that it takes to produce a real pilots' organization. 

During the first part of our contract negotiations with National Airlines, Mr. Baker fired the chairman of the National local council. His case is now apart of our efforts to get things straightened out with this company, and the situation is rapidly moving toward a showdown. A number of the National pilots have quit and gone elsewhere. Mr. Baker openly states at the conference table that if the pilots do not like his way of doing business, they can go and work elsewhere. He also often states that when the war is over pilots will be a dime a dozen, to which we replied that if that were the case, operating personnel will be a nickel a gross with no takers. 

In any event, that's the situation on National and I thought that it was no more than right that all pilots and copilots should know that the attitude of this company actually is. The National pilots deserve the complete and undivided backing of every member of the Association. At the moment the fight is at its high, and these boys are not wavering and they are 100% A.L.P.A. There are not many of them because this operation is small; their total number is only 17 or 18. It is recommended that we all bear this situation in mind and do not fail to lend a hand at the proper time and place. A word of encouragement to this small embattled group from the members who come in contact with them, will, I am sure, be greatly appreciated. 

Headquarters is constantly fighting a number of grievance cases, but on the whole this is to be expected. Nevertheless, it takes time and effort. One of the recent grievance cases had its origin in a rather peculiar set of circumstances, which I think the membership should be made aware of. The pilot-employer relationship on the line where this grievance occurred has not been satisfactory for quite a long period of time. Suddenly the management charges that the chairman of the council permitted a stewardess to fly the airplane, and summarily discharged him. The chairman involved vehemently denies this charge and takes the position that his release was for other reasons. After going into the circumstances, Headquarters was inclined to be of the opinion that the chairman was right; nevertheless, it amounts to another dirty battle and will have to be fought right out to the bitter end. Hearings No. 1 and No. 2 under their contract have been concluded, and the matter is now being submitted to their System Board of Adjustment. 

While we are on the subject of stewardesses, Headquarters would like to warm that extreme care should be exercised by the pilots in their relations with this part of the flight crew, especially so far as the cockpit routines are concerned. I am sure it has always been the practice of flight crews to acquaint stewardesses with the various parts, instruments, and controls in the cockpit so that they