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the ALPA was affiliated with the American Federation of Labor.

The hours-and-pay problem kept cropping up.  When the air transport code under NRA was being formulated there was much argument over the status of pilots and co-pilots and finally, at the ALPA's request, they were left out.  The carriers then late in 1933 announced cuts in their pay and increases in their flying hours - and the nation's air lines were led to the brink of a national strike.

U.S. airlines came within seven minutes of stopping completely. Dave Behncke, in Washington, had set the date and time (midnight - September 31, 1933) for the pilots to walk out in protest against the hour-and-pay changes. The ALPA wanted the Wagner Labor Board to take over the controversy and late into the last night Behncke worked to round up board members and argue that unless they took some action the airlines would stop running.  It was touch and go!  They accepted jursidiction.  Behncke raced to the phone to tell everyone to fly.  The deadline was so close that in some parts of the country pilots already had refused to fly, but a national strike was averted.

The labor board's first action was to appoint a fact-finding committee to inquire into working conditions.  Lester D. ("Bing") Seymour, then


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