Viewing page 105 of 200

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Blind copies to M.A. Gitt. C.Stiles, A.F.Foster

Air Line Pilots Association
INTERNATIONAL
3145 WEST SIXTY-THIRD STREET
CHICAGO 29

September 13, 1948

AFFILIATED WITH THE A.F. of L.

"SCHEDULE WITH SAFETY"

TELEPHONE GROVEHILL 2200

Mr. E. A. LePenske
P.O. Box 45, Boeing Field
Seattle, Washington

Dear Mr. LePenske:

I have your letter of August 26 in which you make certain inquiries and observations relative to the air line pilots' retirement plan. Apparently, there is a great amount of misunderstanding and misinformation in your council on the origin and present status of this project. About the best approach for me to take is to tell you in my own words what this is all about.

To begin with, there is nothing hidden in this thing. It's all wide open, and the misunderstanding that has arisen is due to the same weakness that is present in our organization on practically every problem-- the widely scattered pattern of our membership. We are forced to write letters, briefs, and explanations, until the bearings on our mimeograph machines are warm from friction; and yet it's all so futile, or so it seems, when it comes to the matter of really keeping our membership informed.

I think the best way to handle your problem locally is to have one of the members of our Retirement committee come out and talk to your council at a meeting, to which all the other councils in your area can be invited, to answer your questions. And, probably the best man to do this is Red Foster of TWA. I think he would be received more impartially by your group than probably Captain Stiles, UAL MEC Chairman, although I've never worked with a finer man in my life and one who is more sincere and has more on the ball. If you think this is a good idea, let me know and we'll make arrangements to have Foster come out.

To begin with, the idea of a retirement plan for air line pilots isn't new. It was originated years ago in the field by popular request. Headquarters began working on the problem and it went through several conventions and was beginning to take shape when the war came along, which, of course, put everything on the shelf. At the first convention after the war, which was the 9th, held in February, 1947, the question again came up