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To All ALPA Members - 3   September 27, 1948

the recently-filed stockholders suit mentioned previously in this letter, which seeks damages from Baker in excess of $1,000,000. All these suits are moving as fast as the court calendars will permit.

Much could be said about the effect of the strike on the company's ability to carry on very long, but nothing can more vividly portray this than the last financial report of the company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948, which is as follows:

"From Washington Post - September 8,1948:

"National Airlines, Inc. reported a net loss $1,946,040.00 for the fiscal year ended June 30, compared with a net profit of $372,697.00 for the previous year. The loss was after a carry-back income tax credit of $363,443.00. Revenues for the year were $7,885,478.00 down from the previous year, which were $11,077,492.00

"If we discount the carry-back income tax credit of $363,443.00, National Airlines actually lost $2,309,483.00 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948. This means that the company lost over six times as much money in the present period as it made in the same period last year. The revenues for this year are only 71% of the amount taken in the last year."

To illustrate Baker's sinking financial status, he is again begging at the public trough to reinforce his strike-depleted coffers. On August 20, 1948, Baker again petitioned for an increase in mail rates. In our opinion, and every man has a right to his own opinion, this fellow Baker has more unadulterated, just plain gall than can reasonably be contributed to any one human.

As stated in my letter to you dated August 31, 1948, this controversy has passed from a mere strike action between Baker and his pilots, into a legal campaign against all the air line pilots, which is being projected by Baker with the backing of the ATA, backed by all of the other air carriers. This is a vicious and far-reaching move directly against the entire structure of federal law of the air line pilots. Its importance cannot be minimized.

Considering the magnitude of this battle, everything is in excellent shape and the only requisite is patience and perseverance to press the fight home with telling blows to end the battle successfully at the earliest possible time.

Enclosed is your bill for the strike assessment covering the period from September 11 to October 10. It is fortunate that the National strike assessments are small. As has been pointed out repeatedly by members, although the strike is Baker-caused and unfortunate, it is a good investment for ALPA in experience and seasoning -- experience and seasoning which can only be had by going through a lengthy campaign such as the National strike situation.

This is a long strike, but there are many others which are much longer. For example, in Chicago there is the strike of the Typographical Union against Chicago newspapers. The Typographical Union is one of the oldest in the country and their strike has been in progress now for almost one year; and a journeyman in Chicago is paying strike assessments of more than $12.00 weekly out of his weekly pay of about $90. Think of it -- about 15% of his gross pay is said in strike assessments each week. Compare this with the first pilot strike assessment of $13.50 monthly in the National strike. It amounts only to about $3.00 a week and when applied against a first pilot's income, it becomes a negligible amount. For copilots, the weekly National strike assessment amounts only to about 90 cents which is far cry from the $12.00 weekly being paid by the Chicago printers. And we must remember, too, that the Typographical Union doesn't have the laws we have and their