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AFFILIATED WITH THE A.F. OF L.       
"SCHEDULE WITH SAFETY"

AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL
3145 WEST SIXTY-THIRD STREET
CHICAGO 29

TELEPHONE
HEMLOCK 5015            

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The pilots have never accepted that theory. They cannot accept it. Should it ever be accepted then we will have just what this grievance is all about, i.e. a selection system on the part of the Company instead of the free and competitive bidding system that we must have if we are to have free opportunity for all. 

Furthermore, we should not forget that this decision will in all probability will be circulated throughout the industry, and it will be used as a lever and a precedent to guide the companies in their bidding procedure. It must be changed. 

The Judge also says, in part:

"We find no provisions in the contract that limit the reasons which the carriers may have for actions taken."

As I recall it, did not this same Judge rule in a recent Pan American grievance, that the Company did not have the right to do certain things because the contract did not specifically say that they could or could not do so? And if that is so, we now find this same Judge ruling just the opposite in another case. The Company all along has said that we took such an action because the contract did not specifically say that we could not. Again we find the Judge saying that it is all right for the Company to extend the bid until such a time as the people the Company wants could bid in the vacancy. For your information, we have a pilot whose seniority number is in the mid fifties. He is a qualified Captain, and he has flown on the Bermuda operation for over two years as a Copilot. Accordingly, he is qualified and he could become a successful bidder on the Bermuda operation. 

As for the Judge's second reason, what difference does it make how many vacancies are posted for bid? There should not be any contingency of one bid to another. The Company in practice has even gone so far as to suggest and also request from pilots conditional bids. The Company has offered to tear up these conditional bids, should certain people bid certain other runs. Just another example of manipulation of the bidding system by the Company. Our bidding system is a mockery.