Part 70, page 68

Transcript

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ALPA Blasts Administration Proposals To Increase Government Intervention In Labor Disputes

Nixon administration proposals to limit the right of airline employes to take walkout actions in deadlocked labor disputes "would constitute nothing less than a revolution in American labor relations," ALPA charged at a hearing before the Senate Subcommittee on Labor.

Under proposed revisions to the Railway Labor Act, the President would have authority to broaden the scope of government intervention in labor negotiations, thus averting possible walkouts that could tie up air service.

In a statement by the Association, it was pointed out that since 1933 there have been over 500 collective bargaining agreements reached with airline pilot groups represented by ALPA. Throughout this 38-year period, there have been only 14 pilot strikes and only five of these lasted over 30 days.

The public interest, ALPA added, is more seriously jeopardized by the airlines' Mutual Aid Pact--a "strike insurance" program under which funds from subscribing carriers are given to a struck airline. ALPA charged that a recent trend to strikes of longer duration is the direct result of the availability of Mutual Aid funds. "The carriers have only themselves to blame," ALPA said.

A key provision in the proposal would offer one of three new options to the President as a "final solution" to labor disputes. Each involves increasing levels of government intervention following an 80-day "cooling off"

period now required when parties cannot reach agreement on contracts.

The most severe measure would be mandatory reopening of bargaining on "final offers" submitted by both sides. If agreement still cannot be reached, the President would name a three-man board, called "selectors," who would choose one of the offers, without modification, as the final settlement.

Disputing the proposal, ALPA said: "In a free society, employes and employers retain the power to settle their own economic disputes...rather than transfer this power to third-party 'experts.' Instead, solutions to labor disputes must be discovered by and acceptable to the parties who must live with them. Anything else is too remote and illusory to last."

ALPA stressed that federal labor legislation has "traditionally been aimed at establishing the mechanics and procedures of collective bargaining--not at determining the substance of the bargains themselves. Management's responsibility to bargain should not be assumed by Congress."

The Association said it saw merit in a feature of the administration proposal that would establish a commission to make a two-year study of labor relations in industries "particularly vulnerable to national emergency disputes."

It was suggested that the study include such topics as: The value of permanent "neutrals," causes of delay in grievance handling, the effectiveness of "tripartite" arbitration, statistics on prearbitration settlements and needed reforms in present grievance-arbitration procedures.

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We're Making Progress

The federal sky marshal program was in the news on several fronts this month as it became known that funds for the effort will probably be cut by about one-third in the next federal budget. A United Press International story noted that since the program started in September 1970, the government has trained 1,500 marshals "but they have yet to thwart an inflight hijacking."

CBS News asked the question, "The sky marshal program: has it been successful?" on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite on Jan. 4. Among

participants in the report, which presented viewpoints of various segments of the airline industry, were ALPA Executive Administrator Jack Bavis and Captain Cliff Wolff (UAL). Highlights of the TV report included the lack of security at airport terminals and the need for international agreements to cover the return and prosecution of hijackers.

In both the UPI story and the TV report, ALPA stressed that the majority of sky marshals could serve more effectively at airport gates rather that aboard aircraft.

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from the PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

Committees

Participated in Executive Committee Meeting. Participated in Executive Board Meeting Dec. 7-10. Met with 1972 Air Safety Forum Policy Guidelines Committee.

Legislative

Appeared before Senator Howard Cannon (D-Nev.) Subcommittee on Aviation concerning Senator Moss's bill on collision avoidance systems. Represented by Legal Department Director Gary Green before Senator Harrison Williams (D-N.J.) concerning the Railway Labor Act where a statement representing ALPA's views was read. Other senators [guess: sitting] of the [guess: time] were: Robert Packwood (R-Ore.), Robert Taft (R-Ohio), Harold Hughes (D-Iowa), and Adlai Stevenson (D-Ill.). The next session of Congress opens Jan. 18 and ALPA is preparing for an active year.

Other

Worked on 1972 budget. Responded to FAA's rejection of ALPA's Proposal for Accelerated Installation of Airport Facilities. Involved with problems associated with Hughes Air-west strike of American Mechanics Fraternal Association members. Attended UAL Council 11 annual retirement party together with First VP Al Bonner and Executive Administrator Jack Bavis. Appeared as featured guest of United Press International's Washington Window, heard on 400 U.S. radio stations, which focused on such topics as the need for improved airport security and ALPA's expedited [guess: port] facilities program. Inspected ALPA's new Home Office building with First VP Bonner. Attended Wright Day Dinner honoring Senator Howard W. Cannon together with First VP Bonner, Executive Administrator Bavis, Region Four VP Marion Wright, UAL Master Chairman William Arsenault and S&S Division Secretary-Treasurer Maggie Jacobsen. Appeared on City Desk on WMAQ-TV Chicago with Captain Dick Schultz (UAL) and discussed airport safety and security. A portion of the show was later used on the NBC-TV network.

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