Evening star., 1934-01-14

disturbed because of the dismissal dur
ing the week Of Q number OF employees
Of the Consolidated Aircraft Co. Of
Buffalo, N. Y. shortly after the COM
pany had received Q contract In the
amount Of $1,799. 500 for 81 big flying
boats for the United States Navy,
awarded as q part Of the recovery pro-
gram to increase employment.
The Behncke dismissal Is the subject
Of q complaint which is being In
vestigated by the National Labor Board.
veteran pilot was not dismissed. that he
was dropped automatically because he
failed to report back for work after be-
ing given leave to come to Washington
to argue before the National Labor
Board and the N. r. A. In behalf Of
his fellow flyers. Behncke says that
he was not late reporting back because
the leave given him was indefinite. The
reason for his dismissal, he asserts,
was his effort to organize air line pilots.
In the case Of the r. w. A. pilots
the National Labor Board Is sponsoring
an election by the pilots Of delegates
to represent them In collective bargain
ing. It has been charged that the
pilots were coerced by the company into
giving up their rights to bargain. The
IS pilots Of the line are being polled at
junction points along the trans
continental route.
The aeronautical factory workers, In
protesting against the pending code,
spects, entirely contrary to the princi-
pies Of the N. r. A. program.
1.-THE hours proposed in the code"
said c.. j. Cook, president Of the
Aeronautical Workers Federal Union OF
Buffalo. ARE, In our opinion, altogether
too loose to be acceptable. They pro-
VIDE no limit on daily hours Of en-
ployment, no effective restrictions on
weekly hours. no real limit even on
average hours. no overtime rates Of
compensation. They provide, rather,
for complete exemption for an indef:
number Of employees"
Cook and those associated With him
are considering an appeal to the
N. r. A. to reopen hearings on the code
so that effective protests may be sub
mitted on behalf Of the aeronautical
factory workers. Filing Of the appeal
was delayed temporarily because Of the
departure from N. r. A. Of Deputy
Administrator Malcolm Muir, under
whom the code was being framed.
Should the new deputy decide to go
into the problem himself the hearings
may be reopened without the necessity
Of filing the appeal. it was pointed out.
Early Adjustment Urged.
Early adjustment of all pending wage
and labor disputes Is regarded by those
affected as especially important, in view
OF the anticipated expansion of aviation
activities tn this country under the
stimulating influences of the aeronautics
branch Of the Department Of Commerce,
the Public Works Administration and
the Civil Works Administration.
Three subcommittee representing the
Federal Government and the industry
are at work on plans for Development
Of . volume-production airplane for
private flying. These subcommittee are
special committee Of leaders In Amer
ican aeronautics. An allotment Of
$500, 900 has been made by the Public
Works Administration to finance the
setting up Of the volume production
It Is the hope Of the Commerce De-
partment that at least 10000 airplanes
may be produced to retail at not more
than $700 each. Such program would
vitalize the entire aviation industry as
has nothing previously in its history. it
is believed.
At the same time continuous gains
in the volume Of passenger and express
air trafhc over previous years are re-
sulting In steady growth of the air
transport lines Of the country. Many
contracts for new flying equipment
have been awarded during the past few
months by the airlines and prospects
for the future seem to the operators to
be good.
Airport Total Grows.