Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-10-22
Mediation Board
Studies Action
In Pilot Strike
Federal Intervention
Considered; lis TWA
Planes Grounded


Federal Intervention in the
strike of 1,400 Trans-World Air
line pilots, which has grounded
TWA transports from California
to Egypt, is under consideration
by the National Mediation
Board, the White House said
today.
Presidential Press Secretary Charles
G. Ross emphasized in making that
announcement that the White House
itself has not entered into the wage
dispute, but merely has been advised
that the board is studying the case
Mr.. Ross said that in response to
numerous inquiries, Reconversion
Director Steelman had called the
Mediation Board and was advised
the board already had the two-day-
old strike under consideration.
Earlier, Jack Frye, president of
TWA, said Government seizure of the
companys 28,000-mile system would
be "a good solution" of the deadlock
with the ALL Airline Pilots Asso-
citation over wages. He added this
should be done, If the strike con-
tinued, because of the many things
the line is doing in the national
interest" He referred to the mails
and to services which TWA is per-
forming for the State Department,
the Army and other Government
branches in this country and in Eu-
rope.
CAB Discusses Strike.
The Civil Aeronautics Board dis
cussed the strike at meeting yes
terday, but members said afterward
there was nothing to announce.
A spokesman for the airline said
the picket line of pilots had been
withdrawn from the company's
maintenance Shops at Kansas City
and that ship employees, mostly
members of the International Asso-
citation of Machinists, returned to
work this morning after some of
them had refused to cross the picket
line yesterday.
TWA, meanwhile, continued to
cancel scheduled flights, after "a
hours of the strike had brought no
signs of settlement.
The walkout had tied up lis planes.
The union was demanding $1,187 a
month top pay for pilots of four
engine ships, plus bonuses for ocean
flying. Pilots of the giant Constella-
lions and Skymasters now make up
to 1913 month, according to the
company.
In, Chicago, David L. Behncke,
union president, told the Associated
Press the pilots were determined to
carry on the strike until their terms
are met"
Mr.. Behncke said they had ex-
hausted all steps provided in the
Railway Labor Act in an effort to
reach a settlement of 13-month
dispute, but had failed because OF
the company's 'lack Of sincerity
and procrastinating tactics"
Union Rejected Findings.
President Truman averted strike
last spring when he named a fact
finding board to fix wages. That
board granted certain increases in
the complicated pilots wage struc.
ture, and the company placed these
in effect.
The union rejected the findings
September 18. Mr.. Eyre said at q
press conference late yesterday thai
the union never notified the COM
pany it refused to accept, although
the newspapers had carried report,
of this action.
Mr.. Frye said Mr.. Behncke gave
the company no opportunity to dis.
cuss the unions new demands, but
served them on him only Saturday
and demanded that they be accepted
within 30 hours.
| MIR. Frye said 1t was impossible Il
give a yes-or-no answer to TIT
union, because the demands wer,
not clear in some particulars ane
required clarifying.
No Request for U. S. Action.
| 1t was in response to reporter.
question that the TWA preSiden
said he thought Government seiz.
ure would be good solution ane
he felt this action should be taker
if the strike continued long.
Mr.. Frye said the company hae
notified the various Government de.
partments which it served of tn.
strike, but had made no request ane
had not discussed the possibility o.
Government operation.
Top pay for pilots in transoceanit
service was said by company off,
cial to be $11,328 year. He sale
the top figure demanded by the
union amounts to almost $4,000.
The pay structure is extremely
complex, it was pointed out, with the
(See TWA, Page A-5D