Evening star., 1946-11-13
IVA Pilots Claim, Flying Scale
Cuts PGy Under 5000 Monthly
BY w. H. shippen

Trans-World Airline pilots, whose
23-day strike may develop into a
test case for the whole industry, ex-
pressed the conviction here today
that the public has an exaggerated
idea of their earnings and new SAL
ary demands.
This is due largely, they say, to-
q sliding salary scale which makes
1t appear senior pilots are getting
almost $4,000 annually and strik-
ing for some $l5,300 when, as a
matter of fact, their earnings would
be far less under average operating
conditions.
The question Of fair living wage
was discussed by cross-section of
eight Washington pilots in down.
town hotel today while Federal me-
diators sought solution awaited
with growing concern ny $4,000 laid
OF TWA employees and the aviation
industry as a whole.
New hope for early settlement was
raised last night when Federal Me-
ditator Frank p. Douglass said the
union appeared willing to compro-
mise certain points in manner
which might be acceptable to the
company.
The agreement which Mr.. Doug
lass prepared during long confer
ence with the union officials yester-
day was the second complete pro-
posal offered by the Government for
arbitration since mediation was be-
gun October "a. The company signed
the earlier proposal but the union
sought certain revisions.
The eight local TWA pilots, all in
the international division, included
two captains of overseas Constella-
tions and six co-pilots. The two
captains said they averaged less
than As hours flying time month
last winter, as against IS hours re-
quired for maximum pay, and pros
poets are no better this year.
Cite Responsibility.
The two explained they made less
than the 5000 month allowed their
navigators, although theirs was the
responsibility for the safety of
transports worth at least $3.50, 900
each, flying across oceans at speeds
of more than $50 miles an hour with
high-priority passenger, mail and
express cargoes.
The company, on the other hand,
contends pilots can average u hours
a month flying time and before the
strike, were drawing Is per cent Of
TWAS payroll, although they rep
resented only 10 per cent Of all the
employees. The union is asking,
among other things, for 65 hours Of
guaranteed lying time and 30-day
annual vacations with pay.
The wage scale of the co-pilots is
much simpler. They receive fiat
rate Of 1920 month, plus an auto
matte raise of $40 each six months
for four years, with a maximum
of $3.50 month. All six of the junior
pilots were married, most were
fathers of children, and their aver
age age was around 27.
Thep produced bi-monthly salary
check stubs showing take home"
pay from low of $91 to something
over 500 after deductions for taxes,
new uniforms, social security and
the like, although most of them were
one or two year men.
Truck Drivers Make More.
~Plenty Of good truck drivers
make more than we do" one CO.
pilot said. ALI Of us make less than
our navigators, flight engineers and
radio operators. We're about In line
with the pursers. although I guess
we've got slight edge on the host
esses."
All pilots draw living expenses
when away from home, although
Junior pilots pointed out they found
1t difficult to pay hotel and restau-
rant bills and then wait from 80 to
go days to be reimbursed.
Most Of the younger pilots were
former instructors or military pilots,
they said, with some 1000 hours in
the air before they were hired. Some
figured their commercial licenses
had cost them $500, plus $500
more for instrument ratings.
I'VE feel we have earned the