Episode 29 - Blue Skies and MEC Wars—The Origins of the United Strike of 1985, Part 1

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Episode 29 - Blue Skies and MEC Wars—The Origins of the United Strike of 1985, Part 1

FromFlying the Line

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Length:

18 minutes

Released:

Dec 6, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

An unlikely connection between United’s CEO and the pilots’ MEC chair leads to a controversial contract proposal.

Released:

Dec 6, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (82)

Recount an exciting chapter in aviation history and the beginnings of the Air Line Pilots Association, the world's largest pilot union and nongovernmental air safety organization, through an abridged retelling of the book by George E. Hopkins, "Flying the Line." Narrated by Corey Kuhn.

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Chapter 5-"The Livermore Affair" (Part 1): In 1937, a young widow by the name of Lorna Livermore helped ALPA shed light on the practice of “pilot pushing” with the public for the very first time when she sued Northwest Airlines alleging that “Pilot pushing” is what killed her husband, pilot Joe L... by Flying the Line
15 min listen
Chapter 7-"Perils in Washington" (Part 1): The early days of ALPA's presence in Washington were filled with political maneuvering spearheaded by ALPA's founder, Dave Behncke. Through ALPA's support of President Franklin Roosevelt and his New Deal, ALPA positioned itself into a formidable force in... by Flying the Line
18 min listen
Chapter 11 (Part 1)-”Wartime!”: In the early years of its existence, ALPA made considerable gains in protecting pay and benefits for pilots flying the line. In addition to the gains in labor, ALPA also wielded great power and influence that rivaled the large industrialists of that era.... by Flying the Line
24 min listen
Chapter 8-"Flying for a Rogue Airline" (Part 1): ALPA's first president, Dave Behncke was determined to make sure that all airline pilots would be treated equally with the respect they deserved. But airline management would fight hard to create a tiered system of pay. Learn how Behncke and ALPA leverag... by Flying the Line
18 min listen
Chapter 9-”The Rise and Fall of the TWA Pilots' Association” (Part 1): Learn what chain of events led to the rise of one of the first airline-sponsored pilots' associations, the TWA Pilots' Association. Associations such as these often led to the system being rigged against the very pilots that these associations were suppo... by Flying the Line
14 min listen
Chapter 6-"The Trouble with E.L. Cord" (Part 1): E.L. Cord was the owner of Century Air Lines, but more importantly, his name was the rallying cry for organizing pilots in the 1930s. The Century Air Lines Strike of 1932 gave ALPA its first opportunity to negotiate a labor dispute between its members an... by Flying the Line
16 min listen
Chapter 1-'What's a Pilots' Worth?' by Flying the Line
14 min listen
Chapter 3-"Pilot Pushing": This week, we’ll hear about how the deadly practice of “pilot pushing” played a huge role in Capt. David Behncke’s drive to organize his fellow brother pilots. by Flying the Line
15 min listen
Chapter 8-”Flying for a Rogue Airline” (Part 2): Long and Harmon were essentially running a rogue airline that was refusing to abide by Decision 83, which was the National Labor Board edict that required pilots to be paid a certain amount for flying. Facing a hostile, anti-union environment, the pilots... by Flying the Line
15 min listen
Chapter 10-”Dave Behncke: An American Success Story” (Part 2): Dave Behncke's path to becoming the founder and head of ALPA was not a direct one. While Behncke finally achieved the military assignment he had coveted, it was short-lived. This, along with several other setbacks in his career, convinced him that the de... by Flying the Line
12 min listen
Chapter 2-"Stepping on Toes": This week, hear about the 24 "key men" who saw themselves as good "company men" but were labeled as "troublemakers" by their airline management. ALPA's Key Men faced much opposition from both management and other line pilots, but persevered in their work... by Flying the Line
14 min listen
Chapter 6-"The Trouble with E.L. Cord" (Part 2): The Century Airlines Strike of 1932 was quite the spectacle during the early days of commercial aviation. Not only was it a pivotal event in the history of commercial aviation, but it was key to positioning ALPA as a major player in the labor movement as... by Flying the Line
15 min listen
Chapter 7-"Perils in Washington" (Part 2): Expert maneuvering by ALPA's first president, Capt. Dave Behncke helped propel ALPA from a small lobbying group to the most respected voice for airline pilots in Washington. Through ALPA's advocacy in the early days of the National Recovery Administratio... by Flying the Line
20 min listen
Chapter 5-"The Livermore Affair" (Part 2): In this episode, we hear the conclusion of the Livermore Affair and learn how this tragedy set the groundwork for ALPA's critical role in setting high standards for aviation safety, eliminating the practice of "pilot pushing," and setting the bar for avi... by Flying the Line
17 min listen
Chapter 19 - Internal Politicking, 1960–1962: The 1960 election of President John F. Kennedy opens new doors for labor, in both aviation and other industries. And the promise of a new age spawns new ambitions for leaders and politicians alike. by Flying the Line
25 min listen
Chapter 4-"The Airmail Pilots' Strike of 1919": The Airmail Pilots' Strike of 1919 was one of the earliest organized actions taken by pilots. This 4-day strike led to concessions by Post Office management to eliminate the practice of "weather pushing" and to increase safety for airmail pilots. The roo... by Flying the Line
15 min listen
Chapter 11 (Part 2)-”Wartime!”: In the midst of the United States fighting a global war, as ALPA fought to protect its pilots. With airline operators using wartime needs as an excuse to roll back flying limits, ALPA successfully navigated the tension between maintaining the safety of t... by Flying the Line
19 min listen
Chapter 13 (Part 1)-”The National Airlines Strike of 1948”: Fresh off the TWA Pilots’ strike of 1946, ALPA had another battle looming with the management of National Airlines. In the minds of the pilots of National Airlines, the strike of 1948 was like World War II—a good fight, a just cause, an evil foe. George ... by Flying the Line
14 min listen
Chapter 22 (Part 2) - "American Airlines Goes It Alone": The dissidents of American Airlines mount their challenge, and decide on their future, with or without ALPA. by Flying the Line
18 min listen
Chapter 9-”The Rise and Fall of the TWA Pilots' Association” (Part 2): The flight that killed U.S. Senator Bronson Cutting from New Mexico brought renewed scrutiny to the airline accident investigations process. Until this point, "pilot error" was a commonly cited cause for accidents. However, because a prominent politician... by Flying the Line
13 min listen
Chapter 10-”Dave Behncke: An American Success Story” (Part 1): Learn about the origins and story of ALPA's first president, Dave Behncke. Join us to retrace Behncke's journey from a small Midwestern farm to the head of one of the largest and most powerful labor unions. by Flying the Line
13 min listen
Chapter 14 (Part 2)-”The Ordeal of E. P. McDonald”: The fight for Capt. MacDonald's career ends with a victory for the union pilots of National Airlines after a long and hard-fought battle with National's CEO, George T. Baker. However, this was only the start of what would be a series of battles with Geor... by Flying the Line
14 min listen
Chapter 15 (Part 1)-”The Fall of Dave Behncke”: ALPA’s founder and first president, Dave Behncke, works to maintain his position against all odds. But an investigative committee looks into various factors that would eventually lead to his downfall, including discontent among the professional staff of ... by Flying the Line
27 min listen
Chapter 12 (Part 2)-”The TWA Strike of 1946”: The pilots of TWA struck over “the four-engine pay problem” and another pilots association threatens to cross picket lines. However in the midst of all this, ALPA President Dave Behncke was rushed to the hospital with a suspected heart attack. by Flying the Line
11 min listen
Chapter 17 (Part 2)- "Safety and Crew Complement in the 1950s": A prank by a pilot in the jumpseat on a scheduled passenger flight highlights the need for more stringent standards on who should be afforded the right to have a seat on the flight deck. But this battle with federal regulators over crew complement would ... by Flying the Line
19 min listen
Chapter 23 (Part 1) - "Jets and Thin Ice": As ALPA enters the jet age, technological improvements open the door to progress. But much like every major leap in technological progress before, the transition to jets isn't without problems or controversy. by Flying the Line
18 min listen
Chapter 17 (Part 1)- "Safety and Crew Complement in the 1950s": ALPA advocates on behalf of having three pilots working on the flight deck of the new airliners of the post-World War 2 era, but accidents and pilot pranks do little to help the cause, all while one airline’s pilots mull over leaving the Association. by Flying the Line
19 min listen
Chapter 14 (Part 1)-”The Ordeal of E. P. McDonald”: In the wake of the National Airlines strike, management resorts to dirty tricks to topple labor, and one pro-ALPA captain, Ed McDonald, is removed from flying as two other pilots sabotage his airmanship. by Flying the Line
15 min listen
Chapter 13 (Part 2)-”The National Airlines Strike of 1948”: In ALPA’s short history, Ted Baker, the owner of National Airlines, was one of the most unscrupulous operators Dave Behncke had to deal with. The pilots of National Airlines attempted to hold their management accountable for poor working conditions, but ... by Flying the Line
16 min listen
Chapter 1-”The World of the Airline Pilot” Flying the Line, Vol. 2: In the span of one lifetime, commercial aviation has made progress that would shame the wildest flights of science fiction fancy. And yet, the basic process of flight, of readying both pilot and airplane, is eerily similar. Join us as we examined the cha... by Flying the Line
21 min listen

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Episode 39 - Lorenzo's Last Gamble: The Origins of the Eastern Strike, Part 3: ALPA and Frank Lorenzo maneuver for the high ground at Eastern Airlines, and Lorenzo demonstrates that he has no intention of working cooperatively. by Flying the Line
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Episode 38 - Lorenzo's Last Gamble: The Origins of the Eastern Strike, Part 2: As Frank Lorenzo gains control of Eastern Airlines, ALPA President Hank Duffy prepares to take on his greatest challenge. by Flying the Line
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Episode 37 - Lorenzo's Last Gamble: The Origins of the Eastern Strike, Part 1: ALPA President Hank Duffy struggles to keep ALPA’s larger pilot groups from going independent amid the newly deregulated airline environment. by Flying the Line
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Episode 36 - National Politics and Mergers: The Election of 1986 and Beyond, Part 3: Incumbent Hank Duffy and First Vice President Tom Ashwood angle for position in the 1986 ALPA presidential elections. by Flying the Line
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Episode 35 - National Politics and Mergers: The Election of 1986 and Beyond, Part 2: With the 1986 ALPA presidential election neck and neck, candidate Tom Ashwood challenges the union’s use of its long-standing, contracted law firm. by Flying the Line
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Episode 34 - National Politics and Mergers: The Election of 1986 and Beyond, Part 1: Following watershed strikes at Continental and United, mergers test ALPA’s strength and determination. by Flying the Line
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Episode 33 - Of B-Scales and ALPA’s Future—The United Strike of 1985, Part 3: A 29-day strike tests the fortitude of the United pilots and ALPA as a whole. by Flying the Line
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Episode 32 - Of B-Scales and ALPA’s Future—The United Strike of 1985, Part 2: During the United 29-day strike in 1985, the MEC miraculously convinces 570 new pilots in training not to cross the picket line. by Flying the Line
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Episode 31 - Of B-Scales and ALPA’s Future—The United Strike of 1985, Part 1: The United pilots’ Blue Skies honeymoon is cut short with the introduction of a two-tiered wage scale. by Flying the Line
16 min listen
Episode 30 - Blue Skies and MEC Wars—The Origins of the United Strike of 1985, Part 2: A Ferg-Ferris alliance and the contentious “Blue Skies” agreement lead to concerns about the United pilots’ possible secession from ALPA. by Flying the Line
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Episode 28 - The Continental Strike—ALPA’s Dark Night of the Soul, Part 3: ALPA raises safety concerns as Continental continues to fly during its protracted strike. by Flying the Line
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Episode 27 - The Continental Strike—ALPA’s Dark Night of the Soul, Part 2: The Bildisco decision, although temporary in its precedence, seals the Continental pilots’ fate. by Flying the Line
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Episode 26 - The Continental Strike—ALPA’s Dark Night of the Soul, Part 1: Continental’s striking pilots fight back as Frank Lorenzo looks for ways to keep his airline flying. by Flying the Line
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Episode 25 - The Origins of the Continental Strike—Lorenzo Prepares His Blitzkrieg, Part 2: Frank Lorenzo uses the leverage of Chapter 11 to compel Continental pilots to make even more concessions. by Flying the Line
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Episode 24 - The Origins of the Continental Strike—Lorenzo Prepares His Blitzkrieg, Part 1: With ample resources hidden in Continental Airlines’ parent company, Texas Air Corporation, Lorenzo files for bankruptcy. by Flying the Line
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Episode 23 - Pilots and PACs, Republicans and Labor—The “Reagan Revolution” Hits ALPA, Part 2: ALPA’s responds to the adverse effects of deregulation, recession, and the Lorenzo wars by forming a Political Action Committee. by Flying the Line
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Episode 22 - Pilots and PACs, Republicans and Labor—The “Reagan Revolution” Hits ALPA, Part 1: In this episode we look at airline deregulation and the evolving nature and influence of the Republican Party. by Flying the Line
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Episode 21 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 3: Hank Duffy inherits the debacle at Continental. by Flying the Line
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Episode 20 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 2: A rift between junior and senior Continental pilots occurs when they most desperately need to be unified. by Flying the Line
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Episode 19 - Bad Dude Rising—Frank Lorenzo Grabs Continental, Part 1: Frank Lorenzo takes over Continental Airlines. by Flying the Line
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Episode 18 - Who Are These Guys?—Frank Lorenzo and His Kind, Part 2: Frank Lorenzo enters the industry and advances his airline ambitions. by Flying the Line
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Episode 17 - Who Are These Guys?—Frank Lorenzo and His Kind, Part 1: A new breed of corporate leadership challenges the status quo in the aviation industry. by Flying the Line
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Episode 16 - Duffy Takes Charge–A Troubled Transition, Part 2: We explore the Duffy administration's inauspicious start and the emergence of Frank Lorenzo. by Flying the Line
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Episode 15 - Duffy Takes Charge—A Troubled Transition, Part 1: In this episode we take a look inside the transition from J.J. O’Donnell's administration to Hank Duffy's. by Flying the Line
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Episode 14 - Hank Duffy’s Destiny—The Making of an ALPA President, Part 2: In this episode, we explore the experiences that led Hank Duffy to pursue the ALPA presidency. by Flying the Line
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Episode 13 - Hank Duffy’s Destiny: The Making of an ALPA President, Part 1: In this episode, we follow Hank Duffy's path to Delta Air Lines. by Flying the Line
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Episode 12 - The End of the O’Donnell Era—The Election of 1982, Part 2: In this episode, J.J. O’Donnell seeks reelection despite the Braniff and PATCO debacles. Learn more about the ALPA presidential election of 1982 and how labor protection provisions, or LPPs, played a role. by Flying the Line
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Episode 11 - The End of the O’Donnell Era—The Election of 1982, Part 1: We review the events and decisions leading up to the 1982 ALPA presidential election. by Flying the Line
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Episode 10 - O’Donnell’s Dilemmas—The PATCO Strike, Braniff, and Furloughs, Part 2: This episode covers the PATCO strike and its impact on ALPA, the J.J. O’Donnell administration, and airline labor. by Flying the Line
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Episode 9 - O’Donnell’s Dilemmas—The PATCO Strike, Braniff, and Furloughs, Part 1: In this episode, we examine the PATCO strike and its effect on ALPA and airline labor. by Flying the Line
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Episode 29 - Blue Skies and MEC Wars—The Origins of the United Strike of 1985, Part 1

Episode 29 - Blue Skies and MEC Wars—The Origins of the United Strike of 1985, Part 1

Description

Titles in the series (82)

More Episodes from Flying the Line