Today in labor history: Air Line Pilots Assocation founded in Chicago

On this day in 1931, the Air Line Pilots Assocation was founded when 24 activists from across the country gathered for a meeting in Chicago.

David L. Bencke met with what were called the “key men” to form ALPA – a name approved by pilots. A five-man Central Executive Council was established, dues were set, and the official motto became “Schedule with Safety.”

Today, ALPA is the collective bargaining representative for 59,000+ pilots of 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines, and a member of the AFL-CIO and the Canadian Labor Congress.

Photo: ALPA members picket in Milwaukee, demand a fair contract.   Jenissee Volpintesta/Flickr

 


CONTRIBUTOR

Special to People’s World
Special to People’s World

People’s World is a voice for progressive change and socialism in the United States. It provides news and analysis of, by, and for the labor and democratic movements to our readers across the country and around the world. People’s World traces its lineage to the Daily Worker newspaper, founded by communists, socialists, union members, and other activists in Chicago in 1924.

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