Victimisation is Alleged

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 259, 1 November 1937, Page 7

Victimisation is Alleged

Dismissal of Imperial Airways Pilots OBSOLETE PLANES United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph. —Copyright. LONDON' Oct. 29. The Conservative member of the House of Commons, Mr W. R. D. Perkins, vice-president of the newlyformed British Airlines Pilots' Association, strongly criticised Imperial Airways in the House of Commons, especially because the company had refused its pilots the right of collective bargaining. He said that there had been recently curious dismissals closely akin to victimisation, notably that of Mr Wileon, pilot of the first air-mail to Australia. Mr Wilson has served Imperial Airways for seven and a-half years and is one of two people known as master pilots for both land and sea planes," Mr Perkins added. "He was dismissed and no reason was given. I have a strong feeling that it was because he opened his mouth too wide at the City of Khartoum inquiry. “Two officials of the Pilots' Association suggested that the London-Budapest sorvice should be suspended in winter as the planes were not properly equipped. The service was stopped, but the officials who made the suggestion were dismissed. "Only a few planes are equipped with apparatus to enable a blind landing," Mr Perkins declared. "It is unfair to ask pilots to run a 100 per cent, service when the planes lack these elementary things. The machines on the LondonParis route are obsolete, and other planes are definitely unsuitable for winter service in Europe. Pilots whoso names are household words but whose identity I will not divulge, as it would mean dismissal, agreo on this. "The Imperial Airships services are the laughing-stock of Europe." Lieut.-Colonel A. J. Muirhead, Undersecretary for Air, in replying, said that Imperial Airways had the right as a commercial undertaking to discharge employees. The Air Minister was satisfied that the directors were not opposed to collective bargaining. There was no question of victimisation. Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead suggested that the winter service to Budapest had been withdrawn because it was unprofitable. He declined to request an impartial inquiry into Mr Perkins's charges. ALLEGATIONS DENIED LONDON" Oct. 29. Mr. Woods Humphery, managing director of Imperial Airways, replying to Mr. Perkins, denied that there had been 10 dismissals, as alleged. Seyen pilots’ contracts were terminated, he said, for various reasons, none owing to membership of the Airlines Association. Unfortunately disclosure of the reasons for ending the contracts was impracticable, although they would, the company believed, not be exceptionable if disclosed. He denied that the company had refused collective bargaining, as it had concluded an agreement with the Wireless Operators' Association. Its other employees belonged to trade unions, Nevertheless, the bargaining organisation must be truly representative of employees. The Airlines Association had been in existence for only foul* months and so far had net been recognised by any air company. "It does not appear to represent the views of our navigating officers," he said. Referring to the allegations that the planes were obsolete, he said that all held airworthiness certificates and were .-onstantly supervised by the Aeronautical Inspection Department. He added that the criticism showed ack of vision and did inadequate justice to Imperial Airways’ steadfast concentration on the Empire mail (scheme, with which the European services were ‘nextricably interwoven.