Unions play an important role in Aviation. Prior to the 1930s, there was no protection at all for pilots. Company management would fire them at will. They were pushed to fly in weather that was dangerous. They sometimes had to fly more than 120 hours a month. The pay was very low. It was cut even further when the job market could provide enough pilots willing to work for less. When pilots dared to speak up, many of them were fired. Early in September of 1933, airline operators announced they started a new lower pay system. They also wanted pilots to fly up to 140 hours per month, 160 hours for copilot. David L. Behncke, a great leader and a pilot, was the founder of the Air Line Pilots Association. In 1930, he swore a small group of pilots to secrecy and they met to set up an organization. Behncke carefully laid plans to enhance and
secure the professional status of all pilots including their working conditions and overall safety. Behncke had a plan that required protective Federal legislation to set safety rules, minimum salaries, and flight time limitations. He used clever public relations and political savvy.
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