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Communication1I,OCAL 3204 522-8171 807 HENRY GRADY BUILDING 26 CAIN STREET, N. Vf. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 ~ 25 September 22, 1966 Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr. Mayor City of Atlanta City Hall Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Dear Sir: Thank you for your letter of September 9, 1966 and the Meadiator's Report of The Atlanta Firefighters Union, Ind., and The City of Atlanta. You state that paragraph 5 of the Resolution contains a misstatement that I might like to correct. Does paragraph 5 contains a misstatement? Doesn't Dr. Harrison on page 3 of the Meadiator's Report lead all of us to believe that had it not been for the legal opinion he would have suggested an immediate increase in wages or a reduction in hours? Doesn't Dr. Harrison bring this out clearly in the second paragraph, page 3, when he states "On the other hand, I recognize that the legal opinion, though provided by a most distinguished and competent Atlanta firm has no legal standing . "? I believe Dr. Harrison, had it not been for the legal advice and , " along with the rather narrow restrictions placed on him by the resolution " would have recommended, and did believe , that an i mmediate inc r ease in wages or a reduction in hours was right and proper . It i s my b elief and the belief of those interested in the r esolu ti on p assed by t h is Loc al Un ion that y ou and t h e Boa r d of Alde r man are attempting t o hide behin d a te c h n ical i t y of the Cha rte r in an effort to d e stroy o r g aniz ed l abo r insofar as t he City of At l a nta i s concerned. �Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr. September 22, 1966 I believe you and any other right thinking citizen of this area realizes that when everyone admits that the employees 0f this city are underpaid, that you must be fighting something altogether different than a mere violation of the Charter. Sooner or later the citizens of Atlanta will awaken to the fact that two or three firemen in a firehouse is not adequate fire protection. Sooner or later these same citizens will realize that the experience of more than 400 firemen can not be replaced by January 1. This will be realized sooner than expected when the insurance rates for the City of Atlanta are hiked due to this inexperience and inadequate coverage. Since you had a suggestion that I correct the misstatement of the resolution of this Local let me give you this advice, give the firemen a raise and get them back on the job! A great Mayor of a great city can find a way and the means without violating a Charter. Sincerely, /~a_ LAWSON A. SEWELL, President Local 3204, C. W. A. LAS: fha �