Box 14, Folder 12, Document 15

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FOR: International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-cre
905 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D. CG. 20036 FE 7-38070

FROM: Maurer, leisher, Zon & Associates, Inc.
1120 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036 FE 7-8070



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPTEMBER 8, 1966

AFL-CIO PRESIDENT MEANY, FIRE PIGHTERS' PRESIDENT BUCK
VOICE -SUPPORT FOR’ NON-STRIKING MEMBERS CF
ATLANTA FIRE FIGHTERS' UNION

WASHINGTON--Statements of support for the members
of Local 134 of the International Association of Fire Fighte>:,
who declined to join a strike by a breakaway unarfiliateda
organization of fire fighters was voiced today by AFL-CIO
President George Meany and President Wm. D. Buck of the
International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO.

Mr. Meany said in a telegram to President James
Moore of the Atlanta Labor Council, AFL-CIO, that:

"President Buck of International Association of Fire Fighters
has informed me of the vicious campaign being carried on to
condemn those members of Local 134 of Fire Fighters in
Atlanta who have remained loyal to observance of their

international union constitution prohibiting strikes,












"I would urge you and Atlanta Labor Council
to lend all moral support to those loyal members of
Local 134 who are aware of their obligation, as fire
fighters, to the public safety of the city of Atlanta."
immediavely following the arncouncement of
Mr. Meany's wire, IAFF President Buck issued the following
statement: |

"The officers and members of the International

Sr:

Association of Fire Fighters are gratified by the statemen
of support issued by AFL-CIO President George Meany on
behalf of the responsible and courageous members of Locel 134,.
TAFF, who have kept raith with tneir responsibility to

protect the people of Atlanta eam fire under all possible
circumstances.

"It is time to set the record straight and clear.
The good union members in Atlanta are the members of
Local 1324 who have staved at their post, in accordance
with their union constitution and their personal oath of
responsibility.

"In all the excitement of charges and accusation,
propaganda has clouded over the fact that these Local 134
members are the real trade unionists, wno deserve the
support of organized labor and the general public. George
Meany has clearly seen the true facts and on behalf of
American labor he has spoken out in support of basic

AFL-CIO principles.


‘"The IAFF recognizes that the fire fighters
of Atlanta have for many years had serious grievances,
and the city government's slowness in responding to the
needs of the fire fighters is directly to blame for the

present situation. But even that past failure on tne

part of the city government does not justify the action

of those who walked away from their union and their
obligation.

"On behalf of the IAFF we salute the men of
Local 134 who stayed at their post. We can only hope
that Atlanta recognizes and applauds their loyalty by
developing a program of real and SPpective collective
bargaining and we offer our full support in helping them

rebuild Local 134 to full strength once again."


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