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Communications
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
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DISTRICT 3 iCWA ;
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FLORIDA Kentucky ALABAMA ? Workers O America
GEORGIA TENNESSEE LovIsIANA ==,
Soutn CaRoLtrna NortTH Carolina MISSISSIPPI |
40 PRYOR STREET, S. W. Bm 5
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
June 9, 1966
The Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr.
Mayor of Atlanta
Georgia
My dear Mayor Allen:
I have been following with great interest the news stories about the crisis
in the Fire Department. I have the greatest respect for the firemen and
other public servants of our great city and strong sympathy for the needs
of the firemen, especially, I have admired you, too, Mr. Mayor for your
demonstrated capacity to lead Atlanta forward and as a citizen feel honor
bound to support you as you exercise the power of your office in meeting
the responsibilities of your leadership.
What the papers say about your position with the firemen, however, I find
almost unbelievable and certainly unsupportable, These firemen have left
jobs which they have found to be intolerable, Based on present day stand-
ards of pay and working hours, I fully agree with them that their conditions
are appalling, I think you would, too, if you had to be a fireman for a few
days. Now comes our honorable Mayor and a judge who doesn't even bother to
hear both sides and says to these men, "You will be forced under penalty of
prison to work for us." Not for me, Mr. Mayor, nor for any other thoughtful,
freedom-loving citizen of this city. I repudiate the very thought,
I am a property owner and a long time citizen of Atlanta and I would rather
see the whole city burned to the ground than to force one single citizen into
involuntary servitude for my convenience. Think, Mr. Mayor! You are propos-
ing to make slaves of these men. They are free citizens, Mr, Mayor, not
subject under any circumstances to work against their wishes for any man,
I don't know the details of your negotiations with these men, I know from my
own experience in collective bargaining that it is almost impossible to get
the full flavor of a labor dispute into the public prints. I recognize that
men pushed beyond endurance can sometimes be exasperating, But it appears,
Mr, Mayor, that you would not even meet with these men until after their
frustration had driven them from their jobs and then only to threaten them
with slavery, May I respectfully suggest that a more moderate, concilliatory
and sympathetic approach on your part could have prevented this crisis and
The Honorable Ivan Allen, Jr,
June 9, 1966
Page Two,
could still cure it, These men obviously have a real grievance against the
city -- that means me, as a citizen and you, Mr. Mayor, as my spokesman and
representative. No self-respecting man so situated could react any way
except with resentment and rebellion to the insulting repudiation of their
long-standing efforts to achieve some relief.
As a full and complete solution to this problem, Mr. Mayor, I commend to
you and the Board of Aldermen the full and complete implementation of the
Golden Rule, Slavery and the bull whip may seem desirable to you at the
moment but it is not an acceptable policy in America, even under the most
pressing provocation.
Very truly yours,
George EY’ Gill
District Director
GEG /mfiw