 Later in 1961, shortly after taking over, the FEC and all other American railroads were notified by their non-operating unions that they expected a substantial hourly increase to go into effect at the end of the year.Having had only three profitable years during the thirty years of the bankruptcy, Mr. Ball advised the unions that FECR couldn't afford the industry-wide labor settlement, and asked that the unions work with the railroad and accept the increase over a one-year period.The unions refused, and on January 22, 1963, union employees launched a work stoppage that continued in some form until 1975 and which was marked at times by violence.