The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-12-15
POSTAL EMPLOYEES
BACKED BY A. F. OF l.

are going to the second session of the
SiXty-fourth Congress for remedial
legislation backed up by the support
of the American Federation of Labor.
The A. F. of L. convention at it's
session in Baltimore endorsed the
following resolutions:
Higher Wages for Postal Employees
Whereas, The wage scales existing
in the Postal Service governing the
wages of postoffice clerks, railway
mail clerks and city letter carriers
were fixed in 1907 and are woefully
inadequate to meet the present-day
cost of living; and
Whereas, Postal employees are high
ly specialized workers who function
in a government monopoly with no
hope of receiving higher wage from
a competing industrial establishment,
performing a service which gradually
unfits them for employment else
where; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we, the American
Federation of Labor, in convention as
sembled, indOrse the attempts of af-
filiated postal workers to secure a
higher wage scale from the Sixty
fourth Congress and instruct the EX-
ecutive Council to render all possible
assistance.
5000 Increase
Whereas, The present rates of pay
of practically all of the employees Of
the United States of America in the
classified Civic Service were fixed by
enactment of law in 1858; and
Whereas, The salaries and wages of
all classes of workers, especially
those organized, have very materially
increased during the period since
1885, and
Whereas, The duties Of government
employees, the requirements as to their
abilities and the hours of work, have
from time to time during the period
since 1853 increased; and
Whereas, The salaries and wages of
the president of the United States, the
vice president, the members of the
cabinet, the heads of all Independent
bureaus and commissions, the mem
bers of congress, the judges of all
United States courts, the United
States marshals, the officers and en-
listed men of both the army and
navy, and of a vrey large percentage
of the supervisory government Of
ficials have been increased from time
to time until now these salaries and
wages are a great deal larger than
they were in 1858; and
Whereas, The actual cost of the
necessities of life has increased dur
ing this period, and especially during
the last decade, to such an extent that
it is now almost impossible for a
classified civil service employe to
support himself and family on the
wages paid by the United States
therefore, be it
Resolved By the American Fedora
tion of Labor, in convention assem-
bled, that the president of this organ
ization and the Executive Council be,
and they are hereby instructed to use
every effort to have the congress of
the United States enact a law grant
ing to all government employees in the
classified civil service a horizontal in
crease of salaries or wages, amount
ing to at least 5000 per annum; and,
be it further
Resolved, That the same conditions
confronting the employees of the Dis
trict of Columbia, the same effort be
made to secure for them such an in
crease in pay as will equalize the
rates of pay of the employees of the
District of Columbia and the employees
of the United States.
Reduction of Night Work
Whereas, Thousands of postoffice
clerks throughout the country are
to work nights under CON
ditions inimical to their mental and
physical well-being; and
Whereas, The Postal Federation of
Postoffice Clerks is endeavoring to
eliminate unnecessary night work in
the postal service by securing a time
of fifteen minutes in
every hour worked after p. m. and
prior to 6 a. m. for postoffice clerks
and letter carriers-a legislative re-
form beneficial to the men and the
service; and
Whereas, There is pending before
the Sixty-fourth Congress the Randall
Lewis bill, which will accomplish this
reform; therefore, be it
Resolved, That this Thirty-sixth An
nual Convention of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor indorse the Randall
Lewis bill, and instruct the Executive
Council to cooperate with the repre-
sentatives of the National Federation
of Postoffice Clerks in seeking its
passage.
Railway Mail LEGISLATION