Evening star., 1919-06-12
Mass. Meeting Postponed.

Mass. Meeting Postponed.
in the o Street Armory last night was
postponed because President Hurley
was unable to see the Commissioners
yesterday and get a final answer as to
whether the proposed new wage sched-
ule would be- amended to. give the
bonus Of $120 to be paid after July 1.
The present plan is to have the meet
ing Saturday
While Local SO of the Federal En-
ployeS Union, of which Edward M
Dawson is president, is entirely op-
posed to the strike policy of the City
employees Association, it is interested
IN the wage question, and today plan
ned to take an active part in the
controversy.
This organization believes that Dis
trSet employees should have a repre-
sentative on the wage board. 1t is
going to make a fight for such repre-
sentation. for which it has sought the
aid of the Federal Employees Union.
II necessary. 1t will seek the assistance
or the American Federation of Labor.
The wage board. as at present con-
engineer departments Its purpose
has been to unity the wages paid In
the several departments for similar
kinds Of service.
Boards Recommendations.
In the present controversy, the
board has recommended that the
basic pay OF laborers be reduced to
absorb the additional bonus of $120 to
be paid after July 1. This recommen-
dation was made because the law, in
the Interpretation of the board, re-
Quires the bonus to be applied in this
manner. The net result would be that
q M
they are now making.
But whatever basic rates are paid,
Local SO takes the position that they
should be regulated by a board on
ative, as is the plan followed at the
navy yard
The organization went on record to
this effect at meeting last night
took the subject up this morning with
S. Thyson Kinsell, acting president of
the Federal Employees Union. There
are to be other conferences, but it is
considered certain that the leaders of
the union will see the Commissioners
in the next day or two and urge the
change proposed by Local 50.
President Dawson claims for the
cluding some laborers who are not af-
iliated with the City Employees Asso-
citation.
Opposes Reductions.
At last nights meeting of Local 80
. resolution also was adopted oppos-
ing any reduction in the rates of pay
Of clerks and others put on a per diem,
basis during the war. It is proposed
to return q number of such employees
to their former statutory basis and
give them the fun bonus of $240 to be
paid government workers during the
coming. fiscal year. but this would in
yolve reductions for many EMPLOYEES
who were given so per increases when
they were put on the per diem basis.
- the case of these employees the
Commissioners action, it is pointed
out, will be limited by the approprta-
tions available for continuing them at
per diem rates Of pay
Local 80 last night expressed CON-
ddence that the Commissioners would
work out the wage problem with all
possible fairness to the employees
Local Union No. 80 of the Infer
national Union of Steam and Operat-
ing Engineers employed by the Dis
trfcf of Columbia in the water and
sewer department last night made dis.
ciairner that they were in any way
connected with a movement of the
City Employees Association to go on
strike.
ahe organization went on record as
opposed to such a strike and directe ed
Its members connected with the Dis.
trtct of Columbia government not to
h4ye anything to do with such a
stsfke should an attempt be made to
cafry it out.