Evening star., 1919-09-01
POSTAL EMPLOYEES
OPEN CONVENTION
National Federation Here to
Plan for Betterment Of
the Service.

Gathered for the Improvement Of the
postal service and for the betterment
OF conditions Of postal employees OF
the country, the National Federation
Of Postal Employees today opened its
eleventh. annual convention at the
New Ebbitt Hotel. with more than
500 delegates from all parts Of the
country in attendance for the four
day gathering. II.
Service betterments for which the
organization of postal clerks is
by Thomas H. Flaherty. secretary and
treasurer OF the national organiza-
ton. Among the betterments asked
are higher permanent basic wage
standards for postal workers and re-
tirement for aged postal workers.
James r. Egan Wins Applause.
Tremendous applause from the dele
gates at the opening Of the conven-
tion showed that James p. Egan. rep
resenting the American Federation Of
Labor. had struck a keynote Of the
gathering when he declared: There
will be no true democracy as long as
autocracy In industry and production
exists. We should Americanize some
Americans"
Members Of Congress and other gov
ernment officials greeted the delegates
at the opening Of the convention,
These included Representative John /.
Nolan of California. Senator Poin-
dexter Of Washington. Senator Mo
Kellar of Tennessee. Representative
O'Connor Of Louisiana. Edward Keat-
ing. secretary Of the joint congress
sional commission on reclassifica ton
in, of {ov uar
cock. superintendent of mails of the
Washington city post ONCE. Charles
". Hilton. president of Local No. 14O of
this city. introduced the national
president. Gilbert E. Hyatt, who is
presiding at the sessions.
Objects Outlined by Secretary.
Objectives of the work Of the eleventh
convention Of the National Federation
retary Flaherty. will be made the SUBJ
ject of business Of the remainder Of
the sessions here. The tentative list
was given by Mr.. F1aherty as follows !:
Higher permanent basic wage stand
ards. Existing postal wage standards
are far too low to hold or to attract the
required man power to insure an efficient
service. Additional compensation must
be Immediately granted to enable en-
ployes to meet abnormal living costs.
A punitive rate. of time and a half
for work in excess Of eight hours: all
such overtime work to be confined
strictly to actual emergencies. and the
question OF what constitutes an emer-
gency to be decided by a standing COM
mittee Of employees and supervisory off,
Gals.
Double time for Sunday and holiday
work. and all such service confined to
an irreducible minimum
Unnecessary night work eliminated
by establishing a time differential-or
a wage differential as an expedient-
for work performed after 6 pm. and
prior to am. Tho time differential
to be fifteen minutes in every hour
or a forty -five-minuts hour, the
wage differential to be not less than
20 per cent.
Throughout the year Saturday half
holidays-or the equivalent in COM
pensatory time on each week on other
days-establishing q forty-four- hour-a-
week schedule.
, Thirty days sick leave annually
with full pay. and indefinite leave on
half pay for longer periods Of such in
capacitation.
Extension Of Vacation Period.
Annual vacation period extended to
thirty days and pro rated on basis OF
two and half days monthly, COM
puted from day of regular appoint
ment.
stools for distributors and other ena-
ployes doing like work, and rest
periods of at least fye minutes each
hour for all employees engaged In
work requiring close mental applica.
ton.
Reasonable limitation upon period
Of substitute service, with credit
given for such service in sdetesmining