Republican farmer., 1919-09-05
.BURLESON LABOR POLICY SCORED BY MAIL MEN
Report Charges Hostility To Mail Carriers
 Association.
DEMAND 35 PER CENT. WAGE INCREASE
Postal Employees Out For 8 Hour Day and Better Conditions.

Philadelphia. Sept. 2-Postnaster General Burleson's labor policy was condemned in a report submitted by
 President Edward J. Gaynor of the National Letter Carriers at the open ing session of that orEa nization's con vent:on here. An immediate and sub stantial increase in pay for the car riers also was demanded. MT Gay nor's report in part follows:
 Prior to two years ago the ati- tude of the Postmaster General to- ward postal associations was such as to Justify apprehension. Alive to the need of the well defined official re- latons, the convention at Dallas two years ago therefore instructed the in- coming board of officers to endeavor 70 establish means by which a prop erlE accredited representa- tive of this association could present the views of me membership on proposed legisIa- ton to the department.
 Developments following the Dallas convention served to emphasize the hostility toward postal associations entertained by Burlesnu. On Oct. 3. 1917. I adressed a respectful applica- ! ton to the Postma ster General re- questing a leave e: absence to care for important duties as President of the National Association of Letter Carriers. This application was de- nied
 The convention Of the America n i Federation of Labor was to convene m Buffalo, N. Y. Nov. 12. 1917, and I again asked for leave to attend this meeting as a delegate representing this association. Again was the ap- [ n rlT ion f1E
 iEnation.
 "Rri5ging the gan Of these two strenuous years, regretfuIIy I admit that at present the relations between ] the Postmaster General and the asso- citation are not well defined. The la bor policy of the Postmaster General is out of ture with modern methods More intimate should be the relations between employer and employe" In his demand for better pay for letter carriers Mir. Gavnor urged an
 Immediate advonce of 8 per cent. this to he increased to 50 per cent. over The present rate when the reg ular session of Congress convenes.
 It was pointed out that since 1907 the
 mall carriers had received an increase of only 9 per cent. desnite the fact that the increase in the cost of living had advanced S2 per cent
 Washington. Sept. "A higher wage standard for all postal em- pIoyes, time and a half for work in
 excess of eight hours a day. double
 time for Sunday and holidays. and 2
 thirty day annual sick leave were re- commended by Thomas F. F1ahertv
 Secretary Treasurer of the National Federation of Postal Employes. at the opening session of the annual conven- ton of the organization here. The existing postal wage stan
 dards,' he said -are far too low tn hold or attract the required man power 10 insure an efficient service.
 Additional compensation must be i'm
 mediately granted to enable employees to meet abnormal living costs"
 The overtime rate. MT Flahertv
 said. would be a punitive" measure to eliminate unnecessary night and ! holiday work. He also urged a 'worka ble" system of efficiency rat ing for employees and improved work ing environment in Post Offices.