Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-24
LEADER Of UNION
CITES MERITS OF
RECLASS|F|CAT|0N
Burd w. Payne Issues First
Official Statement Since
His Election.

What recla 1851 fcation means to gov
eminent workers was brought out in
the first official statement today of
Burd W Payne. recently elected
president of Federal Employees
Union No. >
AT present we are centering all
our forces upon reclassi fcation.
matter which vitality concerns the
non-union government worker as the
union member" declared Mr.. Payne
in his first statement as president of
the union
Mr.. Payne said:
1T means fitting in the employe
where he can give the best service
and receive proper compensation; II
means equal pay for equal work.
whether the omploye be man or wom-
an; ii means opportunity for adj
vancement rapidly as demonstrated
ability has proven promotion merited;
ii means automatic promotions under
some determined form of control
which will not permit that the de-
serving shall be denied what they
have earned: it means that while
worker is attaining to the maximum
compensation of his grade he is Mt
ting and preparing to easily pass the
examination for entry into a higher
grade where again are automatic pro-
motions for ability demonstrated: il
means that the laggard will stay
whe re his failure to work and grow
keeps him. while the efficient and am
bilious will go higher and higher;
1t means that places now filled by in
huence will be thrown open to those
workers who have attained the high
est grades established, and these Will
no longer vegetate because having no
il means a joint board on person
mel. composed of representatives of
the administration and of the en-
ployes in each department or indie
pendent establishment. and final
court of appeals where the joint board
may have failed in agreement.
Every empleye who would aid in
elevating the government service
along these lines and become more
efficient himself and win higher posi-
ton should ally with this union and
heS1 it, because it is trying to help
the workers. and should enlist for re-
classification along the best possible
lines that can &c attained.
Reimbursement Period.
President Payne also said:
This union is passing successfully
through one of those periods which
are among the experiences Of other
bodies of men and women who are
associated for accomplishments: these
periods come to churches. fraternai
societies. organizations of different
kinds. and periods much similar come
to business partnerships and corpora
tions; the officers or directors meet.
take account OF stock, strike a bal
ance sheet, ascertain exact condi-
tons and then plan to rehabilitate.
The period of uncertainty has
ended. Federal employees who were
to go. have gone: they who remain
know they will be retained; the ex-
element over, the conditions are be-
mi no
lost many members who have trans
ferred to branches of the service else
where. but a large number of these
are already allied with other locals or
they VIII be with locals still to be or
CANNED 1t has lost heavily in the
great turnover which attracted so
very many former federal workers
into other activities where their tai
ents and capabilities and experience
found them better places at greater
died; many lady members have mar
fied. each one now managing a union
OF her own.
Cannot Discipline.
multitude of causes NAV each
one have more or less effect upon an
organiza ton which, like the federal
Empioyes' Union. is wholly voluntary.
whose members can be compelled TO
nothing. cannot be observation-disclosures
can only be educated and persuaded
Federal employees belong to both DO
niicai parties; even the woman mem
bers DO: they are thinkers and they
are doing more thinking for them
selves than ever they did as a rule
they are letting others do less think
ing for them than heretofore: natural-
~ they divide on questions which con-
Germ the government. the welfare and
progress of the nation, and the preser
walton of what all good citizens honor
ana revere as the national institu-
tions.
Honest differences of opinion arise
IN every organizations: but this union
mas so far been harmonious as thar
Whatever little differences NAV have
arisen have not been so grave as to
nave caused dissension or even sue-
sested faction. Human men and
women always have and always will
entertain opinions at variance: hur
with this union. while there NAV have
been little differences with respect to
methods, there have been none with
respect to principles; the union stands
today where it always did, loyal To
the government. dedicated to greater.
emcaency in the service. beiievinp
satisfied workers always are the hes
workers" ''se