Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-04
Method Of Applying CIassifi-
cation Law Causes Criti.
ciSm by Workers.
CONVENTION WILL STUDY
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
Ninth Annual Meeting of Fed
Grafton to Open in Texas
Tomorrow.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


SAN ANTONIO, Tex. September
3.-The Personnel Classification Board
will come in for sharp criticism at
the ninth convention of the Nationa !
Federation of Federal Employees open
ing here Monday. according to indica
tions tonight.
The whole question Of classification
will be thoroughly gone into by the
conventions, leaders predicted here
prior to the formal opening, but sew
eral other problems of vital interest
to the welfare and remuneration of
Federal workers in all parts of the
country will come up for detailed con-
sideration. Such topics will include
salaries, hours of work, overtime com.
pensation and similar phases of pub
lie employment.
Will Map Out Program.
The personnel classification board,
according to leaders of the fedora
ton. has administered the classified
ton act to the exclusion of fairness
for the individual or employe as a
whole, and has worked hardship on
Government workers throughout the
country by failing to extend classi :
fcation to the field services.
The federation, however, 1t was
indicated, will not stop at an indict-
ment of the alleged indiscretions and
incompetency of the board, but will
formulate a definite program of ac-
ton for presentation to the Seven
tieth Congress, through which they
hatN fn oh 20 in in
as classification is concerned.
Federation support also Is to be
thrown behind a minimum salary of
81 500 annually for all full-time EN-.
ployes. The worker who receives
less than S100 a month
still abounds in large numbers in the
service of the United States, and it
is to give these employees wage that
will permit them to meet the per.
higher cost of living as COM
pared with prewar days that the or.
ganization will plan a stiff battle in
the forthcoming session of Congress.
This question has its direct relation
to classification in that 1t will require
an amendment to the classification
act to fix a higher minimum. Elm.
ination of uncompensated overtime
also looms as an important item on
the convention program. While work.
ers in private industry as body have
their hours shortened and the passing
of the 12-hour day has been celebrated
as victory in this industry and that.
the National Federation of Federal
Employees points to the United States
Government as the outstanding in.
stance of one of the last remaining
strongholds of the 12-hour working
day. Instead of setting the example
for private employment, leaders de.
clare, the Government has continued
to exact long hours from its employees
without compensating them either
with extra pay or time off.
Saturday Half Holidays.
Directly related to this subject is
the extension of the Saturday halt
holiday, which the organization con-
vening here hopes to obtain for the
entire year instead of for few months
as at present.
A study of the present retirement
law with view to liberalizing the ex'
listing 1000 maximum also will be
urged. The convention also Is expected
to indorse a proposal Of 10 days sick
leave as a matter of right instead of
privilege as now constituted. This
also would have a provision for an
accumulation Of the leave until a
total of so days Is reached.
Washington delegates are expected
to be in San Antonio by tomorrow
night, when the other 150.odd repre-.
sentatives of local unions throughout
the country will have reached here.
In the Washington group are Ilena
Bailey, Maj. j. A. Braden, Ulrey
Biller, J. r. Stansfield and Henry
Holda, Local No. 2; Mrs. Matte Bos.
ton, Local No. II; Belle A. Trouland
Rose Brennan, Mae Bergevin, Mar.
garet Garry and Gertrude M. McNally
Local No. 105: J. E. Borland. Local
No. 249; Lee r. Downs, Local No. $50
Williams s. Kinney, Local No. 261
Continued on Page 2, Column 81