The Washington times., 1931-03-28
ST EE.REFORN
AS LABOR
PANACEA
Conventions to Go on Record
as Seeking Shorter Week;
Provides More Jobs, Claim

90 SSSN'IIS SIIOl ASa "SSN9
Provides More Jobs, Claim
(Continued From Page -
next step for postal employees
In their aims to improve cOndi-
tiOns in the service. 1t looms
aS the one ready means Of not
only helping the postal emplOye
but Of remedying unemplOy-
ment as a whole. 1t will be pre-
Sented to our national COnven-
tiOn at Los Angeles, Calf, in
September, and will be given
its Endorsement"
Favored BY r. r. Group
H. w. Strickland, secretary Of
the Railway Mail Association,
also stated it would be on the
agenda of the convention Of his
organization which opens at San
Antonio, Tex, November 8.
According to E. j. Gainor, presi'
dent of the National Association
of Letter Carriers, the subject of
further shortening the work week
has not yet been given attention
by his organization, but in view
of its A. F.. of L. affiliatlon it is
held likely that similar indorse-
ment will be forthcoming from
the letter carriers. whose conVen-
ton opens on Labor Day at Oak
land, Calf.
Extension Of retirement ar
nuities to the widows Of postal
employees is of paramount con
Germ, association officials de-
clared.
Longevity Pay Sought
Secretary Flaherty declare d
that it is of the utmost import
ance because it will mean so
much to relieve hardship for the
employees as they retire from the
service. He pointed out that the
maximum salary of the postoffice
clerks is $2,1OO, with opportuni-
ties for receiving a higher salary
limited to a few supervisory posi-
tionS. aa7 .-5,
His association also contends
that longevity pay should be
granted to it's older workers, Mr..
Flaherty said, and the proposal
is to increase annual salary $lCO
for each five years of service.
It is only fair to the employe
who has served for a long period
to have his experience recognized,
he said.
Mr.; Flaherty declared:
Recognition of seniority Is
Of pressing Importance in the
postal service. Better assign
ments should go to the older
man. To give them to the
younger members of the service
Is Subversive to good morale"
The postal clerks believe that
there should be a readjuStment OF
night work and an allowance OF
20 per cent instead Of the pres
ent 10 per cent additional COM
pensation for work performed be-
tween 6 p. m. and 6 a. m, as is
the practice at the Government
Printing Office.
Long Hours Hit
There is too much unnecessary
nigth work, declared Mr.. Flah-
erty, adding that circular distribu-
ton Gould we'll be performed
during the daylight hours. He
stated that 80 per cent of the
clerks work is at night. He said:
"In any consideration of the
postal service, it should be re-
membered that is the peoples
service. They own and operate
1t and are its benefiCiarieS,
patrons and employees. 1t should
be everyOne'S aim to extend its
usefulness. That certainly is
the objective of those. in the
service. JustifiabIe economies
should be instituted, but postal
workers should have the bene-
fits which they have earned by
increased efficiency"
The Railway Mail Association
likewise is seeking the extension
Of retirement benefits to en-
ployes' widows. According to Sec,
retary Strickland, it will be
pressed vigorously by the associa
tiOn