Evening star., 1933-10-03
FIGHT CENTERED
ON OLD PAY SCALE
Government Employees
A. F. of l. Also Call for
30-H0ur Week.

Government employees In the ranks of
the American Federation Of Labor pro-
pose to center their fight on restora-
ton Of the pay scale for the present,
subordinating all other related issues.
This was made known today follow
ing q conference last night Of repre-
sentetives OF the various employe groups,
at which decision was reached on the
program for which support Of the fed
Grafton will be sought, and which IS
directed principally toward remedying
conditions that have sprung out Of the
successive economy moves in the
Government.
The meeting last night at federation
headquarters was called by Edward j.
Gainor, president of the National Asso-
citation Of Letter Carriers, and was at
tended by spokesmen for the several
postal groups, machinists, departmental
workers included in the American Fed
Grafton OF Government Employees, and
other organizations representative, it
was estimated roughly, Of some 200, 900
Federal employees.
Other Issues Overshadowed.
It was the unanimous opinion Of
these. it was said. that the pay issue
overshadows all others. and that for
that reason 1t Is to be kept in the
forefront.
Uniform sick and annual leave,
equitable working conditions, pay diff
ferential for night and holiday employ
ment and appropriations Of sufficient
size to avoid furloughs and dismissals
on essential work are other points
covered
1t was decided also to oppose the
present policy Of the Government in
fixing pay scales on the basis Of living
costa plan that already has been Sc
verely criticized by the executive council
Of the American Federation Of Labor.
In this connection participants in the
conference voiced disapproval Of the
present method Of determining living
costs on the ground 1t takes into CAL
culation out-of-date factors. They also
voiced the opinion the present study
which has been inaugrated in the
Labor Department by authority Of
President Roosevelt will have its short
comings also in that the survey Of en-
ployes' expenditures will not get figures
that are representative Of the workers
as a whole. Too few persons keep
budgets from which accurate data could
be obtained to make the study really
representative, 1t was felt.
Asks Change in Law.
The conference also favored once
more the 30-year optional retirement
and OF improvement in the retirement
law.
These several points are covered in
resolutions that will be offered to the
convention some time today, the dead
line for receipt Of resolutions having
been fixed tonight.
Meanwhile the first resolution ON
ho
laid before the convention this morning.
John P. Frey. delegate from the Metal
Trades Department, presenting q pro-
posal for the 30-hour week. principle
Tor which the federation also Is con-
tending in private employment.
Holding that the shorter work week
Is necessary to provide employment, the
resolution says the Government should
take the lead and set up q model meas
ure. with the pay base the same as that
which prevailed before the first economy
act. which went into effect July / Of
last year.
The resolution was referred to the
Committee on Shorter Workday.
New Unit Formed.
It also developed today that . plan
discussed in some quarters for estab-
nshment in the federation of a de-
partment Of Government workers. along
the line Of the skilled trade departments
IN the federation, had been dropped.
and would not come before this con-
Vention. 1t was felt however, that
next year would see the plan pressed.
announcement Of q new unit of the
american Federation Of Government
Employees was made this morning by
e. Claude Babcock, national president.
1t was organized in the internal revenue
once In Baltimore yesterday with an
initial membership Of IS, Babcock said
Inc invocation at today's session at
the Willard was delivered by Right Rev
James E. Freeman, Bishop of Washing
ton, who also addressed the delegates
briefly. A special service will be held
at washington Cathedral at 4 o'clock
sunday afternoon at which President
Green OF the federation will speak