The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-14
MIRA Offices Lay Off
Many, Institute
Overtime
BY MARGUERITE YOUNG
DAILY Worker Washington Bureaa)

WASHINGTON, Dec. Is. - The
fight for collective bargaining was
brought home literally to MIRA. Ad-
ministrator General Hugh S. john
son yesterday, when a delegation rep
resenting a union of MIRA. workers
went straight to his office and pro-
tested against threats made to union
members and against overtime.
johnson was an unwilling host. He
stalled off receiving the delegation
for almost an hour, but gave in after
union leaders handed reporters let
ter carrying direct evidence that
MIRA. officials are fighting union
ization in their own bailwick.
Protest Against Overtime
This was the first time johnson
officially recognized the existence of
the union of his own workers, and
he has not yet exactly extended
union recognition. He promised that
no one would be discharged for be-
longing to the union and heard the
unions resolution protesting against
overtime. He said of the resolution,
to do anything about it.
The union was organized last
month by spontaneous gathering
of MIRA. workers who were FESTIVE
under overtime extending to ID hours
a day in many cases, with no addi-
tional pay. In general wages are
meagre in the lower-grade jobs at
NRA. headquarters.
About a dozen workers went to E.
Claude Babcock, president of the
American Federation of Government
Employees CA. F. of L. and secured
a charter on November IL. They
distributed leaflets calling a mass
meeting. 1t was attended by about
ESQ They organized into MIRA.
Lodge No. 81. They adopted a res
olution stating that since many civil
service employees are now unemployed,
and since MIRA. workers were being
kept on, the job for intolerable hours,
they demanded an end to overtime
except in emergencies, and in that
case time off to make up or regular
overtime pay.
Wholesale Lay-offs of N.R.A.
Wholesale dismissals have been
going on for some time in the MIRA
Yesterday between so and 60 were
dropped, Three of these were union
members. However, when the per-
sonnet division learned that the press
had been informed Of this, the union
members were reinstated.
A draft Of the resolution was sent
to johnson. He referred it to Alvin
Brown, assistant In charge OF person
mel, who wrote to Babcock a response
now famous among MIRA. workers
because it began with familiar
Dear Claude" and said absolutely
nothing about the demand. The
assumed militant stand on every
issue. They are making special eff.
forts to draw in the Negro messen.
gers and elevator operators. They
increased their membership last weei
although systematic threats were
being made by supervisors.
| 1t is said that the records of thu
locals officers were checked up BY
the Department of Justice. 1t ].
known that many supervisors ad-
vised their subordinates not to go in
johnson himself told the press re-
Gently that he hadn't made up m,
mind" about the union. Also, he pu
the stenographers in the "steno
graphic pool" on a three-shift day
but without consulting the union q
admitting its existence was factol
in the move. The union was giver
union met again and appointed tn,
big delegation to see Johnson undei
specific directions to act altogether
and see no one in place of johnson
Draw in Negroes
Despite their A. r. of L. affiliatior
| klsa rank and file Of The ut,frea hnvr