Evening star., 1933-08-20
Protest to President Opposes
Impending Additional Loss
of Work and Pay.
EXISTING WAGE SLASH
AND FURLOUGHS CITED
Columbia Union Asks Relief Plan
Like That Granted to Navy
Yard Workers.

Joining in the protest against further
wage cuts and furloughs subsequent to
the limitation of hours of labor in some
Government activities, the Columbia
Typographical Union, No. 10l, repre-
senting employees of the Government
Printing Office. voiced its complaint in
letter to President Roosevelt yester-~
day
The letter points out that under re-
cent economy legislation Printing Office
workers suffered loss of Is days of
their annual furlough, in addition to a
IS per cent hourly wage cut. in order
to maintain more men at work, the en-
ployes since have operated on a 5-day
week and sacrificed one-half day of
permitted furlough each week when re-
ceiving full pay for Saturday, the state
ment asserts. When September ar
riveS the last of this allowed furlough
will have been used and the depart
ment will have to reduce its pay roll or
otherwise take drastic action to meet
the situation
Steward Also Protests.
Similar complaints previously had
been received by the President from
Luther c. Steward. president Of the
National Federation of Federal En-
ployes: William Green. president of the
American Federation of Labor, and by
organizations representing the civilian
employees Of navy yards throughout the
country
They are unanimous in fighting ap-
plication Of the principle whereby
workers would be placed on the FIVE
day week instead of the five and one
halliday week but would lose a full
days pay in the bargain This heavy
slash would be added to the Is per
cent deduction imposed by congression-
al economy measures.
In a recent press conference, Presi-
dent Roosevelt expressed the opinion
that the infiiction OF an additional 1921
per cent cut on navy yard workers
would be too severe. and he ordered the
Navy Department to attempt to evolve
plan whereby the men would be given
credit for the hours actually worked
This would mean the workers would op-
crate on a fve-day week. but they
would receive full pay without the Is
per cent economy reduction, during
that time.
Ask Similar Consideration.
The letter of the Columbia Typo
graphical Union requests similar con-
sideration for the employees of the Gov
eminent Printing Office 1t Is pointed
out that the Printing Office workers
suffered in several ways under the
economy law. They lost Is of the 80
days leave allotted them under the
law Of 1896 In addition they had a
IS per cent reduction in hourly wages
When shortage of work halted night
work the employees engaged in that
side lost the IS per cent diferential
compensation when they went over to
day employment, but they suffered also
the regular IS per cent hourly reduc-
ton. or a 80 per cent total
The Public Printer and the en-
ployes will face on September the
problem of continuing the five-day week
without loss of an additional days pay
each week. because the leave permitted
will be exhausted on that date If the
five and one-half day week is again
instituted it will be necessary either
to extend the furlough or reduce the
number of employees.
Face More Serious Cut.
For those reasons it is easily seen
that the employees of the Government
Printing Office are not only suffering
drastic reductions now. but are faced
with more serious situation on Sep
tember 2.
1T is inconceivable that the Govern
ment which is sponsoring the campaign
for reduced hours and increased wages
will permit continuation of present
working conditions in Government es-
Establishments. We request in all Sc
riousness that you give the employees
mentioned the benefit of your consid-
Grafton. to the end that their condi-
tions may be ameliorated at the earliest
possible date"
The letter was signed by CLYDE NJ
Mills, president of Columbia Typo
graphical Union.