Evening star., 1937-07-04
ROOSEVELT BARS
.C. |. D. M|L|TANCY
FOR j. S. WORKERS
Scans Sweep of Lewis
Movement Into Federal Rolls
With U. F. W. Union.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
LIMITATIONS SPECIFIED
Right of Afiliation Recognized,
but Forceful Tactics Are Taboo,
Informed Sources Say.

BACKGROUND
Moving out OF the field OF in
dustry, the John L. Leuis Commit
tee for Industrial Organization last
month chartered ",Uhite collar"
hn,on OF Government employes-
the United Federal Workers OF
America. Plans also hare been
announced tor lining up State,
county and municipal workers.
BY J. A. FOX.
President Roosevelt has taken off,
cial cognizance of the sweep of the
John l.. Lewis labor movement into
Government employment, and is def
nitely committed to the stand that
no semblance Of the militancy that
elsewhere has characterized the op-
erationS of the Committee for Indus
trial Organization must be permitted
TO creep into the Federal service.
The President, it was said in an
informed quarter yesterday. recog-
nizes the right Of Government en-
ployes to join a union if they see
fit, and has no objection to such af-
filiation. However, he is represented
as emphasizing particularly that en-
thuSiaSm for a cause is not to lead
to forceful tactics. and, further, as
holding to the policy that the prin-
ciple OF collective bargaining has its
limitations so far as concerns Fed.
eral personnel.
The Presidents views are UNDER
stood to have been made plain to
his advisers, and the belief is held
that the Labor Department will care
fully watch developments in the wake
Of the birth Of the United Federal
Workers of America. the new Govern
ment unit of he c. I. O.. prepared
| to offer word to the wise should
it become necessary. However, the
| course that this organization is pur-
suing at the outset is no different
from that of any group similarly sit
uated.
Program to Be Outlined.
The groundwork for organizing the
new c. I. o. affiliate is under way,
and in the next few days Jacob Baker,
| former W. P. A. aide. who was chosen
by Lewis to lead the new movement,
plans to outline the U. F. w. pro-
| gram. AS tentatively sketched by
Lewis himself when the union was
launched last month. this is supposed
to concern itself with improved SAL
| aries and working conditions. tenure
Of Office and the creation of an ap-
| peals body to which workers can carry
their grievances
The circumstances which gave i'm
| petus to the formation of the U. F. w.
namely, suspension and expulsion
| OF 4 large group Of militant members
OF the American Federation of Gov
ernment Employees. principally from
New Deal agencies-presumably was
the factor that drew the attention Of
the White House TO the new union
| Some Of the most active in the
United Federal Workers have been
strong proponents Of picketing and
mass protest as weapons for adjust
ing grievances or giving point to de-
| mands. This innovation in Govern
ment employment relationship has
been in evidence on several occa.
sions in the past three years
In starting the U. F. w. however,
Lewis let it be known that discipline
in the ranks was expected and he
| specified IN the announcement OF the
| formation of the union that strikes
and picketing would have no place in
its makeup.
In taking the attitude that collec-
tive bargaining properly may go only
| so far in Government service, the
President, observers point out, could
be expected to be opposed to the desig-
| nation OF any union as the bargaining
(See FEDERAL UNION, Page A-4)