Evening star., 1937-07-11
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Thou shalt not strike-against thy
government In these days of sit-doWn,
strikes and picketing it is wholesome
to appreciate that a good example is
set to all industry by Federal employees,
without any compulsory pledge such as
IS required by many States and munich
palities from various groups of employees
in public service.
In announcing on June 2l, 1887, the
formation of the United Federal Workers
OF America by the C. l. O., John l..
Lewis. himself the high command of
forceful bargaining, in recognition of.
public sentiment, declared: Because of
the circumstances surrounding the en-
ployment OF Federal workers, strikes
and picketing shall be deemed violation
OF the principals of the provisional or
ganiZation"
This follows the principle behind
prompt and forceful action by Presi-
dent Wilson at the time of the Boston
police strike, which brought Calvin Cool
ldge. then governor, into the national
llmellght. That was the only important
strike by public employees in the history
OF the United States. In telegram to
the District Commissioners, President
Wilson opposed unionism in the District
police force. The Boston strike followed
discharge OF several policemen for join
ing a union affiliated with the A. F.. of L.
The police strike was defeated and a
new force organized. After that the
A. F. OF L. advised associations of police
men not to affiliate with it because that
might indicate willingness to strike. The
District of Columbia policemen severed
their aftlliation. Congress passed legis-
latlon forbidding D. c. police af1iliation
with any organization using the strike
to enforce its demands
When that measure was considered in
the Senate. an amendment was adopted
that mo organization of governmental
employees shall affiliate with any outside
organization which uses the strike or
which assists any other organization
In the use of the strike in the adjust
ment Of grievances" This amendment,
however, was deleted in conference.
There have been sporadic recent at
tempts by public employees to strike-all
Of which have proved abortive: NUM-
cipal garbage collectors in Bridgeport,
Conn.,, were replaced by new workers:
street department employees in Buffalo.
N. Y, called off their strike; munich
doned their strike after one day.
An executive order promulgated in
1902 forbade all Government employees,
except through heads of departments, to
solicit Congress for pay increases or
other legislation. This was superseded 10
years late by law, still in effect, that "the
right of persons employed in the Civil
Service of the United States. either in
dividually or collectively, to petition
Congress, or any member thereof or to
furnish information to either house of
Congress, or to any committee or member
thereof, shall not be denied or inter-
fered with" This same legislation safe
guarded that no postal employe should
be dismissed or reduced in rank because
OF membership in any organization mot
affiliated with any outside organization
imposing an obligation or duty on them
to engage in any strike, or proposing
to assist them in any strike against the
United States
This did not interfere with affiliation
Of unions of postal employees with the
A. F. of L.
The Presidents Committee on Admin
istratiye Management in report on per-
sonnel administration on June %, took
cognizance of this situation when it
said: "A statement of policy should be
prepared and issued, clarifying the right
OF employees to organize and to designate
representatives"