Evening star., 1939-07-06


was required to be given to all
workers in accordance with my tele-
grams of June 10 and July /.
workers should be informed that
decision rests in their hands as to
whether they desire to accept en-
ployment under the conditions
which the w. P. A. can offer such
employment. Those who do not
desire to accept employment under
these conditions and who absent
themselves from work for five con-
secutive working days or longer
shall have their employment termi-
mated.
Copies of this telegram should
be posted on all project bulletin
boards"
The walkouts, including about SO
in the District, began yesterday
in an apparently spontaneous dis
approval Of provisions of the new
relief appropriation bill by which
relief workers must labor 100 hours
per month for the basic wage rather
than earn this amount at prevailing
hourly rates in from so to 80 hours
per month.
Ross Haworth. assistant District
w. P. A. administrator. said a check
this morning showed As relief work.
ers had left their jobs here yester-
day. OF this group. all Of whom were
engaged in construction work, %
were being employed in building the
band shell for use at the summer
series of water gate concerts.
Five of the total formally applied
for and were granted five days
leave, Mr.. Haworth explained, while
the remainder will be given the same
period in which to return to work
or forfeit their status on the work
relief rolls.
The District official expressed the
opinion that said on transfers are
being made from other projects as
yet and that it is expected to COM
plete the water gate construction in
adequate time for the first concert
next Wednesday.
Under the new schedule common
laborers will get $500 per month,
semi-skilled workers about $66,
skilled workers $500, and profess
sional men $50.
100000 Face Slash.
AS the adjustment of relief work.
ers to this scale was being attempt
ed the w. P. A. also was forced by
terms Of the new appropriation
bill to order cut of some 100000
in the total July roll for the Ma
ton, the objective being a monthly
average of w. P. A. employment of
2,047,0O0 by next June 80, as COM
pared with 100000 average of last
month.
AS its share of this reduction the
District was pared from $3.50 to
$500, Maryland from 10000 to 12,20O
and Virginia from 24,750 to 22,6O0.
Assistant Administrator Haworth
explained that most of the District
reduction probably would be taken
care of by normal separations and
completion of projects.
Disclaiming any official RESPONSE
bility for the protest walkouts, the
Workers Alliance, w. P. A. union,
announced it would make renewed
demands on Congress for restoration
OF the prevailing wage provision.
For this purpose, the National Ad-
ministrative Committee of the alli-
ance met here today to draft its pro-
posed legislation.
Describing the stoppages as "the
result of the widespread resentment
OF the workers at having their wages
cut" David LASER, president of the
alliance, said the Administrative
Committee plans to consider not
only the prevailing wage question
but also the new statutory require
ment that relief employment be
terminated temporarily after an in
dividual has been on the rolls for
IL consecutive months and the new
provision for narrowed geographical
differentials in wages.
Most extensive of yesterdays pro-
test stoppages was that in New York
City, where numerous American
Federation of Labor members en-
ployed as skilled workmen quit their
relief jobs.
Strike Calls Threatened.
Thomas A. Murray, president of
the Building and Construction Trades
Council of Greater New York, de-
clared last night that local strike
calls may be issued to all union
workers affected by the wage reduc-
ton. A. F. L. officials were confer
ring on this possibility in New York
today.
Denying union assertions that
practically all" of the 1928 skilled
workers on projects in New York
had quit work, Col. Brehon B. Som
ervell, w. p. A. administrator there,
said IS per cent of the projects still
were going full blast"
Col. Somervell said workmen who
remained away from their jobs more
than five days would be dropped,
and Welfare Commissioner william
Hodgsou announced that those dis.