Evening star., 1942-06-11
Union Leader
Raps Overtime
Pay Measure
Bonus Bill Urged
As House Group
Ends Hearings
BY ]. A. FOX.

The administration overtime pa,
bill, designed principally for whit.
collar workers, today was assailee
by c. L. Rosemund. president of tht
international Federation of Tech.
nical Engineers, Architects anc
Draftsmen's Unions, AFL. who tolc
the House Civil Service Committee
that lin my experience of Is years
with the organized labor movement
I have never had a proposition ad-
vanced to meet increased living
costs by requiring employees to work
additional hours
mo private employer would have
the temerity even 10 suggest pro-
cedure of this nature" he continued
Mr.. Rosemund was one of the
final witnesses AS the committee con-
cluded hearings which have been in
progress for more than week. The
committee probably will hold an
executive session Tuesday to discuss
the form of the legislation whose
aim is to help Federal workers meet
advancing living costs.
Uniform Procedure Asked.
The administration bill proposes
to pay overtime after 40 hours, and
the largest group of beneficiaries
would be departmental employees
who do not now get additional pay
for extra work. Government un-
ions are supporting an overall
bonus bill which would increase pay
$500 annually throughout the serv-
ice.
Mr.. Rosemund said his group ap-
proves the administration bill in so
far as it would establish a uniform
procedure for granting overtime. He
warned, however, that the proposed
$4,000 ceiling would deprive many
technical employees of its benefits
and drive them into private en-
ployment.
Edgar G.. Brown. president of the
United Government Employees, COL
ored organization, told the commit
tee, We're not indorsing either OF
the particular measures because we
know that in your wisdom you
realize something must be done.
Mr.. Brown said his organization
was concerned particularly with the
groups below the ST 900 level. which
covers, among others, custodial EN-.
ployes and hospital attendants. He
urged that pending legislation which
would establish minimum pay OF
81 200 be raised to $500.
Teachers Work Never Done.
John J. McCurry. representing the
International Brotherhood of Elec-
trical Workers, AFL, said, I'VE want
both bills but C. M. Harvey, presl-
dent of the Railway Mail Associa-
ton, strongly urged the bonus.
In response to questions by Chair
man Ramspeck. Mr.. Harvey said it
would work havoc" to increase the
weekly hours of the postal service
from 40 to A. Such move would
have cut off 1000 substitutes last
year. he explained
Mr.. Ramspeck has several times
dAoSd tllC bCooiSiAIS Va ASiASSiiSA
ing the postal week to insure en-
ployes of getting overtime. While
eligible for overtime pay now. rep
resentatives have testified that
postal service workers have small
opportunity to work more than the
statutory hours.
The hearing ended on a lyrical
note, with Lloyd B. Daniel, legisla-
tive chairman of the District of
Columbia Education Association.
urging the bonus for school
workers
I'VE are not interested in over
time he said, because ''other en-
ployes may work from sun to sun,
but the teachers work is never
done" He said the pay of teachers
averages $4,000 annually and that
Of clerical and other school workers
is substantially lower.