Evening star., 1942-09-15
New Directive
Permits Shifts
Despite Protests
Provides for Poy
Protection and
Appeals, However
By 7. A. FOX.


In new effort to direct the
activities of Federal employees into
channels where the war effort will
derive the maximum benefit from
their services the Civil. Service
Commission today was equipped
with authority to shift workers at
will, even though the individuals
oppose the transfer
This power, granted by a di-
rective from the War Manpower
Commission, was the first develop
ment growing out of the issuance
of an order yesterday by President
Roosevent giving the Manpower
Commission supervision over Fed
eral employe transfers between
agencies and from the Government
to private employment. The new
regulation will be effective Sep
tember 81, when the. Presidents
order goes into force.
The directive also paves the way
for the transfer of Federal work
ers to essential occupations in pri-
vate industry by protecting their re-
employment rights and retirement
status when the Civil Service Com
mission approves the shift. Such
transfers, however, cannot be or
dered without the approval of the
employees.
Apparently Takes Place Of Bill.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, of
Maryland, head of Senate sub
committee which recently concluded
an exhaustive study of Federal per-
sonnel practices, has introduced a
bill to permit transfers of Federal
workers between agencies without
their consent, but the Manpower
Commission directive makes such
legislation superfluous.
Chairman Paul v. McNutt of the
Manpower Commission made the d.
rective public at a press conference
late yesterday and said that "the
categorical answer is yes when
asked if the reason for the step was
the failure of an earlier program to
encourage voluntary transfers from
non-war to war work in the Govern
ment !,
A different view was taken. how
ever. by Commissioner Arthur S.
Flemming Of the Civil Service Com
mission, who also is a member OF the
Manpower Commission. He said the
voluntary transfer plan, which was
.inaugurated in February, hardly
could be termed a failure when it
had been productive OF 31,977 trans
fers up to September 7. He described
the new program rather as the next
STEP"
Personnel Study Made,
Under the February arrangement
agencies were CLASSIFIED by the Bud
get Bureau in relation to their i'm
portance to the war effort and Presi-
dent Roosevelt prescribed regula-
tions governing transfers and at the
same time directed the Budget Bu-
reau to make study of the person.
mel setup in the Government and
decide what units could spare work.
ers for war work.
One idea behind the move was to
cut down the huge influx Of new
workers. Results were negative,
some 10000 employees having been
added here in the ensuing months,
despite the fact that decentralization
took about 10000 out of the Capital.
Mr.. Flemming, who also took
part in the press conference, would
not hazard guess as to the num-
Der of employees who might be
transferred under the new arrange
ment, but said the commission had
Representatives looking over the
Government establishment to de-
termine where shifts were possible
and had determined definitely that
many workers could be placed in
employment where more advantage
could be taken of their skills.
Protected Against Pay Cuts.
He also said the commission
would not hesitate to shift per-
sonnel from a high priority agency
to one of lower priority-in rela-
ton to it's war work-if better use
could be made OF manpower by st
doing.
Employees sent to agencies with.
out their permission are protected
against pay cuts, and also have
right of appeal. 1t is also provided
that no transfer shall take {
worker beyond reasonable com
muting distance from his hom,
without compensating him TO
himself, family and household ef
fects. Transferees also retair
whatever rights enjoyed in theil
original employment. Mr.. Flem
ming said the commission coult
stop the pay of employees refusing
mandatory transfers.
continue to have the right of appea
also. Heretofore, the Civil Servic
Commission has been required t.
obtain the consent of the agenc
from which a transfer was pro
posed, II the employe was goin
to a unit of lower classification
This no longer is necessary.
Agencies Block Some Transfers.
Federal employees going into pri
vate employment are to be carrie
in leave without pay basis in tn
Government until six months afte
the termination of the war.
Employe organizations have ex
pressed the opinion that the un
willingness OF agencies to let work
ers 60 and not the reluctance c
employees themselves to take trans
fers has been responsible for tn
fact that there have not been NOR
war shifts, and it was said on be
half of the Civil Service Commits
sion that "goodly number" {
, transfers had been blocked by EN-
ploying agencies.
Chairman McNutt said that tn
t Government is putting it's ow
house in order" by the new program
: and that it was a logical step
/ the larger plan for putting all work
ers in jobs where they would cor
tribute most to the war effort. I
statement in which he and M
Flemming joined, it was describe