Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-12-31

u suu NOulp01Sh !"
IS Pei. Pay Increase
Romspeek Doubts Drive
By Three Unions
Will Succeed ...
BY ROBERT C. HARPER.
Federal employees will make drive
for pay increases when Congress
AeconveneS but Chairman Ramspeck
Of the House Civil Service Committee
doubts any relief will be granted
during the current session."
= An admittedly unfavorable con-
gressional attitude toward salary
raises in election year, however, will
not deter three organized groups OF
Federal employees from pressing the
following detectives:
l. A Is per cent basic wage in
crease to bring workers within the
Little Steel" formula applied to
private industry. II granted, this
would cost 5000 900 900 based on the
1912 fiscal year Federal payroll
2. An upward adjustment in the
computation of time and half pay
for overtime work.
3. Pay differential for all night
employees; reduction from 10 to II
months of the period necessary for
automatic promotions; 80 years op-
tional retirement without regard to
age, contrasted with the present law
permitting retirement at the age of
so after 80 years service; payment
to dependents of deceased employees
of all accrued annual leave not used
at the time of an employees death.
Solid Front Organized.
In seeking these detectives, organ
lied groups will present solid front,
the independent National Fedora
ton Of Federal Employees, joining
hands with the American Fedora
ton Of Government Employees, an
AFL affiliate, and the United Fed
eral Workers of America, CLIO ANIL
late
Mr.. Ramspeck's comment was, II
think it is doubtful there will be any
change in salaries of Federal en-
ployes during the current session,
and that's all I care to say at this
time"
Leaders of the organized groups,
aware Of their uphill fight, contend
they have Justice and economic
facts on our side"
James B. Burns, national president
OF the AFL union, emphasized there
has been no general basic increase
for Federal employees since 1923.
Want New Formula.
THE pay for overtime work is not
a salary increase. because Congress
recognized the principle of overtime
pay for overtime work." he said. I'VE
want time and a haf-computed
on a true basis, that Is, a work week
of 40 hours or 1880 actual working
hours year. Figured on a true
basis, the overtime increase would be
the difference between 2l.6 and 80
per cent"
A long-range objective, Mr.. Burns
added. is an upward Redistribution
of the entire civil service classified
list, but immediate relief should be
geared to increased living costs"
Luther c. Steward. president Of
the independent group, said he also
would press for basic wage in
crease, true" overtime pay COM
putation and a pay differential for
night workers.
I'VE can cite instances of night
worker in the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing receiving higher pay,
while on the other side Of the same
press workers performing the same
job are Disseminated against" Mr.
Steward said. Federal employees have
watched with interest the happen
ings in the coal, steel and railroad
fields. Our people, too. should be
given salary adjustments to offset
higher living costs"
Scanlon Bill Backed.
OF the approximate 1890 900 per-
sons on Federal payrolls, only about
270 900 are employed in Washington.
Since the bulk of employees are in the
field, the biggest pressure on men,
bers on Congress for wage increases
will come from the "grassroots," 1t is
conceded.
The chief objections Of the CLIO
aff1liate is passage of the bill in
troduced November 20 by Repre-
sentative Scanlon, Democrat, of
Pennsylvania. 1t provides for the
establishment Of wage board to
adjust salaries Of Federal employees,
similar to the War Labor Board s
role of affecting private industry.
Under present conditions, that
might bring about a Federal wage
increase of Is per cent, it was said
at the office of Eleanor Nelson, sec
rotary treasurer Of Local No. 1.
UFWA. This group also will oppose
the present method of computing
time and half for overwork time.
1t requires no gazing into a crystal
ball, these leaders say, to become
aware of the "restlessness of Fed
eral employees" in respect to wage
a Ia -