Evening star., 1945-11-05
Federal Pay Increase
Of "a 10 30 Pct. Urged
By Labor al Hearing
Senators Told 20 Pet.
Is insufficient to Meet
Rise in Living Costs
By JOSEPH YOUNG.

Basic wage increases for Gov
ernment workers ranging from
"a to 80 per cent were urged to-
day by AFL and CIO officials as
hearings were resumed before
the Senate Civil Service Com
mittee on the Federal pay bill.
James B. Burns, president of the
American Federation of Government
Employees (AFL), and Arthur Stein,
secretary-treasurer of the United
Federal Workers (CIO), told the
committee the 20 per cent basic
wage raise contained in the bill was
not enough to enable the average
Federal employe to meet increases
in the cost of living since 194l.
A third witness, Luther G. Stew
ard. president of the National Fed
Grafton of Federal Employees, said
the 20 per cent raise proposal was
not sufficient, but he didn't make
any specific suggestion as to how
much it should be. Mr.. Steward
said his organization heartily" in
dorsed the principles of the bill,
Lists Two Reasons.
Mr.. Stein called for fiat 80 per
cent wage increase for Federal en-
ployes in line with the CLOS ma
tional wage policy for industry.
He listed two major reasons why
the 80 per cent wage boost should
be granted to Federal employees.
ID 1t would be part of a national
wage increase that would offset a
$4,000 000,0 drop in national pur-
chasing power caused by loss OF
overtime since the wars end. Mr..
Stein pointed out that the majority
of Government employees are sta
toned outside of Washington and
therefore should be considered as
part of the national picture, along
with employees working here.
90 1t would alleviate hardship
caused by the sharp rise in the cost
of living since 1941.
Mr.. Stein asserted that living costs
had increased As per cent since 1941
basing these figures on joint ALL
CIO survey. During these years, he
said, Federal employees only received
average wage increases of 1873 per
cent.
Retains Part of Overtime.
Mr.. Burns told the committee that
while he agreed with the AFL-CIC
cost-of living index he would take
the most conservative figure of &c
per cent living increase estimated by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics on
which to base his argument for a
"a per cent increase.
Using the 80 per cent figure, Mr.
Burns estimated a "a per cent in
crease would enable Federal en-
ployes to make up their drop in
purchasing power since 1941 and
also enable them to retain part OF
their wartime take home" pay
which they received through work.
ing overtime.
This would enable the average
Federal employe to maintain a
reasonable" standard of living, he
said.
Government employees despe-
Frately need the raise" Mr.. Burns
said.
Mr.. Steward informed the COM
mittee that besides suffering de-
pleted take home" pay because of
loss of overtime, many Federal
workers have suffered still further
cuts through down-grading prac-
tices in some Government agencies
Differentials Opposed.
A suggestion made by some mem
bers of Congress that differentials ir
Federal pay be set up according tt
cost of living. standards in each
community was opposed by tn,
three union officials. They esti
mated that approximately IS pc,
cent of all Federal workers live il
cities where living costs are high
Pay differentials also would hampe,
transferring of employees from on
city to another, which the Govern
ment is constantly required to dc
the officials said.
The pay bill calling for 20 per cen
increases is sponsored by Chairman
DoWney Of the Senate Civil Servics
Committee and has the approval d
President Truman. Mr.. Truman.
suggestion that amendments be In.
corporated into the bill to provide
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