Detroit evening times., 1945-03-26
Postal Employees Ask
Recognition Of Burdens
New York Post Office Clerks 4

Editor, New York Journal-AmericaR
220 South Street, New York ~ Y.
SIR
TIHE Burch reclassificaton of salary BILL designated
H. R. 2071, pending before the House post office
and post roads committee for consideration which would
grant increase of $400 per for postal employees
above their present basic pay should be enacted into law
at this session of Congress. -
This measure, which is backed up by the United
National Association of Post Office Clerks, with MEM
bershp of over $4,000 postal employees throughout the
country is only looking to the doing of simple justice
1t seems to me nobody can possibly be against it.
The postal employees loyal Without question;
they thoroughly Dorthy Their task much greater
during the impending emergency than they hoOe
had before.
They have had many nescapable burdens placed upon
them by this impending emergency and yet in the face
of dshearenng conditions, they have served faithfully
THE REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE IN THEIR
PAY is A SIMPLE ONE OF OBVIOUS JUSTICE.
COMETNIES it seems to be human nature to overlook
- those who do most for us, to take their efforts
matter of course 1t that this group has been
overlooked for 20 years.
AS we all know very we'll the cost of living has gone
up 80 per cent; this despite ceiling prices Unques
onaby the postal workers are losing in what at time
between wages and prices but has now become
runaway with prices far in the lead.
Workers in private industry who negotiate coll
ecuvely with ner EMPLOYERS nave been aoe TO contract
for increased and such generally have been
increased either by agreement through the War Labor
Board since it established
Certainly the postal employees do not haze to Be
shoWn facts and figures to knoW What has happened to
the purchasing power Of their dollar
The United National Association of Post Office
Clerks advocating the passage of the Burch BILL because
there is urgent need for increased compensation
manent basis for postal employees; first because they
absolutely need the increased cost of living
Secondly, they deserve because they have rendered
efficient it service y over many years @ and pgRNG The
RECOGNITION BY WAY OF INCREASED COMPEN-
SATION.
Public opinion expressed from all parts of the nation
and groups of our citizens with unanmlty back of this
Income taxes, pension contributions and the cost
OF liUing increase I0H eat WhateUer benefit is
ferred by the proposed salary Legislation.
Most individual postal employees enter the postal
ice with view to making it lifetime profession Salaries
IN the postal department have not kept pace with workers
In many industries.
VNHE Burch bill is tardy recognition of well merted
Il claim. The temporary $500 bonus granted will expire
June 80 of this year. Unless Congress passes the Burch
BILL postal employees and their families will find them
selves in a very precarlOuS economic plight.
Under present salary schedules the young man who
enters the postal service at salary of LOO year
after subbng for several years and receives increase
of 500 year thereafter for four This is as far
he go.
Twenty-one hundred dollars is the maximum he can
look forward to- This schedule established back in
1925 AS the years have passed it has been impossible for
them TO make ends meet.
The average salary of postal clerk or letter carrier
is $4,000 plus the temporary $500 bonus which brings the
average salary up to maximum of $4,000.
Deduct his income taxes plus his pension eontri6u
tions from this and he lucky haze $1,000
a year, about S38 Week, left to maintain himself
and his dependents
One Of the great domestic issues Of the day is the
establishment of proper relationship between employer
and employee which must include proper recompense for
the work done and adequate pay empoye may bring
his family up the American fashion and IN accordance
with American standards.
COVERNAIENT in the past few years has been partic
VI ularly concerned about the problem far as the
industrial life of the nation is concerned and IT SHOULD
CERTAINLY TREAT IT'S OWN EMPLOYEES IN THE
WAY. EXPECTS BUSINESS MEN TO TREAT
THEIRS
Furthermore. postal employees not receiving the
regular pay for Overtime As all knoW, most
employees, particularly those in private industry, receive
time and one-haH for oUertine but postal employees
receiUe only straight time.
Now they are appealing to the American people and
the Congress- requesting that recognition of appre
citation be given for past services and present
burdens.
Let US give heart and hope to the postal employe