Evening star., 1945-07-04
Letters to The Star
Statement Defends Union Stand
On Teacher Pay Bill

The Washington Central Labor Union
deplores your unfair, inaccurate edi-
torial regarding the teachers pay bill
Representative Feighan deserves high
praise for his conscientious effort to
ascertain all the facts in the issue and
for his determined fight to help the
classroom teachers as well as high
salaried officials to benefit fully through
this legislation. Contrary to The Star
editorial. the fact is that 1t was stated
in open meeting by official represent
atives of both Local 27 and Local 8
that close, cooperative relation exists
between these two unions. Both are on
record in support of the following prin-
ciples: First, both support the single
salary schedule because both believe
that the work of the elementary teacher
is as important as the work of any
other teacher who has similar academic
training; second, both believe that not
less than $4,000 per year should be
paid to any college graduate simply
because she elects to teach in the ele-
mentary schools. Both believe that the
bill when passed should provide that
every teacher should get at least 500
more next year than the teacher would
get II laws in operation during the
present school year were continued.
Says Both Unions Are Strong.
Who gave you the information that
q iz nd rly Lad
statement is completely untrue and
reflects prejudice and not facts Act
ually both Local 8 and Local u are
strong and both are well led. 1t is true
that Local AZ did indorse the pay
schedule proposed in the bill. because
that was the only schedule at that time
presented to legislative council for in
dorsement. Local ~ joined with the
other teacher groups, which are mem
bers of the joint legislative council, in
indorsing the schedule which they were
told was the best possible schedule
which could get support oficially.
Neither Local 8 nor Local n ever in
dorsed the bill in its entirety. Actually,
1t stands to reason that no sane, free
group of teachers would enjoin Congress
not to better their lot If that bet
terment were possible. No sane, free
teacher group would vote to ask Con-
gress to provide for voluntary reduc-
tions in a pay-increase bill For you
to attempt to strike an issue between
two, fine cooperative union groups be-
cause one union, which did not accept
membership in the joint legislative
council, sought and obtained sympa-
thetic interest for bettering the lot OF
all teachers is indeed most regrettable.
Does your editorial mean that ss a
policy The Star takes the following
position: % No classroom teacher
should dare ask to receive / cent more
next year than he would receive II this
years laws were simply continued; "a
no teacher in the elementary grade who
has masters degree should ask that
her services for young children be
deemed worth as much as services given
by teachers similarly qualified, but serv-
ing in the junior or senior high schools;
go no teacher In the elementary grade
should presume to think that her COL
lege degree and her professional train
Ing entitle her to an entrance salary
which is considerably less than the
entrance salary for the lowest class OF
professional workers In the Government
services who are not required to have a
college degree and whose work oficially
calls for mo judgment?
Your editorial condemns the chairman
of the subcommittee because he heard
the testimony of the representatives of
both of the large, Nation-wid educa-
tional organizations. Miss Hazel Davis,
staff research worker. spoke for the Ma
tional Education Association. and Mr.
Joseph Lands of Cleveland, national
of Teachers spoke for that organization.
You attach a sinister motive to the
chairman because he gave attention to
the testimony of the national president
of large, reputable professional organ
ization. Is this because Mr.. Lands is
"only a teacher?
Concerning Intimidation.
Do you think the head of Nation
wide teacher organization is less re-
sponsible person because he is class
room teacher than is budget officer?
You pass off as ridiculous the charge of
intimidation. Did your reporter tell you
that she first heard the charge Of in
timidation made, not by the teachers
union, but in letter read into the re-
cord-a letter written to Representative
Curtis by nonunion teacher, who said
that teachers had been ordered to sup
port this bill and who deplored the fact
that she could not sign the letter pub
licly? Did your reporter go to Repre-
sentative Curtis for follow-up story
from this nonunion source? Did your
reporter tell you that Representative
Randolph stated at the hearing that he
did not support the bill entirely in the
form in which he had introduced it, but
that he introduced it simply to get ac-
ton started to help all the teachers
next year? Did your reporter tell you
that the police and firemens bill had
quick, favorable action because the off,
cials of these two departments worked
closely with the Firemens' Union to get
legislation to help all of the employees
substantially Immediately?
You are right on one point. If Wash
ington could vote it would support Rep
resentative Feighan and not sit back
and accept editorials such as yours to
express their views. We respectfully
ask that all the facts be truthfully given
your readers Immediately and that in
fairness you write an editorial based on