Evening star., 1945-01-09
President Asks
Permanent Law
On Overtime
Coils on Congress
To Re-exumine Whole
Federal Pay Structure


President Roosevelt today callee
on Congress to enact permanent
legislation authorizing time-and-a
half pay for Federal white collar
workers overtime, and to re-exam.
Inc the whole Federal pay struc.
ture, to line it up more nearly with
the high cost of living and the pres.
ent stabilization policy of the Gov
ernment.
He recommended new 'perma.
nent" legislation to replace the
present overtime act which expires
June 80, and which pays only about
21.6 per cent overtime, beyond 4C
hours a week, computed on an an
nual basis of $50 days a year. Ac-
tual time overtime would pay 80
per cent, instead.
These steps were needed, he
pointed out. because in the future
when the 48-hour work week will
be reduced to 40, workers pay would
be materially reduced" resulting
IN hardship" and "unfairness.
Living Costs Compared.
The cost of living has made a
substantial increase, according to a
footnote in another part of the
budget message. In small type at
the bottom of page showing a
table budget comparing the Gov
ernments budget with the Nations
budget, including business and con-
sumers, the message said: Prices
IN 1914 were between Is and 80 per
cent above 1899"
Yet, as the Chief Executive pointed
out to Congress, the average Fed
erai workers pay had not been
raised to meet it as have the pay
scales of some other workers. He
reviewed the pay status of Govern
ment workers at some length.
Most of the Federal civilian en-
ployes are engaged in essential war
work" he said, and must stay on
the job as long as the war lasts.
Government war services have
suffered in recent months" he said.
'by departure of personnel. partly
because of overoptimism about early
victory, partly because of concern
about employment opportunities
after the war"
Decline in Numbers.
The total number of paid Fed
eral employees, in the Continental
United States in November 1914, he
pointed out, was slightly under
100000, of whom 10000 were in
the War and Navy Departments
and other war agencies, and 1886 900
IN the Post Office and other peace
time establishments.
The total, he said, has declined
126,000 below the peak of June. 1943.
There will be further reductions as
the course of the war permits" he
said, but our main concern at the
present moment is to keep essential
governmental personnel on the Job.
Looking forward to the expiration
of overtime pay legislation June 80.
the Chief Executive said that "an-
tlcipated supplemental appropria-
tions for the fiscal year 1916 include
about $500, 900 900 as an approxima-
tlon of the additional cost of over
time pay and other salary adjust
ments. assuming enactment of such
pay legislation as the Congress may
authorize to replace those present
acts which expire June 80, 1916"
This allowance, he explained, had
not been allocated among the de-
tailed war and other appropriation
estimates to which it relates.
48-Hour Week Continuance.
The budget estimates of personnel
needs, expressed in man years." do,
however, he added, assume contin-
uance of the present workweek, gen.
orally 48 hours"
Pointing out that the present
overtime pay act provides overtime
for more than 40 hours week, he
said with minor exceptions, basic
salary rates have not been increased
during the war;"
I'm contrast to salaried employees" :"
the President continued. "the
skilled and unskilled workers. such
as those in Navy Yards and arsenals.
have had wage adjustments which
have approximately kept pace with
wage rates for comparable work in
private industry. They have also
received overtime pay at true time
and-one-half rates."
The third large category of Fed
eral employees, the postal workers,
he said, had been granted war
time bonus" in addition to receiv-
Ing overtime compensation at
rates.
Prior to the expiration of the
overtime pay law" recommended
the Chief Executive, "the Congress
should re-examine the entire sub
jeet Of hours of work and pay.
Asks Permanent Law.
Regardless of the progress of the
war in Europe, many Federal en-
ployes will continue to be needed
on a 48-hour work schedule, and
provision must be made for their
overtime compensation. I recon-
mend that Congress enact perma-
nent legislation which would auth
orize overtime compensation at true
time-and-one-half rates.
When at some future date it be-
comes possible for most Federal
employees to go on a 40-hour work.
week, their earnings will be mate
rally reduced. A situation of
hardship and unfairness will then
exist unless an increase In basic
salary rates has been granted in
recognition of the rise in the cost
of living.
I recommend prompt re-exan-
nation OF the Federal salary rates
with a view to making adjustments
consistent with the national stabi-
lization policy"
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