Evening star., 1946-04-23
Assai|s
Truman, Urges
Union Merger
Says Administration
Is Attacking Labor,
Lowering Standards
BY Joseph Young
Stor StofT Correspondent

ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., April 23-
The United Federal Workers of
America, CIO, opened its biennial
convention here today with a blast
at President Truman and his policies
and urged in its officers report that
the union merge with the State.
County and Municipal Workers of
America, also a CIO affiliate, to
maintain and secure the gains of
Government workers against an in
creasingly antilabor trend by the
ton"
The vote on the proposed merger
is expected to come late today and
officials of both unions meeting here
simultaneously, predict overwhelm-
ing approval of the proposal. There
is only scattered opposition among
the delegates of both unions.
In a caustic attack on President
Truman, UFWA's officers report to
the delegates charged that the
administration as well as Congress
is actually carrying out a program
of aggressive imperialism in foreign
affairs and of attacking labor and
lowering living standards at home"
Says Gap Is Wide and Clear.
Referring to the gains made by
Federal workers during the Roose-
Velt administration, UFWA recalled
that Mr.. Truman pledged himself to
carry out the policies of his prede-
ceSSor. But the wide gap between
promise and performance is only too
clear" the report asserted.
There is possibility that when
the convention votes on its officers
report, the delegates will seek to
modify the criticism of the admins
tration. Many of the delegates ap-
pear to feel that while Mr.. Truman
has made mistakes, his administra-
ton is sympathetic toward labor
and its problems.
In listing its grievances against
the administration, the report cited
Mr.. Trumans order giving Federal
agencies the right to hire temporary
employees without reference to the
Civil Service Commission during the
Governments reconversion from a
wartime TO peacetime hiring basis.
The order has resulted in racial and
religious discrimination and has
seriously injured the merit system
the UFWA report charged.
Hits Antiunion Tendencies.
The report also criticized what it
called antiunion tendencies of a
number Of Federal departments and
agencies, singing out the Navy De-
partment in particular as a chronic
offender.
In urging the merger, the officers
report asserted that the combina-
ton would result in the most pow-
erful union of all Federal employees
organizations with a strength of
more than 10000 members.
Every inch of progress in organ
lzation and Strengthening our union
is certain to be translated into bet
ter pay and working conditions and
more rights for Government EN-.
ployes," the report said. "All of us
working together in this spirit can
truly make history this week"
Would Have New Name.
II the merger is approved. the
new union would be formed immedi-
ately, and the rest of the conven-
ton would be under the auspices
Of the new organization.
The union would have a new
name, and the officers would
probably come from among the
present officials The present
heads of the two unions are Eleanor
Nelson, UFWA, and Abram Flaxer,
SCMWA.
Among the suggested names for
the new union are the following
Federal, State, County and Num-
cipal Workers of America: United
Government Workers of America,
United Public Employees of Ameri-
ca, American Civil Employees,
Amalgamated Civil Employees, Allied
Civil Employees, Associated Civil
Employees, Affiliated Civil Employees,
and United Government Employees
OF America. Other names also
dlc leCtlVlilS COllSlQeTdIlO
Powerful Union Seen.
UFWA officials today expressed
the belief that the merging of their
organization, with its reported 30
900 members. and SCMWA, which
has approximately 10000 members.
would result in "a powerful. con-
solidated union to fight single
battle for the interests of all civil
service employees, whether Federal
State or city" At present the two
unions have a working agreement
with each other, but no official
link
BY combining the two organizing
staffs into one unit, union officials
believe that a much more effective
organizing job can be done AL
though unionism among Federal
workers has made great strides dur
ing the past few years, union leaders
point out that the vast majority o1
Government employees still are un-
organized.
A greater political effectiveness
the second great gain expected tc
result from the merger. stems from
the strength of SCMWA members
throughout the States, where each
has vote and consequently can
influence members of Congress tc
vote for legislation they favor.
N ew Piano Pric,