Evening star., 1946-09-02
Need for Pay Boosts
Stressed al Opening
OF NFFE Convention
Loss Of Federal Employees
To Private Enterprise
Called Serious Problem
Bv Joseph Youno
By Joseph Young
Stor SioH Correspondent

CLEVELAND, Sept. 2.-Wage
increases for Government en-
ployes to Offset sharply rising
living costs and at the same time
retain in the Federal service
persons of the highest caliber,
were asked today by Luther
Steward, president of the Ma
tional Federation of Federal EN-
ployes, at the opening of the
federation's 18th biennial con-
vention here.
Mr.. Steward said the present Fed
eral pay structure is entirely out of
line with living costs.
But even more important than
that, from the public's standpoint,
Is the fact that the pay is too low
to insure the most effective oper-
alton of the Government" Mr..
Steward declared. He asserted that
hundreds Of highly valuable Federal
employees during the last year have
left their Government jobs to take
better paying jobs in private in
dustry.
Pay Scales Assailed.
They reached a point where they
could no longer, in justice to them
selves and their families, remain in
the service Mr.. Steward comment
ed.
Lashing out at the present Federal
pay scales, Mr.. Steward declared,
1T is not sound economy, 1t is not
good business, it is not in the best
interest of the public. to permit such
condition to continue"
The American people owe a real
debt OF gratitude to thousands of
loyal, capable, efficient men and
women who have remained in the
Federal service at substantial per-
sonal sacrifice" the NFFE chief de-
clared. But he warned that many
of these people will leave The Gov :
ernment If their salaries aren't
raised to a point comparable with
their abilities.
Approximately 400 delegates, the
largest number ever to attend an
NFFE convention. heard Mr.. Stew
ard open the convention at the
Hotel Statler here. Organized in
1917, the NFFE is the oldest of the
three major Federal employees
unions and is believed by most OBJ
servers to carry the most weight
on Capitol Hill.
Senator Mead to Speak.
Senator Mead. Democrat, of New
York, is scheduled to address the
delegates later this afternoon
Others scheduled to address the
convention during the next few
days are Chairman Randolph of the
House Civil Service Committee
Civil Service Commissioner Arthur
S. Flemming and R. R. Zimmer-
man, administrative assistant to
President Truman.
The delegates today heard Ger
trude M. McNally, secretary-treas-
urer. urge the initiation of a
vigorous membership drive and
organization campaign. At present
the NFFE claims a membership OF
nearly 100000 Government workers
In Mr.. Stewards report to the
convention, he stated that substan-
tial gains had been made during
the last two years to improve the
conditions of Federal workers. He
stressed, however, that there are
many objectives still to be attained.
During its flve-day session, the
convention is expected to take up
the problems of wage increases for
Federal employees. extension and i'm
provement of the Classification Act,
preservation and further extension
Of the civil service merit system,
improved methods of efficiency rat
ings, extension of employees appeal
procedure and fair administration
of reduction-in-fo force procedures.