Evening star., 1946-09-07
NFFE Council Assai|s
'Niggard|y' Policy in
P|edging Pay Fight
By Joseph Young
Stor Stoff Correspondent

CLEVELAND, Sept L The
Executive Council of the Ma
tional Federation of Federal EN-
ployes today launched a sharp
attack On the ''niggardly, penny
wise pound-foolish" Federal pay
policy as it pledged the union to
an all-out fight to obtain wage
raises for Government workers.
Although the convention yester-
day approved resolution calling
for pay raises, there was no accom-
panying statement of policy and
some criticism was heard that the
unions stand was not strong
enough.
This criticism disappeared today
as the council issued a strong state
ment in connection with the Fed
eral pay scale, with a scathing
denunciation of the Governments
wage structure which makes It
difficult for many Federal employees
TO maintain a decent American
otdlludiu ol living.
Convention Ends.
The NFFE's Executive Council is
sued the unions statement at a
Wind-up meeting today as the 400
delegates attending the NFFE's 18th
biennial convention, which ended
last night, started for their homes
thrnlIuhpyIt the 0py1rtr,,
TT is especially imperative, in the
opinion of the council, that vigor-
Gus action be taken to carry out
the convention mandate which
placed on the Council the great re-
sponsibility of initiating immediate
studies looking toward a general in
crease in compensation rates. the
statement declared
Asserting the Federal pay should
be boosted to meet the increased
cost of living, the council said
There can be no question about
the need for higher salaries for
Federal employees. Our fight to
secure wage increases will be carried
forward without delay"
The councils statement asserted
the present Federal pay scale not
only penalized- Government workers,
but that 1t also hurts the American
public by depriving the Federal
service of valuable employees who
leave the service because of insuffi-
cient pay.
Another major battle to be waged
by the union is against wholesale
cuts in Federal employment during
the next year Although the NFFEs q
policy is against overstafflng in Fed
eral agencies, the union contends
that indiscriminate firings in the
name of economy would wreak
havoc with the efficient operation OF
Government, as well as penalizing
needed employees who might be fired.
That the union expects Govern
ment workers to face some rough
times in the next year or so was
indicated when President Luther
Steward told the convention, 1--WE
may we'll be In defensive battle
for the next few years and we have
got to fight to retain the gains we
have won, as well as press forward tc
new objectives."
Opposed Closed Shop.
During its five-day session the
NFFE called for Improvements irI
working conditions as we'll as i'm.
proved pay, and urged liberalization
of many features of the Retirement
Act.
The union reaffirmed its no-strike
pledge and in addition stated that
collective bargaining as recognized
in private industry is not permissible
in the public service and the CLOSED
shop Is inimical to the merit system
in the public service"
Organized in 1917 and the oldest
of the three major Government EN-.
ployeS' unions, the NFFE will hole
its 1948 convention in Milwaukee
This years convention was marked
by hard work and little play. Tn,
delegates held day and night ses,
sions in the realization that the mex
few years are critical ones for Fed
eral employees and that policie
adopted at the convention nigh
well determine the future of tn,
average Government worker.