Evening star., 1946-04-24
Truman Backs
Drastic Raises
In U. 5. Pay
Message Halls
Merger Voted by
. UFWA and SCMWA
By Joseph Young
SfaF Sfoff Cores pondsnt

stur Stoff Correspondent
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., April "a.
Truman today hailed
the merger of the CIO-afiliated
United Federal Workers Of America
and the State, County and Munich.
pal Workers In a message to the new
amalgamated organization and ex.
pressed the belief that the Govern
ment should take the lead as a pro-
gressive employer in paying higher
wages and establishing better work.
ing conditions.
Mr.. Truman,s message was read
to the new organization. Sitting
Tor the first time as single group,
UFWA and SCMWA voted at sepa-
rate sessions late yesterday In favor
OF the merger.
In his message, Mr.. Truman re-
iterated his belief that the Federal
pay scale should be drastically re-
vlsed upward so the Government
might attract and retain the highest
type Of personnel.
Cites Complex Problems.
AT no time in the history of our
Nation has Government at all level,
been faced with as important and as
complex problems as confront us
today" President Truman declared.
THESE problems will not be dis
charged In an effective manner un-
less we attract and hold In the sery-
ice OF Government our best qualified
citizens"
President Truman asserted that
the Government, as an EMPLOYER
should not be permitted to lag be-
mind the procession In so far as pay.
ment OF adequate salaries is con.
cerned." He went on to saw that
This was the reason why the adj
ininistration has fought for mora
ilneral wage increases for Govern.
ment workers.
Directing his statement to tina
new union, Mr.. Truman said: "AlI
OF our citizens will welcome anv
contribution which your oreaniza-
tlon can make to the achievement
OF the goals"
ethical OF President.
The Presidents message caused
some comment here, inasmuch ss
UFWA and SCMWA YESTERDAY
criticized Mr.. Truman for not fol-
lowing the progressive policies of
PRESIDENT Roosevelt" and asserted
That the administration was deveIop-
Ing an antilabor trend. However
top officials Of both unions pointed
out today that while they wer.
critical OF some of Mr.. Truman's
policies, they still were behind him
generally in his political program
Ine ofncers' report yesterday was
a little too strong" on of the union
leaders declared. TT was Just a
matter of unwise wording"
Among the initial tasks facing the
new combined union is adoption OF
q new constitution and a name for
the organization. II
1t has been decided the president
OF the organization will be Abran1
Flaxer, the chief of SCMWA. AT a
caucus, UFWA delegates picked
Eleanor Nelson, their present pres
ldent, to be secretary-treasurer Of
the new union. There will be six
vice presidents, evenly divided
among the two groups.
UFWA Selects Three.
UFWA selected as its three candi-
dates Thomas Richardson. L. e.
Tempest and Arthur Stein. The
nrst two named were vice presidents
under the former UFWA setup, and
Mr.. Stein was secretary treasurer.
SCMWA has not selected its three
candidates as yet. There is expected
to be no floor opposition to the pro.
posals.
UFWA late yesterday, by a voice
vote, shouted its approval of the
merger. There were only about ?
or 8 out Of the 225 delegates voicins
disapproval.
Those opposing the amalgamation
asserted that UFWA would be "swal-
lowed up by larger SCMWA or.
gan1zations. UFWA at present has
membership of approximately
SS'Soo RSAooAASs Willie S1M WA mas
more than $4,000 members.
Unorganized Ranks Cited.
In answer to this, advocates of the
merger asserted that a combined
organization would result in the
most powerful of all Federal en-
ployes' unions" which will be able to
fight a single battle for the interests
OF all civil service employees, whether
Federal, State or city.
Those favoring the move also
pointed out that by combining the
two organizing stats into one unit,
much more effective organizing
job can be done. 1t was stressed
that, although. unionism among
Federal workers has made great
strides during the last few years,
the vast majority of Government
employees still remain unorganized.
UFWA delegates also agreed,
pending ratification by the new con-
stitution, to raise the dues of MEM
bers from 81 to $150, with rs cents
going to the national organization
and the other 75 rents IN tho loco1