Evening star., 1946-07-19
UniionHeadLinks
of5
TO Atomic Vote
UPWA President Hits
Spy Scare Demands
Aberdeen Hearing
RANKIN INSISTS Oak Ridge spies
seek atomic secret. Page Az

RANKIN INSISTS Oak Ridge spies
seek atomic secret. Page Az
Demanding a hearing before
an impartial tribunal, union
leaders charged today that dis
missal of five civilian employees
from Aberdeen (MdJ Proving
Grounds was an attempt by the
War Department ito create a
scandalous spy scare" on the eve
of a House vote to determine
the control of atomic energy.
The War Department yesterday
announced the dismissal of the five
civilians-all officers of Local $50,
United Public Workers of America
(CIO-"in the interest of national
security"
The Army merely named the five
employees and refused to elaborate
on their activities at the Aberdeen
installation, scene Of highly secretive
testing of rockets, other guided mis-
siles and atom bomb defense tech
niques
Ousted Workers Named.
Today Abram Flaxer, international
president of UPWA, outlined the war
records of the dismissed workers and
listed them as follows:
Harry Spector, president Local $50,
ordnance engineer; Phil Weiss, trus-
tee and chairman of Organizing
Committee, Local $50, a physicist:
Irving Spector. chairman of Griey-
ance Committee Local $50, engineer
| ing aide; Abraham Kotelchuck,
chairman of the Educational and
Legislative Committee. Local $50, q
physicist, and Rheabel Mendelsohn,
secretary, Local $50 statistician.
In statement. Mr. Flaxer pro-
tested that no specific charges had
been brought against the five, no
witnesses brought to testify and no
trial granted
Therefore the Public Workers OF
America is demanding that these
employees be given their full rights
as American citizens before being
accused and convicted" he said.
These rights include the presenta.
/ ton of specific charges in writing.
the right to confront and cross
examine witnesses and the right to
hearing before an impartial
| tribunal.
Jobs in Jeopardy.
/ He said the case dramatically
illustrates the insecurity of Federal
employees, who may be dismissed
at the whim of an official without
any specific statement of charges
ana without a trial.
ut is interesting in this connec-
tion, that the officials of the War
| Department withheld their an
nouncement about the five employees
for three weeks. The dismissal OIL
cially took place June 26, but the
announcement was made yesterday.
Perhaps it is only fortuitous cir
cumstance that yesterday was the
first day of active consideration by
the House of Representatives of the
bill to determine whether atomic
energy shall be under civilian or
military control"
Mr.. Flaxer said the War Depart
ment was engaging in IAN about
union breaking campaign" He said
these were serious charges against
q Government department but that
facts of the situation can produce
no other conclusion"
| Passed Screening Test.
! Pointing out that the five had
worked at Aberdeen throughout the
war and had passed screening tests;
Mr.. Flaxer said it was curious that
Brig. Gen. Alfred B. Quinton. COM
manding general at Aberdeen told
committee just before the original
dismissal date, that he had investi-
gated the charges against them and
had completely satisfied himself as
to their loyalty"
TT, Therefore, seems that higher
officials in the War Department in
! va