Evening star., 1946-04-27
UPWA Board Map!
Organizing Drive:
As Session Closes
By Joseph Young
Stor StoH Correspondent

ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., April q.
The United Public Workers of
America (CIO) today began its off,
cial existence with predictions by
its leaders that the organization will
emerge as the most powerful union
in the field oNcivil service employees.
Most. of the delegates had left for
home today, following the close of
the convention late yesterday, but
the unions Executive Board met to
map final plans for the huge Or
ganizing drive to add an estimated
$4,000 Federal, State, county and
municipal workers to it's member
ship during the next year.
Abram Flaxer, president of UPWA,
sounded the keynote of the unions
drive to Organize the unorganized
civil service employees" when he
asked AFL civil service unions to
join the CIO organization, "or be
run over by our union"
The one discordant note in the
amalgamation between the United
Federal Workers of America and the
State, County, Municipal Workers
OF America, was the discomfort of
a group of insurgents who expressed
their dissatisfaction with what they
termed the Communist element in
the union"
No Showdown Materializes.
During the conventions closing
hours, a flood of rumors circulated
here that the rebel group would de-
mand a showdown on the floor on
the Communist charge But the
protesting minority failed to press
for action.
Shortly before the convention ad-
journed, however, about Is members
of the New Jersey delegation met in
caucus and heard a plea by Joseph
F. Hambrose of Camden that the
group propose an amendment to the
organizations constitution express
ing UPWA's opposition to any form
Of "iSms," whether Fascism, Nazism
or Communism.
Mr.. Hambrose's motion was turned
down by the New Jersey group
Members later told reporters it was
decided that the group, called to-
gether on short notice, was too un-
organized to be able to force the
issue on the convention floor.
To Fight Left-Wingers.
Thomas c. Murphy, LackaWanna,
N. Y, who turned down the groups
suggestion that he run for president
against Mr.. Flaxer, said his faction
will start to fight now to oust the
left-wingers from control of the
union" by the time the next con-
vention rolls around two years
hence.
Besides the election of Mr.. Flaxer
whose salary was fixed at $1,000 a
year, Eleanor Nelson, former UFWA
president, was chosen as secretary
treasurer and Robert Weinstein, for
mer SCMWA official, was selected
as director of organization.
AAAS SClSCbtu ny
the new union, which boasts a mem
bership of 10000. were Arthur Stein
Thomas Richardson and L. E. Tenn
pest, all formerly of UFWA, and
James " King, Mort Furay and Jack
Strobel, formerly of SCMWA.
Resolutions Passed.
Among the resolutions passed by
the convention yesterday were the
following
l. To work for repeal of the Hatch
Act provisions prohibiting political
activities by civil service employees.
2. To have enacted a permanent
fair employment practices act.
3. A sharp attack on Franco Spain
and demand that the United States
break off diplomatic relations with
that country and take steps to ouss
Franco.
4. A demand that Argentina be
expelled from the United Nations
"Peron being just a stooge of
Franco
1t was decided that UPWA would
have its headquarters in Washing
ton. The new organization is ex-
pected to set up its Offices in Sep
tember.