Evening star., 1947-01-11
Public Workers
Continued From First Page.


ever, declare their stand is adequate
and puts the union in the position
of following CIO policy on the mat
ter. ..
AS far as could be observed. there
was no dissension among the Execu-
tive Board members over the unions
past policy. And all seemed to be
in complete accord on what the fu-
ture organization policy should be.
Marring the picture Of harmony,
though, was the disclosure that four
UPWA locals had suffered member
ship Withdrawals on charges that
the parent organization is Com
munist dominated" It has not yet
been determined whether the four
locals in question will Withdraw
from UPWA. Abram Flaxer, JPWA
president, said the revolt had no
real importance and that it was
prompted by local squabbles that
had nothing to do with the Com
munism charge. This was the first
time since UPWA's hectic inception
last April, hswever, that a group Of
local unions has rebelled at the ma
tional leadership.
Major Legislative Goals.
UPWA adopted these major goals
as is legislative program for 1877:
l. Immediate wage increases for
all public employees, including $500
pay boost for Federal workers.
2. Prevention of RECKLESS" per-
sonnel and other budget slashes in
the Federal Government "at the
expense of the welfare Of the Amer
ican people," ..,
3. Liberalization of the Federal
retirement system and improve
ment of the efficiency rating system.
4. Preservation and extension of
the right of all public workers to
organize into labor unions of their
own choice, with collective bar
gaining rights in most things ex-
cept wages, which are set by Con-
gress.
5. Opposition to "smoke screen
congressional investigations into
various phases of Government en-
ployes' activities, including alleged
subversive activities, waste and In
efficiency in Government and other
like matters.
In this regard, UPWA officials
declare they fear the new Repubi-
can Congress will use these investi-
cations as a smoke screen" to fire
loyal and capable employees in Fed
eral agencies and replace them with
the Republican Party faithful in a
return to the "spoils system"
Also, the union in a statement
expressed the belief that these pre-
jected investigations might be used
to destroy essential public services
initiated by the New Deal.
I'VE wonder if 1t is the intent of
these congressional committees to
use the time-worn technique of the
old Wood-Ranking Committee to
destroy by innuendo the personnel
in those vital Government services
which affect the lives of the Arneri-
can people and reflect the social and
economic gains made in the past IA
years." the statement said. will
the technique of harassment be to
discredit in order to destroy these
agencies and services?"
Discrimination Issue Raised.
Thomas Richardson, UPWA vice
president, presented the executive
board with a report that 10 Federal
agencies have announced their re-
fusal to hire colored persons.
Mr.. Richardson said that, when
the OPA attempted to place some
of it's dismissed colored employees In
other agencies, OPA officials were
told by the various agency heads
they would not hire any more
Negroes. The matter has been
brought to the attention Of the
White House, Mr.. Richardson de-
clared.
He named the following agencies
as pursuing a non-Negro hiring
basis: Public Buildings Administra-
ton. Bureau of Standards, Patent
Ofice, Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Public Health Service, Alien Prop
erty Custodian, Navy Department,
Government Printing ONCE, Once
of Army Security Of the War De-
partment, and the State Depart
ment. In addition. the International
Bank is refusing to hire Negroes, Mr..
Richardson said. The Government
Accounting Office Is hiring NegroeS