Montana labor news., 1948-09-23
Nineteenth Convention
Report Of NFFE
Held in Milwaukee
CONTINUED From Page One)

sonnet council. who also addressed the
NFFE convention today. DR.. Hubbard
pointed out that through the council and
other agencies. a clearing house OF fact.
upon which action can be and i, being
based. has been established ior the bet
terment OF the federal service. He de-
clarcd that the National Federation oil
Federal Employees has played a primary
role i'll the continuing job OF raising ali
administrative standards within the led
cral service. and urged the organization
To 90 forward with renewed vieor along
the line, il has pursued III the past.
\ detailed discussion OF the federal
retirement system with particular refer
cncc to the most recent legislation was
presented to the convention by Warren
+. Irons. chief OF the retirement division
al the | ). Civil Service commission.
Mr.. Irons stated that certain further lib
civilizations oi the law should be enact
ed. notably correction 81 the present
discrimination against womc employees
who, while contributing ain equal per
ccntage OF their salary to the retirement
fund. may not designate their husbands
to receive a reduced annuity. Mr.. Irons
said that he favored an amendment
which would give a married woman I'M
ploye the privilege oi selecting a sur
vivor annuitant under the same term,
and conditions Is provided Tor male
married employees.
Mr.. Irons told the convention that
progress for federal personnel. including
the retirement law, which today is rec
ognlzed as an essential and an integral
part OF the whole system OF personnel
administration. has been largely the re-
suit OF organized effort on the part oil
employees. He declared that this ha,
been a tremendously constructive under
taking and organized employees. such a,
this pioneer National Federation O
Federal Employees with It's ~distineuishe,
record OF service. are doing a great picc,
ol work i'll the public interest. be
licve the government and the country
would be benefited il federal cmploye.
were 100 per cent organized"
The convention adopted a number o
resolutions urging rcvisions OF the re
tiremcnt law TO secure its more emffectiv,
administration and to cnioy incquitic>
Also, the convention voted opposition t
the inclusion OF any federal employ
under any retirement system establishe,
by the government Tor workers in pri
vate industry. provided the employc ha
an annuitable status under the fedora
retirement act; and a, opposed to tn
transfer OF any Of the functions or &C
wtlvitic> OF the civil service system to an
agency administering a retirement pro
gram Tor persons III private industry.
The long strides forward which hay
been taken i'll every aspect Of personne
management in the federal service wa
stressed in a brief talk before the con
~ycntion BY William II. McReynold,
former executive assistant to the prcsi
dent OF the United States. and a yctera'
OF more than 40 years experience on tn
federal scene. Mr.. McRcynolds state,
that while the gains have been grca,
much yet remains to he done to bull
an ideal service: and am confiden
that in the future as in the past. til
NFFE will exercise a dominant an
construtive influence in every effort to
ward that goal"
\ feature of the convention session
was the presentation OF the NFFE mcri
award. The highest accoladc bestowc
by the organization, given to one mem
Der annually for consistent. o~utstandin
service in behalf Of the organization owe
a long period. The 1913 award wa
made to Louis |. kjer Of Milwaukee. \
the same time, the winner Of the l94
award was presented to the convention
She is Miss Gertrude T.. Coylc Of S
Louis, Mo-, and Washington, ID. c. Pres
cntatIons were made on behalf of tn
NFFE by President Luther c. Steward