Evening star., 1950-09-21
kFGE Presents Plea
For Federal Pay Rise
Al AFL Convention
By james Y. Newton
Stor Stoff Correspondent

&AO w S3Ns 4SA.s OSPts 81
The American Federation of Gov
ernment Employees today present
ed to the AFL Convention {
broad program for improvement
of working conditions of Fedora
employees, including an immediate
pay increase adjusted to NEE
rising living costs and the rate!
paid in private employment.
The program presented to con-
vention by Henry C. Her, new
president, and Berniece B. Heff-
ner, secretary of the AFGE, was
certain of approval. The wage
sections demanded:
AN immediate increase in the
ina 5equate base pay of all Gov
ernment employees to conform with
rising costs of living and rates in
private industry where war
ranted."
Reduction of Leave Opposed.
Other parts of the 12-point pro-
gram include vigorous opposition
to reduction of present amount
Of annual and sick leave and eX-
tension of benefits of the Civil
Service retirement system, five
day 40-hour week with time and
half pay for Saturdays and double
time for Sunday work.
The AFGE also is seeking an
increase to SIS day for persons
in travel status, severance pay for
Federal and District workers,
amendment of the Hatch Act to
permit participation in -parti-
san elections and other improve
mentS.
The entire program will come
up tor convention vote Friday.
Vice President Barkley was the
nett top administration official
scheduled to address the fedora
tion delegates. He is on the pro-
gram for late today.
Tobin Warns of Initiation.
Secretary of Labor Tobin eau
toned labor to proceed slowly in
demanding higher wages. He
warned against setting in motion
a dangerous infationary spiral
in which workers would benefit
least of all, because the wages of
labor usually lag behind prices
as they rise
Mr.. Tobin pointed out that
President Truman has the power
in the new Defense Production
Act to keep the lid on the cost of
living and the Government firmly
intends to use that power if it
becomes necessary.
I'VE will take every step which
Is necessary to ensure that there
VIII be equality of sacrifice dur
irg the period ahead, includirg,
as an early step, an excess profits
tax which Congress is expected to
enact within the next few
months" he said.
Calls for Self Restraint.
Mr. Tobin said that it is
"crystal clear" that unless both
labor and industry exercise self
restraint as to wage and price
demands, drastic controls will be
invoked and they may be with
us for a long time"
He suggested that wage in
creases which are negotiated in
the period ahead" be confined to
those which are necessary "to
correct for the rise in the cost of
living" If further increases are
avoided, he added, 1--WE have some
chance to minimize controls" He
admitted that there are "a GER
tain number of wage structure in
equities and substandard situa-
tons that may call for correc-
ton"
1t was the first time that Mr..
Tobin had spoken out on the
price-wage race born from specu-
lation on the increase in Govern
ment purchases resulting from
the Korean War and stepped up
defense program.
Sacrifices Outlined.
The labor leaders listened So
berly as Secretary Tobinl outlined
the sacrifices workers are expected
to make in the months ahead.
After he had finished speaking,
nearly all of the top AFL officials
expressed agreement with what he
had told them.
Meanwhile. the AFL side
stepped a resolution introduced by
colored delegates which called for
a boycott as a site for future
conventions of any city which
maintains segregation of races.
The resolution, introduced by
Phillip Randolph, president of the
Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Por-
ters, was referred to the executive
council for guidance in selection
Of convention cities.
Mr.. Randolph and other colored
convention delegates have been
put up in the Negro section here.