Evening star., 1950-08-28
AF(5E
Continued From First PageJ

other upward trend in the prices
of goods to the consumer" Should
prices climb. Congress will be
asked to vote pay increases for
both classified and wage board
workers, Mr.. Her continued.
MIR. Tier also urged the conven-
ton to go on record in favor of
time-and-a-half overtime rates to
Federal employees for all work over
40 hours a week.
The AFGE chief declared that
there is "glaring inequity" in
the present law which allows
time-and-a-half overtime rates
for Federal employees who earn
less than $3,035 year. but which
gives retrogressively lesser over
time rates to employees earning
more than that figure.
Earlier Retirement Age Urged.
Mr.. Her declared that "this in
justice should be remedied at
once, so that all employees may
receive time-and-a-half payment
for working more than 40 hours
in any one week"
An earlier retirement for Fed
eral employees also was advocated
by Mr.. Her.
Although there has been sub
stantial improvement in the Civil
Service retirement system during
the past few years. in which the
amount of individual annuities
has been raised and survivorship
benefits provided. we still have
not obtained retirement after 80
years of service without regard
to age"
Mr.. Her also disclosed plans for
group life insurance plan for
AFGE members which could as
sist a member to meet still un-
liquidated obligations under diff
cult conditions. such as paying
of the mortgage of his home if
he is stricken during his work pro-
duction years or educating his
children under similar circum-
stances"
Membership Drive Proposed.
The convention also was told
that the AFGE must increase its
membership to an all-time high
during the next two years in order
to make the union "an even more
powerful force for the welfare of
Federal employees and the ad-
vancement of the Federal Civil
Service"
Mr.. uer reiterated the Ages
"unyielding opposition" to Com
munism and declared that I'VE
can be proud that the AFGE long
ago put itself squarely on record
with respect to subversive organi-
cations.
I'VE in the AFGE have a re-
sponsibility in addition to that
of private citizenship. We are
employees of the Federal Govern
ment and we owe to our Govern
ment full support to rid the SER
vice not only of Communists, but
fellow-travelers as well.
Agency loyalty boards and the
Federal Loyalty Review Board
should resolve all reasonable
doubt in regard to the loyalty of
Federal employees in favor of the
Government. It is significant in
loyalty cases that none of the
cases reaching the Loyalty Board
have been members of the AFGE."
Her is Election Favorite.
Mr.. Tiger has been established
as the strong favorite to win elec-
ton as AFGE president. Mr.. Tier
is chairman of the United States
Employees Compensation Appeals
Board in the Labor Department.
He is expected to resign his fed
eral job if elected. He is As years
old and has had long career as
a Federal official. A Kentuckian
before moving to Washington
more than Is years ago, Mr.. Her
is Democrat.
Despite the fact that Mr.. Tier
is expected to win, there neverthe-
less is a spirited campaign for the
presidency. Cecil Custer, budget
officer for the Civil Service Com
mission, has established head
quarters here and is waging a
hard fight. Another candidate is
John Murray. former AFGE di-
rector of organizations.
The delegates, remembering the
bitter fight for the presidency two
years ago, are hoping that this
years convention will not see a
repetition of such campaign.
James Yaden was elected two
years ago. After his death last
month, Mr.. Her was chosen by
the unions Executive Board to
serve out the interim term.
/ Meanwhile, group Of top Fed
eral officials arrived in Omaha
today to address the convention
during the next few days.
Assistant Secretary of Labor
Ralph Wright will address the
conventions banquet tonight. To-
morrow the delegates will hear
from Donald S. Dawson, the ad-
ministrative assistant to President
Truman on personnel matters
Also scheduled to address the con-
vention later in the week is
Undersecretary of Labor Michael
Calvin. Another Labor Depart.
; ment official here is Charles
Straub, the special assistant tt
Secretary Tobin.