Evening star., 1952-08-25

100000 member AFGE, he de-
clared: "The continued rise in
the cost of living leaves us no
alternative but to ask the new
Congress for a substantial pay
raise"
Another highlight of the OPEN
ing days session was a message
from President Truman in which
the Chief Executive praised tho
lrecord of Federal Employees and
once again attacked those "who.
through ignorance or for selfish
ends, make false and malicious
statements against our civil serv-
ants"
Il will expose these lies when-
ever and wherever I can," he de.
clared.
"As Chief Executive, and as q
member of Congress, I have
learned to appreciate and respect
the efficient. honest, and faithful
service Federal civil servants give
to their employers. the people Of
our country" MIR. Truman said.
Assails Lag in Federal Pay Rates.
Mr.. Campbell, in calling for
another Federal pay raise, said the
AFGE sis alarmed over the per-
|sistent lag of Federal pay rates,
as compared with the upward
trend in the cost of living"
I'm this age of statistical pre-
cision in measuring this inexcus.
able lag, legislative procrastination
becomes a cardinal abuse" the
AFGE chief continued. Referring
to the Critical gap between the
Government workers meager SAL
;ary and a decent American stand
ard Of living" he said: Hundreds
OF thousands of civil servants live
from pay check to pay check with
a margin of financial security so
narrow that loan institutions are
today as never before overcrowded
with Federal applicants"
Mr.. Campbell set no pay raise
figure that he favors, preferring
to wait and see what the cost
Iof-living index will be next Janu-
airy when Congress convenes
before setting any definite figure.
Several Resolutions in Hopper.
A number of pay raise resolu-
tions are now before the conven-
tion's legislative committee, and
it's considered certain the AFGE
later this week will back up its
president in demanding another
Federal pay raise.
Federal classified and postal
workers received a 9.4 per cent
average pay boost last year, but
Mr.. Campbell declared that even
that boost did not enable Federal
workers to catch up with the rise
in living costs since 1899. And
since last years Federal pay in
crease, living costs have increased
ever further, he pointed out.
In his address, MIR. Campbell
attacked the current leave rider
which bars Federal employees
from accumulating additional
annual leave. He said the rider
was unfair and discriminatory"
The AFGE leader also hit at
production "speed-up" systems
which he declared are being de-
veloped in some Federal bureaus.
He said the union was not OPP
posed to management improve.
ment programs, but declared the
AFGE will continue to fight
against a psuedo-scientific i'll.
advised minority of junior man.
agement assistants who continue
to press for production stop
watch speed-up systems and their
derivatives"
Mr.. Campbell also stressed the
need for increased overtime bene-
fits for Federal employees, enact
ment of unemployment compensa-
ton benefits, improved training
programs and improved retire.
ment benefits.
Hints Social Security Link.
i Also, and perhaps significantly,
he said the AFGE wants the pres
ent civil service retirement sys-
tenn to retain its independent
status, but added: "At the same
time we must be prepared and
ready at all times to take advan-
tage of any additional or auxili-
ary benefits possibly obtainable
under old age and survivors, In.
(See AFGE, Page A-2.)