Evening star., 1952-09-08
Fringe Benefits
Will Be Sought
ByU.S. Workers
NFFE Leader Calls
For Overtime Raise
As Convention Opens
BY Joseph Young
Stor Stoff Correspondent

eral pay raise plus additional
fringe" benefits for Government
workers such as severance pay, lib
eralized retirement benefits and
increased overtime payments. was
asked for today by Luther Steward,
president of the National Fedora
ton of Federal Employees.
AS the NFFE opened it's biennial
convention here, Mr.. Steward in
his opening address said there were
many things about Federal en-
|ploye working conditions that
needed correcting by the new Con-
|gress which convenes in January.
Calling for a Government pay
raise, Mr.. Steward declared:
"The fact that an inadequate
salary increase was granted in 1851
should not obscure the fact that
the entire salary structure requires
|overhauling in order that Federal
employees may receive adequate
compensation comparable with
salaries paid for similar duties and
responsibilities in private business
and industry"
Joins Other U. S. Unions.
The independent and conserva-
tive NFFE through the statement
of It's president thus has aligned
itself with several other major
Government employe unions that
during the past few weeks at their
conventions have served notice that
they will fight for a Federal EN-.
ploye pay raise next year.
Mr.. Steward said other immed.
late legislative objectives would in
clude the increase of overtime pay
benefits. repeal Of the Thomas
leave rider which bans employees
from accumulating additional an
nual leave, liberalized retirement
benefits and unemployment com.
pensation or severance pay bene-
fits for Federal workers.
Regarding the liberalization Of
retirement benefits. Mr.. Steward
said it must be achieved within the
framework Of the civil service re-
tirement system and not through
social security.
Mr.. Steward said the NFFE is
|unalterably opposed to any plan,
however plausibly phrased, that
would combine, merge or in
tegrate" the civil service retire.
ment system with social security
or any other system.
The NFFE chief lashed out at
the recent practice of Congress Of
legislating by riders on appropria-
ton bills regarding Federal per-
sonnet matters.
Mr.. Steward blamed in part
the instances of inept personnel
administration during World War
II" for having made Congress
suspicious of Government person.
mel practices. resulting in the
current riders infringing on leave
and promotion practices and the
filling of vacancies.
Hits Rider Legislation.
Mr.. Steward denounced the
practice of legislation by rider.
declaring that they have hamp.
cred efficient operation in Gov.
eminent and have imposed hard
ship and undeserved burdens upon
deserving employees"
The NFFE leader called for a
better understanding between
Congress and the executive branch
to end the legislation-by- rider
practice and said the NFFE
should and will do all it can
to help bring this about.
The delegates were told by Mr..
Steward that during the past few
years the attitude of Congress to-
ward Federal employees was
unfavorable," and that
sweeping and general criticism
of Federal employees reached al-
most avalanche proportions"
Mr.. Steward said growing
SenSitivity of citizens to increas-
ing tax burdens found the Federal
as the whipping boy"
The NFFE president also re-
iterated his recent criticism of
personal and political patronage
in some Federal agencies.
Declaring that the 'overwhelm-
ing majority of all Federal en-
ployes are honest, faithful and
devoted to the efficient execution
Of their many and important tasks
in the public interest,"" Mr..
Steward said there nevertheless
were some spots in Government
where the patronage and spoils
system existed.
Mr.. Steward urged that "all
Government jobs, with the sole
exception of a few top-level
policy-making positions, be In
cluded in the career service and
that all save those positions be
permanently and securely re-
from any vestige Of spoils
appointment-political, personal
or otherwise"