Evening star., 1955-06-06

IlSlQ SdlQ. 1uc survey uduc III
that workers used 1.670. .76t
hours this April compared II
l,S42,030 last April.
A recent report by the Con-
troller General criticized sici
leave abuse by some postal work.
ers The House Civil Service
Committee in releasing the re.
port raised the possibility that
such sick leave abuses also ex.
listed elsewhere in the Govern
ment.
Classified and postal employe
leaders criticized the report al
unfair and misleading. Mr.. Sum.
merfield also has criticized the
report.
1--WE believe this desirable
trend is due to our active efforts
in properly explaining and more
carefully controlling this benefit
to postal employees" Mr.. Sum-
merf1eld Sal0.
"As a whole, they are conScien-
tious and loyal. There are liter
ally thousands of employees in
the postal establishment who
have accumulated thousand or
more hours Of sick leave and
countless instances Of many who
have taken no sick leave at all
in IS years of postal service"
+ 4 *
WORK TRANSFER FIGHT
Government employe groups face
a tough fight to have the Senate
Appropriations Committee &C
cept a House-approved provision
in the Defense Departments 1856
money bill that would prohibit
the turning over to private in
dustry of work traditionally per-
formed by Government workers
unless Congress specifically ap-
proved.
Industry representatives are
waging a powerful fight to have
the Senate reject the provision.
There are indications that the
Senate committee might agree
to kill the proviso. If this proves
to be the case, it might kill the
provision in House-Senate con-
ference since theh House con-
ference since the House con-
work transfer ban. The House
approved the provision by a mar
row vote. with most of the mem
bers scheduled to be conferees
on the bill voting against it.
That is why Government en-
ploye groups are waging an all
out fight to have the Senate re-
tain the provision in the bill.
If they are successful. this would
insure that the provision would
be kept in. If they fail, the pro-
vision likely will be killed in the
House-Senate conference.
The administrations policy Of
transferring Government activ-
tiles to private industry has cost
the jobs of thousands of Fed
eral employees and threatens the
jobs of more thousands.
The House-approved provision
would bar transferring Federal
activities to industry If the re-
suit would be greater cost to the
taxpayers and/or a weakening Of
the national defense.
The administrations policy is
to transfer these functions to in
dustry. regardless of cost, If the
agency involved decides that the
activity competes with private
industry.
PAY-Chairman Johnston of
the Senate Civil Service Com
mittee says he will insist that
classified employees get the same
8 per cent raise as voted for
postal workers.
The House Civil Service Com
mittee meets Wednesday to ap-
prove a classified pay raise bill.
There is strong sentiment in the
group for a rs per cent or 8 per
cent classified pay raise.
Representative Broyhill, Re-
publican, of Virginia, predicts
the group will approve an 8 per
cent pay boost and that it will
be signed into law by President
Eisenhower.
If the House approves an 8
per cent classified pay raise bill,
then the Senate is expected to-
accept this amount in confer
ence. clearing the bill for the
White House. If the House
amount is less than 8 per cent,
then Senate conferees will seek
to boost 1t to the 8 per cent fig-
ure.
The Senate several months aro|