Evening star., 1955-05-04
Realism on Pay

Your recent editorial. "Real-
ism on Pay" which urges ac-
ceptance of a 6 per cent raise
for classified employees on the
ground that anything greater
faces a veto, might better be
entitled, "Defeatism on Pay"
If such a line of reasoning had
been accepted at an earlier
stage in this pay campaign, it
would have meant increases for
employees of approximately 31a
per cent and no increases at all
for thousands of Government
workers.
Employe organizations such
as the American Federation of
Government Employees have
not been nor are we now un-
willing to compromise. The
facts are undisputable that
even a 10 per cent raise would
not restore Government SAL
aries to their pre-infiation
buying power, to say nothing
of enabling them to join the
overwhelming majority of the
American people in raising
their living standards above
the 1889 level.
Nevertheless, we have ex-
pressed a willingness to go
along with a lesser increase,
relying on the Judgment of
Congress as to what is a rea-
sonable pay adjustment for
Federal employees.
The explanation as to the
reason why the administration
is willing to approve larger
increase for postal employees
than for classified employees is
more than puzzling. 1t is nom
sense.
If Congress is willing this
year, as the AFGE believes is
the case. to hold to the prin-
ciple that there should be equal
treatment for classified and
postal employees, the Admins
tration is throwing a demoral-
1zing blow at classified en-
ployes to insist on an inequi-
table differential.
In the give and take of the
legislative process. which of
necessity substitutes for collec-
tive bargaining between en-
ployes and management, the
Administration is on the weak
est of grounds in insisting on
debating the pay levels which
1t Is the constitutional preroga-
tive of the Congress to decide.
We don't believe Government
employees will lose anything out
of our organizations fight for
equal treatment for classified
employees. We are unwilling to
give up our efforts until we are
convinced that we have the
best bill that could possibly be
enacted into law. We are not
yet convinced.
James A. Campbell.
National President, American
Federation of Government
Employees.
Your April % editorial.
Realism on Pay" was anus
ing as well as disappointing to
the people who belong to the
school of thought that Con-
gress should be separate and
distinct from the executive
department. In other words,
am happy to belong to the
school of thought that believes
that it is the duty and respon-
sibility of Congress, after hear
ing all the testimony for or
against legislation, to make
decisions from the facts and
not from the threat of a veto.
II Congress is to legislate un-
der the hammer from a threat
of a veto, as dictated by the
so-called spokesman for the
executive branch, we might
just as we'll disband all hear
ings and let Congress approve
legislation as dictated to them
by the so-called spokesmen for
the administration in power. II
Congress is to bow to the ex-
ecutive branch of our Govern
ment Just because of pressures
or threats, Congress might as
well abdicate completely and
permit the President to legis-
late on behalf of Congress.
I am greatly surprised that
your great paper would use
the language that appears in
the closing lines of your edi-
torial Of April %: ITO ignore
the veto warnings from the
White House could we'll be
blow to the hopes of the en-
ployes."
Personally. I believe that
Congress will do for the postal
and classified employees what
1t thinks is fair and best for
the employees and the public.