Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-02

blue collar unions with a CONT
100000 Federal workers. said it
leaders should be heard before :
The request was made in
Director Thomas G. Walters to
Assistant Attorney General War;
rem Olney of the Justice Depart
ment which drafted the tenta-
tive program.
Mr.. Walters and his colleagues
are upset over the administra-
tons draft of the proposed new
order which would continue the
sharply criticized practice of the
old program of Jumping suit
ability" firings with bona flde
national security cases.
Employe leaders want suit
ability cases-such as character
defects, etc. - separated from
the security program and
treated under regular civil Serv-
ice firing procedures. Otherwise,
they say, the much-criticized
practice of labelling as security
risks employees whose offenses
have nothing to do with security,
will continue.
The administrations new pro-
gram was made necessary by the
Supreme Courts decision that
the f1rings could not apply to
non-sensitive jobs. The new pro-
gram will deal with so-called.
sensitive Jobs only.
The administration recently
sent proposed draft Of the new
program to Federal agencies for
their comments. Employe leaders
feel that their views should be
considered also.
RETIREMENTS - The Civil
Service Commission has revised
upward its estimate of how many
Federal employees will retire dur
ing the next year to take adj
vantage of liberalized retirement
benefits.
Originally, the csc thought
about $4,000 employees would re-
tire during the 12-month period
Starting today when the new law
takes effect. However, it now
estimates that $4,000 Federal
workers will retire during the
next year. This compares to a
normal yearly retirement of
about $4,000 workers.
The average annuity under the
new law is estimated to be about
$170 a month $4,000 a year,, as
compared to the previous aver
age of $135 a month ($1,62O a
year, under the old law.
UNION RECOGNITION SUP
PORT - The Catholic weekly
newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor"
has Endorsed the Johnston
Rhodes bill to give official rec
ignition to Federal employee
unions.
The Rev. Richard Ginder said
the bills detectives ARE in har-
mony with the social teachings
of the Church.
SOCIAL SECURITY CREDIT
Civil Service Commission and
Department of Health, Educa-
ton and Welfare officials are
working on a proposal to allow
short-term Federal employees to
transfer civil service retirement
system credits to the social Sc
curity system when they leave
Government to return to indus
try. This would give the en-
ployes larger social security ben
efits.
The plan would not involve CO.
ordination of the two systems.
Due to the strong opposition of
Federal employee groups and the
antagonism of Congress, the adj
ministration has given up any
hope of merging civil service
retirement with social security.
But administration officials,
along with Federal employee union
leaders. feel that short-term
Federal workers should receive
credit for their Government
service toward social security
benefits.
The House Civil Service Com
mittee has asked the commission
to make proposals along this line
and the plan is expected to be-
submitted to Congress early in
the next session.
+ =
CAPITAL ROUNDUP - James
M. Davidson of Army has been
elected president of the District
of Columbia Department of the
American Federation of Govern
ment Employees. Others elected
were Theodore Ward, Navy;
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