Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-10
Justice Brief
Puts Economy
Above Benefits
Savings Get Priority
Over Government
Work Conditions
BY JOSEPH YOUNG

A Justice Department brie.
contends that benefits fol
Federal workers such as ov.
ertime. better pay and i'm.
proved working conditions mus
either bow to or be balanced witt
considerations Of economy and
efficiency in Government"
For example. the brief said
Congress, in the interests of Gov
eminent economy. would be JUS
tified in setting a 10-hour work
day for Federal emloyes.
The departments brief was
nled in answer to a test suit by
q group Of postal workers In the
United States Court of Claims
seeking overtime payments for
extra time involved in studying
postal sorting schemes"
The departments brief. which
presumably represents the adj
ministration's view, did not state
that the administration feels
that the Governments eight
hour day should be increased to
10 hours at this time. But it
emphasized that such an in
crease in working hours would be
justified in the name Of economy
If 1t should become necessary.
Like Benefits Challenged
The brief emphasized the view
that Federal workers. because of
economy and Government eff
cheney considerations, are not
entitled to the benefits of work
ers in private industry.
Federal employe leaders have
denounced the Justice Depart
ment's views as "a throwback tc
the horse-and-buggy days
The "horse-snd-buggy" CON-
ment was made by Thomas G
Walters. operations director oil
the AFL-CIO Government En-
ployeS Council.
This attitude is a striking ex-
ample Of the archaic labor pol
icy that the Government adopts
for its own employees. Mr.. Wal
tiers declared. 1T emphasizes the
need for a management labor
relations law in Government"
Roy Hallbeck, legislative rep
resentative of the National Fed
Grafton of Post ONCE Clerks,
said 1.-THE Justice Departments
view "is the 18th century version
Of employe rights" James A.
Campbell. president of tn e
American Federation of Govern
ment Employees, said 1.-The Gov
ernment's position is the most
discouraging development to
Federal employees in a long. long
time. But it emphasizes the ne
cessity Of getting Congress to
approve legislation officially rec
ognizing the rights of Federal
employees to better their working
conditions.
Home Study Involved
The test case, which is being
handled by the law firm here of
Herbert S. Thatcher. involves
postal workers who must study
at home to memorize the routing
Of mail. The postal workers con-
tend that industry in 'portal-to-
portal" agreements with labor
unions now pays overtime fer
time spent by employees in prep
aration for their on-the-job
duties or in travelling from one
site to another in connection
with a job.
The Justice Departments an
swer, in part to these claims.
declares:
Plaintiffs (the postal clerks)
complaint is that they are not,
but should be. paid for the time
they spend within the confines
Of their own homes learning and
keeping up with their jobs. AS
they read the statutes designed
to ameliorate working conditions
and the case law growing out
Of those statutes. they should ne
compensated for what they term
physical and mental exertion.
See BENEFITS, Page Al