Evening star., 1960-05-04
AFL-CI0Hits
Administration
On U. 5. Pay
BY LEE M. COIN
Star Stan Writer


The AFL-CIO executive coun-
ell today charged the Eisen-
hover administration with
"despicable" tactics in "stalling
and stalemating" a pay raise
for postal workers and other
Federal employees.
Postal and Federal employees
deserve a substantial pay
raise" the council said in a
resolution adopted at its quar-
terly meeting here, adding:
They are in desperate need
of a substantial pay raise. It
is our earnest desire that the
Congress will redress present
wrongs and elevate the eco
nomic status of postal and
Federal employees so that they
shall no longer be treated as
second-class citizens in the eco
nomic market place"
The council said prohibitions
against collective bargaining
and striking by Federal work
ers are being used as a lever to
keep them from the economic
advantages which non-Govern-
ment organized labor enjoys
everywhere in the United
States"
Seek Ship Peace
The council spent most of
this mornings session search
ing for a formula to settle the
squabble over picketing of an
Egyptian ship in New York,
and at the same time to safe
guard the rights of American
sailors in Arab ports.
President Paul Hall of the
Seafarers International Union,
which has tied up the Egyptian
ship Cleopatra for several
weeks, explained his position to
the council, to provide back
ground for a resolution the
council expects to adopt on the
dispute.
Labor Secretary Mitchell
yesterday urged George Meany.
president of the AFL-CIO, to
help end picketing of the Cleo
patra by the Seafarers. The
picketing has embarrassed the
State Department.
Mr.. Meany told Mr.. Mitchell
he will try to work something
out" But this does not neces-
sarily mean that the executive
council will call on the Sea-
farers to stop picketing the
Cleopatra Internationally.
Fair Treatment Sought
The AFL-CIO is supporting
the Seafarers' demand for as
surances that American sailors
will be treated properly in Arab
ports. In the absence of such
assurances. the executive coun-
Gil might indorse the Seafarers'
demonstration against the
Cleopatra.
Mr.. Meany indicated at a
press conference late yesterday
that his sympathies lie in that
direction. He disputed a charge
by Senator Fulbright, Democrat
Of Arkansas. that the picketing
is political" and therefore not
legitimate.
Actually, Mr.. Meany said. the
pickets are demonstrating to
call attention to ''indignities"
suffered by American sailors in
Arab ports as an outgrowth of
the Arab campaign against
ships serving Israel.
Plan Harmony Session
In another development, Mr..
Meany announced at his press
conference that he has ap-
pointed himself, President WAL
ter P. Reuther of the United |
Auto Workers and President |
George M. Harrison of the
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks |
to serve on a committee to work |
with three management eXecu-
tives to set up a labor manage
ment harmony conference.
President Eisenhower has in
dorsed the idea of such a con-
ference for discussion of mutual
problems in an effort to reduce |
labor management friction. |
Mr.. Meany proposed the con-
ference last November, during
che steel strike.
May Buy Mortgages
The AFL-CIO president said
the conference has great pos
sibilities." He pledged that la
bor's conferees will take into
consideration the welfare of the