Statement of Hon. John W. Philp, Fourth Assistant Postmaster General. 17, 18 Statement of Mr. Thomas F. Flaherty, secretary-treasurer National Fed- Brief of National Federation of Post Office Clerks and the Railway Mail 20-35 Statement of Mr. W. M. Collins, president of the Railway Mail Associa- Statement of Hon. Anthony J. Griffin, a Representative in Congress from Statement of Mrs. Mary V. Halas, president of the Woman's Auxiliary, National Federation of Post Office Clerks. Statement of Mr. Thomas A. Coughlin, president National Association of Post Office and Railway Mail Laborers-- Statement of Mr. T. W. Strickland, secretary Railway Mail Association__ Statement of Mr. Harry F. Folger, president National Association of Statement of Hon. John W. McCormack, a Representative in Congress from the State of Massachusetts-- Telegram addressed to Hon. Willis G. Sears, a Representative in Con- gress from the State of Nebraska by the joint legislative committee, signed by L. P. Dyhrberg, chairman Clerks, Mail Carriers, and Rail- Indorsement by Hon. John J. Cochran, a Representative in Congress from Letter from Hon. Emanuel Celler, a Representative in Congress from the SHORTER WORKDAY ON SATURDAY FOR POSTAL EMPLOYEES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON THE POST OFFICE AND POST ROADS, Wednesday, February 12, 1930. The committee met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. Archie D. Sanders (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, the Post Office and Post Roads Committee have assembled here this morning for a hearing on H. R. 6603, H. R. 166, H. R. 167, and H. R. 2898. [H. R. 6603, Seventy-first Congress, second session] A BILL To provide a shorter workday on Saturday for postal employees, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter when the needs of the service require supervisory employees, special clerks, clerks, and laborers in first and second class post offices, and employees of the motor-vehicle service, and carriers in the City Delivery Service and in the village delivery service, and employees of the Railway Mail Service, to perform service in excess of four hours on Saturday they shall be allowed compensatory time for such service on one day within five working days next succeeding the Saturday on which the excess service was performed: Provided, That employees who are granted compensatory time on Saturday for work performed the preceding Sunday or the preceding holiday shall be given the benefits of this act on one day within five working days following the Saturday when said compensatory time was granted: Provided further, That the Postmaster General may, if the exigencies of the service require it, authorize the payment of overtime for service in excess of four hours on the last three Saturdays in the calendar year in lieu of compensatory time: And provided further, That for the purpose of extending the benefits of this act to railway postal clerks the service of said railway postal clerks assigned to road duty shall be based on an average not exceeding seven hours and twenty minutes per day for three hundred and six days per annum, including a proper allowance for all service required on lay-off periods as provided in Post Office Department circular letter numbered 1348, dated May 21, 1921; and railway postal clerks required to perform service in excess of seven hours and twenty minutes daily, as herein provided, shall be paid in cash at the annual rate of pay or granted compensatory time, at their option, for such overtime. [Post Office Department's circular letter referred to in H. R. 6603] Subject: Organization of lines. Circular Letter No. 1348. To all superintendents, Railway Mail Service: Effective July 1, 1921, the organization of R. P. O. lines will be based on the following: 1. Road service will consist of: (a) Advance distribution, including calling for registered mail. (b) Scheduled time on duty while train is in motion. (c) Unloading, including delivery of registered mail. 1 The minimum and maximum daily average hours of service on a 306-day basis will be as follows: 2. The allowance for home duties will be 1 hour and 20 minutes for class B and 40 minutes for class A assignments. 3. Lines now organized so as to require a daily average road service in excess of the maximum for the classification should be changed so as to come within the maximum. 4. Lines now organized on a basis of less than the minimum will not be changed if, in the opinion of the division superintendent and the department, additional service is impracticable or would impose undue hardships. In all such cases, however, the report of the division superintendent should show in detail all of the factors such as the schedule of trains, lay-over at outward terminal, daily average delays, lay-off periods, study-scope and distribution assignments, and such other factors as may be pertinent in determining the consideration that should be given the assignment. 5. In determining the daily average hours road service for an assignment, consideration should be given to the condition therein. It will be proper to allow a daily average near the minimum-the variation to be not more than 15 minutes above the minimum-when any one of the following conditions obtain: (a) When the major portion of road service is performed between the hours of 6 p. m. and 6 a. m. (b) Where the schedule is fast and there is no opportunity for advance work. (c) Where the duties of the assignment are sufficiently heavy to engage the attention of clerks over the full length of the run in both directions and where the study scope is exceptionally heavy. (d) In assignments where there is but one crew and the service is not performed within a period of 10 hours. (e) Where the daily average train delays is excessive. No emergency or liability trips will be scheduled. In assignments where the number of crews is four or more and the daily average hours of road service would be obviously too low if continued on a four or more crew basis throughout the year, it will be proper to reduce the organization by one crew during a portion of the year while annual vacations are being given. The period during which a less number of crews are scheduled should be shown on the organization sheet under head of remarks. Additional scheduled service should be in the same line and in same trains as far as practicable. 6. New organizations based on above instructions should be prepared and forwarded as early as practicable. Form 5084, revised December 1, 1920, should be continued until present supply is exhausted, with following modifications: Columns 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 eliminated. Change number over column 17 to 12. The information as to delay in column 11 (new) should be based on 306 days. The first sentence in last paragraph under "General," on back of form, should be changed to read: "For each of these combinations show by name only one crew where the number of clerks in crew is in excess of four." W. H. RIDDELL, General Superintendent. [H. R. 166, Seventy-first Congress, first session] A BILL To provide a shorter workday on Saturday for postal employees Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter, when the needs of the service require supervisory employees, special clerks, clerks, substitute clerks, laborers, and employees of the motor-vehicle service in first and second class post offices and carriers in the City Delivery Service and in the village delivery service and employees of the Railway Mail Service to perform service in excess of four hours on Saturdays, they shall be granted compensatory time in an amount equal to such excess on one of the five working days following the Saturday upon which such excess service was performed: Provided, That the service of railway postal clerks assigned to road duty shall be based on an average of not exceeding 7 hours and 15 minutes daily for 306 days per annum, including proper allowances for the service required on lay-off periods. Clerks required to perform service in excess of 7 hours and 15 minutes daily, as herein provided, shall be paid in cash at the annual rate of pay or granted compensatory time at their option for such overtime. [H. R. 167, Seventy-first Congress, first session] A BILL To provide a shorter workday on Saturday for postal employees Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter, when the needs of the service require supervisory employees, special clerks, clerks, substitute clerks, laborers, and employees of the motor-vehicle service in first and second class post offices and carriers in the City Delivery Service and in the village delivery service and employees of the Railway Mail Service to perform service in excess of four hours on Saturdays, they shall be granted compensatory time in an amount equal to such excess on one of the five working days following the Saturday upon which such excess service was performed: Provided, however, That the Postmaster General may, if the exigencies of the service require it, authorize the payment of overtime for service in excess of four hours on the last three Saturdays in the calendar year in lieu of compensatory time: And provided further, That for the purpose of extending the benefits of this act to railway postal clerks, the service of clerks assigned to road duty shall be based on an average of not exceeding 8 hours per day for 280 days per annum, including proper allowances for all service required on lay-off periods. Clerks required to perform service in excess of 8 hours daily, as herein provided, shall be paid in cash at the annual rate of pay or granted compensatory time at their option for such overtime. [H. R. 2898, Seventy-first Congress, first session] A BILL To provide a shorter workday on Saturday for postal employees, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter when the needs of the service require supervisory employees, special clerks, clerks, and laborers in first and second class post offices, and employees of the motor-vehicle service, and carriers in the City Delivery Service and in the village delivery service, and employees of the Railway Mail Service, to perform service in excess of four hours on Saturday they shall be allowed compensatory time for such service on one day within five working days next succeeding the Saturday on which the excess service was performed: Provided, That employees who are granted compensatory time on Saturday for work performed the preceding Sunday or the preceding holiday shall be given the benefits of this act on one day within five working days following the Saturday when said compensatory time was granted: Provided further, That the Postmaster General may, if the exigencies of the service require it, authorize the payment of overtime for service in excess of four hours on the last three Saturdays in the calendar year in lieu of compensatory time: And provided further, That for the purposes of extending the benefits of this act to railway postal clerks the service of said railway postal clerks assigned to road duty shall be based on an average not exceeding seven hours and twenty minutes per day for three hundred and six days per annum, including a proper allowance for all service required on lay-off periods; and railway postal clerks required to perform service in excess of seven hours and twenty minutes daily, as herein provided, shall be paid in cash at the annual rate of pay or granted compensatory time, at their option, for such overtime. |