With the North Carolina Post Office Clerks At Qoldsboro
i,*B' *"d pictures on thU ptKt an seproduced througuh courtesy of tW October issue of The Tor Heel M. official publication
of the North Carolina Federation of Poet Office Clarke and ful credit and The Journal's thanks are due The Fed. This coverage u for a
Meeting of the eastern district POC of Northh Caroline, held in Gol dsboro on September 17 and 18.
Left to right: Jnnias E. Cancil of Wilariagten, retiring (uton
district president, congratalating Ed G. Hewelt. of Goklaboro, newly
elected preeMent, and R. J. Bewail, of Wifanington, eeeretary eastern
district ■■sedation.
Eastern district meeting banquet at St. Pauls Baptist Church din
ing room, September 17.
Progression Through Organization
By CHESTER L. STEPHENSON,
Vice-President, NCFPOC
Today. Tuesday the 27th of
September, the House Repre
sentatives pawed H. R.JK95 by
a vote of 332 for and 2 against.
The major features of this bill
will give the postal clerk a sal*
ary increase of $150, raise his
annual leave to twenty days a
year and provides for three lon
gevity grades. It is the wish of
_ this writer that by the time this
publication reaches you, the Sen
ate will have passed a similar
bill.
I wonder if the average postal
clerk has ever stopped to think
how thi passage of such legis
lation came about. If there are
any doubts about this question I
would like to say that all bene
ficial legislation for the postal
, clerk became law by the postal
clerk himself being organised, or
ganized to the extent that he
could be heard by the Congress
of these United States.
There are two organizations in
this state that have the postal
clerk at heart, THE NATIONAL
FEDERATION OF POST OF
FICE CLERKS and its state af
filiate THE NORTH CAROLINA
FEDERATION OF POST OF
FICE CLERKS. These two or
ganizations have gone to bat for
the postal clerks in the past and
will be in there batting for them
in the future. Mgny pieces of
legislation that are now law and
gives the postal clerk the advan
tages that he is receiving today
were made possible through these
organizations.
There is no let up, no end of
good that these two organisations
CHESTER L. STEPHENSON
can ret for the postal cleric.
I Conditions change every day
and the only way that the postal
clerk can keep up with the times
is by being organized.
We have seen what these or*
ganisations have done for us in
the past and we will be looking
forward to these organizations in
the future.
If there is a clerk in your of
fice that is not a member of
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION
I OF POST OFFICE CLERKS and
THE NORTH CAROLINA FED
ERATION OF POST OFFICE
CLERKS, you will be doing your
self a favor as well as the other
fellow if you will sign him up
today. As Shakespeare once said,
“It is one of the most beautiful
compensations of this life, that
no man can sincerely try to help
another without helping himself.”
SIGN UP THAT NON-MEMBER
TODAY.
Left to right: A. J. Garner, III. preMdentNorth Carolina Federa
tion P. O. Clerk.; Jere C. Gay, Raleigh, legislative representa
tive- gam F. Black* elder, Charlotte, secretory-treasurer. N. C. F.
P O. c.7 Chester L. Stephenson Fayetteville first vice President;
President Leo E. George; Oscar L. Whitesell; Broadus E. Singleton,
\sheville fifth vice president; Frank Overman. Burlington, national
representative; Jack B. Cliff. Durham, third vice president;
Thomas B. Moore, Fort Bragg, editor Tar Heel Fed; Tiee presidents
Wilson A Forbes of Gastonia, Stanley C. Curtis of Raleigh, Wil
liam B. Farmer of Rocky Mount, were not present.
Left to right: Mrs. N<
L. Harris, Shelby, partiementarian:
Mrs. Julw & Council, Wilmington, scrap back chairman; Mrs. F.
E. Stanley. Wilmington, rice preaMsat; Mrs. George D. Williams.
Raleigh, national rice proaMent; Mrs. A. J. Garner, III, Aaherille,
president State Auxiliary; Mrs. W. B. Brans, Raleigh, rice president;
Mrs. Jack B. CBS. Dnrham, rice president; Mrs. J. B. Houser, Jr.,
Gastonia, rice prerident.
$401 IN BACK FAY
Fort Brags Clark's Salary Adjasted
BY THOMAS B. MOORE
If ■you’re one of those clerks (or
carriers) whose salary grade ha*
been kicked around a bit, you’l
probably be interested in the cas
of Richard L. Johnson, a clerk in
the Fort Bragg branch of tht
Fayetteville post office.
* Dick entered the service at Fort
Bragg an November 19, 1940, as
a temporary substitute clerk
During the war years he advanced
to top grade war-time regular and
stayed there until after V-J Day
As former employes returned
from military duty to reclaim their
lobs, Dick was demoted to his old
status of temporary substitute and
finally on June 30, 1947, he was
relieved. He was carried on the
office rolls, however, until October
31, 1947, when it became manda
tory that postmasters' drop the
names of all such appointees from
their rolls.
Ifbvember t, 1947, Dick went
to work in (he Angier post office in
his old famaliar status of tem
porary substitute. He was still
there when on March 6, 1949, he
received an inquiry from the Fay
etteville postmaster which asked
whether he would accept appoint
ment as a classified substitute
clerk. Dick, incidentally, had
passed the Civil Service-Carrjet
examination back in 1946.
So on March 7, 1949, Dick was
appointed classified substitute
clerk and was assigned to Fort
Bragg Branch where he’s spent
most of his time since 1940 any
way.
They told Dick in the "front of
fice” that his pay would start at
the $1.29 per hour minimum as
this was his first classified ap
pointment.
Dick was pretty well satisfied
with his classified status and $1.29
per flour until one day he read
in the Manuel of Instructions for
Postal Employees that credit for
past service could be granted in
determining salary grade if such
past service was continuous to time
of classified appointment.
He thought this over for a few
days and then asked Chester L.
Stephenson, Fort Bragg employee
and NCFPOC vice president, if
anything could be done about it.
Stephenson went to work on the
case and a few weeks later news
came from Washngton that the
claim had been approved.
The Department had ruled that
inasmuch as Johnson’s name was
on the Fayetteville roster until
the time of his temporary appoint
ment in Angier, he was subject
to call and his service, therefore,
was considered as continuous.
With credit for all that time he’d
been building since 1940, Dick was
boosted from grade 1 at $1.29 per
hour to grade 11 with hourly pay
of $1.79! And that isn’t all. As
the department’s decision was
handed down in July, 1949, it was
ordered that retroactive pay at the
rate of 50 cents per hour would be
paid for aM the time credited since
March 7, 1949, the date of classi
fied appointment.
With quarterly and yearly re
ports to think of, it took the boys
who keep the books a little while
to bring Dick’s account up to date,
but the o%er day he received a
take-home check for $461.35 and.
of course, he’ll keep getting that
$1.79 per hour until somebody gets
tired of paying it and makes him
a regular.
Ed. Note: Dick’s membership
in the Federation has been con
tinuous, too. During an interview
the other day he asked whether he
could pay in advance for a life
time.
WILSON A. FORBES
AS I SEE IT
»•> », ■»
As I see It, the hat should be
tipped to the Goldsboro folks for
the refreshing and inspirational
meeting’. They did a swell job.
And on this occasion under the
able direction of President Garn
er, the State Executive Board
really did some Constructive work
for the furtherance of the Feder
ation work in our state. At no
previous meeting of the board
which I have been privileged to
attend, was more accomplished.
My highly optimistic outlook
for favorable legislation from this
session of congress was greatly
strengthened by the remarks of
Hon. Frank P. Graham and the
reports of President George. As
I see it, we have possibilities of
three bills being passed: the Vet
erans Credi^ bill, the increased
I Compensation for injury bill and
| our favorite H. R. 4495. As yet
only possibilities, the difference
depends upon you, the member
ship of this Federation.
Don’t miss any opportunity to
contact your Congressman and
Senators; see that they are av
quainted with the provisions of
our bills and give sensible, con
crete reasons for your wanting
those things. You’ll find that they
are both sympathetic and under
standing. As I see it, you should
contact your Congressman and
Senators again. Do It Today!!
As I SEE IT, IF YOU DON’T
WRITE YOU’RE WRONG!!!
WILSON A. FORBES,
Second Vice-President.
Left to right: U. 8. Senator Prank P. Graham, Oscar L. Whitsoelt, national vie# president. Greens
boro; Leo E. George, national president N. F. P. O.C.; Junius E. Council, of Wilmington, former pres
ident eastern North Carolina Postal Employee association. •
Graham Addresses P. 0. Employes
PRANK OVERMAN
Happy N«w Vaar
The heading: of this little article
might be a bit confusing, how
ever, to us in the N. C. F. P. O. •.
we have just recently begun a new
year, and from all indications it
will undoubtedly be a happy one.
There is no doubt that by the time
you read this the Congress will
have passed the salary, longevity,
and vacation bill. It has been a
hard battle, but our national and
I state officers, with the splendid
{cooperation of the membership,
have done another swell job and a
real service to the Federation. They
are all to be commended.
In return for the service they
have rendered us, there is a defi
nite service we can do for them
If there are any non-members in
our office or one near by, it would
be a simple matter for us to so
licit their membership and take
that much work off our officers.
At the same time it would save
the Federation money. The officers
have enough traveling and letter
writing to do at best and if we can
help them it is our duty to do ao,
and in this way show our appreci
ation for what they have done for
us.
I am confident that we have a
very competent and efficient corps
of officers, thy have already shown
this, and I feel sure that if wt
give them the cooperation and sup
port they deserve we will be able
to go to the next convention. and
feel that we have indeed had a
happy and profitable year.
FRANK OVERMAN.
National State Representative.
Postal Employees Council Formed
The employees of the Fayette
ville post office have joined the
ranks of similar irroups through
out the state in forming within
that office a Postal Employees
Council, the membership of which
is composed of employee represen
tatives from all branches of the
Fayetteville postal facilities.
The move was sparked by a joint
meeting between clerks, supervi
sors and the postmaster at which
time it was recommended by the
postmaster that such an organi
zation be formed.
Representatives of the two larg
er groups, clerks and carriers, are
elected for staggered periods rang
ing up to three years while the
smaller groups composed of rural
letter carriers and custodial em
ployees are given representation
on a yearly basis.
Group representatives and
their term* of office on the coun
cil are: Local 984, National Fed
eration of Post Office Clerks, 3
representatives. These are Thos.
B. Moore, who will serve for a
three-year term; J. P. Hales, who
will serve a two-year term; and
R. A. McPhail, who waa elected
for a one-year term.
Branch 1128, National Associ
ation of Letter Carriers, will aleo
be represented by three members.
These are Marcus McKnight, Wil
liam A. Driver, Jr-, and Calvin
W. LaHoffman. Terms of office
for these representatives has not
at this writing been established by
the Letter Carrier branch.
Council representatives of the
Rural Carriers will be J. R. Tea
beaut and one additional represen
tative who will be selected at a
later date to fill the vacancy cre
ated by Teabeaut’s eleetion to the
council chairmanship.
James £. Dunnagan will repre
On Sturday, September
Pcstal Employees was host
North Carolina
masters, post*
carriers froi
17, the -
pAl«fP|/»t1 aJ
I
Post
MESSAGE FROM VICE
PRESIDENT WHITESELL
Team Work
We have full proof that team
work pays off.
It la diffcult to elect to every
state office men who will earnest
ly try to fulfill their obligations
to the membership during their
terms of office. All state officers
elected at the Asheville conven
tion have already shown the
membership that they are not
just “convention officers.” From
Manteo to Murphy they are work
ing together as a team. It is
a real pleasure to work with
these men who are working to
gether for the good of all.
Each state Vice-President has
been assigned his territry and he
will see that his territory is well
covered and represented. Of
course, it will be more difficult
to do the job if you, the mem
bers, don’t give them your co
operation. We konw that most
members will do all possible to
ad vs ce the organisation by giv
ing them your full co-operation.
Few members realise the work
of a state officer who seeks to
do his duty. During his term of
office, a state officer gives most
of his vacation, compensatory
days, many Saturdays and Sun
days and additional hours each
day in working for YOU, the
members. Excepting the small
I salaries of the Editor and Secre
tary, they get NO PAY. So we
ask that you co-operate by see
ing that your state and national
dues are paid promptly and that
you urge non-members to join the
organisation.
I wish to take this opportunity
to thank each member of the Fed
eration and the Woman’s Auxil
iary for the very fine work in
helping us get those petitions
signed in Washington. This is
another example of team work
and team work pays off!
sent Local 227, National Associa
tion of Post Office Maintenance
Employees.
Council officers have been elect
ed for a term of one year and they
are J. R. Teabeaut, chairman; J.
P. Hales, vice chairman; and
Thomas B. Moore, secretary.
Meeting are scheduled to be held
monthly and all phases of postal
and personnel matters will be con
sidered as they appear on the
agenda.
Th«> Honorable Frank P. Gra
haaY^orth Carolina** junior Sen
ICtof and Leo E. Geo rye. Presi
ded- oi- ifie National Federation
of Post Office Clerks were prin
cipal speakers.
Senator Graham, who is a
member of the Senate Post Of
fice and Civil Service Committee,
told the large assembly that his
committee has been seriously
concerned with pay raise and lib
eralized tick and annual leave
measures.
"It is our wish to report out
a bill which will be assured a
reasonable chance of passage," he
President George expressed
considerable optimism tnat meas
ures granting pay increases, in
creased annual leave privileges,
longevity benefits and uniform al
lowances stood in good chance of
passage during the current ses
sion of Congress.
During his address at the eve
ning banquet, Mr. George cited
the progress which has been
made during the history of postal
employee organisations.
“There was once a time in the
city of Chicago,” he said, “when
postal clerks who wanted to
organize, met in darkened rooms
and in secret for fear of losing
their jobs. And some of them
did lose their jobs.”
During the afternoon an open
forum and business session of the
Eastern North Carolina Posts/
Employees Association was held
in the Goldsboro Community
Building under the Chairmanship
of Jtinius E. Council of Wilming
ton, retiring Association Presi
lent.
The dining room of the Saint
Paul Ifethodiat Church waa the
■eerie of the evening banquet.
James W. Butler, Secretary of
Goldsboro Chamber of Commerce,
presided as toastmaster. Fol
lowing an invocation by Henry
Belk, a one-man half-hour show
was staged by Herman Joseph, a
cigar company representative who
is a former circus performer and
acrobat. Joseph recounted nu
merous amusing experiences from
the days when he trooped under
the big top with Barnum and
Bailey shows.
An address of welcome vu de
livered by Henry A. Simmons, Jr.,
Chmirauui of the Goldsboro Pos
tal Employes Council and Junius
Council, ENCPEA Presdent, re
sponded.
D, Ed Howell, Secretary-Treas
urer, ENCPEA, accomplished the
introduction of guests and Praai
, deent George was presented by
[ Oscar L. Whitesell. Vice-Presi
dent, NFPOC, of Greensboro.
Following an awarding of door
prises, A. J. Garner, III, NCFPOC
President, pronounced benedjictioiv
__
RHODES SAYS POLITICS
NOW AN EVERY DAY JOB
St. Paul.—Congressman George
M. Rhodes, an AFL organiser in
Reading, Pa., told the 68th AFL
convention:
“Politics is a job day in and day
out throughout the year. It isn’t
only a job for a few weeks before
election day.” ,