Employes of Israel Bond Organization Go on Strike; Dr. Schwartz Expresses Shock

Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, vice-president of the Israel Bond Organization, today issued a statement expressing “shock and surprise” over the action of the labor union of field and clerical workers in calling a strike of the employes of the Israel Bond offices “which may do harm to the economic future of Israel.”

About 500 employes walked out yesterday of Israel Bond offices in New York and in 51 other cities throughout the United States, The employes are members of the Community and Social Agency Employes Union, local 1707, AFL-CIO, Eric Strong, a Local 1707 spokesman, said that, under the contract which expired last Sunday, clerical workers were paid $65 to $96 weekly and professional workers received from $4,200 to $13,000 annually. He said the Israel Bond Organization had offered a three-year contract providing for a $4 weekly increase for clerical workers the first year, and $3 more in each of the other two years. Professional workers, he stated, were offered a $500 increase the first year and $300 more for each of the other two years.

Dr. Schwartz said in his statement that the professional workers and clerical workers “receive salaries and enjoy fringe benefits which are probably the best in the field.” He added that, on last April 11, the professional workers received an increase in salary of 10 percent and the clerical employes received an increase of $6aweek. “We cannot agree to the present demands of the Union, which represents a 100 percent increase over the amounts in the last agreement of September, 1965,” he stated. Nor can we agree to the unreasonable demands for extra vacation and severance allowances over and above the liberal provisions already in effect, without jeopardizing the future existence of the Israel Bond campaign.”