
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 13, 1994                    TAG: 9406090024 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A6    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940613                                 LENGTH:

BENEFITS THAT WEREN'T

{LEAD} Robert W. Smith's letter, ``Federal benefits beat state's'' (June 1), makes four claims of federal benefits that must be challenged:

1. Unlimited sick leave - We were granted unlimited sick time, not leave; one had to be hospitalized for it to be granted.

{REST} 2. Five-day workweek - We had it if we were in port, and if we didn't have weekend duty, at which time it was more like a 6 1/2- or seven-day workweek.

3. Paid overtime - In 22 1/2 years, I never got one cent of overtime pay.

4. Shift selection - What is that?

WILLIAM H. FICK

Chesapeake, June 1, 1994

by CNB