The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1913-11-07
JOHN BULLS WAY
British Workers Guarded by Law
Against Poverty.
PENSIONS FOR THE AGED.
Profession From Sickness or Loss of
Job Provided BY the Insurance Act.
Both Worker and Employer Con-
tribute to The Fund.

Z.
Both Worker and Employer Con-
tribute TO the Fund.
During the last year every time an
employer in Great Britain paid John
Bull his weekly wages he was obliged
also 10 paste in 4 little book bearing
j. ButtS name Il couple OF stamps.
each worth 81. pence. or 10 cents in
all. The value of one OF these STAMPS
Is deducted from J. Bulls weekly
wage; the other is new tax Oh the
employer. In addition, there is third
stamp, value l penny, which IS the con
tribution OF the national Sovcruncut
Suppose along in the spring trade is
slack and j. Bull is discharged He
will take with him his book and de-
poSit it, together with his application
for new job, in one of the 23n free
public employment offices which are
scattered Ill over Great Britain.
II }. Bull is more than one week
without work he can come back 10 the
employment office and draw for each
succeeding week Of illeneSS the SUM
Of ShilljngS, about $l.775. which is the
weekly allowances under the new Eng
iiSh policy Of Insurance against nou-
employment. the necessary funds com
lpG from the stamps pasted in the i'll
Snrance books. backed by the contribu-
ttOns Of the government. Mr.. Bull
uay not draw this out of work allow
ance for more than fifteen weeks in
any twelve months.
He is not. however. likely [" he ont
of work SD long. He will find when
lie first calls at the ottire OF employ
nnnt agency that the manager has ON
his desk 4 telegraphic report showing
in Just what towns carpenters, if that
happens ~ be J. Bulls trade are re-
eMired. He has also a book III which
are printed the standard wages paid
III various parts of the country.
lii ten minutes J. Bull may be offer
ed his choice Of two or three jobs. II
the chosen position requires railroad
Journey and Mr.. Bull has not the nee
eSSary money TO buy ticket the
amount may be advanced. To be de
Quoted later from his wages. II j..
Bull ana the new job are mutually sat
isfactory his book will be forwarded
to the new employer, who will begin
nastjug in stamps again in preparation
for another period OF idleneSs.
II Mr.. Rul! is taken i'll while at
work he may have free medical at
tentiuu indefinitely. II sickness lays
hiu up he may--;l$ i result OF further
mutual stamp sticking. for which the
employer is held entirely Responsible
draw n weekly benefit Of 10 ShllingS-
$3.50 And in England. nj least. 30 per
cent Of the pauperism is said 10 loo due
to sickness. When he grows old he
may cheer his declining Years with
pension from the government.
The solution which the present Lib
eral government is trying out is com
pISovy Insurance against sickness ana
unemployment OF ail workingmen and
wnrkinwwOmen. backed by the system
~ t"'l'''! "HV''I
IN Hai'F ton'h WIZ" tue ueu'"''U io'
ANA supp! u ''''""> Nin"s % '''''''
During the hESt year tue iils ut"",'
against uheuil't"Eueut lts aiP''eu o''.'
!" WORKERS III the hu''oihS 'tloeS' !"
the construction Of ""rAs' 'INe i".',
roads, DOCKS. HaroorS. oF'uSeS' etC'' /"
Shiphuling. in mechanical engineer
ing ana the IRON trades III the cor
>trurtinn or vehicles ana IN 'i'ah! NA''"S
II nIarhine woodwork.
Eat the board Of trade may at any
time by special order extend the I'M
employment l" men in any DINER trace,
AZ for tie insurance against Sickness
OF health insurance. II mas aPP'ie" ~"
Tile last year To every person. II. '"'
Kingdom employed ut maf'Ial iah"E-
with i few e1rcpti"nS-and to all other
employees whose annual earnings Il"
not exceed $500. In aIi. l1!ND'hU peo-
pie IRE directly affected. "ne-th'rd OF
tl,r total pnpula ton Of the Kingdom
Some Of The provisions ot Inc ACT '"'
insurance against unemployment IRE
particularly Interesting. foF 'H>l''i'c'
il Il Workman ont "t Il jVo Is "ueic''
1t anu continue |" 'i''" ~"