The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-03-11
UNEMPLOYMENT AND
POSITION OF UNEMPLOYED
IN BULGARIA

than 1000 teachers were dismissed to bring
about further economies The discharge OF
more than 10000 other state employees is now
pending. The Independent Unions claim that
there are more than 100000 unemployed in
Bulgaria at the present time. The fascist state
organs do not register or keep track of the
extent of unemployment.
The position of the unemployed beggars des-
cription. No state relief is issued the unem-
ployed. AS matter of fact, the fascist gov
eminent is doing nothing whatever to alleviate
the present widespread unemployment or to
ease the position of the unemployed 1t is
true there is statutory measure providing
an insignificant scale of relief (10-15 Leva)
for the unemployed which is paid out from the
so-called Social Insurance Fund during a few
weeks, covering only few categories of the
workers. The tobacco workers, building work
ers, agricultural and forestry workers and
other categories whose work is of seasonal
nature, as well as all workers who have not
worked the definite period of time laid down
by law, or whose employers have not paid in
insurance dues deducted from their wages, are
deprived of any unemployment benefit. Ere
quent cases of suicide among the unemployed
have been reported. The municipal boards
from time to time assign small sums from
local funds to assist the worst cases of dis
tress among the unemployed observed in their
particular areas. For example, on the insist
ence of group of workers, the Plovdiva NUM-
cipaity assigned 100000 Leva to assist" H.,
600 unemployed tobacco workers. The NUM-
cipality appointed its own representatives to
purchase bread and firewood which were to be
distributed among the "most deserving cases."
For the most part it is the fascists and the
reformist bureaucrats who get control of this
relief work, and frequently considerable part
of these sums finds its way into their own
pockets as was seen last year IN Sofia where
a Mr. Danev, the secretary of the reformlst
trade union centre, embezzled 10000 Leva re-
ceived for unemployment relief. 1t is certainly
characteristic that his friends should have laid
this charge against him only recently, as he
had even managed to deceive them also. This
is clear example of the way the reformist
trade union bureaucracy in Bulgaria, supported
Fundamentally by the Amsterdam Internation-
al, is looking after the interests of the unem-
ployed workers.
The only road out of these poverty-stricken
conditions is the road of resolute class strug
gle, which must be shouldered by all the work
ers, whether unemployed or employed. 1t is
the independent revolutionary unions which
have sounded the clarion CALL urging, organic
ing and leading the class struggle. 1t was on
their initiative that unemployed workers COM
mittees were formed in Sofia among the me-
tai workers, textile workers, leather workers,
needle workers, tobacco workers and other cate
gories. A start has been made to form similar
unemployed committees in the provinces.
The unemployed workers are struggling I'M
der the following slogans in Bulgaria. For full
state maintenance of unemployed and their
families; Unemployed to receive medical treat
ment gratis; For more pay to keep up with the
growing cost of living; For the observance of
the eight-hour day; A capital levy to cover
maintenance of unemployed; Labor inspectors
to be elected; No restrictions to be placed on
unemployed; Freedom of action for all work
ingclass organizations; Against the terror and
arrests; Against the fascist dictatorship;
Against the law on safeguarding the state;
For an immediate and complete amnesty and
for a worker peasant government!