The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-01-22
By I. AMTER.

GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT of New York has the
U reputation of being a progressive" lib
eral" He is reported to be in favor of nem-
ployment insurance-but the plan that he sup
ports is that OF the General Electric Company,
which has already been adopted This is COM
plicated form of voluntary insurance on the
part of the employer, part OF the burden belng
put on the workers themselves, who insure them
selves through the company. Should the num-
Der and amount of insurance exceed the amount
in the insurance fund, a special tax is put on
the workers. This is a SNUG way OF making
the workers pay for insurance for unemploy-
nent forced on them by the employers.
Two bills are now before the State Legislature,
which must be exposed This is particularly
necessary. for one resembles in many particu-
lars that of the socialist party. and because the
other has the support OF the State Federation
of Labor which did not dare through its dele
gates at the convention of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor in Boston to stand even for
this treacherous piece of business.
Senator Hastings of New York has introduced
a bill with the following provisions. The State
shall collect data and statistics Every en-
ployer of more than ten workers shall be obliged
to insure his workers either in state or a
private insurance fund. Employers of farm labor
are exempt from this obligation. Those "in the
service Of the United States. state or municipal
governments" and actors shall not be insured
Seasonal workers shall not be protected by in
surance. Insurance shall run for twenty six
weeks only and shall amount to no more than
two-thirds of the wages of the workers and not
less than IS week.
The shameful and discriminating provisions
of the bill are to be noted in the following:
Only those workers shall be insured who have
been continuously employed for six months by
MIR
ployment through their own misconduct; who
did not leave employment voluntarily; who did
not leave or lose their employment due to stop
page of work due to strike or lockout" No
premium shall be payable until Jan. !. 1882 and
no claims for compensation shall accrue until
July /, 1892.
Here we have the damnable provisions of the
Hastings bill, which agrese in many points with
the socialist party bill Thus certain categories
of workers are completely eliminated from in
surance, such as farm labor, state, municipal and
government employees. actors and seasonal work
ers They shall receive maximum of 26 weeks
of insurance, provided they have worked for the
employer for six months. have not struck against
miserable conditions or been discharged for
misconduct" that is organizing the workers in
the shop or even been locked out!
This is bill directed against the militant
workers, the purpose being to prevent strikes
against wage cuts, speed-up and rotten condi-
tons. 1t is a bill to establish peolage in the
state, on the basis of a bride in the form of
Unemployment insurance covering a period of
IS weeks And it will not go into effect until
July, 1882. In the meantime the workers may
starve! Thus the socialists and the capitalist
Hastingsl
Another bill has been introduced in the State
Assembly, sponsored by Steingut and represents
the point of view OF Roosevelt This bill pro-
yides for "at least two days work, per week to
be performed in the interest of the state at a
minimum (read maxmum) wage of five dollars
per day." This is work ON public works. the ad-
vertisng, awarding and performance of the work
being granted according to the usual conditions.
The following are covered by this insurance