The daily worker., 1934-08-01
Shows Need
Of JobIess
IN S ur anCG
Drive for Endorsement
Of Workers Bill By
ALL. Stressed
By HOWARD BoLDT

NEW YORK.-NeW wage cuts,
new slumps in production throwing
hundreds of thousand out of the
factories. raise more sharply the
chief immediate need of the work
ing population-the enactment of
the Workers Unemployment and
Social Insurance Bill.
AS the attacks of the Roosevelt
New Deal" of hunger for the work.
erS increase, strikes and struggles
sweep the country. Each of these
struggles must embody the demand
for the enactment of the Workers
Bill, leading to strike and stoppages
for unemployment insurance.
As new thousands are thrown out
of work, the day-to-day struggle for
adequate relief must unite the en-
ployed workers in the unions and
the unemployed workers in the
neighborhoods.
Employment Drops; Wages Cut
Drastic drops in factory employ
ment and hours worked, accom-
panied by wage slashes greatly in
excess Of employment declines, are
shown in June reports throughout
the country.
Government surveys by the Ma
tional Industrial Conference Board
show that manufacturing activity
for the month of June declined "a
per cent, employment decreased 81
per cent, and payrolls were cut 2.6
per cent. The Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics states that factory employ
ment for the month of April totaled
10,950,000. Basing figures on this
incomplete total, decline in fac
tory employment of 81 would show
that at least 229,O0O workers were
added to the army of unemployed
In the month of June alone.
Cotton textile industries showed
a decline of IA per cent in hours
worked in the Northern mills; hours
worked in the automobile industry
slumped 13 per cent. Steel and iron
showed a decline of only one-half
of one per cent as production was
lacked up in preparation for strike
struggles, and then dropped in July
to within four points of the record
lows of two years afo. In the first
week of July, the steel mills in East
Chicago and Gary, Ind, went on
the stagger system. Workers in the
Republic Steel Mills in Buffalo were
told that the management did not
know WIN the plants would re-
open. Since the steel industry is
the barometer of future factory ac-
tivity, a new wave of unemployment
will have swept the country for
f. 9nth of July.
4cW York State, which with
its diversified industry is reliable
index for future trends for the en-
tire country, factory employment
dropped IL per cent and wages
were cut Is per cent in the one
month perod from May Is to June
15 according to preliminary sur
vey made by the State Department
of Labor.
Factory employment in MasSa-
chusetts slumped 58 per cent and
average weekly payrolls were sliced
76 per cent in 1852 factories and
mills surveyed by the Labor De-
partment, while living costs rose
9 per cent.
Despite widespread unemploy-
ment among members of the A. F.
of L. unions, 20 per cent Of the
dues paying members of which are
employed, no steps are taken by the
y rNf lz0 - f~x1e
to win unemployment relief Yet
the membership shows a willingness
to struggle for relief and unemploy-
ment insurance. In Glen Ridge,
ILL.,, an entire local of the United
Mine Workers of America voted to
affiliate with the Unemployment
Councils after the Council program
was explained. In Clarksburg, Va,
members of the Central Trades
Council voted to join in joint ac-
ton with the Unemployment Coun-
cils and other unemployed groups
in the fight for the continuance of
the c. w. A. jobs.
The broadening of the mass
movement for unemployment insur-
ance should proceed upon the basis
of winning the members of the A.
F. of l.. trade union locals for
struggle in the neighborhoods and
at the relief bureaus, and mass
pressure on the local, state and ma
tional governments for increased
relief, against all forms of forced
labor and for a program of public
works for the building of low-cost
workers homes, and nurseries, play
grounds, and hospitals in working