Montana labor news., 1938-04-14
E.. |. 0. OPENS DRIVE
FOR RIGHT TO WORK
Lewis Maps TwO-Way Program
To Aid Jobless.

Observation-Disclosures up the
challenge of increasing unemploy-
ment. the Committee for Industrial
Organization is clenching both fists
for a fight to win for American
workers the right to work.
eThe c. I. o., as the main body of
American labor, accepts the duty Of
representing its people who are out
of work." says Chairman John L.
Lewis. at takes the responsibility
of presenting their case to the ma
ton"
A two-way program is announced
this week by the c. I. o. leader for
dealing with unemployment. c. l.
o. unions are urged to establish
unemployment committees and to
take a series of definite steps to
protect their jobless MEMBERS; while
at the same time Congress is called
upon to adopt legislation to cope
with the problem as a whole.
The drive thus launched by the
IC. I. o. is unique in American labor
history. In previous periods Of de-
preston, some Individual unions
have taken steps to serve unem-
ploved members, while others have
allowed them to drop out and have
accepted responsibility for repre-
senting only those who remained on
the job.
But no comprehensive program
for combining trade union and
political action in the interest of all
unemployed has previously been
adopted by the labor movement as
a whole.
zone of the great principles for
(which labor in America stands is
the right of every man and woman
to have a job, to earn their living
if they are willing to work" says
Lewis, in a message to all national
and international unions of the G
III. o., to industrial union councils, t.
local industrial unions and to the
lie. I. o. field staff.
Upon this principle, it become
the duty of American labor to fac
with courage and realism the fac
that America is threatened toda,
with unemployment more bite
than ever before in our history.
eff Industry Fails to Provide
Work.
: "A citizen of the United State
has a right to live. He has a RICH
to work. If the corporations whic
control American industry in thei
management of industry's affair
fail to provide that work, then ther
must be some power somewhere j
this land of ours, that will go owe
and above and beyond those corpol
atoms and their inadequate policie
and provide a job and insure tn
workers the right to live"
Some methods whereby union III
employment committees can fun,
. ton are described in a letter az
y dressed by Director John Brophy
: the C. 1. o. to local industrial III
ions. They include:
: ID Registration of every work
. laid off through curtailments
= production.
'. (2) Keeping an accurate list
layoffs and reporting to c. l, o. n
tional headquarters on the exte
of local unemployment.
(3) Presenting demands throuI
the union that when re-hiring
done, laid-off workers be re-hir
~ before new employees are put on.
W (4) Representing unemployt
members before public agencies
an attempt to get proper unemplc
ment compensation, adequate pub
relief, or WPA employment
(5) Advice and assistance to jc
less members on obtaining benef
M under the unemployment compen'
tons laws which become effect
a on Jan. l, 1888, in % states.
(6) Making a study of the rel
situation in the local community,
see that adequate relief is provid
and that those who should have HI
\ get it when they need it.
The first victory for the c. 1.
legislative program for unempl,
ment relief was won last week WI
Y the necessary 218 signatures W
secured to force the Black-C Conn,
wages-and-hours bill out of
House rules committee.
League Pushes Labor Bills
Enough Congressmen's signatu
were obtained despite the action
Pres. VIM. Green of the Ameri
Federation of Labor in withdraw
support from the bill.
Unions all over the country, b
in the C. I. o. and the A. F. of
are throwing their weight beh
Labor's Non-Partisan League in
campaign to secure C~ongressic
recognition of "the principle of !
eral prohibition of starvation wa
and oppressive hours OF work"