Montana labor news., 1939-04-06
Summary Of Report Of
Medical Research Inst.
10 United Auto Workers
General Executive BID.

General Executive 3D..
/. The ten months in which the
Medical Research Institute has oper-
ated have made it clear that its
services to the union membership
fall into four distinct classes. Each
class has proved of great value in
dollars and cents, in health, in hold
ing and extending union gains, and
therefore in consolidating union
strength through increased loyalty
on the part of members.
2. The most important function so
far as immediate results 60 is the
medical compensation service. The
Institutes doctors provide expert
testimony in hearings by the COM
p~ensation court of a kind that the
members family doctor is neither
qualified nor, in many cases, willing
to give. The union therefore has
the services of highly competent and
willing physicians to offset the ex-
perts hired by the companies. The
results in increased awards and in
preventing medical frame-ups have
been amazing.
8. Next in Importance is what may
be called medical welfare. Union
members unable to pay for medical
and surgical care have been exam
ined by the Institute, which has con
trived in one way and another to
place them with one of the many
available medical facilities in Detroit
and Wayne County for treatment.
Examinations by the Institute, more
over, have resulting in defeating
company conspiracies to discharge
active ~unionists on preteXt of disease.
Last October the Institute was able
to prevent mass layoffs of men by
companies seeking to evade their
responsibilities under the new Michi-
gan compensation act. The Insti-
tute's speakers before local unions
and its writers in the United Auto
mobile Worker, as well as in local
union publications, have driven
home health lessons that + of
permanent value to the union mem
bership.
4. A vitality important service is
the Institutes well organized emer-
gency strike medical service both for
pickets and others injured by police
and company thugs and for those
who become i'll while on sitdown
strikes. This service extends also to
the families of those on sitdown
strikes. Not only have lives of union
men undoubtedly been saved by i'm
mediate first aid but many deformi-
ties have been averted, while the
psychological value of reinsurance to
their families has been great in pre-
serving strike morale and therefore
union prestige and advancement.
5. An Institute function that orig
inally was paramount before all
these practical services doomed large,
is that of research into industrial
diseases, fatigue, etc, for the use Of
the union in demanding nor ade-
quate legislation, in insisting on safe
ty and health requirements from
arrangements and in molding public
opinion on these matters. This re-
search has been steadily prosecuted
and a great mass of material has
been organized for instant use, with
further data still awaiting compila-
ton.
6. On the basis of these accomp-
lishments the Institute is confident
that the general executive board
will consider the appropriations so
far made as an excellent investment
in unionism and humanity. The
present financial basis, which is a
minimum for continuance, is set
forth in a report made to Secretary
Treasurer Adde's. AS soon as feasible
the doctors, who have been giving
their services without compensation,
should again be paid, as their contri-
button cannot be continued indefi-
nitely and should not be.
Z. The foresight and prudence
shown by President Martin and the
board in making the initial appro-
priations and further provisions has
already been amply justified. The
plans for further development, when
conditions warrant, are already be-
ing shaped. Outstanding is the plan
for a fully equipped JAW. medical
clinic equaling and in times surpass-
ing that of the International Ladies
Garment Workers in New York City.
Signed-F. c. Lendrum, M. D.,
Phi. D., Director. Medical Re-
search Institute.